Have you ever felt the sudden urge to just pack up your stuff and visit another country? We're sure almost every adult has had that desire at some point in their life. Maybe your day-to-day routine got too stressful, or you were simply seeking the adventure of a lifetime, but no matter the reason, the craving to experience new and wonderful things exists in all of us.
You might be craving it so much, you're thinking about doing it alone! But hold your horses, before you jump in according to instinct, this is something you should calm down and think about first. Solo traveling is no small feat, and the truth of the matter is, it's not for everyone! So before you spend a huge chunk of your savings thinking you'll be okay to do it, here are a few reasons why it might not work out for you.
You're On Your Own
Take a minute to really think about what it means to solo travel. You're going solo, aka, completely on your own! For someone who's never done it before or prefers to travel with company, it's an entirely different experience that, quite honestly, may be too overwhelming.
You're going to be in a new and unfamiliar environment on your own, with no one else to rely on. If something, anything, goes wrong, you'll have to figure out a solution all by yourself, too. And for some who struggle with being independent, this can be an extraordinarily large ask. Being able to problem solve and think on your feet isn't a "nice to have" when solo traveling, it's a requirement.
And it's very possible you haven't fully let it sink in what being solo truly means; from eating your meals to exploring landmarks and doing your grocery shopping, these will all be done on your own. And if you're staying somewhere that speaks a different language, you'll struggle to connect and communicate with others on a regular basis as well.
So if the idea of this is starting to make you feel nervous, scared, or even uncomfortable, you simply might not be cut out for it. Which is totally okay! After all, loneliness is a very real struggle, and even the most independent of travelers will experience it.
It Can Be Pricey
An important detail that you might've also overlooked is just how expensive solo traveling can really be. Just think about it. You're not going to have anyone to split costs with, whether it's a restaurant bill, an Uber ride, or hotel expenses. Everything is coming out of your pocket, and your pocket alone, and sometimes it's easy to forget just how pricey that can be.
Your accommodations are definitely going to be the pain point when it comes to budgeting. Because regardless of whether you stay at a hotel, a hostel, or rent an apartment for longer stays, it's always cheapest when you're able to divide the cost with multiple people. That's just the price you have to pay when you choose to go on an adventure, we suppose!
You Have To Be Organized
Not usually the planner of the group? Well, if you're going to travel solo, you're going to have to start right now! If you want to make sure you have everything in place for a successful trip, you'll need to be very organized about planning your plane ticket, taking care of accommodations, figuring out how to get from one place to another, and so on. Again, you need to be able to rely solely on yourself to make this work.
For those who get overwhelmed by this responsibility, it's not that you won't be able to do a solo trip, it's that you'll have a very bad time. You'll constantly feel stressed, anxious, and worried about forgetting something or misplacing something important. So if you don't think you're up to the task of being organized and planning your own schedule quite yet, we'd say hold back on solo traveling for now.
Sometimes you just need to give it some time before you really take action, especially for something as big and life-changing as this!
