I’ve taken a handful of trips around the U.S. by myself in the last couple of years, including my recent trip to San Francisco. My parents are appalled by my solo travel and many people shy away from it. During the recent trip, I thought about solo travel and the pros and cons a lot.
My parents aren’t the only ones against solo travel. Solo travel bloggers get the same questions all the time – why do you travel alone, do you feel safe, etc. Let’s break down the pros and cons of solo travel!
Cons
Feeling less safe and more vulnerable
While I didn’t put myself in completely dangerous situations, I was definitely more alert and cautious traveling by myself, especially at night. To feel safer, I recommend knowing what parts of town you should avoid at particular times of day, arriving in an unfamiliar location (especially if you need to find your hotel) before the sun sets, walking and acting like you know what you’re doing and where you’re going, and traveling in busy, public areas. Most of the time when your brain goes into panic survival mode, you are actually safe, and so it’s good to be prepared but stay calm.
Eating by yourself
As someone who travels for good food, eating by myself is a con because I try less food to avoid being wasteful. Instead of sharing a few different plates, my whole experience depends on one dish. Conversing while you’re eating also adds to the dining experience, so if you’re not sitting at the bar, that could feel lacking.
Lacking the shared experience
“Oh, wow, do you see that cool [enter amazing thing here] over there?” …is what you’re saying to yourself. Life is meant to be shared, especially when it’s discovering something new. It’s one of the reasons I love sharing my travel experiences on my blog. You can recap to others but it’s not quite the same as knowing what it’s like. However, it can be a special time for yourself.
Spending more money
Hotel rooms, Uber or Lyft rides, meals, etc. add up! Traveling with others can help split up the costs!
Pros
Making your own schedule
You get to pick what kind of food you eat, what attractions to see, how long to spend where, etc.! For me, I’m sure my packed schedules would not be well-received by most travel companions. I like doing whatever I want on solo trips!
Feeling more independent
Without someone to discuss directions and options, you’re left on your own to learn how to read the map and figure out which subway to take. I’ve walked five blocks in the wrong direction, taken subways to the wrong cities, and had to be brave enough to ask kind-looking people if I were going the right way. Once you get the hang of it, it’s nice to feel like you’ve accomplished something.
Meeting new friends
When you’re lacking the shared experience, you get eager to share it with whoever is around you! I was glad to talk to people on a tour I attended and converse with other guests and servers at restaurants. I’m more likely to talk to strangers when I’m not traveling with people I know. You never know who you might meet and what bonds may form.
Being more present and aware
It’s just me and my thoughts. Me deciding what to eat. Me deciding which way to walk. When you’re by yourself, you’re forced to be alert and open. You have time to reflect.
I’ve learned that I do enjoy solo travel but only on short trips like a long weekend. Solo travel is an eye-opening experience to who you are, what you’re like, and how much you know about survival, and I recommend it to anyone. It’s not as scary as you think! My preference is shared travel because you can still make time and opportunity to meet new people, gain independence and knowledge, and do the things you want on a shared trip.
Have you ever taken a solo trip? Where did you go? What did you learn from it?
P.S. Looking for more travel posts?
- Get ideas to save for travel
- Find out some efficient packing tips
- Explore travel guides linked on my destinations page
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*Top photo by Death to Stock Photo
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