“Traveling alone will give you a chance to grow, and it helps to discover what you can make happen.” – Dream and Wanderland
“Travel has made me more aware of me. I learn more about myself while on the road than anywhere else. It has given me the I can make it happen attitude”. – Jessica Johnson
“Traveling alone will be the scariest, most liberating, life-changing experience of your life. Try it at least once.” – unknown author
*this article contains affiliate links. That means that I will earn a little commission as soon as you click and order anything from that site. It will help me to fund this website.
Pin me for later!
Why traveling alone at least once in your lifetime!
These quotes give you a very short but on the point view on why you should travel by yourself at least once in your lifetime!
You might have personal doubts and fears. Maybe your family or friends say that you are crazy or weird. Questions like “Will you not feel lonely?”, or “What when anything happens?” will come up over and over again.
But what if this experience will be the most amazing and extraordinary time in your life?
Did you know that on at least 80% of my vacation and travels I am on my own?
Did you know that I have wanted to explore the world since my time in school?
Did you know that most of my life I was too shy to do anything on my own?
I am still a shy and introverted person, but today it does not stop me from fulfilling my dreams anymore.
Find books about solo travel for more inspiration! Click here!
Why am I travel solo?
What happened in my life why I travel solo? Well, there was a point in my life when I was tired. Tired of waiting. I was over waiting for anyone else.
I can point out the exact time when I decided doing my own thing. It was in 2013, WrestleMania was just over, and I wished I could go for this event at least one more time (after the first time in 2010). At that time I was asking some of my friends, who went with me on our first WrestleMania trip, every year if we want to go again. And every year they said “No.” In this very year, I had enough! I was tired to wait another year because of a “maybe” which will turn out as a “No” once again.
I did not want to wait anymore, that a friend has enough money, time, or the same idea as I have. For a boyfriend who wants to spend his vacation with me instead of his boys. A friend, who wants to accompany me instead of being with her or his significant other. I did not want to wait for anyone and anything anymore. To be specific, I did not want to make my life dependant on other peoples lives or circumstances. It is my life, and I want to live it as I want.
What will you learn from traveling alone?
If you think that this was an easy decision, it was not! At least, not for me. As I told you earlier, I was never an extroverted person and I did care about other peoples thoughts and opinions about me and my lifestyle. The same questions I mentioned above could have been asked by myself if I already started thinking about fulfilling my dreams. I mean, I always wanted to travel the world, but I was so far away from the “When” and “How.”
It was a development over years and I do not think that I am at the end already. The decision to stop waiting and travel by myself was the best I ever made. And it was indeed life-changing. It changed me in so many ways, and I believe it will change you as well. Here are the reasons how traveling alone will transform you and why you should do it at least once in your lifetime:
Pin me!
1. Freedom
By that I mean no compromises, no discussion on where, when and how long to go! No guilty consciences because your travel partner wants to stay in the hotel while you want to go out to that bar you saw while walking around earlier the day. You make your own decisions, the whole time of your journey. How else would you describe freedom?
Freedom is the ability to decide on your own and do things under your conditions.
2. Self-discovery
You will learn a lot about yourself. What you want from this journey (and sometimes also what you want from life), how you act in stressful situations, how to talk to strangers. You will discover that you can do anything and no barricade can stop you except by yourself.
3. Patience
Sometimes things happen which you cannot influence, and you have to wait and just to be patient. In other occasions, you will meet different cultures which will teach you to be the most patience person on the planet.
4. Step out of your comfort zone
Traveling alone will continually put you in situations where you have to think outside the box, step out of your comfort zone, and talk to people you usually would not even think about to talk to. It will allow and force you to try new things.
5. Meet amazing people
You will meet great people. From the officer at border control who was happy to meet a person who traveled the country of his origins and loved to talk about it while he was issued your entrance permission, to a lovely new friend who builds a whole village out of glass bottles and collects donations with it to support the local children hospital. Building long-lasting friendships will happen on such a journey as well as short-term “hanging-out-tonight-and-drink-beer”-acquaintanceship. You will meet strangers who are willing to help you out and friends for a day trip.
It is incredible how many different people you can meet in only one week. Some of them you will keep in touch with, some of them will stay just for a week, but in the one case or the other, this experience will last in your memory forever.
6. Grow yourself
Traveling will boost your confidence, it will grow your strength and independence!
Overall, I have learned that if I want something, I can do anything. I can be unstoppable! And so can YOU!
7. Decision making
I usually tent to let other people decide, especially when I am in a group, or with the other person. But traveling alone does not allow leaving decision making to other people. You have to make your own!
Reasons which should not stop you from traveling alone?
For your next solo adventure: Books about solo travel!
1. Safety Concerns
Solo travel is not as dangerous as some people say. I never had any bad experiences. Sometimes I was in situations where my inner voice said that I should find the way to the hotel soon or that I should not take that way. In those cases, I learned to trust my gut. So, will you! Your gut is the best “judging”-tool you have. Listen to it! If anything feels weird or not good at all, it might be because it is not a great idea. That is the good thing to travel solo. No one forces you to do anything which you do not feel confident with.
2. Restrictions by your family or friends
Do not let anybody tell you that you are crazy, weird, or that women, in particular, should not travel alone. It is your life, and you have to live it. If traveling is the one thing you want, then go for it!
3. Fear of loneliness
Do not worry about being lonely! It might happen at some point that you feel lonely, but it will be over soon. As always it is your choice to be alone or take action and be with the people out there. You can choose to talk to them and have a lovely evening or look for a group tour or a meetup. With all the possibilities of the online world today, there are so many opportunities to get in touch with people.
Pin it!
Traveling alone will help to find out more about yourself, to overcome struggles you have. You will find out what you want from life and define a vision of your happy end! Go outside and travel! Do not let anyone stop you!
Have you been on a solo trip yet? Or do you seek confidence in doing so? Share your story in the comments!
Hi Pia . I’m just getting to this post now. I LOVE traveling by myself , no matter what country it is. I have traveled by myself to Singapore , Malaysia , London and Australia twice as well as a lot in the United States and Canada . I go mostly because of some sporting event and I’m always meeting peopke. Plus if there’s no one who wants to go with me, that’s on them because staying home is Not an option . (That’s my motto by the way . )
HiHi, I love your attitude, Jo Ann! You are so right; staying at home is not an option. Life is too short to wait for other people to join you or whatever reason comes up which might stop you from things you love to do! If you want something (I think in any field of life) you will find a way to make it happen. 😉
While I think I’d always prefer to travel with a partner, I completely see your point here. There is a lot of self discovery that can come from doing things on your own, especially something like traveling that will quickly take you out of your comfort zone. Lovely thoughts! Really enjoyed your post!
Haha, yes, Sarah! There is nothing wrong with traveling with a partner or if you made your “solo” experience and you found out that you don´t like at all. But yes, it´s a totally different experience. Have you tried it yourself yet?
So much inspiration goals here. I took my first ever solo trip last year to an organized yoga ashram to ease some of my fears of being alone, it gave me the structure I needed to feel comfortable. Thanks so much for sharing this, have to get back out there solo again soon!
Let´s do it again, Alicia! It will be an awesome experience anyways!
I love traveling solo. I do it for more selfish reasons though that I enjoy being able to make my own plans and not have to compromise. Want a fancy hotel with a tub? Got it. Wanna just lounge in for a morning? Can do. It’s nice independence to do all the things you want.
Exactly, as today! I am staying in my room for a while doing some work. Wouldn´t be possible if someone else would “wait” for me to get out!
Great post and one I completely relate to. I absolutely love travelling solo! I’m married and travel with my husband lots, and friends occasionally too but I regularly sneak off for my solo trips. I’m always planning my next solo trip 😀
I’ve solo traveled most of my life (over 33 years now). I love the freedom to do what I want when I want.
Can´t agree more! Did you ever felt like you want some company on your travels?
So the only secret is to have a “Just do it”-Attitude, just like in many other parts of life…
I will try it very soon in the northern part of germany and later, Great Britain. I like contrasts 😉
Thanks a lot for your Experiences and moral support, Pia!
Daniel
Yes, I´m afraid, that is the whole secret. Have fun in Germany and Great Britain. Don´t be too surprised aka disappointed when you try it in Northern Germany. The people there could appear as a bit harsh sometimes, but don´t worry they don´t mean it. If you should go a bit more south e.g. Dusseldorf and Cologne area people are totally different. More outgoing and more used to talk to strangers. We Germans are all lovely people but personalities and characters in the different areas can be a bit tricky. Looking forward to your experiences 😀
When i have been to foreign countries i rarely got to know other people, as i am totally open an curious but a bit shy and introverted ,too, at least on first sight.
i am just not used to talk to strangers . to make new friends for some minutes, hours or years would make my journeys so much better.
So, tell me your secret, please:)
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for stopping by! I totally feel you. I know that it can be hard talking to complete strangers. And to be honest, I don´t have a special secret. A good thing is to have a kind of “purpose” to ask anything. E.g., when you´re at a sight you want to visit ask someone if he/she could help you with a photo of you or offer them to return the favor, ask them if they have experienced anything else and if they can recommend anything. Maybe you could have a little chat and maybe it turns out that you have the same directions, then you could ask if you could join them for a few hours. I spent some brilliant hours/ days with complete strangers. With some of them, I am still in touch today. In the end, the only thing you can do is to try. Let me know, how it worked, when you try it next time 😀