It might seem scary, but traveling alone is something every woman should try at least once. Travel is a privilege afforded to a select few. Even so, the tropes are usually decided for women beforehand. Thankfully, solo travel as a trend continues to grow with more women taking up the space. Enjoying one’s own company – whether in a restaurant or a trip abroad – is no longer a stigma.
Why Travel Alone?
There are always benefits to traveling with friends and family. But aren’t there also times when you wish you could do things your way? To slow down when you’d like to or go on a heart-stopping adventure! Yet many people – especially women – tend to think twice before venturing out on their own. While it’s only natural to consider the dangers one might encounter, we tend to lose out on the essence of what travel is – an appreciation for the world and how wonderful it is.
Boss Women Who Make Confident Decisions
Girls who travel solo learn to be confident in the choices and decisions they make. There’s no second-guessing or worrying about keeping everyone else happy – a familiar guilt trip that girls frequently find themselves on. Nothing is more empowering than realizing you can do pretty much anything – navigating alien roads, reading a map, and arriving in a completely new place in the wee hours of the morning.
Independence and Freedom
Ever spent a holiday visiting places without your heart really in it, but going through the motions anyway to not offend friends or family? Traveling on your own gives you the freedom to choose your itinerary. Do you secretly long to sleep in all day? Would you like to rent a car and drive through the countryside? A solo trip means establishing your schedules and rules.
Embracing New Experiences
Holidaying with a close group of friends or family can be fun. But it can restrict you from observing the world around you a little more keenly since you rely on the people you know. You end up never engaging with the local culture, people, or other travelers around you. Without familiar faces around, there’s more scope to be completely present.
Learning to Trust People
As women, we are instinctively programmed to be wary of people. But when you’re on a solo trip, you learn to reach out and engage with people without being jumpy by default. Perhaps it’s the magic of the road or the opportunity to slow down. But most solo travelers – especially girls – have spoken of how people are inherently kind and good on the road. Your instincts remain alert, but your fears also disappear at the same time
Discovering Yourself
Spending time with oneself is a tall ask when you’re looking out for the needs of your family and friends. If you feel stifled by the daily grind of life and the pressures of multiple roles as the perfect daughter, wife, sister – some quality time by yourself is in order!
Shattering Comfort Zones
Comfort and familiarity are lovely things. But sometimes, we tend to become such habitual creatures of comfort that it is almost disquieting. Traveling solo shatters common notions and builds new ones.