Solo travelling in your 20’s is a rewarding experience during which you can discover so much about yourself and the world around you.
Have you ever wanted to take a trip and was stuck waiting for someone to go with you, but they never do? Maybe they can’t take time off work or cannot budget for the trip? If you keep waiting, you might never go.
While solo travel can be intimidating, especially if you’re from a relatively small city like Ottawa, there are many pros to taking that step alone. You will never look back at that time in your life and think, “I should have stayed home instead.”
Pros of solo travelling
There are many pros to travelling solo: you can see the world on your own without thinking about where anyone else would want to go. You can do what you want, when you want to do it.
To solo travel successfully, you need to take every moment as it comes and make sure that you take every opportunity that you get. You can only get what you want out of your trip if you give all you want.
While it sounds like you are always alone while solo travelling, that cannot be further from the truth. You constantly meet new people while travelling, either at the hostel or on your daily adventure or museum trip!
Solo travel allows you to learn new things about yourself, be completely independent, and helps you figure out what you want to do with your life. You will do things you never expected yourself to do, and you will learn many new hobbies and skills.
cons of solo travelling
While solo travel is a life-changing experience, there are some cons. You need to be prepared for things not to go the way you planned.
When travelling alone, you must be aware of your safety and ensure you are taking care of yourself. You should research where you are going and know how safe it is, make sure your belongings are locked up, and do not carry all your valuables around.
Another essential safety tip is to have copies of all your important documents, such as your passport, visas and anything else you may need. When travelling, you should also have extra cash set away in case an emergency occurs, or your credit card doesn’t work.
Alternatives to solo travel
If you have no one to go with you and you are not sure you want to go completely alone, there are plenty of travel companies offering tours around the world for people 18 to 35. Some of the companies are EF Ultimate Break, Contiki, G Adventures, TopDeck Travel, and many more.
While these companies may not allow you as much independence and options on where you go, they allow you to travel independently. You also have the reassurance of always having transportation and a place to stay.
While taking the chance and deciding to book that next big flight alone might be scary, travelling solo has many benefits. You will meet many new friends and come home with many stories to tell about your adventures.
Solo travel in your 20’s is something everyone should do if they have the opportunity. It’s a chance to explore the world, and you will know yourself better than before. There is no time like the present!