10 things no one tells you about travelling solo

The good, the bad and the ugly.

Travelling solo, to me, means exercising your freedom and celebrating life! So many people fear travelling solo and consequently miss out on travelling altogether as they chase up those uncertain plans, wait on their fickle friends, family members or partners, or simply pull-out themselves as they see the money stack up with every grand itinerary.

But travelling doesn't have to be expensive, and it certainly doesn't have to be with company. I've travelled to over 65 countries, and mostly solo, for almost 20 years now; I'm 'proof' that travelling (solo) can actually be cheaper than living back home, in the western world. 

Of course, I understand that some people reading this have commitments which don't allow them the freedom to travel, let alone travel alone, but this is aimed more at those who don't have commitments and are simply making excuses, gripping on to fear like it's a life-boat.

Learn the good, the bad, and the ugly of travelling solo with this list, and decide for yourself if you want to continue waiting around for that 1-week holiday in a year's time, which your friend still hasn't committed to. 

1. It's so liberating to do as you please, when you please and how you please. No need to confer with anyone, make endless plans then feel guilty about canceling last-minute, or being dragged from one place to another, in the name of compromise;
2. It encourages you to learn and fine-tune lots of necessary life-skills: from the logistics of researching and making decisions, to planning, surviving and learning to trust your instincts and judgments; 
3. It can be very social when you want it to be, meeting people as and when (in your hostel, in a café, on the beach...), and equally tranquil and quiet when you want the solitude;
4. It gives you the time and freedom to connect with yourself, pursue creative skills during the various 'idle' moments, and shows you who you really are and what you're capable of;
5. It lets you see how magical and vast the world is, and how insignificant your problems are; 
6. You see, experience and witness amazing things from exhilarating adventures, to curious cultures to tantalizing food, reminding you what it's like to be alive and realize how fortunate you truly are all whilst creating everlasting memories;
7. You make surprisingly instant, deep connections, finding yourself opening up in ways that you've struggled to get back home, and in a short time make life-long connections with people who make you feel seen, heard and understood;
8. Sometimes, it can get boring, lonely and suddenly overwhelm you with homesickness as you realise that connections may seem fleeting, repetitive and superficial;
9. It can be more expensive at times as you have the bear the full amount of a bill instead of splitting, like for a taxi, scooter or hotel room (assuming you don't use public transport or book dorms in hostels);
10. You will get noticed, stared at and questioned for travelling solo (as a female, anyway), with some people seeing it as bravery and awe-inspiring, whilst others see you as easy prey.

This is quite a brief list, but as you can see, the good outweighs the bad and the ugly. You just have to be patient and kind with yourself as you ride the waves, but it's totally worth it. So go on, what are you waiting for?