Solo-traveling is life’s greatest gifts, aside from actually living. But to every great thing, there’s inevitably something not as great to pair.

As a person who frequently travels alone, I have compiled a pro and cons list in my head during every trip. Surely, the pros outweigh the con, but you hardly ever hear or see the negative sides. But really, it’s not so much negative as it is really more on the not-as-great scale.

Pros:

1. The 5 C’s.
   1. Convenience. You make your own schedule – your own itinerary; you get to see and eat whatever you want without having to please another person, but yourself.
   2. Capability. You don’t have another brain to help you get un-lost. You just have yourself and a map. By becoming lost willingly, or not, you eventually develop skills in finding where you are.
   3. Confidence. You can lack the most self-esteem, but traveling alone helps you gain confidence in every aspect in life. For example, whenever I get lost (which is every time I go into the city), I own it. Yes, I see that you see me going the wrong way, but I’ll eventually twirl around when the street becomes a bit too dodgy.
   4. Courage. Just like the lion, you become more courageous after each trip. It’s all very situational of course, but the fact that you’re traveling alone already is brave.
   5. Comfort. It’s all gone once you leave your city/country. You’re faced with different customs and languages, and you have to figure out how to survive with just your common sense and willingness to learn.
2. Adventure. Going to places alone offer a chance of adventure. It can be all types, whether the adventure is going to a haunted museum or going to a bar. The adventure is within the event in which you act upon.
3. Friends. I’ve found that by showing up to a place by myself, opens doors to meeting heaps of new people. Typically, if I’m with another person or a group of people, it’s a bit more difficult to meet new folks, just because you’re in your circle of comfort.
4. Independence. I honestly believe that I became so independent by constantly moving. Financially speaking, I may still be dependent on my parents for the rare freak-out call of no monies (but luckily, that hasn’t happened), but mentally and physically speaking, I’m on my own. You learn to take care of yourself, and knowing what your body needs. You become comfortable in your own skin, and after that sinks in, being alone becomes fairly fun.

Cons, but not really:

1. Interaction. It’s already established that you’re traveling alone, but let’s say you’re not living in a hostel, but an airbnb. You’re not surrounded by travelers; you’re surrounded by a local(s) who you may never interact with. So how do you meet people? It’s difficult. You can go out and sit at the bar, but 4/5 times it’s a hard miss, as said by my dear friend, Daniel. Even in a hostel, you have to initiate the contact. “Hey, mind if I sit with you guys? I’m traveling alone!” will normally get you a seat. With a simple phrase, and you may end up with a friendship for a lifetime.

But if you’re in an airbnb, then go out to eat. If a person sits down next to your table, look over and smile. If they smile back, then strike up a conversation. Now that I think about it, it’s flirting 101. I’m not so good at flirting.

Some would casually say, “just say something!” but funny enough, it’s not as easy as it seems. That moment when I’m deciding whether or not if I should say something to a stranger just to start something, I begin to wonder how I made friends in the first place. How did I befriend my first friend, and all the others down the line? A common interest – we’re all traveling here. Both parties have to be equally interested in the conversation to keep it going. But before words can come out, I begin a pro and con list on what could happen if I say something; it’s just stupid, really. So my advice, just go for it. Which can be applied to dating as well.

2. Nightlife. Now, I’m definitely not someone who goes out at night and then stumbles back at dawn, but if I were… going to nightclubs alone is strange. I imagine going to a nightclub alone is like that creepy old man sitting in the corner of the bar, staring at everything. I’ve noticed that most travelers have “fun” by going out at night. Now, if you’re not the kind of person who enjoys that, then join the club. The best way to blow money in mass sums, is by drinking. My money is blown off by museums and food. Whichever kind of traveler you are, money will be blown either way. If you do go out for drinks and blow off money, and in the meantime make a few friends, then sweet. That’s almost like buying your friends – fraternity style. *haha*

Don’t get me wrong though, I definitely enjoy the liquid courage for sure, but just not after 22:00 when I’m in a foreign country. Well mostly because I wouldn’t have another brain to depend on, on how to get back to the place of stay.

At the end of day, if your feet are all blistered and sitting down is such a high, then consider it a day well spent. Right now, even though my shoulders are past due for a deep tissue massage, and my feet have blisters everywhere imaginable, I’ve seen countless of things, and have met many interesting characters.

Really, traveling isn’t about how many people to befriend or getting the worst hangover ever, but it’s about you; meeting new people is definitely the best bit of traveling, of course. I do miss my friends and parents, but I’ve accomplished a lot so far – 23 countries at 23, and I’m still counting. That mere pleasure of being in a different country and making it – in terms of communication and not getting too lost – is the greatest high of all time for myself.