Want to completely reinvent yourself and get rid of all your problems. Well, here’s the golden ticket that will transport you to a new world full of endless fun, freedom, and the guarantee of becoming a ‘changed person’.

My first post in this series conjectured that solo female travel is empowering by enabling us to put ourselves first, broaden our horizons, and grow in the meantime. Putting ourselves first can help us to support each other, so think about what could be achieved in the context of travel! Yet, what if we are not best placed to handle the unanticipated downsides of travel? And preach what you like, but if quitting your job to solo travel was so easy, then everyone would have done it by now.

The Romanticisation of Solo Travel

When I first looked into solo travel, I was seized by all those advocating the benefits. You’re alone, but never lonely. It is the most freeing thing possible. And of course, it will totally change who you are. I don’t entirely disagree with this.

Yet, pop onto Travel Instagram, the site we all use to romanticise our lives. You will be enlivened by myriads of sunsets, crystalline waters, and obviously pristine influencers, including those who mainly solo travel. But what about those moments that don’t go as well?

Is solo travel really better than travelling with others?

It depends on who you are. Some would voice the benefits of solo travel for introverts. Imagine going beach hopping, spending hours exploring museums, and trying foods from around the world without having to say a word to anyone. In contrast, others would exhort extraverts to give it a go. Nothing better than meeting dozens of strangers each time you arrive in a new hostel, to spend the days and evenings chatting and dancing away.

That’s not necessarily incorrect. But equally, I believe solo travel can present challenges for extraverts, introverts, and ambiverts alike. Being someone who likes to socialise, but also values alone time, I have found that meeting strangers takes up far more energy than meeting with people I know. So then I do end up spending more time alone than I would have in the past.

Yet, it is a unique experience. You do not get the joys or ease of spending in-person time with those you already love. But you are bonding with people who may have very different cultures, backgrounds, and lives, who you would never have met otherwise. This is uniquely special, and the skills and confidence to connect with more people develop during solo travel. Although it is important to anticipate some feelings of loneliness before setting off on solo travel.

Do you really fall in love with yourself?

In a romantic sense, absolutely not. But in a more down-to-earth way, there have been some baby steps.

After navigating solo travel challenges, you will become more confident. Also, when you are living a life more aligned with what you want, you will become accustomed to ‘putting yourself first’.

But when something goes wrong after taking myself outside of my comfort zone, I feel less confident. Likewise, although prioritising my needs will ultimately benefit me, I still frequently question my decision.

The trick is not to expect any significant changes overnight. It takes time to adapt to something new, and you are not always going to feel amazing when doing so.

Do you become a new person?’

Solo travel can broaden your perspective and force you to overcome new challenges. But, I would disagree with the narrative that you ‘become a new person’.

My doubt may be more existential. But your past will still follow you, along with the experiences that you are gaining from solo travel. Both are important, and both will shape your future self. Travelling thousands of miles around the world might enable you to gain incredible experiences, meet a diverse range of people, and challenge your current views and perspectives. But it won’t erase the experiences that you have so far encountered.

Can it help you escape from yourself or your problems at home?

Absolutely not. Any ongoing issues at home will not grind to a halt just because you are in another country!

Likewise, any emotional baggage will sneak into your ‘carry-on’ baggage, even if you are heading to a paradise island. If you remain oblivious, my gut feeling is that it could get a lot worse.

That said, having ‘gone through stuff’ shouldn’t prevent you from gaining new experiences. And sometimes, it is impossible to wait until everything has been resolved, be it externally or internally. But it is about moving forward whilst anticipating these personal challenges, rather than moving forward to escape. Anticipating this before you travel will make you better prepared to deal with old (and new) problems on the road. Having a couple of healthy coping mechanisms is also a good idea. You don’t need to spend hours at a spa treatment, but something like going for a walk, getting a sweet treat, or just listening to music can help.

Does it really ‘expand your worldview?’

Having aspired to embrace ‘slow’ and ‘sustainable’ travel before setting off, anyone would assume that by now, I would be a master. But every time I arrive somewhere new, I have been surrounded by swarms of (often British) tourists. Whilst the vast majority of locals can immediately tell I’m English, the first word that is exchanged is ‘hello’.

It’s also the case that many shops, food outlets, and activities cater to tourists’ prerequisite tastes. Meaning that the area subsequently becomes diluted. This way, how is someone expected to really learn about people and places?

There are, however, ways to immerse yourself in local cultures. Attending locally run events and asking questions can definitely help. Interacting with other travellers is a great way to expand your perspective. Many travellers staying in hostels, or other solo travellers, will be keen to make new connections, and travellers come from a wide range of backgrounds. Learning more about local cultures authentically, and meeting new people have been a couple of my favourite parts of solo travel so far- and I am not an extrovert!

In time, it becomes easier to interact with people, and a significant part of expanding your worldview depends on where you are going and what you are going to. Later on, I will be staying with a local family in Bali, and I will hopefully be volunteering with an educational charity in Cambodia. Admittedly, I chose a few countries in Europe to begin with to ease myself into solo travel. It may take time to settle before being as immersive.

My hope is that travel will become more ‘sustainable’ and ‘community-led’ over time. Many travellers are craving more authentic experiences, so resorts need to factor this in; otherwise, their demand for tourism will ironically fall.

Should we all just quit our jobs?

Long-term travellers can budget, work abroad, and make money remotely. People can stay in homestays in exchange for free accommodation, or find paid work abroad. But arranging that is still going to take time, expense, and significant sacrifices.

Quitting your job to try and ‘volunteer abroad’, or attempt to start a business, is an immense privilege. Being able to take a ‘gap year’. I’d be a total hypocrite if I said that it is wrong to do if you can. It can reap substantial rewards for yourself and others simultaneously. But the attitude of ‘well, if I can do it, you can do it too’ kind of stinks.

Instead, travellers should feel grateful for the opportunities that they have, and should understand that it is more difficult/impossible for so many people, including peers.

Passport privilege, western privilege, and male privilege also make solo travelling more navigable. My final post in this series will explore this topic in more depth. But to use an example, being from the UK means that I can access most countries without needing to apply for visas.

Should we solo travel: Final thoughts?

If you have the means to solo travel, then it depends on whether you want to. Sorry, I cannot be of any more help.

If you have been considering solo travel for a while, I suspect you do want to go. You can start off small by taking a short trip somewhere before choosing solo-travel long-term.

If you wish to solo travel for an extended period, you should have some kind of ‘plan’. Think about what you want to get out of travelling, what you would need to prepare, and what you may need to anticipate. For example, I had arranged the volunteering placements before solo travelling, and I knew that every day wouldn’t necessarily be bliss just because I am somewhere beautiful. Moreover, if I decide to travel for longer than my initial plan, I will need to find a way to make money.

Having some breaks can be good too. I will be meeting friends and family soon, and I will be returning to the UK for Christmas. Finally, there are people I can stay with if travelling doesn’t work out, or if I need a break. I talk about this a lot, but I also keep in touch with people I am close to throughout my travels.

My final post in this series will hone in on how any kind of travel entails privilege. It will include the accessibility of travel, the dynamic between locals and tourists/travellers, and how we can strive to do better. To be sure not to miss out on that, or on more posts oscillating between ‘sustainable travel’ and my personal experiences, please give me a follow.

And if you are a sucker for sunsets or cute travel photos, then please follow me on Instagram. Yep, my name is sucker for sunsets, and I don’t care if that’s cringe 🙂