The notion of a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a reunion trip is nice assuming all parties involved have the same interests, desire the same activities, and have similar travel expectations. Skip the drama of consensus, sometime traveling solo is the great way to be!

As Henry David Thoreau put it in his book, Walden Pond ,

                “I have never found a companion that was so companionable as solitude.”

People seek out solitude on all kinds of trips, be it solo-hiking through the Andes or a soul-seeking jaunt to your ancestors’ land.  In fact, certain advantages are quite apparent when it comes to traveling alone.  You have no negotiations to make when choosing key points in your trip including:

• Comfort level and budget
• Sight-Seeing Destinations
• Outdoor and Extra-Curricular Activities
• All of your individual Foodie Desires

A vacation is a great time to be selfish, to do what exactly what you want to do, and to take every opportunity during your precious time away from home (and work!). Traveling solo also means you’ll be interacting with your locale on a deeper level. There is no one to distract you, so you can let the unforgettable vistas, the winding streets, and the intoxicating aromas, sweep you and your imagination away. Also, there is no one to interpret signs, ask questions, and navigate for you. You will be the leader of your own adventure!

Of course, the downside of solo travel is that you might not have anyone to share and reflect on these experiences with you.  Also, the right fellow traveler can be key to a good vacation—someone who pushes your comfort and energy level and helps you glean more from your trip. It is certainly safer to have one or more traveling companions. Not only does more people mean more knowledge, but everyone can look out for one another. Lastly, traveling with companions means you can split a cab, share a hotel room, and find other ways to save as you go.

If you do find yourself in a foreign land alone, then you should take full advantage and take full precautions.  Making new friends is a great way to transform a trip from a lonely or lackluster time to an incredibly gratifying experience. By making friends with a local, you’ll have important information that will keep you safe and also first-hand insight into what the area has to offer. (See my other blog about the specifics of making friends abroad!) Ultimately, traveling is a great way for you to interact with the world, be it with a partner or alone. So go and enjoy!