| One of the main purposes of travel is to gain | | | | spend time with rather than having to face the |
| experiences that allow us to grow and develop as | | | | day-after-day annoyances of the inevitable clowns |
| individuals and it is important that people travel | | | | and whingers found in any large group. |
| the way that bests suits them at a particular | | | | - Discoveries There is a real sense of discovery |
| time. For example, I like to go on adventure | | | | involved in travelling on your own, and that |
| holidays and this invariably includes a small group | | | | includes self-discovery. You don't have to rely on |
| and expert guide, and I frequently participate in | | | | an often ill-informed guide to lead you around on a |
| writing retreats around the world with like-minded | | | | leash, and there's the surprise and thrill when you |
| people. However for me, the real joy of travelling | | | | find something you weren't expecting, like the |
| has always been to take off on my own and just | | | | time I became lost and ended up in a small |
| 'see' what comes along the way. Of course this | | | | Bavarian village with a monastery that contained a |
| can sometimes be fraught with frustrations, | | | | library with tens of thousands of Medieval |
| difficulties and even dangers. | | | | manuscripts. Travelling alone allows you to |
| Advantages of travelling alone | | | | discover more about yourself as you overcome |
| - Freedom Most people who travel alone generally | | | | simple challenges such as missing a bus or boat |
| cite freedom as the great motivating factor: | | | | and realizing there is no other for a day or a |
| freedom to please themselves, go where and | | | | week. Then there is the sense of achievement |
| when they want, change their plans on a whim | | | | when solving much more challenging problems like |
| when they hear about something that is a 'must' | | | | finding yourself lost in a strange town at midnight |
| to see, and to accept spontaneous invitations by | | | | or running out of money on a holiday weekend |
| locals. | | | | with no ATM in sight and the banks closed. |
| - No compromises This is associated with the | | | | Disadvantages of travelling alone |
| previous point. Even if travelling with one other | | | | - The single supplement For those who like to |
| person, be it friend, colleague, lover or spouse, | | | | stay in decent hotels, there is the unfair single |
| there will always be some compromises required. | | | | supplement that can add thousands to the cost |
| Not everyone has the same interests or the | | | | of your trip. |
| same energy levels, some people need to be | | | | - Lack of help There is no one to watch your |
| emotionally supported all the time, others are | | | | luggage while you go to the restrooms at airports |
| apathetic, some have different attitudes to time. | | | | or train stations, no one to help with persistent |
| With solo travel, there is no peer pressure over | | | | touts, no one to be there for you if you get sick |
| finances, the unspoken need to divide up | | | | or if you are being stalked or harassed by a |
| restaurant bills equally, or guilt trips when you | | | | determined male in the street. |
| want to go off on your own for a while. | | | | - Photos There are times when I would like to |
| - Meeting people Travelling solo does not mean | | | | have had more taken of myself in certain places, |
| that you will always be alone. In fact, it allows you | | | | but there again, there are always people willing to |
| to meet more people because other tourists and | | | | snap one or two for you. I know there will be |
| locals find an individual traveller more approachable | | | | times in the future when I will travel as part of a |
| than those in a tightly-knit group. Also, people in | | | | group out of choice because I want to visit areas |
| groups have very little need to reach out to | | | | where it is just not possible or sensible for a |
| others for communication. I have met more | | | | woman alone, or because I wish to be with family |
| people, had more interesting conversations and | | | | or like-minded people. However, due to my |
| invitations and made more long-term friends while | | | | particular personality traits, my preference is to |
| eating alone in foreign restaurants or sitting alone | | | | travel alone. I guess it really doesn't matter how |
| at bars. But then I am gregarious. Travelling alone | | | | people travel, but that they travel. |
| allows you to choose the people you wish to | | | | |