By telling us your country of residence we are able to provide you with the most relevant travel insurance information.
Please note that not all content is translated or available to residents of all countries. Contact us for full details.
Shares
‘You’re going travelling alone?’, ‘Are you here by yourself?’, ‘Did you really go on your own?’ Yes, yes and yes. The fact that not only was I travelling alone, but that I’m also a woman, became a recurrent topic of conversation for both my European and South American travels. So I’m looking to dispel the myth that travelling solo as a woman (or man) is so dangerous and just generally a terrifying prospect. Now I’m not going to pretend that my first choice for both trips wasn’t to travel accompanied. Travelling with a partner or friends means you can gush together about the amazing sight in front of you, and you’re probably going to feel more confident about approaching another group of people to go out with. That said, I’m of the firm opinion that travelling alone also has its benefits, and if not, more. First, travelling independently is as it says on the tin: you get to be INDEPENDENT, which means seeing what you want for as long as you want. Not only is having so much freedom incredibly liberating, if not slightly unnerving, but I always felt like I had got everything I wanted out of the city. Besides, everyone deserves to be a little bit selfish once in a while. I think one of the main things that scares people about going it alone is the fear of loneliness. Whilst there were obviously moments where I felt a bit lost or lonely, that feeling can actually be positive in pushing you to speak to other people. Hostels are a perfect way to meet other (usually young) travellers, many of whom will also be travelling solo. Yes, the standard where you’re from, where you’ve been to and where you’re going introductions can become repetitive (by the end of the five weeks I just told people I was from south west of London), often you can share advice about your travelling experiences. It’s really interesting meeting people from other cultures, and you can’t deny the feeling of reassurance when you meet a fellow Brit. I imagine it would be tempting to stick with your travel buddies, particularly if you’ve come with a large group, which is a shame when meeting new people is one of the best things about travelling. The final main reason why I’d encourage everyone to try travelling solo is because it really is a character-building experience. Now, I’m not going to get all philosophical and talk in depth about ‘finding yourself’, but travelling alone does teach you a lot about who you are as a person. It puts your patience to the test when you’ve been walking around in circles for an hour trying to find your hostel, it tests your bravery when you have to pull yourself up a wobbly ladder in the midst of the Amazon rainforest, and it tests your endurance when you have altitude sickness and have to stay in dirty, freezing accommodation in the middle of nowhere. There’s also no question that it makes you more confident, whether it comes from attempting another language, approaching a new group of people or going out for your first solo restaurant meal. Plus, you never get bored of the self-esteem boost that comes from people admiring your guts to go it alone. So if there’s somewhere you’re desperate to go, but you’ve got no one to go with, or if you’re simply craving a break or an adventure, just do it! The decision I made to travel alone, around both Europe and South America, came from a question that I am occasionally faced with, and that’s ‘Would I rather do it alone or not do it at all?’ For me, that’s pretty easy to answer.