So you and your bestie had always planned to travel together after school or university. But as life likes to throw us curveballs, things get in the way of plans. Your bestie has now landed her dream job and doesn’t want to lose it to go travel. Or you and your boyfriend had your dream gap year adventure planned… and then you broke up.
We can describe countless scenarios such as these that put a spanner in the works and kill your travel plans. Let’s add a pandemic into the mix and your travel partner doesn’t feel comfortable travelling in uncertain times.
So what should you do? Crumple up your carefully planned and dreamed about itinerary and bucket list and throw it into the fire? Wait until the time is right for your travel partner?
We say, ‘Hell no! Now is the time to go!’
Don’t be afraid to travel on your own. If you have to wait until the time is right for your bestie/boyfriend/girlfriend/soulmate/sister… you’ll never get to go. And your new best friend could be waiting at the next airport terminal, bus stop, street café or be the person you ask for directions on the street – after all, a stranger may just be a friend you haven’t met yet!
Here are some reasons why solo travel is a great idea
- You’ll get to meet different people.
If you travel with someone, you might not make as much effort to meet new people when out and about as you would naturally chat to each other, because it’s easy and comfortable. As solo travellers, we are much more approachable than as a couple or group. And with no travel partner to rely on, we are also more likely to talk to strangers along the journey.
Meeting people from all over the world will give you so many different points of view. You’ll see life through different perspectives that will provide you with new ideas. Things work differently in every country, and of course different is just that.
There’s no right or wrong way of doing things, just different ways. If you travel with someone from ‘back home’ chances are you would continue to do things as you did back home. Discovering new cultures will open your mind, and will make you more tolerant of many aspects of life. Travelling in general, but particularly solo travel will also make you a more critical and creative thinker.
- Discover yourself and explore your doubts
Spending time with people that we’ve known for all our life stops us from really getting to know ourselves out of our comfort zone. A solo travel experience or gap year will make you discover things that you didn’t know about yourself. If you choose to solo travel you’ll have to break the ice and come out of your shell, but it’s worth it.
Maybe you’re an extrovert and you just didn’t know it. Discovering yourself and asking yourself questions will help you to make important life decisions as you will know yourself better and understand what truly makes you happy – not just what you are used to because you’ve grown up doing things a certain way.
Sometimes it is not that you’re are not ready for the next step in your life, sometimes you just need to see things from a different perspective. That’s why taking a gap year has become so popular before starting university, or after graduating. It gives people the chance to reflect and think deeply about what do they really want to study and their career path.
- Do what YOU really want to do
This is probably one of the best things about travelling alone. When we are with others, we spend a lot of time trying to find activities that will please everyone and managing the likes and dislikes of the group. This can even cause conflict. On a solo trip, everything is up to you. Where to go, what to eat, what time to wake up… it’s YOUR journey, YOUR choice, YOUR schedule and there’s nobody to worry about other than yourself. And you can change your plans whenever you want, without having to consult anyone else.
So if you’re out and someone you meet suggests a fantastic detour to your planned trip, if it sounds like something you would like to do, you can just go with the flow and not have to consider anyone else. Sure, there will be times in life when you have to consider others and what you want has to take a back seat, but there are equally times when you need to put yourself first, and solo travel is the perfect time to put YOU first.
- It will be a once in a lifetime experience
It’s true that the younger you are, the fewer commitments you have, which makes it easier to just pack up and go discover yourself for a while. But, don’t get obsessed with age, in the end, it’s just a number. At Destination TEFL we’ve had many students who are taking a gap year later in life, once their kids leave the house or when they decide that it’s time to jump off the hamster wheel for a while and reconnect with who they are and what they want out of life. It‘s better to do something at any time than regret not having done anything at the end.
- Learn to take responsibility for your decisions and gain confidence in yourself
The freedom of being alone can be invigorating and empowering. But, of course with great power comes great responsibility. It’s not always easy to manage our own decisions and all the consequences that come along with these decisions.
If you are travelling with someone, you can run things past each other, check out maps together, navigate language barriers and at least you have each other when things don’t go to plan. But, when travelling solo, if you make a bad choice, you are responsible for it and have to learn how to deal with it and move on. So travelling alone is a great way to mature and grow your independence. Solo travel forces us to make decisions and solve issues without the help of other people.
- You’ll learn to face your fears
Travelling is a great way to challenge the fear of loneliness and learn to feel comfortable with your own company. Being solo can be a good opportunity to take stock of our lives and dreams. You’ll also have a chance to face up to your fears without the backup of a buddy, which can really help you to grow as a person.
Fear of flying to a destination where you don’t know the language? Or of getting lost? Too shy to ask strangers for help? The Destination TEFL Team are all seasoned travellers. We recall our first solo trips and how nervous we were (especially as female solo travellers with additional worries). Of course, you need to be streetwise and don’t be silly about solo travel. There are times when you should stick to crowds and not go down dark alleys by yourself – but doesn’t the same apply to back home?
But in the end, venturing out into the world on your own will with no doubt make you face some of your fears and realise that sometimes you have to move on, even if it seems like the scariest thing to do at the time. There is nothing more invigorating than overcoming your fears, making decisions and stepping out of your comfort zone – after all, outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens!
“To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world. You are surrounded by adventure. You have no idea of what is in store for you, but you will, if you are wise and know the art of travel, let yourself go on the stream of the unknown.” – Freya Stark – Anglo-Italian explorer and travel writer
Rose-Anne Turner – Destination TEFL admissions
