Traveling is a beautiful thing. It offers incredible experiences, cultural exchange, and visions beyond this world. Even though it can be thrilling to book a vacation with your friends or family, nothing can prepare you for the feeling of jumping on a plane, all by yourself.
Last December, I felt like I needed to make a change. I wanted to experience something that I had never experienced before, and that became a one-person ticket to Costa Rica. Months passed, and on June 26th I boarded my plane, alone. I was nervous, anxious, and incredibly excited. Of course, at times during those 2 months, I felt lonely. However, most days were fantastic and it was hands down the best experience of my life. Below are four reasons why everyone should travel solo at least once.
1. Freedom
The beauty of being by yourself is that you are by yourself. You can decide exactly what you want to do, where you want to go, and when you want to do it. Traveling with someone else can be amazing, but there are often compromises involved. Traveling solo allows you to create your own journey, in every aspect.
2. Self-growth
When was the last time you truly dedicated all your time and energy to yourself? Traveling solo gives you a chance to reflect and discover your persona on a much deeper level. No matter how chiché it might sound, you have the opportunity to become the best version of yourself – in your body as well as mind.
3. Friendships
Traveling alone is not equal to being lonely, and the people you meet and the things you do together often create lifelong memories. You would be surprised how easy it is to make new friends when traveling solo. Just be open-minded and you will connect with people from all over the world. Hostels are great places to find fellow solo travelers!
4. Confidence
No matter if you consider yourself a confident person or not, solo traveling will make you one. Stepping out of your comfort zone and only having yourself to rely on can feel intimidating. However, as time passes by and you realize that you have conquered all things that felt impossible in the beginning, you will get a confidence boost better than all compliments in the world.
Traveling solo isn’t always easy, but every single hardship is worth it. So the next time you want an adventure, don’t wait for the right person. Create your own adventure.
