7 Reasons to Travel Alone

Friday, February 26, 2016


During my month away in Europe, I spent a week exploring the beautiful country of Portugal on my own. It was not a long time, but it was enough for me to discover the beauty of traveling solo and the effects it has on self-awareness and perspective. Today I am sharing seven reasons to travel alone in hopes of convincing you to do the same one day. I promise you, despite the challenges, you will never regret it.



1. Your itinerary is completely up to you

I'm the kind of traveler who makes pre-planned Excel sheets for the group, but for the first time I didn't feel the need to do so. Solo travel gives you the freedom to be completely spontaneous. You can plan as you go or not at all, but either way you don't need to worry about satisfying others. The trip solely depends on what you make of it.


2. You learn to appreciate solo dining.

We are wired to dine with company. From the start we are told that eating alone in the school cafeteria means being an outcast. I think it means independence. Living in New York has trained me to appreciate the peacefulness of eating alone, and it only gets better when you travel. Think about it. You control when, where, and what you eat without needing to compromise with others' tastes. I walked about half an hour alone for the best pizza in Lisbon accompanied by seaside views, and I have no regrets. I'm not sure that I could convince anyone else to do the same with me.


3. You will also meet some great people to dine with.

The best part about traveling solo is having the opportunity to meet people whom you would not otherwise. I was fortunate to stay at a hostel where the staff organized trips and meals to bring everyone together. As I've said on Instagram, meal conversations take on another level when you're dining with people from all over the world. You will hear stories unlike anything back home and make friends to join in on your adventures along the way. Pictured above is a shot of my wine tasting with a friend who ended up visiting three of the same consecutive cities as me -- it's a small world, isn't it?


4. You will learn to navigate new environments on your own.

This is a skill that can't be taught. Traveling solo means facing challenges on a completely new terrain all by yourself. As daunting as it sounds, it is one of the best ways to improve your street smarts even once you return home. You will discover the ins and outs of different cultures and learn to enjoy all the obstacles along the way. If you can conquer that, you can conquer anything.


5. You will gain new perspectives -- on yourself, on others, on life.

Most of your time will be spent in your thoughts, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. As you discover more about the world, you will simultaneously discover more about yourself. We tend to get comfortable with routines at home and become wrapped up with the everyday monotony. A solo trip gives you the chance to step back and gain new perspectives on things you may have overlooked. You will return home with a refreshed and open mind.


6. You will step out of your comfort zone.

Traveling solo takes courage in itself, and it only goes up from there. Being free from judgment and meeting others who are doing just the same serves as motivation to try things you hadn't considered before. I like to think that if I never get to return to a place, what would I regret not having done?


7. You will carry the memories with you forever.

I've been asked several times which of the European cities was my favorite, and I always say Lisbon. Other than being a fantastic city in itself, Lisbon gave me the opportunity to explore and discover on another level -- because I did it alone. I'm not saying that other trips are not notable, but your solo travels will be remembered in different ways. You are the only one who will hold those memories. For that reason you will cherish them forever and pride yourself in conquering new places on your own. And you will want to do it all again.

39 comments

  1. Inspirational and great article! I really like your way of writing & photos ♡

    ♡ Recent Beauty Loves ♡

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  2. I've said this a million times already but I'm OBSESSED with your travel posts! They're just so inspiring and I can't wait to travel to more places one day!! :)) xx

    ALYSSA-MAY.COM

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    1. You are too sweet, Alyssa! I hope you get to travel sometime soon! :)

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  3. lovely photos! and these reminded me of a time I used to travel alone when I was single. I'm glad I got to have that time too.

    http://notjessfashion.com/nyfw-part1/


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    1. It is such a wonderful experience! Thanks for your comment, Jess!

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  4. I didn't realize you were on your own for a week! Wow! I've had friends that tell me how great it is traveling solo but I honestly don't think I could do it! hehe You're so brave!!

    Tina
    www.justatinabit.com

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    1. You must try it sometime! It's an incredible experience!

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  5. It'll definitely be stepping out of my comfort zone but will be well worth it I guess. Kudos to you for pulling that off.

    http://fashionablyidu.blogspot.com/

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  6. I love traveling along as well but I haven't done it in an unknown country yet! I would absolutely love to try it in the future as long as my boyfriend doesn't feel too left out haha! The freedom really is exhilarating.

    xo, alice / T Y P E N U

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    1. Haha, you should definitely try it someday! Or just leave your boyfriend at the hotel while you explore LOL.

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  7. I hope i can travel someday so I can actually understand everything.
    I want to explore my inner self and other places too

    The Bandwagon Chic | Instagram | Bloglovin | Snapchat: bandwagonchic

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  8. I have never traveled alone, but I started to value my own personal time more than before.
    Travelling alone & focusing on myself is now one of my goals to do before I get older!
    Thanks for sharing this Christina xx

    Kaylee | JK's Dawn

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    1. I absolutely agree! You should definitely try it sometime. :)

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  9. so many gorgeous photos!
    www.kmeetsstyle.com

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  10. Super post, i could not agree more, this year i intend to travel solo.
    http://www.thestylegalaxy.com/

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  11. beautiful words!!! and i totally agree.. nothing is quite as mind-opening and reflective as solo travel! done it once and it definitely it a great experience!

    Have a great week!
    Animated Confessions

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    1. Isn't it amazing?! So glad you've been able to experience it as well!

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  12. I love this post so much! I've never travelled alone but have always considered it, mainly because coordinating with other people can be difficult. Even in life in general, I think it's so important to be independent from time to time :)

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  13. Finally, came to your blog! Thanks for share, but still feel not confident when I travel by myself

    http://www.queenhorsfall.com/

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  14. Totally agreed! Travelling solo is sure exciting and refreshing :)

    ~ Styleccentric Fashion' | BLOGLOVIN

    xo, Alyssa

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  15. Beautiful post dear! I like this a lot.


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  16. Loved reading this! I'd love to learn to eat-out alone. I still find that quite hard sometimes.
    WritingMonique

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  17. Such a beautiful post! Thank you for posting this!
    Dora www.BangsBang.com

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  18. This is a great list, and I would love to travel alone. But I also have such fears of having no one to take pics for me ahah, now that I have to take pics all the time (blogger issues)

    -Lily from With Love Lily Rose

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    1. Haha, you can just take pictures of the beautiful scenery! Sometimes you just need a break!

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  19. Traveling alone is really wonderful sometimes, you rarely get to spend all that time and keep it for yourself. These photos are beautiful, hope you had a great time on all your travels :)

    Erica
    www.eggcanvas.me

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  20. traveling on my own is something that is on bucket list. I've heard so many people say it's something that you have to do at least once and it will be life changing. thanks for the tips. maybe i'll plan my next trip to Lisbon...

    xoxo,
    geri

    http://everydaylivingnyc.blogspot.com/

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  21. What a great post! I love the idea to be an independent traveler. Scary at first, but one actually becomes more mindful and open towards oneself.

    Keep up your work!!
    Much love, xx

    WONDERWALLFLOWER

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  22. Lisbon looks beautiful! I can't get over that picture with the little mint green car. Anyways your solo trip sounds like a blast!

    xx freshfizzle

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  23. This post needs to be refurbished for Refinery or something! I really like the points in this post - much less cliche than most viral articles! x Van

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