Why solo traveling can be tough
If you’re like me and have done a lot of solo traveling, you know all about the pros and cons. Although the pros eventually outweigh the cons, there’s still a lot to consider when you’re going to travel all by yourself. Here are some of the reasons why solo traveling can be tough:
You’re all alone
This is the first and obvious reason why it can be both frightening and tough. It’s one thing to be alone in your home country, it’s another in a completely strange one. It takes a while to get used to it as well, but once you do, you’ll realise that you’re not the only one traveling alone and that itself is a comforting thought. When you’re traveling, you’re bound to meet other travellers who are either by themselves or with friends. Being alone isn’t the worst thing in the world either. Once you get used to it, you’ll end up loving all the time you have by yourself.
However, prepare for those situations when you get ill or something goes wrong such as missed flights, etc. Those are the moments when you’re going to think feels extra tough because you’re all alone. Don’t be too frightened though! I’ve experienced these situations many times and I made through it all by myself, sometimes with the help of kind strangers as well who offered me aspirin (thank you!).
Missing friends and family
Although you’re bound to miss your closest ones even if you’re traveling with people, you especially miss them when you’re traveling by yourself. It’s always a bit different when you’re spending time with people from home versus the people you meet abroad. When the feeling hits you, remember that they’re only a phone call away.
Safety
Depending on where you’re traveling, it can be a bit unsafe to walk around all alone, especially at night. You might feel more exposed when you’re solo traveling. Just remember to always be extra cautious, especially if you’re a woman, and try to stick to the touristic parts of the city for example, where there’s people around. The first time I traveled alone, I noticed a difference in how people looked at me, which made me feel uneasy. After a while, I got used to it, but there are still places in the world I’d never travel to as a female solo traveler, just because of the reputation the country have.
Planning
One of the best things about traveling solo is that you can plan everything according to your plans! But sometimes it gets too confusing as well and you have no idea what to do. It’s those moments when you wish that you were traveling with someone else who could make that decision for you. But in the end, you know it’s worth it because the decision is all yours.
Solo traveling might be tough at times, but it’s also one of the most rewarding things. Not only will you learn so much about yourself, you’re also more open minded towards meeting new people and you have the freedom to do exactly what you want. It’s worth all the small troubles on the way.
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