Solo Travel can be intimidating, especially for those who consider themselves social butterflies and tend to gravitate naturally towards being with company. However, many who do travel alone are at their happiest and say that life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone. After all, when you conquer the things that intimidate you, you empower yourself and build confidence. With this in mind, why not make it your goal to take those first steps and embrace solo travel?

 

PCH from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, christa thompson, kia cadenza, solo travel

 

Solo Travel For the Soul – And Badassery

 

Solo travel and heading off on holiday by yourself sounds daunting, but once you’re actually out there experiencing new things and meeting new people, it’s great fun.

 

Venturing alone will allow you to renew your spirit in a variety of positive ways. It will change your energy, your perspective of the world and the way you view yourself and those around you.

 

Whether you’re in your 20s, 30s or 40s, there are plenty of good reasons to explore solo travel. Maybe your friends don’t want to go to the same destination as you – you’re into culture and museums but all they want to do is bar hop. Or, maybe you just need some time out to relax and unwind away from everyday life. No matter what the reason is, deciding to do it is the first step towards making your dream a reality.

 

Edinburgh to Isle of Skye, solo travel
A windy pose on the Isle of Skye

 

Traveling alone gives you the freedom to explore new places at your own pace while getting to know yourself and unfamiliar parts of the world. When you’re traveling in a group it requires a lot of planning, intense coordination and a little bit of persuasion a times. But, when you’re on your own, it’s a completely different story. You can do as you please.

 

You will quickly realize that solo travel forces you into situations you’re not comfortable with, but it gives you the opportunity to get to know those around you. You’ll soon find that meeting people is one of the best things about traveling. Staying in hostels and taking part in free walking tours are one of the best ways to get social during your solo travel adventures in new cities. A solo trip is never really spent in complete solitude because you’ll meet so many people in exactly the same situation as you.

 

The best relationship you can have while traveling is the one you have with yourself. Solo travel gives you the time you need to slow down, something you often miss the opportunity to do back home. Your perspective on life will change. When, otherwise, do you get the chance to pause, relax and reflect?

 

Things to do in Dusseldorf, Christa Thompson, solo travel
Shopping in Dusseldorf photo Christa Thompson 2016

 

There’s a good chance all of the worries and scary thoughts you initially had when you set off, will disappear the moment you reach your destination. While you must practice a certain level of caution regardless of where you are in the world, you may soon see that a lot of your fears around solo travel are unfounded.

 

Traveling is an enjoyable experience in itself, but the freedom you get when traveling solo is something completely different. From going at your own pace and not feeling guilty about it, to strengthening your confidence and discovering the real you, it’s a journey you’ll want to experience again and again.

 

Author

Christa Thompson is the Founder and Chief Editor of The Fairytale Traveler. She started traveling the world in 2003 when she attended a summer abroad study at the University of Cambridge in England. Since then, her wanderlust has been fierce. Her three passions in life are her son, traveling, and being creative. The Fairytale Traveler brand gives Christa the opportunity to do all of these things and to live intentionally every day. "It's never too late to believe in what you love and to pursue your dreams." -Christa Thompson

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