Travelling on your own can seem pretty daunting – especially if you’ve only ever gone on a big ol’ trip with your fam back in the day. But the thing is, it’s actually becoming massively popular now. Gone are the days where travelling solo was only for long-haired nomads seeking to ‘find themselves’.
When it comes down to it, travelling solo can be one of the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences you ever go through. Whether it’s an interstate road trip or you go gallivanting on the other side of the globe, going it alone can be more memorable than you can imagine.
Here are a few of the benefits of ditching the group and flying solo like a majestic bird.
It’s way more accessible
One of the best parts of travelling on your own is that things will feel so much more open to you. As long as you’re adaptable and don’t mind slotting into places here and there, you can save up cash, score cheap budget accommodation and pop into a group of new friends seamlessly.
You can also manage to go away on awesome planned holidays where you can meet a bunch of people and have fun without breaking the bank. Take The Yacht Week for example. This is a seven-day floating festival of live music, sun and relaxation in the Mediterranean where it won’t matter if you go on your own because you’ll make friends on your yacht. It’s easy as.
Plus it might work out a lil’ cheaper when it comes to flights (because we all know that individual seats are easier to buy than a bunch altogether) or accommodation (volunteer to sleep in the bottom bunk of a cabin and make friends while you’re at it). You never know.
You’ll gain a sense of empowerment
Whenever I’ve told people that I’m going to travel alone, the overriding reaction is concern – and when it’s in regard to my safety I appreciate that, but when it’s in regard over whether I can handle myself… Well, that’s when I start to feel a bit unimpressed. Travelling alone is a hugely self-actualising experience because you get the opportunity to show all the non-believers that you’re absolutely capable of whatever you put your mind to.
And you’ll be doing so in the company of other travellers, locals you meet along the way and maybe even the occasional hot bartender (if you’re lucky), so it’s not like you’ll even feel that alone anyway. Your confidence will probably also skyrocket because you’re literally navigating a globe on your own (and, you know, Google Maps probably).
You can sleep in as long as you like
In a similar vein, one of the biggest pet peeves that my grandmother had when I travelled with her way back in 2012 (‘coz we’re cute, okay) was that I always wanted to sleep in till at least 10am, whereas she wanted me to be getting out and experiencing the world first thing – not to mention experiencing the continental breakfasts before they stopped serving. You don’t get in the way of my grandmother and a piece of crunchy bacon.
As much as it was a whole new experience to go travelling with her, going solo means you can set your own time limits for whatever you want to do. Feel like staying up all night listening to Mark Knight, Weiss, Offiah, Monki and Mele (on a boat during The Yacht Week, no less) after an arvo full of snorkelling? Do it and sleep in as loooong as you like the next day. Ain’t nobody there to tell you no. Your time is yours.
You’ll learn a lot about yourself
Not to get all sentimental on you folks, but I’ma get sentimental on you folks. One of the biggest benefits of travelling on your own is that you do learn a heck of a lot about who you are as a person – how you face trouble, how you approach challenges and more.
Besides, you’ll be meeting so many excellent people that’ll wake up entirely new sides of yourself (and hey, you never say no to making friends when it means having a cheeky place to crash next time you go travelling). But even still, spending time with yourself in downtime means you’ll be able to take a break from all the hustling you do in your day-to-day and just take a sec to debrief (which is loads more satisfying if you’re lounging on the deck of a yacht, let’s be honest).
The bottom line is this: travelling alone doesn’t have to scare the turds out of you. It’s a hugely empowering experience and it’s well worth considering, so if you were looking for that last push to consider solo travel, consider this it.
And after all, starting out with something like The Yacht Week can make it slightly less intimidating – you’ll be surrounded by fun people enjoying the same experience as you anyway. Who can blame them when it looks this good?
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