Experienced travel enthusiasts often recommend solo traveling to other people. Traveling alone will increase your self-confidence, you will meet new people, taste new foods, and you will learn more about yourself. While traveling alone is a very exciting and rewarding experience, it is not advisable for everyone.
Before you travel unaccompanied by a trusted person, you should know what you are dealing with. Knowing the disadvantages of traveling alone will help you determine if this is a safe option for you. Regret will not do you any good, so it is best to gain awareness long before you pack your bags.
Traveling alone has more pros than cons, but it is important to be aware of the negative aspects as well. What are they like?
Safety Concerns
A wonderful vacation could easily turn into a nightmare if you travel alone. Since no one is there to watch your back, you become an easy target of criminals or wild animals.
One of the most common problems of lone travelers is theft. Someone might steal your luggage while you are buying a ticket or your wallet from your backpack on a busy street without you noticing. In addition, having at least one companion will minimize your risk of becoming a victim of scams because “four eyes see more.”
Cost Inflation
Like most travelers, you sure are following a budget. However, there might be instances wherein you will be forced to go beyond the financial plan. The cost of transportation, food, and accommodation might increase unexpectedly.
A traveling companion could share the cost with you, which will make the expenses more bearable. Whether it’s a shared ride or accommodation, you will save extra cash with a travel companion. It might be necessary for you to prepare extra cash if you really intend to travel on your own.
It Could Get Lonely
With all the exciting things that are happening during your vacation, would it be nice to talk about it with someone? That is not possible if you are traveling alone. Yes, communication tools allow you to speak with anyone back home. However, it is still better to talk to someone who has the same experience as you, especially when the weather is bad and all you have to do is stay in your room or at a cafe. Loneliness is one of the most unavoidable disadvantages of traveling alone.
Awkward Situations
There are some activities that might feel or look weird if you are doing it alone. If you are obviously a foreigner, people might stare while you eat alone at your table. In some situations, solo travelers might end up doing something that is socially unacceptable in the place they are visiting. These things could have been avoided if someone you know and trust is there with you.
Photography as a digital memory
Most solo travelers can do a selfie with a front camera or a selfie stick. If you’re traveling alone, all you have to do is take a selfie or ask someone on the street to take a picture of you. However, if you have gone on a trip to nature, where you can barely meet a person, taking photos of yourself can be a challenge. A selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower or a waterfall is definitely a good digital memory, but your whole character in the photo will give your digital memory the right touch. Traveling is a way of reaching true happiness, and that is why memories are important.
No Support
Unfavorable and unexpected things could happen while you travel, especially when you go out of the country. If you get lost and do not speak the local language, then it might take hours before you get back on track. The fact that you are going through this alone will make you feel even more frustrated.
Travel mates can also help if you get sick during the trip. For example, if you are not feeling well but have neither medication nor water or food, your travel buddy can go to the pharmacy or the store, so you can stay in bed.
Bottom line
These are just some of the disadvantages of traveling solo. Needless to say, you need to have a lot of guts if you want to travel solo. Get the facts and weigh your options carefully before making any decision. If this is your first attempt to travel on your own, then take the time to speak with people who have traveled alone many times. They could give you some advice.
To travel with friends or not, the final decision is still yours to make!
