One of the best parts of solo travel is that you have to really get to know yourself. Like, when I travel with others, I'm very much a "whatever you wanna do" person, but when I'm on my own I actually have to think, "ok, what is it that I actually want to do?" and I feel like that's led to so much self-realization on the road.
I definitely have discovered that though I can appreciate a city, I will take a small village over a city any day. And that I will always choose local food, unless I pass a particularly amazing-smelling Indian or Italian restaurant in a place that is not India or Italy 😂 And most importantly, I've discovered that I can keep calm under pressure when things go wrong and actually have a lot of problem-solving skills when I don't have anyone else to rely on!
What have you figured out about yourself on your solo travels?
Totally identify with all the comments about confidence, problem-solving and understanding yourself better.
I think my experience of solo travel has been shaped by the fact that my partner and I have been together since we were 16 (I’m now 27 so that’s over a decade!). We grew into adulthood together and while I love him very much sometimes it’s hard to untangle my own identity from our identity as a couple.
In 2018 I took a few months out to do the classic SE Asia loop alone and learnt that I’m incredibly resourceful when I’m on my own - before, when my partner was around I would lean on him way too much which actually diminished my confidence. It’s something I’ve been working on since I got back. Plus, I actually prefer travelling alone. I love not having a plan, which is way less stressful when you only have yourself to please. He’s a little fussy and precious about having his comforts, but I’m happy to strip all of that back and just focus on connecting with other people and discovering new experiences. It recharges me. Since 2018 I’ve taken a few smaller solo trips and once travel restrictions lift I’m planning another long trip to Colombia 🙃