20 Pros and Cons of Solo Travel in 2024 from an Expert

Are there benefits to travelling alone? Why do you solo travel? Aren’t there more cons than pros?

I get asked these questions by people all the time – even people I meet on the road.

So I’m going to answer them all in one place so other solo female travellers like me can learn, share, and shut down the rumors.

As a professional solo traveller who has been permanently on the road for years, I’ve handled all the pros and cons of solo travel. Every challenge you can think of, I’ve faced it!

So let me tell you what the real advantages and disadvantages of travelling alone are so you’ll know what you’re getting yourself into on your first solo trip!

👉 Find out how much it costs to protect your trip today with Safety Wing travel insurance.

10 Pros of Solo Travel

1. You’re in Complete Control

Have you ever had to compromise on a trip?

Maybe your travel buddy wanted to go to a different museum? Or they had a smaller budget? Or they couldn’t go for as long a holiday?

We’ve all been there: compromising our dream trip for someone else’s desires.

It’s fine to do once in a while, but one of the benefits of travelling alone is not having to consider anyone else.

You get to put yourself first!

Some people call this “selfish”. I call it empowering.

When you solo travel, you get complete control of when you go, how you go, what your itinerary is, how much you spend, and what you do daily. You can always change the plans as you go.

When you’re in control, you dream trip really is YOUR dream trip.

2. Rest Without Guilt

Some people are full of energy.

Others – like me – value a nap every day.

When I’m on holiday, I don’t want to worry about slowing my friends down by going back for a nap, or boring them by spending my nights reading in bed. I want to take my me-time to rest as I see fit sans guilt.

That’s on of the benefits of solo travel that has really helped my mental health: I’ve learned the value of relaxing when I need to.

I’ve taken this lesson back to my life at home and started setting boundaries for when I need to relax. It’s helped me so much!

3. Make Long-Term Friends

There’s a misconception that solo travel means always being alone.

While there are some truly solo times, solo travel is often more social than group travel.

I’ve done many group tours, travelled with family, and gone on girls trips. I never made long-lasting connections the way that I did when I was solo travelling.

When I worked on a Croatian ranch with Workaway and solo travelled through New Zealand, I met friends that I keep in touch with years later.

It’s actually more challenging to be alone if you’re solo travelling. People want to embrace you and invite you into their groups.

One of the best ways to make friends while travelling alone is to stay in a hostel. People will quickly start chatting with you, and you’ll find your lifelong friends in no time!

4. Connect with Locals

Local experiences are one of the best parts of travel.

When you’re travelling with someone else, it’s hard to engage with locals. You tend to stick with the people or person you already know.

Alone, you need the help of locals to give you directions, keep you entertained over a meal, or off a comforting smile on the bus.

I’ve started seeking out more local experiences when I travel after being welcomed with open arms by locals in the small town I moved to in Italy when I was 16. Meeting them helped me see a side of Italy most people never get to experience.

Now, I find local experiences – like cooking with local women in Morocco, chat with locals for help, and try to hang out where locals do.

You’ll find yourself more immersed in the culture and able to make new friends.

5. Get Off the Beaten Path

When you’re travelling in a group, you’re more likely to stick to the “top 10” list places for a location. That’s partially because someone in your group is likely to want to do each thing.

Solo travellers can be more flexible.

We have more time to spend travelling since we’re not compromising and going to places we don’t care about. We’re also very resourceful at finding unique things to do.

Solo travellers are more likely to research a trip, get advice from people who have been there before, and find unique things to do.

I’ve often uncovered activities in destinations my friends have never heard of before – and some of them lived in the location!

6. Improve Language Skills

Travelling alone means you need to communicate for yourself.

I grew up with a mom who speaks multiple languages fluently, so I never needed to learn how to ask for directions or how to do more than say hello in different languages.

Once I started travelling alone, I realized how much I needed her Google translate abilities.

I’m still not great at languages, but I’ve gotten way better with my solo travel. Now I’m “menu fluent” in many languages, and can usually navigate a grocery store! (Because really, that’s what’s most important, right?!)

7. Gain a Sense of Happiness That Lasts

Did you know time alone has been proven to stave off depression? And that vacation-mode can increase your happiness levels long-term?

So a solo vacation is clearly the perfect way to increase your overall happiness!

I’m not sure if I believe the stats, but I must say it’s done wonders for my happiness levels. As someone who suffers with anxiety and depression, I can struggle to understand the feeling of happiness or to maintain it.

Solo travel has helped me learn to find happiness for myself and to appreciate it when I have it.

8. Boost Your Confidence

I have never felt as empowered as I do when I solo female travel.

One of the advantages of travelling alone is that you have to solve all of your problems by yourself. That means that every victory is 100% yours!

From figuring out the local currency to finding your way home when you get lost, you’ll feel profoundly more confident after a solo trip.

9. Improve Decision-Making Skills

This is one of the greatest benefits of travelling alone.

As someone who is almost incapable of making decisions, solo travel has made me much more decisive.

I used to defer to other people’s’ opinions and wants, rather than figuring out what I actually wanted.

Now, I know how to make decisions in a timely manner (except when deciding where to go – that’ll probably plague me forever!).

10. Get to Know Yourself More Intimately

The #1 advantage of travelling alone is that you get to know yourself.

I know it sounds cliche to say you “find yourself” when you travel – but you really do!

Being alone means that you have to be alone with your own thoughts. None of your friends or family influence your decisions. You aren’t restricted to the person people think you are.

When I moved to Italy alone at 16, I came back a completely different person.

I left a shy girl who couldn’t handle conflict, didn’t speak at school, and was resigned to feeling uncomfortable in her skin.

I returned a confident girl (I was still 16!) who loved to talk, knew she had things of value to say, and wanted to take on the world!

Every trip I’ve taken since has helped me uncover more about myself – and so can yours!

10 Cons of Solo Travel

1. Solo Supplement

Have you ever heard of the solo supplement before? If not, you probably haven’t solo travelled.

The solo supplement is the surcharge that solo travellers have to pay, which makes EVERYTHING more expensive.

For example, couples can split the cost of a 1 bedroom hotel, where solo travellers have to pay for the entire thing themselves.

The same goes for Airbnbs with extra rooms, renting cars, and even buying tickets.

Solo travellers can’t take advantage of group rates for any activity until they meet some friends.

While the expense is annoying, it isn’t a deal breaker – or it shouldn’t be, anyway.

There are ways around the solo supplement and ways to budget for it.

Hostels charge per single bed. Couchsurfing is free to use for accommodations. And you can take buses or split the costs of car rentals with new friends.

It takes a bit more thought, but you can definitely solo travel on a budget.

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2. Safety Concerns

One of the questions I get asked most often is: “is solo female travel safe?”

In short, yes.

The longer answer is more complicated.

Some places aren’t safe for travel – whether you’re on your own, a woman, in a group, or a burly man. But some places are especially challenging for solo female travellers.

I went to Marrakech alone – a destination many people consider unsafe for solo female travel.

But I loved it! Once I learned the tricks to stay safe in Marrakech from the owner of my riad, I was able to travel confidently and safely.

In fact, I’ve always had more safety concerns when I travel with other people. That’s when I’ve had to worry about pickpockets, scam tours, taxis taking advantage of us, and potentially predatory men.

When I’m on my own – whether I’m in Marrakech, Amsterdam, or New Zealand – I’ve always felt comfortable.

But remember: it’s not important if other people feel safe. It’s important that YOU feel safe.

If something doesn’t make you feel comfortable or you have worries for your safety, you’re allowed to say no.

I’ve turned down tours before that made me uncomfortable after my bad experiencing riding camels in Morocco.

The best ways to stay safe are to:

• Be aware of your surroundings
• Know the local customs and taboos
• Do some research and ask your concierge for tips
• Don’t flash jewellery or expensive items
• Have headphones ready to ignore vendors or male catcalls

3. Loneliness

Solo travel doesn’t have to be lonely, but sometimes it can be.

I was massively lonely when I loved in Airbnbs for months by myself. I wouldn’t speak to other people on my walks, was busy working online or touring alone, and didn’t try to find people to hand out with.

It quickly became depressing, especially since it was around Christmas time in Germany – perhaps the most Christmas-obsessed place in the world.

Loneliness does happen when you solo travel, especially if you’re a long-term traveller or solo expat.

But it’s easily combated!

Don’t isolate yourself. Find people to hang out with using some of my methods of making friends.

Simple changes like staying in shared accommodation, such as shared Airbnbs, going to events, chatting with locals, and engaging with the area can help you overcome loneliness so it doesn’t ruin your solo travels.

4. Getting Sick

Getting sick on the road is a right of passage for travellers.

People often worry about getting sick somewhere new, especially if they’re travelling alone.

I’ve gotten sick around the world – from sinus infections in New Zealand to nearly breaking my back in Croatia to some sort of plague in France. I like to consider myself something on an expert in being ill on the road.

So let me tell you: it’s better to be sick by yourself.

When I’ve gotten sick on trips with family, friends, or even on tours, it has felt even more hell-ish.

I felt guilty for holding them back from activities and got serious FOMO when they did do things without me. I often didn’t get help from tour leaders or family when I needed medicine. One time, a tour guide shoved me in a cab to a Barcelona hospital that didn’t even speak English! (There apparently is an American hospital she could have sent me to.)

The best experience I’ve had when I’ve been sick on the road was when I was in Turkey.

The hotel knew I was alone, so they checked up on me regularly. They filled my prescription at the pharmacy, brought me comped chicken broth rice, and helped me contact tours to cancel when I got a parasite from Casablanca.

If you do get sick, it’s really helpful to have travel insurance.

I use Safety Wing. They have 24/7 customer support, where you can contact them and they’ll help you find a doctor. They’ve even sent doctors to hotels for me when I was too sick to get to the office myself.

They’re way more reliable than friends that are still trying to enjoy their trip!

👉 Find out how much it costs to protect your trip today with Safety Wing travel insurance.

5. You’ll Probably Get Lost

I’ll admit it: I am TERRIBLE with directions.

Whether I’m giving someone directions, receiving them, or trying to remember them down the line, someone will inevitably get lost. And that person is usually me.

One of the pros of solo travel is getting to explore the world on your terms. But that also comes with the con that you can easily get turned around when you’ve gone off the beaten path.

Almost every solo traveller I know has had an experience where they’ve gotten hopelessly lost on their trips. But they’ve all survived to tell the tale!

Getting lost has become a favourite hobby of mine. It lets you get to know a place more intimately and challenges you to figure out your way home (or to your hotel).

I got hopelessly lost in Amsterdam and ended up accidentally breaking into a train station, crying, and somehow magically finding a tram operator who could understand my butchered Dutch.

At the time, it was stressful.

Now it’s one of my favourite travel stories to share!

It’s also the reason I always download maps, have a portable battery pack, and write down the name of my hotel ahead of time.

6. Wanting to Share Moments With Others

Extroverts struggle to enjoy moments alone. They need to discuss what they’re seeing or experiencing to full appreciate it.

Sometimes introverts have the same issue.

It can be hard to experience something and not have someone to immediately talk to about it.

One solution I use is to text a friend or family member. I keep my data off, but send them all of the thoughts I’m having. That night when I get WIFI, they’ll go through and we can discuss all of the things I experienced that day.

Sometimes I even leave them until I get home.

You can also keep a journal of it in your Notes app, record yourself for Instagram, or join tour groups to have someone to comment to.

Soon, you’ll come to appreciate experiencing these moments on your own. Sometimes a moment is most enjoyable when you can just experience it without needing to consider someone else.

👉 Want to make friends around the world? Join Meetups today for free!

7. Eating Alone

Eating alone is a big pain point for solo female travellers.

Many have never even tried to do it at home before!

Eating alone was really hard when I first started solo travelling – partially because I didn’t have the ability to play games on my cell phone back then.

Now, I love eating alone! I don’t have to worry about trying to talk when I just want to eat my food, or having someone judge me for ordering two desserts so I can try them both.

The best way to get comfortable eating alone is to start doing it.

Some tricks I used to get to the point where I prefer eating alone are:

• Listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or music
• Reading a book (better at coffee shops or delis than restaurants)
• Sitting at the bar and talking to the bartender
• Going on food tours or food meet-ups to get comfortable talking to strangers over food
• Going to places with really good food, so I would be too enthralled to consider being lonely

8. Taking Solo Photos

For years, all of my travel pictures were selfies.

It’s one of the major disadvantages of being a solo traveller: you have no one to take your epic Instagram pictures.

As an introvert and a pretty shy person (until you know me), I struggled to ask strangers to take my picture. When I built up the nerve, it was usually blurry or not quite the shot I wanted.

So I gave up, and resigned myself to a lifetime of solo travel selfies that didn’t adequately capture my visions.

Thankfully, there are ways around this!

I invested in a tripod with a Bluetooth remote that allows me to set up my own shot and be in complete control of my photo-taking experience.

I also realized that once I made friends, I could ask them to take shots for me. It’s a lot easier to get your friend to reshoot the pose you want than it is to get a stranger!

If you’re like me and you struggle to ask others for help, invest in a cheap tripod that can hold your phone or camera so you don’t have to miss out on those picture perfect shots!

9. No Help When You’re Stuck

Travelling alone means you’re on your own when things get hard.

As I already covered in the advantages of travelling alone, I actually think this is one of the biggest pros of solo travel. But it can be a disadvantage when you first get started.

Handling common travel mistakes like getting lost, not knowing where to eat, and needing to find a doctor can feel insurmountable by yourself.

But you are totally capable!

If you’re worried at first, have a friend or family member you can contact. Safety Wing

is a great resource to help you handle challenging situations where you may have lost something or need medical attention.

👉 Find out how much it costs to protect your trip today with Safety Wing travel insurance.

10. Family Can Be Negative

A disadvantage of travelling alone that was very hard for me was the negative response from family members.

It came from a place of love. But it didn’t make it any easier to feel like I was disappointing or worrying them by going abroad.

Many people struggle to tell their family and friends that they want to solo travel. They expect negative responses or for their family to talk them out of going.

Be sure to have a plan in place to tell your family that you want to solo travel. I had a friend as a support system who would help buoy me up if I got a negative response. I also had a list of predetermined answers to their issues (safety, money, taking time away from work, etc.).

Now, my family gets that solo travel is something I love.

I know that they don’t understand solo travel and that it makes them nervous, so I do my best to keep them updated as I travel and to let them check in on me when I know they need it.

But sometimes I’ll still do things that scare them – like text them that I’m about to go skydiving, then not respond for three hours because my phone is in a locker.

So maybe don’t do that!

Solo Travel Pros and Cons Wrap Up

If you have always wanted to solo travel, don’t let fear hold you back!

Whether you’ve never travelled before or you’ve only travelled in groups, solo travel isn’t as scary as it seems.

As you can see in this article, the pros of solo travel outweigh the cons significantly. In fact, most of the disadvantages only last for your first few trips until you get into the rhythm of solo travelling. Meanwhile, the perks can last a lifetime.

Don’t wait to discover the pros of solo travel for yourself. Book that dream getaway today!

👉 Find out how much it costs to protect your trip today with Safety Wing travel insurance.

More Posts on Solo Travel:

• What Type of Solo Traveller Are You?
• 85 Best Solo Travel Quotes and Captions to Boost Your Instagram Feed
• Is Solo Travel Lonely?: Conclusively Debunking The Myth
• 18 Best Destinations for Safe Solo Female Travel
• 6 Guaranteed Ways to Make Travel Friends When You’re Travelling Alone
• 10 Mistakes First-Time Solo Travelers Make
• Solo Travel

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