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4 reasons why you should travel solo
Traveling to foreign countries is a valuable experience that you should have at least once in your life. Having this opportunity in your twenties is a perfect way to mark the start of your adult life. When you fantasize about going abroad, you might see yourself doing it with a friend or group of friends. But have you ever thought about traveling solo? A solo traveler goes on a journey by himself or herself to a place far from what he/she already knows. Often, the traveler has no prior contact with anyone living or traveling in this country. Thus, it can be a challenging and stressful situation that requires courage. Indeed, traveling all by yourself to a foreign country can be intimidating. However, jumping in at the deep end will be worth it! We share our top 4 reasons why solo travel can be more beneficial than grouping up with friends.
1. Face the fear and travel solo – You will be rewarded
Making the choice to go abroad alone is not a walk in a park. You will have to step out of your comfort zone. But in the end, you will be rewarded. As a solo traveller, your overall experience will be more intense and exciting. Most of us are scared by change and the unknown. While in reality, this is the best way to challenge yourself, clear your mind, and thrive. Accept the challenge and you will experience personal growth and development that you will hardly get elsewhere in such a short amount of time. Travelling abroad alone will probably change you in a way you don’t expect.
2. Enjoy pure freedom and find yourself along the way
Going abroad with friends is nice because you share the highlights and lowest points. Also, you will collect unforgettable memories with your friends. But travelling solo is a game-changer because you are completely free and independent. No one will stop you from doing what you want. Get stuck in your favourite area, change plans last minute, or sleep in late. You have the space to reconnect with your inner self by listening to your desires and intuition without outside distraction. There will be few moments where you have this luxury of freedom. Life is easy when travelling abroad alone because you don’t have any external constraints. Whether it is people constraints or time constraints, now it is always up to only you.
3. Gain self-confidence and maturity
If you want to become more mature and independent, this is the way to go. Indeed, solo travelling will make you face difficult situations that you will have to deal with on your own. We all know that travelling abroad reserves some surprises and that not everything happens the way you planned. Finding solutions on your own is the perfect way to help you to gain maturity and self-confidence. You will be able to see that you are capable of so much more than you thought. Be prepared to feel proud of yourself, when you finally return home with a suitcase full of memories and life lessons learned.
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4. It’s easier to make friends while travelling solo
Solo travelling can be a genuine social experience. It is not because you travel alone that you are lonely. In fact, being abroad all by yourself makes it easier to meet new people from all over the world. You automatically act more outgoing and people perceive you as easier to approach. When you already have a group of friends, you don’t necessarily try to meet new people because your social needs are already met. On the opposite, if you’re alone, you’ll have nothing to lose by talking to new people. And it can reveal to be lifelong lasting connections! You will see, that solo travellers abroad connect so fast on a deeper level. There are various places and activities to socialize. For example, hostels are great to meet new people. Day tours are also amazing to get to connect with strangers. You can also take a class about something you love to meet new people. Like cooking classes, surfing lessons, or language courses. The opportunities are endless!
So, what is stopping you from travelling solo?
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Asia Exchange is a Finnish company providing study abroad opportunities in the Asia Pacific for students from all around the world. Want to get travel tips and new blog posts straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter! If you have any questions about studying abroad, feel free to contact us! We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
