I Traveled Alone…And Didn’t Die
Did you really go to …… all by yourself? Weren’t you scared? Did you actually have fun with no one else there? I wish I was brave enough to do that.
This is what I always hear when I get back from a solo trip. The majority of people I talk to seem to have this idea that traveling by yourself is a tasking and heroic venture. I know that before I started doing it, I felt the same way. I would see adventure bloggers and youtubers head on these adventures BY THEMSELVES and just think, “I couln’t do that. That is just too much!” Maybe you’re thinking that right now. You want to take a trip, no one else can spare the time and the thought crosses your mind….what if I just go by myself? You quickly start talking yourself out of it. How could you just up and go to an unknown place alone? Wouldn’t you get lonely? Isn’t it dangerous? Would you have fun by yourself? All valid questions, but let me share my experiences and maybe you’ll find yourself clicking “book” on that travel site and heading on your own solo adventure.
I want to address some of the questions that kept me from taking the plunge at first, and share what I did to ensure that my solo adventures were the most amazing experiences of my life.
Question 1: Will I have fun by myself?
Of course you will! For some people, this is a great opportunity to step away and get to know yourself better. This is the start of a process where you’ll learn to have fun on your own. For others, you’re comfortable being alone with yourself and this is a fantastic opportunity to step out and meet new people.
When I started traveling alone, I will admit that I was in the first group. I hadn’t spent much time alone with my thoughts and I had a hard time wanting to confront that fact and get to know myself. It took a bit, but I finally (sorry this is kinda cheesy) got to know myself and learned to have fun with who I am. If this sounds like you, I would suggest taking a journal along on your journey. Write down your thoughts and face them head on. Work through what’s going on in your head, peel back all of the nonsense and you’ll come to the root of who you are and being alone won’t be so scary. I promise!
At the present, I find myself in the second group. My main concern is always “will I have fun just doing this alone?” I’m comfortable by myself (sometimes I prefer it), but will I be able to keep myself entertained? I’ve found that the best remedy for solo-travel-boredom is to get out and meet new people! Stay at a hostel where you’re surrounded by new people from interesting places instead of booking a hotel room where you’ll just be alone (It also helps that hostels are cheaper 😉). Instead of getting a table for one at a restaurant, sit at the bar and tak to people. On my most recent trip to Chicago, I met so many interesting people. My hostel was primarily booked by Irish students who were working in America for the summer. At breakfast, I struck up a conversation with an engineer from Japan who had come over to work for a Toyota plant in Michigan. While riding the Amtrak to Chicago, I sat beside two women who were taking their first bakpaking trip to Europe!
I’ve also found that setting goals for myself helps cure the boredom. It doesn’t have to be a strict itinerary (unless you’re into that), but set some kind of goal for yourself. It’ll give you something to work towards and you’ll find that serendipitous adventures seem to happen along the way. For me, It’ll be something like find 3 local coffee shops to try, learn how to get around like a local, find some local “instagram spots” and beef up the feed! Before you know it, your trip will be wrapping up and you’ll be getting ready to head home.
Question 2: Is it dangerous?
I wish I could tell you that it isn’t, but with the way the world is at this time there is always an element of danger to traveling by yourself. I have just learned to take precautions before and during my trip to make sure that I stay safe and have a memorable trip.
One of the first things I do is let my family know my plan. This is pretty common-sense, but just let someone know when you plan to leave and when you plan to come back. This could be the first red flag if something should go awry and you have someone who can start checking to see if you’re ok. The next bit of preparation is in the booking, especially if you’re staying in hostels. Research, research, research. Look at reviews on as many different sites as you can and even call places to get a feel for them. Don’t just go somewhere, blindly, and hope that everything turns out alright. Do your due-diligance and thinks will jell smoothly. This also speaks to transportation. Check to see what transportation looks like where you are going and make sure there isn’t anything sketchy.
(TL;DR: Let people know where you are, and make sure you aren’t staying somewhere sketchy.)
During the trip the main thing is to keep an eye out. Meet new people, experience new places, but keep your common-sense on guard. If something doesn’t feel/look right, move along. The other key to this is just give your family, friend, or whoever knows you’re traveling breif updates. This, again, just adds some safety and lets someone know where you are, what you’re up to.
So far, the nervousness of traveling solo still comes right before I get ready to leave on a trip. I’ve just accepted that it’s part of the experience, but memories of past trips and posibilities of new experiences push through. By the time I step foot out the door, I’m pumped and ready to go. I hope that this has, in some way, helped you move closer to taking the leap and going on that solo trip. It’s a scary thought, but one of the most freeing things you can do. While traveling with friends and family is amazing, I’ve found that traveling alone has helped me become a more well-rounded person and I think you’ll find that to be true in your own life. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out on here! I would love to help you and point you in the right direction!
See you out there!
-Christopher
