Over the last few years, I’ve seen loads of Instagram posts, YouTube vlogs, and travel blogs about how solo travel is the best and will change your life forever. The hype has continued to grow consistently and it seems like it’s become every travel influencer's preferred method of adventure. Having experienced quite a bit of FOMO every year during college because my friends couldn’t travel, I decided I should give it a try. I participated in a teach abroad program in Spain at the beginning of 2019 and, while abroad, also took two short solo trips to France and Portugal. Through those adventures, I learned that I definitely prefer to travel with friends and family or, at the very least, as part of some collective group.
I’m a shy extrovert, meaning I feed off the energy of others and enjoy being in social settings but I struggle to make the first move and hate being the center of attention. Not only do these two sides regularly clash in my everyday life (and make adulting hard), they make solo travel boring! Now I’m not knocking solo travel completely because plenty of people truly do enjoy it but it’s not my cup of tea. Going on vacations completely solo makes me feel like I'm more so going through the motions instead of fully enjoying the experiences. And logistics-wise, it’s not the best either. I’ll go into detail below but with that in mind, I’ll definitely be posting on my IG story in the future looking for travel buddies, especially if my designated partner isn’t available. And if you are ever looking for a travel buddy yourself, hit me up!
I Can’t Split Costs :(
One of the best parts about traveling with others is splitting the costs of accommodations, transportation, and/or expensive activities! Most accommodation base prices are for double occupancy which means a solo traveler has to pay the equivalent of two people. I like when that $1000 turns into $500 each but when I gotta pay $1000 by myself, ion like det! Same for some bucket list activities that list prices by the hour or by the package. I’m nowhere near rich so having to pay for those things by myself means I have less money for other activities later (or other vacations). I’m all about budgeting my travels so I can have the best experience possible without running my bank account dry. We don’t play going broke trying to travel over here, honey! Priorities!
It’s Easier With Others
Oftentimes simple activities like getting around, holding bags, taking pictures, etc. are just easier with others around. While I can get us to a place using written directions, my designated travel buddy is better at following maps and remembering how to get back to our original location. When I was by myself in Paris, I absolutely got lost and I do not want to be in that position again LOL. And how am I supposed to get quality pictures by myself? I don’t want to hand my phone to a stranger in hopes that they will actually try to catch all of the angles and direct me on what to do (because I can’t pose) nor do I want to trust that they won’t just run away with my phone altogether. The cover photo was a result of this struggle and of course, I hate it! And then having to bring my luggage and other belongings into the bathroom, not being able to leave my food at the table while eating, having to keep my eyes open while relaxing on the beach, and trying to figure out a safe place to put my belongings while taking pictures can all be avoided if I have friends and family with me.
The More People, The Safer The Vacation
Even in the USA, I’m cautious about walking around unknown areas by myself, especially at night. So when I’m abroad, I prefer to have others with me as well (esp. since I can’t bring my pepper spray with me). I truly believe in the idea that there’s safety in numbers, esp. for female travelers. If there are two or more of us, we are probably less of a target and can have each other's back should something happen.
Let’s Make Memories Together
The biggest reason I don’t prefer solo travel is because I like to experience things with other people and have others to talk, laugh, and share those moments with. Quiet dinners suck. And I like to admire beautiful scenery by not only looking at it but talking about it as well. And experiencing funny moments that turn into inside jokes is the best! Having experienced everything by yourself and not being able to come back and say “Remember that time…” is really not for me.
This is not to say that I will never travel solo again but you best believe that if I am somewhere alone, it’s because I couldn’t find anyone else to join me and really didn’t want to postpone that trip. It is definitely not my first, second, or third choice.
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