Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
My first backpacking trip in Europe was a solo adventure. I was a little worried at first (as were
my parents), but I was surprised how many other solo travelers I met along the way. It took
me a day or two to adjust to traveling alone, but I quickly realized how rewarding solo travel
could be. This section will cover the positives and the negatives of traveling Europe alone and
give you some practical advice on how to make the most of your travels.
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF SOLO TRAVEL
Choose your own itinerary.
When you travel alone, you have the freedom to do the things
you want to do and you don't need to answer to anyone else. In a group, everyone has their
own ideas of what to see and this can cause a lot of conflict.
Food freedom.
From my experience, choosing where to eat can cause more stress than
just about anything else—especially when you're traveling with a group of people. When you
travel alone, you can choose exactly where to eat. Also, many restaurants in Europe won't split
up the bill, so paying becomes a huge hassle in large groups.
No arguments.
Travel can be stressful and you usually take out your frustration on your
travel partners—it's inevitable. Even best friends have been known to get into huge fights after
a few weeks of constant travel. However, when you're on your own, you have no one to argue
with.
Total focus.
There is no one to “distract” you so you're totally focused on whatever it is
you're experiencing.
Reinvent yourself.
You can be whoever you want to be when you travel alone. This is your
chance to let loose.
Meet new people.
I meet a lot more people when I travel alone. Groups tend, usually un-
knowingly, to put up a “wall” between themselves and other travelers, so this makes groups
not as approachable. You also have an instant connection with other solo travelers.
