Virgin solo traveler no more!
A few months ago, I finally ticked off one of my travel goals – to travel alone. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for quite some time and when I couldn’t get someone to join me in Bangkok, I thought I’d snag the chance to travel on my own.
If you’ve read my Bangkok stories, you’d know that I had so much fun and it was pretty much one of my best trips so far. I loved it so much that I wanna do it again soon. Solo traveling suited me well and I’ve been preaching its benefits to my friends ever since I came back. I know it’s not for everyone but you wouldn’t really know until you try, right?
So if you’re considering traveling unaccompanied, here are some of the reasons why you should definitely do it, and some of the lessons I learned that might be helpful to you, too.
Solo traveling is a great time to know more about yourself.
My past travels have taught me a great deal about myself and refined my travel preferences. But self-awareness is even more heightened when you’re alone. Even if you end up meeting new people and making new friends along the way (you most likely will – another reason to do it!), you will be spending most of your time alone with your thoughts. I say, enjoy it! You will be surprised at the nuggets of revelations about something as grand as life or as simple as your penchants. My Bangkok trip sealed my love for sunsets and coffee, and I learned that I didn’t care much for shopping.
It takes you out of your comfort zone.
It takes guts to go out there and explore but even more so when doing it alone. All the research and the planning can only prepare you so much; there will always be uncertainty. But hey, the element of surprise is what makes traveling exciting.
One of the biggest difference between setting out alone and having a companion is the decision making process. Traveling solo means making all the decisions (which I sometimes struggle with) and dealing with the consequences, whether good or bad, on your own. Fortunately, I didn’t regret most of the decisions I made in Bangkok.
Solo traveling (and the consequent need to talk to people) also pushes you to make friends. My Sagada trip already cured my past unfriendliness so now I have no trouble approaching people.
Whatever it is that you have trouble conquering, whether it’s your shyness or your indecisiveness or your faulty sense of direction, you will have to tackle it when you’re on your own.
A smile can do wonders.
Asking for directions? Haggling? Ordering food? Attempting to start a conversation? Start with a smile. Thais, like Filipinos, are generous with their smiles and it helped me feel comfortable around them. I tried my best to act polite, if not friendly, towards locals. I think that’s what earned me an extra slice of cake at one of the cafés I ate at. 🙂
Blending in is key.
Be friendly but avoid drawing attention to yourself. Thankfully, as a Southeast Asian, locals mistook me for a Thai so I wasn’t much of a target for scamming or other unpleasant incidents. Still, I made sure not to look touristy when I was walking around Bangkok (or anywhere else). This involves not only looking the part (i.e. wearing comfy and non-flashy clothes) but also acting the part. How? By doing what the locals do. See the local sights, enjoy the local food, and try to speak a little bit of the language. You don’t only get to blend in but also experience a deeper understanding of the place and people.
It’s liberating.
Besides gaining bragging rights, solo traveling is really about calling the shots. You want to experience Paris but don’t want to bother lining up for the Louvre? Don’t want to follow the usual itinerary? Want to sleep in? Feel like hanging out in the same café for three days straight because of a cute barista (true story! LOL)? It’s all okay because you’re in charge. No need to feel guilty; you don’t have to answer to anyone else. You can see what you want, do what you want, eat what you want. If you’re even confident, you can even be anyone else!
You’re alone… but not really.
It’s easier to meet people when you’re traveling solo. Not only do you feel inclined to make friends, you also look more approachable to other travelers because you don’t look as occupied as the usual traveler who’s part of a group.
Yet even in your alone time, you’re never really alone. Unless you’re bundled up in your hotel room, you will always be surrounded by people. Opportunities to meet new people will always be present.
Eating alone is not cheap.
Note that I said “not cheap”, not “expensive.” It’s not necessarily expensive, it just isn’t as cheap as I expected.
How much you spend on a trip depends on what kind of traveler you are but I find that I spend more when I’m in a small group. I definitely spent more than I wanted, especially on food, only because I was paying for it alone instead of sharing the bill with someone. Eating street food is budget-friendly but I also checked out a lot of restaurants and cafés (because of said barista, hahaha) which are on the pricier side.
It’s not as scary as everyone pegs it out to be… but a little bit of fear is natural.
Like anything else in life, traveling solo poses risks. There are shady areas that you should be wary of, whether you’re alone or not. But a lot of articles like this and this prove that solo traveling is fast becoming a safe and fun option, even for women. And if you’ve done your research and stay alert all the time, you’ll stay safe. Having reliable internet connection also helps.
Fearing the unknown is natural and even more so when you’re facing it alone. Embrace it and in no time, you will learn how to go beyond your comfort zone while also trusting your instincts.
It’s fun… if you want it to be.
Time and time again, traveling reminds me to be grateful. An attitude of gratitude makes a huge difference. If things can go wrong, it most likely will. You can miss that train, you can lose your luggage, it can rain throughout your whole trip. Mishaps like these can feel larger than life when you’re alone. But once you realize that not everyone gets to travel and that not everyone gets to experience the things you’re experiencing, it will humble you. Travel with the right frame of mind and any trip can be fun and memorable.
Ready to take the leap? Going solo for the first time? Bangkok’s a pretty good start and it has everything for every kind of traveler. Check these out if you need more convincing. 🙂
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