kjoyce4If you’ve read my blog before, you know many of my trips are done solo. If you’re new, welcome, I’m Kim and I spend my free time finding adventures with my dog Chloe.
In college, I studied abroad in London, spending the weekends hoping from country to country with my friends. There were so many places I wanted to visit, but I was scared to leave the city without a travel buddy.
After graduating, I moved to a new city without any friends. That’s when I realized, if I wanted to see new places, I’d have to be my own travel buddy. When I adopted Chloe, she became my closest travel companion.
Here are the five most important things I’ve learned since I started traveling solo:
- You Have So Much More Time Than You Think: When you’ve only ever traveled with other people, you don’t think about how much time you spend waiting for everyone else. On family trips, I was used to getting up at 8, and waiting around until 10 for everyone to be ready. So when I realized it only takes me half an hour to get ready, I suddenly had a lot more time to fill, which means more adventures, more time to explore, and even more time to relax.
- Go Outside Your Comfort Zone: Whether it’s a solo hike or eating a meal alone at a restaurant, we all have things that scare us. The only way to make to concur those fears is to face them head on. Once you’ve done the research and prepared, all you have to do is take the leap. And if you hate it, at least you can say you tried. I’ve learned we take lessons from the things we do and regret the things we don’t.
- You’re in Charge of Your Own Happiness: The biggest benefit to traveling with others, is having someone to split the responsibilities with. Traveling solo, all of the research, planning and execution is on you. While that has some major perks, it also means that you have to experience and come back from the lows all on your own. I’ve learned that accepting that they will happen and that getting over them will make you stronger has been incredibly empowering.
- Do Just Enough Research: I love going down the research rabbit hole. But with a few trips under my belt, I’ve discovered that the best parts of the trip are the ones you weren’t expecting. So do your research on where to stay and the can’t miss spots, but don’t forget to leave a bit up to chance.
- You’re Never Really Traveling Alone: Whether it’s a four-legged friend or the people you meet along the way, I never truly feel alone on my trips. When I’m on my own, I’m more willing to strike up a conversation with the people I encounter along the way, and I’ll even go a little out of the way to see old friends.
Solo travel can seem daunting, but even a weekend trip to a nearby city can change the way you view the world and yourself. So here’s your sign to book that trip you’ve been dreaming of. Happy travels🗺
