You want a break from the family, your schedule doesn’t fit in with everyone else’s, or perhaps you just want to do your own thing. No matter the reason, travelling solo has become a more common concept in recent years as hundreds of people choose to face the road by themselves.
But what are the realities of going on holiday by yourself? Can you really have as good a time than if you were travelling with others? Travelling on your own can be a daunting prospect and like everything else, it can have its pros and cons. So read on to find out if going on holiday solo is for you…
It can be lonely
Depending on the length of the holiday, you can find that travelling by yourself can be a lonely experience. Humans are, by nature, social creatures so having no one else there to share your travel experiences can be a bit of a depressing burden after some time. However, there are things that you can do to make the trip easier.
Try to get yourself on as many group activities as you can, such as group tours or classes, so that you have the chance to mingle and chat with people. You never know – you may end up meeting some wonderful lifelong friends!
You can do what you want to do
But if it’s so lonely, why do so many people choose to travel by themselves? Well, some of the most spontaneous and whimsical travel experiences happen when you travel alone. Not to mention that you are in complete control of your itinerary – you can do what you want to do, when you want to do it. You don’t need to compromise with anyone.
So as you can see, there are both benefits and downfalls of being a solo traveller. If you do decide to take the plunge, here are our top tips for savvy solo travel abroad:
Some tips for solo travellers
Pack a good book: long journeys can drag on if you have no one to chat to, so remember to take a book or some form of entertainment to keep yourself amused.
Don’t be afraid to eat in restaurants: you may think that eating in a restaurant by yourself is taboo, but in reality waiters see it a lot more than you may think! So take a seat, get chatting with your server and discover the best thing on the menu.
Learn to chat to people: Trying to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger can be daunting at first, but the more practice you get, the better you will become. A good place to start is the common room of the hotel, or why not use the likes of Twitter to find likeminded people who are nearby?
Pack light: Remember you will only have one pair of arms to carry all your luggage, so pare down if you can to make moving through airports by yourself a breeze.
Trust your gut: If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Trust your gut instinct and if something makes you feel uneasy, get out of the situation as soon as you can.
Have fun: The most important aspect of going on holiday is to relax and have fun. So, if you find yourself getting down about being alone, then remind yourself why you decided to travel solo in the first place!
Have you ever been on holiday by yourself before? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below!
Images by mroach, Sludge G, Mountain Bike Wilder Ranch and Martin Pulaski under a creative commons license.
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