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I’m a proponent of solo travel.  The lone traveler is my superhero! I so very badly want to climb on my passport stamped soapbox and loudly proclaim: EVERYONE NEEDS TO TRAVEL SOLO! I definitely want to see people travel more.  Especially Black people.  In talking with folk, I’ve found that the one thing stopping a lot of people from traveling is having someone to travel with.  This burns me to the core.  I want to scream:  GO BY YOURSELF! 

The thought of someone allowing themselves to miss out on a great travel experience because they don’t want to go alone makes my teeth itch.

It seems like such a “no-brainer” to me that if you really wanted to go somewhere and couldn’t get anyone to go with you that you would go it alone. EVERYONE should be willing and able to do this…right?

Well…the short answer is no. I’m a staunch advocate for solo travel so it pains me to admit this but…solo travel isn’t for everyone. 

IT IS FOR ME!  I love it.  Actually, it’s my travel preference.  But everybody ain’t me.  

I can’t take what’s true for me and make it a universal truth.  As much as I would like to see people of color travel more; black women, in particular,  I can’t recklessly push solo travel because solo travel just isn’t for everyone.

Maybe solo travel just isn’t for you. Traveling alone may not float your boat or be your cup of tea. And perhaps, you don’t aspire to the lone traveler moniker. But still…you’ve been thinking about it lately. Right??? So, how would you be able to tell whether solo travel is for you or not? Are there some tell-tale signs? I believe there are.

Solo travel may not be for you if…

You don’t like being alone

I’m an introvert so being alone energizes me.  As much as I love being around people that I love, after a fun night out I need a lot of time by myself to regroup.  On the flip side, there are people who are energized in the presence of others and too much time alone leaves them a bit off-center. 

Traveling solo may not be for you if you don’t like spending significant time by yourself.  If you’ve never gone to a movie alone or dined in a restaurant by yourself then think long and hard about solo travel.  It may not be for you.

It takes you a while to warm up to people

Solo travel doesn’t mean that you never meet, speak to, or spend time with anyone else during your travels.  Quite the opposite.  Here’s the thing though, you have to be quick to warm up to people.  All kinds of people. 

In solo travel, “connections move quickly.  In the morning you meet a group of people, or even someone else traveling alone and start talking.  You click and the next thing you know you’re making dinner plans with them.   Just that quick.  But if you’re too slow in warming up to folk…that the first spark of connection will die quickly and the moment will pass.  If you don’t like talking to people you don’t know or who don’t look like you then solo travel may not be for you. 

You can’t think quickly on your feet

When traveling, things can and will go wrong.  Flight delays, accommodation issues, lost luggage, theft, visa problems, and the list goes on.  It’s frustrating for sure.  How well would you handle those issues when traveling by yourself?  A good indicator might be how you handle challenging situations on your home turf.  Do you need a ton of input when making the simplest decision? 

Being able to change direction, make contingency plans, research on google, figure out who to call, speak to the manager, and keep your wits about you all at the same time is vital when traveling alone. Some times there’s no one to help you figure it out.  You have to do it yourself.  If things going wrong will frustrate you to the point of tears, where you can’t gather yourself to make a move then traveling solo may not be for you.

You’re not street smart

You only have YOU to depend on so you have to be smart.  You must always be aware of your surroundings and protect yourself at all costs.  Herein lies the dance between number 2—warming up quickly to people and keeping your eyes on them though.  That dance is called street smarts.  Every kind face ain’t kind and every smile ain’t sincere. 

Defining street smarts isn’t easy.  It’s a thing.  It’s that thing that allows you to quickly evaluate any situation and the associated risks.  It’s that “feeling in your bones”, hunch” or “mother wit” that lets you know something’s not right. Being street smart is vital to navigating new situations, decision making, and staying safe on the road.  If you’re not good at this dance then traveling solo definitely isn’t for you.

You’re not tech-savvy

Team iPhone or team Android, it matters not.  What matters is, you must be tech-savvy to travel.  Whether its booking hotel rooms on the fly, using google maps, scheduling an Uber, being able to WhatsApp (secure messaging and calling app) the tour operator, checking out Airbnb experiences, or using currency converter apps—being tech-savvy on the road is essential. 

Life will be much easier for you halfway around the world if you know your way around the internet, communication and travel apps.  If you don’t…perhaps solo travel isn’t for you.

In Summary

So there you have it.  Is traveling solo for everyone?  I think not.  But is it for anyone?  Absolutely!!!  Anyone who wants to try it.  Anyone who’s ready to step out of their comfort zone.  Anyone who’s tired of waiting for people to travel with.  Anyone who’s ready to see the word! Perhaps you read this post and now you’re disheartened. DON’T BE! Is solo travel for YOU? You’ll never know until YOU try. 

Travel tip: Start with a solo weekend jaunt to a neighboring state or travel a few states over to see your favorite musical artist in concert.

In the meantime, check out my post on travel tips for beginners just in case you’re ready to start traveling alone. Check back in and let us know.

Do you travel solo? Do you want to? I’d love to hear from you below.

Solo Travel

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