Are you dreaming of traveling alone at least once in your life? Solo travel is one of the most magical experiences you can have. Traveling alone means being in charge of your schedule, doing activities YOU want to do, and not waiting on others to decide whether to book the ticket!

With that said, traveling alone can come with unique challenges. If you’re thinking of making a solo trip and wondering whether to go ahead and book the flight or not, keep reading!

Pros of Traveling Alone

You’re in charge

One of the biggest pros of traveling solo is that you can do whatever you want. If you feel like sleeping in, go ahead! You can do that if you feel like soaking in the local scenery rather than hitting the clubs. When you travel with other people, everyone has to compromise and do things other people want to do. This means you’ll have to spend time doing things you’re not super excited about, but it can also lead to arguments that can ruin the trip for everyone (and even hurt relationships).

You can go for as long as you’d like

Another huge pro of traveling alone is that you can leave when you want and return home when you feel like it (and your schedule allows). You know your vacation time, and you can use it. You set the time clock, and you don’t have to arrange your travels around other people’s vacation time.

Cons of Traveling Alone

Loneliness can be an issue.

This might not be the case for everyone, especially if you’re an introvert like me. It can get tricky for extroverts who thrive on social interactions to travel solo. Moreover, some destinations are best to travel to with friends (i.e., Las Vegas!).

If you think loneliness might be an issue, you can opt to stay at a social hostel where you can make new friends and go out. If you’re not keen on sharing a dorm with other people, many hostels offer private rooms to have your own space to sleep while still socializing and meeting people in the common areas.

Another option is to join Facebook groups to see if another solo traveler is hitting up the same destination or download apps like Bumble BFF, where you can meet locals and travelers alike to share your travels with!

You have to be careful.

One of the most significant downsides of traveling solo, especially as a woman, is to be extra careful. With that said, though, as long as you keep your wits about (just like you would at home – i.e., don’t walk in a dark alley at midnight and don’t accept drinks from strangers), you’ll be totally fine!

So there you have it! Despite the apparent cons, traveling alone is an incredible experience that you should not miss out on. If you’re unsure whether or not solo travel is for you, why not try a short trip close to home to test the waters before going on a more significant trip yourself?

Are you thinking of traveling solo? Let me know all about it in the comment section below!