Things that solo travel can teach you

Solo travel is a wonderfully liberating experience and an incredibly fun way to see more of the world. Whether you want to explore a far-flung destination by yourself or relax at the beach on a cheap singles holiday, there are many ways to travel solo. You can learn a lot through the experience of solo travel, helping you to grow as a human being while encountering planet Earth. This guide highlights some of the many things solo travel can teach you about yourself and the world.

Confidence

Travelling alone can be daunting, especially if you have only ever travelled with friends or family. Once you get over those natural first-time butterflies, the confidence you can gain from solo travel can be a wonderful benefit. By travelling to international destinations, exploring foreign towns, and navigating the world by yourself, you can learn to be confident in yourself, have faith in your capabilities, and gain much self-belief. You can continue to benefit from these things even when your travels have ended.

Planning and responsibility

Solo travel requires you to make plans and be organised. From sorting out flights and buses, booking hotels, and arranging excursions, you will learn to take responsibility and manage independently. When travelling with others, you can rely on them to make decisions for you, but when travelling alone, it’s down to you, providing great freedom and opportunity to do things your way. Freedom comes with responsibility, however.

Reshma from the solo travel blog, The Solo Globetrotter, says that travelling alone can be a great way to learn to be responsible: “When you set out to explore places alone, you need to be cautious and aware all the time. Travelling solo makes you accountable for all your actions and hence makes you responsible. You have no one to blame if things go wrong, and so you learn to take care of yourself. You become more sensible and responsible travel will become your way.”

Social skills

One of the great things about travelling solo is the opportunity to meet new people. Some people have a personality that makes it easy to throw themselves into unfamiliar situations, initiate conversation and make friends. While only some find it easy to interact with strangers, you can learn important social skills by going on a solo adventure as you encounter new people in various settings and cultures.

Rose, a solo traveller from the blog Where Goes Rose, says the following about the social skills that can be learned through travelling alone: “You’ll grow these by interacting with people of different ages, races, religions and backgrounds. Keep your mind open, and you’ll learn a lot about people and humanity.

Problem-solving skills

When travelling solo, you might encounter various problems that need solving, whether locating a point of interest, finding a local shop for needed supplies, or a cancelled flight. As a result, solo travel can teach you invaluable problem-solving skills, helping you to be a more capable and practical person and thrive in all situations on your future travels.

Dan, from the travel blog Dan Flying Solo, is an experienced solo traveller and spoke to us about what he has learned from his own experiences, which includes problem-solving skills, among other things: “When you’re travelling solo, you’re the tour guide, the planner and your own partner – and sometimes even your own party – so you get incredibly resourceful at dealing with travel’s little mishaps. This in itself helps you gain much more confidence and soft skills, even if you don’t realise it’s happening.

“But the biggest lessons I’ve taken away from solo travel is the kindness of others, and how – when you have the confidence to do so, another benefit of going solo – there is always someone there to reach out to and help you or share a beer with. Solo travel doesn’t just make us improved individuals; it makes us better communicators, problem solvers, and better at making new friends in unusual situations – skills that will change your life when you return home.”

Cultural differences

Travelling is the best way to learn more about the world and its various people. By going on a solo adventure, you can thrust yourself into different cultures and learn about the differences from your own way of life. Learning about different customs can be an eye-opening experience, helping you to be more knowledgeable and accepting of new people. It can be easy to judge from afar, but by getting to know the people, you can understand their perspective and broaden your horizons.

You could attend a religious festival in Asia, sample local life in Africa, or understand the perspective of locals in the likes of Greece, Spain, and islands in the Caribbean. Many countries have fascinating cultural customs, from dress and food to personal communication, so there is always something new to learn.

Likes and dislikes

Travelling solo is a great way to learn more about yourself and who you are. You can learn what you want from life, what you like and don’t. Using solo travel as a means of self-discovery can be very rewarding and help you better understand yourself.

You might come back from your travels knowing exactly what you want in the future, and your preferences for what types of holidays you might enjoy in the future. Until you have tried something, you won’t know if it’s for you, so utilise your travels as an opportunity to try as many new experiences as possible.

Languages

Many people would love to be able to speak another language, and while this is a common goal, only some manage to achieve it. Solo travel is a great way to learn a new language, as you can talk to locals, ask for directions, barter at markets, and start conversations with fellow solo travellers from across the globe.

There may be times when knowing the language of the country that you are in is essential, especially in locations where English isn’t widely spoken. You can get a head start and use your future travels as an excuse to learn some key phrases, but you will pick up the language more quickly when interacting with native speakers.

Appreciation

Another thing that solo travel teaches you is appreciation and thankfulness. For example, when relaxing on a quiet beach by yourself, you can appreciate the beauty of the scenery and the peacefulness of the moment. You can learn to appreciate the small pleasures such as a comfy bed and a hot meal. You can also learn to appreciate your own company and not feel like you constantly have to be around others.

Travelling around less affluent countries can also teach you to be thankful for your own situation and how fortunate you are. Seeing how others live their lives can teach you to appreciate the little things that bring a smile to a person’s face.

Things to learn from travelling solo

Confidence
Planning and responsibility
Social skills
Problem-solving skills
Cultural differences
Likes and dislikes
Languages
Appreciation

If you are interested in solo travel, consider one of our amazing singles holidays. This is a great way to take your first steps into solo travel, allowing you the freedom you crave while staying with other like-minded travellers in comfortable accommodation.

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