It never crossed my mind that traveling overseas for holidays by myself would be the default mode.
It's not because I don't have any friends, rather it's not being able to find someone who can travel at the same time and wants to go to the same places with me. Age also plays a factor. As one gets older, one knows what he or she likes and doesn't like. For me, I prefer to be quite comfortable when I travel.
Traveling on your own requires preparation. It's a must. The places of interest must be easy to get around. The hotel room must be clean, comfortable, safe and near to public transportation. These are just some of the things to consider when choosing a country or place to visit on your own. You have to minimize potential problems as much as possible when planning your trip. When something goes wrong during the trip, you only have yourself to rely on. This is THE scary thing that puts most people off solo travel.
However, if you've successfully done a solo trip before, the feeling is wonderful! Overcoming the fear of traveling alone, and being able to visit the places and do the things you had planned is just awesome and rewarding! When I look back at my solo travels I feel that my confidence has grown, I tell myself "I did it! I can do it!". Even though my confidence has grown, it doesn't mean that I've become fearless or have no stress. Every trip to a new place naturally brings some level of stress. You have to learn to manage it.
I manage it by preparing for my trip. What happens if the flight back to your country is cancelled? Do you have enough cash to cover your expenditure if you need to extend your stay in that country? How do you communicate with the locals if English isn't their first language? Learn how to use Google Translate, it was a huge help for me when translating signs and menus! I used Google Translate to ask a Japanese store employee if a certain snack I was buying was sour or sweet 😄
The main challenge I face on my solo travels would be visiting places that can really engage me. Sometimes certain places to me are quite boring, and I would have to quickly find alternative places of interest to occupy my time. When you travel alone, you are certainly more observant of things around you. You learn more as well. That's what I like about solo travel, I've learnt a lot about myself when I'm in foreign places.
Solo travel is not for everyone, yet it can be for anyone who is prepared for the challenges. Take the first step, then the next step, and you'll be on the plane starting your adventure. Happy solo travels! 😉
Watch my trip to Okinawa https://youtu.be/ITYaF45ROXo
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