Discover the Fantastic Benefits of Traveling Alone Plus 5 Tips for Staying Safe

Travel is a gateway to self-discovery. It teaches about the world and helps us gain fresh perspectives on our own lives and situations. 

Although many people love sharing travel experiences with family and friends, some prefer the freedom of solo travel. 

Discover the benefits of traveling alone while learning to navigate the pitfalls (and the naysayers!). 

Benefits of Traveling Solo

Traveling alone allows you to experience the world at your own pace, and it’s often a life-changing experience. 

Here’s what you can gain from solo travel. 

Freedom

The best part about booking a solo trip is you get to go wherever you want, whenever you want. You get the freedom to plan your perfect adventure without accommodating anyone else. 

When traveling alone, you don’t have to worry that Mike hates heights, so won’t go ziplining, or that Salley gets bored at museums. 

The freedom that comes with only worrying about yourself during your getaway feels incredible. 

Flexibility

With freedom comes flexibility. So what if you planned to spend the day at the beach but saw a cool pop-up you want to check out instead? 

You can change plans on a whim. 

When I took my solo road trip through the Southwest, I decided to drive through Zion National Park at the last minute. I didn’t have to discuss it with anyone or think about how the change in plans would affect my travel companions.

The flexibility made the trip magical. 

Forces You Out of Your Comfort Zone

Some of us struggle to spend time with ourselves. We feel awkward being alone, refusing to go to a cafe or eat at a restaurant by ourselves. 

When traveling alone, we need to get over it. We’re forced to push past the uncomfortable feelings. 

In doing so, we learn to enjoy our own company. We learn to trust and love ourselves. 

Self-Discovery

Traveling alone is a journey of self-discovery. When unburdened by the constant desires of others, you have time to explore yourself: what you like, what you don’t, and crucially, what you’re capable of. 

You’ll have to handle any challenge yourself. Cancelled flights, lost luggage, wrong turns – it’s all on you to resolve. And you can do it. 

The time alone helps you discover who you really are and what you’re made of. 

Meet New People

Social people traveling by themselves have a unique opportunity to make new friends. 

I’ve met a variety of great people while traveling solo. 

While traveling in Greece, I used Viator to sign up for tours and classes. On the first night, I took a wonderful Greek cooking class, which forced me to interact with strangers to make our delicious feast.

We shared travel stories while engaging in a fun new experience together. The next day, I booked a day trip to Delphi, and to my surprise, two of the girls from the cooking class were on the same tour! We became traveling companions for the day and had a marvelous time. 

I would never have interacted with them as much if I already had a companion, and although we didn’t share contact information to keep in touch, I’ll always value the time we spent together as a treasured travel memory. 

Stick to Your Budget

Have you ever traveled with someone with expensive tastes?

I have. 

We had to stay at the nicer hotels and eat at the fancier restaurants. 

When I travel, I prefer budget-friendly hotels, so I have more money for experiences. But when you travel with people, you must compromise to ensure everyone can enjoy the trip. 

Sometimes, that means you have less money for fun because you spent more than you wanted on lodging, travel tickets, or food. 

When you travel alone, you get to decide how to budget your money. 

Avoid Flakiness

You’re all set to travel, you’ve packed your bags, booked your tickets, and you’re waiting for your friend so you can head to the airport. 

They never show. 

When you travel by yourself, you don’t have to worry about other people’s flakiness. You’re only responsible for yourself. 

You Get To Go

How many trips have you put off because nobody could go with you? How many times did you stay home because nobody else could go?

Our lives are busy. Our toxic work culture barely provides any time off, and vacations cost a lot of money. Most people won’t have the time or money to travel, and when they do, they might not want to go where you want to go. 

If I waited for someone to accompany me, I would have never visited Paris, Florence, Rome, or Athens. I would have never had the chance to explore the ruins at Angkor Wat or relax at the beach in Krabi. 

My willingness to travel alone allowed me to see the world. 

“You’re Traveling ALONE?”

I’m shocked by how many people look at me with abject horror when I announce that I will embark on an adventure alone. 

People have strong opinions, especially about women traveling alone. To those who haven’t ventured out much, the world seems like a dark, scary place. 

They have thousands of reasons why you shouldn’t go. Although they come from a place of love and concern, they’re usually incorrect. 

Here’s how to handle the naysayers based on their most common rebuttals.  

“Is it Safe? Aren’t You Scared?”

Yes, it is safe, and no, I’m not scared. 

I’m from Chicago. For the past few years, Chicago has been known for its ever-increasing gang violence. People are shot and killed every weekend in the rough neighborhoods of Chicago.

But for some reason, nobody ever questions me when I tell them I’m going to Chicago.

I get that there are differences. Chicago is familiar. I know where the dangerous areas are and how to avoid them. If something goes wrong, I can call friends and relatives who live nearby. 

The truth is that the United States is more dangerous than most other developed countries, and I’m more likely to get hurt in an accident driving home from work than in a plane crash. 

I refuse to live my life in fear, especially when most of those fears are unfounded. 

“What if Something Bad Happens to You? How Would We Know?”

We can’t control everything. Although unlikely, it’s possible to encounter an emergency situation while traveling alone. From accidents to nefarious players, anything could happen. 

How would your loved ones back home know? How would they know to start looking for me should I go missing?

Fortunately, there’s an easy solution for adventurers: Give your loved ones a copy of your itinerary and travel documents and keep in touch on a regular schedule. 

Before we had phones that could connect internationally, I’d post to Facebook every evening so my family knew I was safe and back in my room. 

They’d know to sound the alarm if they didn’t hear from me when they expected to. 

“Why Don’t You Wait and Go With Someone?”

I am not going to give up my dream of traveling the world in the hopes that one day, someone will be willing and able to go with me. 

I’ve tried including others in my travels, and I’m not opposed to traveling with company. In fact, I’ve taken quite a few girls’ trips, and I went with an ex-partner to exotic locales such as Machu Picchu and Prague (I would’ve totally done both of those alone had he not been willing to come with me). 

Unfortunately, others either cannot afford the trip, cannot take time off work, or would prefer to spend their paltry vacation time elsewhere. 

“Isn’t Traveling Alone Weird?”

People ask if it’s “weird” to appeal to your innate fear of being an outsider. 

Nobody wants to be “weird”. We want to fit in and be a part of a community.

It’s a ridiculous question not grounded in reality. Traveling alone isn’t weird; it’s empowering!

You get to do whatever you want, even if it means spending 12 hours in a museum sleeping in until noon. 

“Won’t You Be Lonely?”

When appealing to your fear of being an outsider doesn’t work, they’ll appeal to your desire for company. 

I’ve gotten lonely when on the road by myself. I’m a people person who likes having friends around. 

Learning to enjoy your own company is crucial to happiness. Traveling alone allows you to explore yourself and learn to love you. You’ll discover that you don’t need someone around all the time. 

“You Should Find a Tour Group and Go With Them”

Traveling with a group is an excellent way to see the world’s biggest attractions. It’s a fantastic option for people who want to hit the major highlights. 

Tour groups don’t work for all travelers and situations. They’re more expensive than heading out on your own, and they don’t leave much room for individual exploration. 

When I travel, I like to do my own thing on my own time. Traveling with a tour group would limit my ability to do so.

Staying Safe While Traveling Solo

Everyone should try traveling alone at least once in their lives. It’s an incredible experience offering so many benefits it’s almost impossible to describe. 

However, even the best things in life come with risk. 

When traveling solo, you must take precautions to protect yourself. 

Extra Copies of Travel Documents

Make copies of your passport, driver’s license, and itinerary. Store one in your hotel safe (your original travel documents should be with you) and give one to a trusted friend at home. 

The copies can help prove your identity at an embassy should the originals get lost or stolen. 

Safety Money

I’m obsessive about money when I travel. I keep an extra credit card in the hotel safe and one in a separate pocket away from my wallet. 

In addition, I hide a few bucks everywhere, like in my shoes and dirty laundry. I doubt a thief would find it all!

Keep in Touch

Traveling alone doesn’t mean you don’t check in. Let your friends and family know you’re safe, and have a set check-in time. 

You don’t have to stay constantly connected, but keeping them up-to-date on your whereabouts can help them sound the alarm should an emergency arise. 

Door Alarms

Grab a door alarm so you never have to worry about someone trying to break into your room while you sleep. 

Although it’s an unlikely scenario, it’s better to be safe. 

Use Common Sense

I stay alert while traveling alone. I’ll limit myself to one or two drinks, avoid places renowned for drugs & alcohol, and maintain a healthy distrust of strangers. 

While visiting Thailand alone, a random man invited me to a full moon party. Although I’d love to experience a traditional full moon party one day, I declined the invitation. It was too risky to attend by myself. 

More likely than not, it would have been a lovely experience, but why put myself in a dangerous situation?

Take that Solo Trip!

Don’t let the naysayers and worry worts hold you back. 

The world isn’t a terrifying place you need to be sheltered from, it’s a glorious realm filled with wonder and adventure waiting to be explored. 

Have the courage to experience it. You won’t regret it.