Before I left for Ireland, I knew there would be benefits to traveling solo. These benefits I likened to a new-found independence, ease in social situations and confidence. While I didn’t assume these positives would come out of solo travel, they were aspects to traveling I suspected I would gain.
In the end, I did find a new sense of confidence. I also discovered just how much more independent I could be. Talking with strangers became much easier for me after a month of solo travel. However, there were a few surprises in the solo travel department. Perhaps you have traveled solo and found these benefits, ones you never expected to find.
Odd One Person-Spots on Tours
On almost every tour, there is that odd one-person ticket that never gets filled. In Ireland, I encountered this numerous times at museum visits and site showings. I arrived at Newgrange, a prehistoric tomb, expecting to wait hours as my guidebook had cautioned. A group in front of me of three people received their bad news that they would be on a tour 2 hours later. I pretty much accepted my fate. I too would be waiting in a visitor’s center for hours on end. I walked up to the ticket agent and said “just one”. She gave me a sticker for my time slot in 10 minutes to see Newgrange. They had one spot left on a tour that would no doubt go to waste. Solo travelers can save a great deal of time just by filling up these odd spots. You can usually fill these wasted one spots when no one else can because they are with friends.
Newgrange
Weird and Wacky Conversations
While I know people who travel with others can have their share of weird conversations, solo travel for some reason brings this about almost with every day. Perhaps people don’t mind shocking you for you are alone. I found people approached me, perhaps not always to my liking, with some strange exchanges. From a musician at the Giant’s Causeway who started talking to me by insulting my shoes, to a B& B owner who told me her “journey of life”, leaving in all of the gory details, I have had some strange encounters. I suspect these weird and wacky conversations are lessened when you travel with someone as people are less inclined to approach you if a group surrounds you.
Friendlier Service
This could just be Ireland, but every restaurant I ate at, for the most part, treated me like the queen. Waiters and waitresses, café owners and the like, would always start lengthy conversations with me. I actually never felt like I was dining alone as it seemed the Irish were looking out for me. Perhaps they were worried I was alone and somewhat sad, but I will take the friendlier service. When you travel with someone, these people don’t think you need extra conversation or attention because you have someone on the other side of the table.
Shopping for food at the Cork Market
Better Decision-Making Skills
When I travel with someone, there is a compromise of what I want to see and what they want to see. I tend to take a backseat to trip planning. I don’t enjoy searching for hotels for hours on end. I figure we can just wing it when we get there. However, traveling solo forced me to make up my own itineraries. Making decisions is not something I think I struggle with, but solo travel allowed me to be more aggressive in travel planning. If I didn’t map out my day, no one else would. Solo travel surprised me in that I had to make decisions and select where I wanted to go without someone helping me. Suddenly, the solo traveler is more forceful and knows what they want out of travel.
Traveling planning all alone
What are some of the unexpected benefits to solo travel you have found on the road?
That’s a nice read. I think I needed this! I have never really liked doing it alone. It has been sometime that I have been planning a trip to Vietnam but couldn’t go ahead as I was trying to avoid it till the time I had some company.
I should go! 🙂
Vietnam is fine for solo travel. Just be on the look out for scams. Its pretty common in Southeast Asia. I hope that doesn’t deter you from visiting Vietnam. I can’t wait to be there in July!
Hey I am from Singapore. In a country like mine, long term solo travel is pretty rare. My friends told me I got more mature and wiser after travelling solo. It has also helped me with tough decisions in life,not only travel. So I guess travel solo is always good!
Hi Suzy- I suspect the man who insulted your shoes at the Giant’s Causeway was actually trying to get off with you, by following one of the adages of that great misogynist’s bible, The Rules! What a sap! Glad you had a good time, regardless.
These are all so true! This isn’t so much travel-related, but a few years ago I was trying to upgrade my seat for the men’s final at the US Open. I was attending by myself and I saw several pairs ahead of me get turned down. But lo and behold, when it was my turn, there was a single courtside seat available for upgrade!
I also find that when I travel with someone else, I stress over whether the other person is really enjoying what we’re seeing/doing, especially if I was the one who made the choice – there have been times when that stress has kind of ruined things for me!
I like the aspect of solo travel that you have to immerse yourself in your surroundings, absorbing and noticing much more, whereas if you were in a group it would be easy to chose not to. It’s like your senses are heightened because you are relying on yourself. I also found that travelling solo you get just as much interaction with people as when with an established group, which surprised me. For me the big thing is that if you are very sure about what you want to do and when you want to do it, whilst travelling solo you have that freedom; there are equal benefits to going with the flow amongst a group. It depends what you want out of your travel.
I completely agree. After doing my first long international trip solo, I may never go back. Don’t forget also: freedom and new friends! I met a couple people on a train in Corsica and ended up spending the next five days with them hiking on the GR20 in the mountains there. I met two others on a bus in Croatia and ended up spending the next week traveling through the Balkans with them. I’m still good friends with a lot of people I’ve met solo, and will probably meet up with them again this time around (as an added benefit: making friends everywhere means couchsurfing sans creepiness-potential 😉 ).
I love all these solo-travel comments. It’s so much easier to make spur-of-the-moment decision changes. If I’ve planned one thing, but the weather changes or an opportunity arises, I can make the decision without having to consult with anyone for a general consensus. I am one who also feels it’s my job to be sure everyone else is having a good experience and traveling solo lifts that self-imposed burden. Solo-travel certainly has its benefits.
Now how much of your conversations had to do with you being a red headed female in Ireland? Surely there were plenty of people who would want to talk to you! You fit right in! 🙂
As for benefits of being solo, I would say the opportunity to meet more people. When you are with people, you tend to connect with other couples of groups. As a solo traveler, you can move from person to person and meet lots of interesting folks from around the world!
I’ve noticed the friendlier service in restaurants thing too! I always find it a weird concept to eat alone at a table, but it’s almost like the waiters feel bad for you. Maybe they think we’re lonely? Haha
Haha, at coffee shops it’s not that bad, but at restaurants it’s def. more noticeable. Geez, eating out alone doesn’t have to mean you’re single or that friends & family abandoned you. 😉
I agree with all of these benefits, Susie! The “one person slot” always makes me happy. Related to that, I once went on a helicopter ride which had several others going as couples. The couples were placed next to each other in the back row and I got the prime seat up front, next to the pilot, with the best view.
Great list! I love meeting new people and having the COMPLETE freedom to do what you like and rapidly change itinerary without having to “check in” with someone to make sure it’s okay! I once met really cool people in a Vienna hostel who convinced me to check out Krakow, Poland before heading off to my planned destination, which was Prague. As I was travelling solo and didn’t have to consult with anybody, the next day I bought a ticket for a sleeper train and was on my way! Travelling solo rocks!
I would see “Krakow” written somewhere from a mile away, since it’s my hometown. I hope you enjoyed your trip there.
Nice read. I have traveled alone and can relate, esp. to the conversations and more attentive service at restaurants. But I find the same true when I go out to eat alone in my city. People still act a bit surprised to see a lone female out, but usually will start to chat me up.
I love the picture at the top. 🙂
Excellent take on everything. Very good article to let newbies know what to expect for the most part.
Sounds like you’ve met a lot of interesting people while traveling solo! Great post.
Yea, I love traveling alone sometimes. More peace and quiet if you want to read on the plane or the train. When you meet new people, you can be whoever you want to be because you’re not with anyone who knows you already. You don’t have to wait around for people and you also have the freedom to spend as much time dawdling as you want. You can change your plans at the last minute without consulting anyone… etc 🙂
Great post Suzy! This actually gives a really great insight into who you are as a traveler and now a solo traveler. I always thought that you were a solo traveler, that it was what you preferred over any other kind of travel. It sounds like Ireland gave you a good introduction into something that you enjoy!
In addition to friendlier service, I think locals are nicer to you in general when you travel solo. In Latin America, I’ve found that in many cases, the locals think I am so crazy for traveling on my own that people are extra welcoming and helpful!
Travelling solo has a lot of benefits and you are free to exactly what you want. I think you are more inclined to reach out an meet other people as well which is fun. The only time you feel lonely is when you see something cool and dont have anyone to share it with.