Travelling Solo.

People are always surprised when I tell them I'm travelling solo. The first thing I point out is that there is a world of difference between travelling alone and travelling solo. Just because you are going somewhere solo does not mean you won’t meet people. It the mindset you travel with that will determine whether it’ll work for you.

Going somewhere solo can be as exciting or as tedious as you make it. The world is literally YOUR oyster. You choose where to eat and you choose what to see. Your itinerary can be as full or as empty as you make it. The trump card for solo travel has to be the flexibility. It’s the perfect time to be selfish and not feel guilty about it. There is no need to compromise your plans to accommodate someone else’s needs. You can spend as long as you like in that museum without worrying that you’re boring your friends. You can take however long you want setting your camera up to get that perfect picture without anyone waiting around impatiently. The only timeframe is the one you set yourself.

Travelling solo isn’t as solitary as the word suggests. There are always people in the same boat as you that you will meet along the way. That’s the beauty of it. Meeting new people can’t get any easier. Hostels are tailored for individuals, there’s always some gig, movie night or event going on and so you’re never really ‘alone’.  Keeping an eye on the notice board in the lobby of a hostel is always a useful way to meet fellow travellers. These are usually full of offers and requests from people looking to share fuel costs or accommodation.

Now of course there is an element of risk when you travel alone. But to be honest if you are properly organised and prepared it can be no more dangerous than travelling within a group. As long as precautions are taken and common sense is applied the chances of anything ‘dangerous’ happening is very small – or at least as small as it would be anywhere else! In all my experiences of travelling on my own I’ve never really felt threatened. I like to think I’m sensible but can also enjoy myself. On numerous occasions I have been out drinking (possibly having one too many!) yet I have managed to get back safely as I’ve avoided the less friendly areas of town.

What puts most people off is the thought of loneliness. You know when you get to that special place with ‘that’ view or you witness something beautiful and there’s no one there to share it with - it can be slightly saddening. And yes there can be some situations when one might feel slightly uncomfortable – eating alone in a restaurant full of couples or lazing on a beach filled with families. But as I’ve said before it’s the mindset you travel with that will affect how you handle these social situations. A book or iPod can help you get used to this new sense of freedom and independence.

At the end of the day it comes down to personal preference. There are trips that are best done alone and some that are better enjoyed from a group perspective. Do your research and always remember to go with an open mind and you can’t go wrong. As with everything, you never know until to try it.