Have you ever heard people say that you can’t travel alone? Well, I’m here to tell you they’re wrong. I have a lot of first-hand experience traveling alone, and honestly, you don’t need friends to travel.
The idea of traveling alone can seem daunting, especially with the constant stream of warnings about safety and loneliness, especially for women traveling alone. However, with proper planning, awareness and confidence, traveling alone can be not only safe, but also incredibly empowering and fun.
Let’s debunk the myth that traveling alone is synonymous with danger and isolation. Yes, there are risks involved, just as there are risks in any adventure. But fear of the unknown shouldn’t overshadow the incredible rewards that solo travel brings. And with tools like our phones these days, staying connected is easier than ever.
My parents have always supported my travel plans. Even when I traveled alone in Southeast Asia, they trusted my judgment. To keep you updated on my whereabouts, I relied on Polarsteps.
Polarsteps is a remarkable travel app that tracks your location accurately, allowing you to document your trip. It allows you to post photos in multiple locations, known as “steps,” accessible only to those you shared the link with. Impressively accurate, it meticulously recorded every route of my motorbike trip through the mountains of northern Vietnam. It’s also not hard on the battery. Plus, compile a beautiful photo album of your travels for purchase.
As a woman traveling alone, I am aware of the potential dangers and I won’t deny that there were times when I felt uncomfortable. Sometimes walking alone at night in certain parts of Java, Indonesia, or dealing with taxi drivers who ran over me made me uncomfortable.
Fortunately, I have never had any problems with these situations. I generally avoided going out at night or opted for a taxi instead of walking. When faced with unwanted advances, I politely declined, or when I was hit in a hotel elevator, I left the elevator and went upstairs, making sure I wasn’t being followed. Honestly, just trust your instinct.
Another concern some people have is feeling alone. Traveling alone for months can seem daunting, but I recommend opting for hostels to solve this concern. In hostels you will meet people with similar interests. Age varies greatly; I met fellow university students and also a 40 year old man who has been on the road for 12 years.
I understand that the examples I mentioned are all very exotic and far away, but I strongly believe that you don’t need to travel far to have fun. Especially in the USA, there are many opportunities for adventure.
For spring break, I went to Michigan alone. It was my first solo trip and I’ve never spent so much time driving alone, but I had a lot of fun. Of course, not everything was perfect, but that’s how you learn. If I had been with other people, I wouldn’t have struck up a midnight conversation with a Mackinaw City resident who happened to be the bartender’s best friend and invited me for a Jägermeister.
Again, not everything went well – my car was towed in Chicago and I felt overwhelmed – but I was able to call a friend and he helped calm me down. That’s the thing about traveling these days: it’s so much easier thanks to technology.
Now, I’m not saying that traveling with friends can’t be fun. If you’re with the right people, it can be very enjoyable and there are definite perks like cost-sharing on hotel rooms.
But here’s the thing: they have to be the right people. I’ve had positive experiences traveling with friends, like my weekend trip to Prague with my best friend from Switzerland. Our interests were aligned and we were both flexible. However, I also had negative experiences, such as traveling with a fighting couple. What I’m trying to say is that when you travel with other people, there are a lot of variables to consider. However, when you travel alone, you are the only factor to take into consideration.
Traveling alone is an empowering journey filled with opportunities for self-discovery and adventure. While there are challenges, the freedom to explore on your terms outweighs any concerns. So don’t let fear stop you – embrace adventure and discover the world on your own terms!
Lara Kilchenmann is an opinion writer. Contact her at [email protected].
