5 Benefits of Solo Travel & How to Stay Safe While Traveling Alone

Solo travel can be a very enriching and rewarding experience. Many people who have traveled alone at least once remember this experience for the rest of their lives. Many opt for this mode of travel due to its immense benefits.

But how do you stay safe when traveling alone, and what are the common mistakes students make during solo trips? In this article, we will tell you why you should definitely try to take a solo trip and give you some safety tips. 

‘But who will write my essay for me while I’m away?’ Shoulder season travels are cheaper and more comfortable, but it’s hard to manage a trip during the semester as a student. Once you figure out how to free up your schedule, delegate your homework to a trusted service, and you’re good to go!

Independence and Self-Reliance

When you travel solo, you are responsible for your own itinerary and decisions. You learn to rely on yourself, deal with your own problems, and plan ahead. Because if you don’t, nobody else will. In the future, this can help you become more independent, which is a vital skill for any young person.

Learning to be independent can help you develop important life skills, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and time management. These skills can be beneficial not only in your academic life but also to your personal and professional growth.

Flexibility

When you travel solo, you have the freedom to change your plans at a moment’s notice. You are not attached to anyone or anything and only have your own desires to follow. 

If you travel with someone, you will inevitably have to compromise at some point. While it is also a great skill to have, it’s nice to be independent and decide what you want for yourself without having to do anything you’re not interested in. This allows you to be spontaneous and go with the flow. 

Personal Growth

As a student, you will go through many periods during your adulthood, some more turbulent than others. And as dire as this might sound, going through stress is good for you to a certain extent. You’ll learn a life lesson and make a better decision next time.

If you travel alone, you will make a mistake at some point. If you don’t do enough research, you might end up on an island after the last ferry has departed or accidentally get scammed. Even though it might feel terrible at the moment, with time, it will become a funny story and a valuable experience.

Meeting New People

When we travel with friends, we tend to stick together and only communicate with them. When you find the courage to go to a different country alone, you will automatically become more open to new experiences and hence, new people. It’s hard to explain, but somehow, when you’re traveling alone, you seem to attract more fun experiences and new people. 

Others are more likely to strike up a conversation with you when you’re on your own, and you’ll have more opportunities to make connections with locals and other travelers. This will lead you to places you wouldn’t have discovered when just looking at a map or trip advisor articles.

Self-Discovery

In our daily lives, we are often surrounded by people, whether it’s on our phones or in person. We constantly communicate and are always busy. 

When you travel alone, you are in leisure mode; you have more time to reflect, pay attention to your surroundings, and slow down. Besides, roaming tends to be expensive, which is why many people tend to limit their data usage. When you spend less time on your phone, you get more attentive, even if it’s for a week.

Such an experience will help you notice details about yourself you might not have seen before. A new experience, like solo travel, always opens new sides in people. Take advantage of this to increase your emotional intelligence and self-awareness.

How to Stay Safe During Solo Travel? 

Do Your Research 

To avoid the situation described earlier, whereby you are left stranded in an unknown location with no means of transportation available, do your research. Google travel times for buses or any other transport you will use. Make sure it’s not a national holiday that day. Learn about local customs and laws, as those differ vastly depending on the location. You don’t want to end up in jail because of being inattentive. Understand the area and know if there is any safety equipment you should have on-hand for your trip.

Stay in Touch

When traveling to a potentially dangerous place (or any other place for that matter), make sure you share your location with the people you trust. If you have an iPhone, you might want to enable location sharing at all times with a few friends or family members. This way, if you don’t reply for a while, they can reach out to the police immediately.

Some countries with unexpected weather conditions have special services for travelers. For example, in Iceland, you can share your itinerary and do daily checkups with the local authorities. If you don’t call them, they launch a search mission. It might sound extreme, but it’s saved many lives.

Trust Your Gut

If you feel like you’re in danger, leave. If you don’t like the face of a person approaching you, leave. If you feel like something is wrong with the food, don’t eat it. Be cautious when accepting rides or invitations from strangers, and consider using licensed taxis or other reputable transportation options.

Keep Your Things Safe

Last but not least: this is basic common knowledge that many people follow every day. Keep your phone and wallet safe: on your body or in hidden pockets. If you have particularly expensive gadgets while traveling to underdeveloped countries, consider keeping them locked or even swapping them for cheaper ones for the vacation.

If you’re staying in a hotel that has a safe, come up with a strong password (not your date of birth) and store your documents in it.

Wrapping Up

Solo travel can be a very rewarding and enriching experience. It offers the opportunity for independence, flexibility, personal growth, and the chance to meet new people. However, it’s important to be mindful of safety considerations when traveling on your own. 

By doing your research, staying in touch, trusting your instincts, and keeping your personal belongings secure, you can help ensure a safe and enjoyable solo travel experience.