Traveling Solo: a Good or a Bad Idea?
Solo trips are definitely IN. The expansion of these trips has also been recognized by certain hotel chains and thus they even have abolished or reduced the amount of surcharges for the single people that use a double room (Single Supplement).
The people who go on a solo journey for the first time, often come to see it similar to a pilgrimage or spiritual enlightenment. The new destinations are absorbed and perceived completely independently and without any prejudice. They get to know localities much faster and better, they get to meet interesting people, but they came back home from the trip knowing themselves far better.
Experienced travel enthusiasts advise that everyone should try this kind of adventure at least once in a lifetime.
Why are people increasingly traveling alone?
Statistics show that single travelers are mostly people over 40, people with enough life experience and integrity, people who know what they want and can afford it. Solo travelers have a well-planned timetable, and their journey is mostly a mix of culture, entertainment and adventure. They choose to visit a country side, a beach destination or a metropolis’s attractions at any time of the year, just as they wish to do it and without any compromise.
The experiences of solo travelers vary. However, most of them highlights numerous advantages of this way of getting to know the world.
Spending some time all alone is a reliable way to get to know yourself, your own desires and to test your resourcefulness. A single trip can be a powerful, life changing experience.
This way of traveling is ideal, and especially for extroverted people. In no time you’ll meet new, interesting people in a nearby cafe or on a beach. All what you need is to be open-minded and a bit cautious, especially when in distant and unknown countries.
Solo trips are an ideal opportunity for relaxation and hedonism. You can rest the way you wish, fully mastering your own time. You bear the consequences of the wrong decisions yourself, but you also do not need to share the good ones with anyone. When organizing your own journey, you’ll definitely avoid the situations like walking a mile for someone else’s mistake in order to find the museum and eventually realize that it is closed on that very day. You get to organize everything by yourself.
In the end, if a regular journey makes you a better and smarter person, the solo adventure will make you a super smart person. Once you dare to overcome some of your fears, you will be inspired to confront all the other fears.
Where to travel solo?
If you’ve always dreamed of getting to know all the hidden corners of a city, of paragliding or surfing, and none of your friends hasn’t never had such desires — just go ahead, determine the date of departure and do not let anything stop you in fulfilling these wishes. Here are some of the suggestions.
However, the issue of security is the most important thing of all when it comes to a solo journey. Places which it’s not recommended to travel alone to are most of the countries of Southern America, the Arab countries, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and all the countries where the notion of male-female relationships differs from Western trends.
If you are an adventurous by nature and you do not worry about the issue of accommodation until the last moment, take advantage of the fantastic last minute discounts (up to 70%) which are offered by some booking systems, in the case you book the accommodation on the very day you enter the hotel.
You may don’t know, but there are specialized solo travel agencies worldwide. They connect passengers who, travel to the same destinations at the same time and provide them with accommodation. Some of them do it randomly, while some of them are trying to connect people of similar age and interest.
You can also follow the online portals that have offers for solo traveling men and women worldwide.
The other side of the coin
Solo trips also carry certain risks, mainly in terms of safety. Without a companion who keeps your back, you can become an easy target for criminals and fraudsters, but also you are completely left to yourself in case of illness or injury. That’s why you should consider buying travel insurance before you travel to a foreign country. You never know what will happen.
Like anything else, this can be seen from the bright side — a single person walking around the city is less noticeable than a whole group of tourists.
Then, there are also costs you have to take all by yourself. But an early preparation and a good organization can save you both time and money.
When we talk about solo traveling there are obviously more advantages than minuses. A journey of this kind seems like a good idea and an experience that you should definitely try at least once. And the most useful thing, without which you should not go on a trip, is a good quality travel insurance.
