If you’ve been around for a little while, you may know that for my 40th birthday a few years ago, I went to New York by myself for 6 days. It was a birthday present from my husband and being my first solo trip for probably 20 or so years, and my first since being married for over 10 years by that point, it was a pretty big deal. Traditionally, when we think of a holiday, we think of jetting off with family or friends. We are social creatures at heart, so what better way to experience the joy of a vacation with the people we love?
As I set off I honestly wasn’t sure if I’d made the right decision but it turned out to be one of the best holidays I’ve had. In recent times, we’ve seen an increasing number of solo travelers. Going on holiday alone may seem daunting, but as many are coming to realise, it offers a number of unique benefits over more common group trips. If you’re considering jetting off solo but need some final words of encouragement, I’ve got you covered. Check out these four reasons why everyone should travel solo at least once in their life.
Total Freedom
One of the main reasons people choose to go on holiday alone is for the sense of total and complete freedom it can offer. You are free to do what you want to do, go where you want to go, and see what you want to see, at your own pace and on your own terms. This couldn’t be more different to a group holiday, where activities must be decided upon democratically and disagreements can dissolve into disaster.
When travelling alone, you can spend as much or as little time as you want doing particular things. Bored of something and want to check out somewhere else? No need to ask for permission from the rest of the group. Feeling tired and want to lay in bed all morning? Feel free!
One thing to keep in mind is that you may need to be a little more prepared when travelling alone as you won’t have the watchful eyes of your friends or family. For this reason, insurance is essential. It’s worth looking out travel insurance from companies like Staysure to get the cover you need for your solo trip.
Quality Alone Time
A holiday is a time to destress and decompress. For some, this can only truly be done when you’re alone. A solo trip is the perfect time to spoil you and you alone, without worrying about what others might say or think. It can prove to be a deeply insightful and introspective experience, allowing to gain a new perspective, discover a new side of yourself, and allow it to flourish.
Meet New People
When you’re on holiday with friends or family, it’s normal for the travelling group to stick together and not engage with others. This is perfectly understandable as there can be quite a lot to take onboard when arriving in a new country. It’s only natural to want to stick with what’s familiar.
When you’re travelling alone, you do not have the comfort blanket of friends and family to fall back on. This may seem daunting at first, but you’ll soon find that you are making new friends that you would never have met if you were on holiday as a group. Humans are naturally social creatures, even if you’re more of an introverted type, you’ll be surprised how quickly friendships can form between solo travelers.
Build Your Confidence
One thing that travelling alone will do is force you to step outside of your comfort zone. Whether that’s trying new food, taking the path less well trodden, or even trying new experiences. Why not do something radical like have a tattoo or even have one removed? If your destination is Los Angeles you can find tattoo removal in Los Angeles to help! On my first visit to Las Vegas a few years ago, whilst my husband was at a conference I decided to book myself a horse riding experience. It was a complete spur of the moment but one of the best things I’ve ever done and if we had been together the whole time I would not have done that. I loved it so much that when we returned to Las Vegas some years later, we did a different horse riding experience together which was also a big step for my husband as he is a bit more cautious than me.
I honestly can’t speak highly enough of taking a solo holiday if you have the privilege to be able to do so, life is short so take advantage of the opportunities that come along!
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