Amy Reynolds While ‘finding yourself’ on a solo trip and is often considered a rite of passage for youngsters, booking a solo travel experience should only be done after some serious thought on the matter. There are many considerations surrounding your decision to jet off alone, which all have a great deal of influence on your enjoyment of the journey.
Introversion vs. extroversion
Your personality is a key consideration when deciding on your trip itinerary and whether to invite companions. Travelling solo might be an introvert’s dream, but an extrovert may struggle with the lack of consistent human connection and begin to feel isolated. Conversely, if budget constraints mean that you’re bunking in shared dorms for months on end to explore the beaten path of touristy hotspots, quieter personality types may become overwhelmed by constant chatter and activity.
Type A and Type B personalities
In the same vein, your organizational skills come into play when you bear all of the responsibility for ensuring everything runs smoothly. Though type A personalities will thrive on having full control over planning, those who find themselves asking “what time is our flight” the day before it leaves may struggle without their more organised friends.
Homesickness
Despite exciting experiences along the way, travelling alone means that you become more likely to experience homesickness. Spending so much time so far away from everyone you know and love can be incredibly difficult, and even more so without someone to talk to about how you’re feeling.
Travelling experience
While travelling isn’t rocket science, there are many aspects of trips, such as navigating through foreign airports and public transit systems, which definitely take a few trial runs to master. If this is your first overseas experience, you may want to go with a knowledgeable friend who can guide you and ensure that your first experience is a positive one which makes you want to come back for more!
Preparedness for emergencies
One definite downside of travelling alone is that it can make you more vulnerable to pickpocketing and other dangerous situations. Everything from exploring new cities at night to hiking accidents becomes scarier when there’s no one watching your back, so you should make sure you have contingency plans in place for all possibilities, even those you may not like to consider. Make sure you invest in travel insurance before your trip, research the local emergency contact numbers, and take precautions to ensure your safety.