Being in a Relationship Doesn’t Mean You Can’t Travel Solo
Even though I adore traveling with Scott, I still go on my fair share of solo trips. In fact, I’m embarking on a two-week solo trip on April 27th and despite the fact that I’ll be sad to leave Scott for two weeks, these types of trips are always life changing for me.
Part of the reason I travel solo is because Scott doesn’t have as much vacation time as I do, but I also believe in throwing myself outside of my comfort zone every once in a while. I could easily get used to traveling with a partner and the thought of traveling alone starts to feel scary again. I don’t want to feel helpless and in need of someone to either keep me company or most importantly, keep me from getting lost (which I often do when I travel solo).
So, with my Google Maps in hand, I give you three benefits of traveling solo:
Creating Your Own Schedule
I love Scott to death, but we can really butt heads when it comes to how we spend our free time when traveling. I like to take my time, wake up at my leisure and not rush out the door. On the other hand, he wants to get up early and see everything! I’m all about exploring while traveling, but I find that I have to change what comes naturally when I travel with him.
When I travel alone, I don’t feel pressure to rush myself and I’m able to embrace my lackadaisical nature.
Challenging Yourself
Traveling solo feels scary sometimes, but once I overcome a few challenges (such as finding my way in a crowded city) it gives me confidence and the world starts to feel less daunting. These challenges provide self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment. It’s times like these that I tend to get my best ideas on where I want my life to take me next, without all those detrimental fears getting in the way.
Alone Time
Many of us don’t get enough alone time. Life’s demands pull us in different directions and we forget to take time to just sit and think. Traveling alone forces us to be alone with our thoughts. Sure, nowadays we have technology to keep us entertained, but wifi is not always available and why would you want to be on a computer while you are traveling anyway?
Giving yourself alone time can help you get to know yourself better and give you insight into your true desires without all the outside noise and other people’s expectations to consider.
Can you add to these benefits of traveling solo? Tell us in the comments.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I’m also a member of other affiliate programs. For more info please read my Privacy Policy
So true! Have had that happen.
Completely agree with the “keep me from getting lost” part. That’s one of the best bits of travelling! My one is a programmer by day and he’s all about efficiency, and getting from A to B in the quickest way possible. Even when we’re doing stuff for leisure like eating a meal in a restaurant, he’ll want to get up and go before I’ve even finished the last of my drink!
Of course, I adore him and he is my best friend. I want to make memories with him (apologies for the cheese), but we do have a rather different pace…so I’m quite torn about whether to plan trips without him or not 🙁
It’s great to see that you’re in a relationship that travels together a lot, but don’t let that hold you back. I currently travel solo full time, and always wondered if when I meet someone they’d be fine with me still having my trips alone. Here’s hoping but for now I’m doing okay! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
I love travelling with my husband but I’ve had some amazing solo trips and I agree with you. It can be so easy to stay in your comfort zone and having to make your own decisions and look after yourself is fun and challenging. Plus you get to do everything you want, no compromise!
I think that traveling solo is a great opportunity to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, that has been such a benefit for me personally when I’ve traveled solo, you come back from it with such confidence that you can handle damn near any situation you encounter from that point point on
I agree because I think a little time alone is good for you. I always travel alone and eat alone at restaurants and it does not bother me. thanks
I am totally working on an article with Pedro about this! He can almost never travel with me, so he is basically my driver to and from the airport all the time haha. I love traveling solo for the same reasons you do. I also just appreciate that Pedro understands that I NEED to travel. He would love to come with me, but since he can’t, he just supports my lifestyle.
probably u r correct….
giving some time to oneself always keeps that balance in relationships too …
InkMyTravel
I think it would be neat to both go solo and meet up at the end and see who has cooler stories.
I travelled alone for the first time last year, and it was really freeing. I would do it again!
(Here are a few of my reflections after the fact: http://nzmuse.com/2012/07/things-ive-learned-about-myself-while-travelling-alone/ )
I feel much the way you do. I also have a husband with less time off. But I don’t let that stop me. I’ve got actually a little more solo travel than normal – about 8 weeks worth in the next 4 months – but it’s such interesting travel that I think that will help make up for being apart. And it’s not like when I first started traveling. Back in the late 70’s I’d eagerly wait for letters from family and a phonecall was a rare indulgence. So in this day and age it really doesn’t feel so bad.
I agree with you so much Christy. A lot of people think you travel solo just because you can’t find anyone who wants to come with (in other words: that you have no friends or boyfriend or life). The reason why I like to travel solo is, as you pointed out: to challenge myself! It forces me to be more open-minded and a lot of times to hang around with people I back home would never talk to. I’m not saying traveling solo is more fun but it’s for sure more interesting. Everyone who has the possibility should do it!
Very good article. I have been married for 2 years. I always want to travel but my wife, she don’t like it.Therefore, I have delayed my plan for 2 years
I would totally travel solo given the chance! I think it would be an amazing experience. I wish I had done it before we took off on our nomadic travels! Maybe I could sneak off somewhere for a week by myself!
Do it. 😉
I love my man but I love traveling by myself too. It gets me strong in my own self again, clears away the clutter of caring for and thinking of another person (even though I love doing that!), and enables me to feel my own feelings, think my own thoughts, and take away my own impressions not colored by someone else’s experience. I really like that now and then. 🙂
4. Not Ruining Relationships (which ties into #1)
Not my Scott, but other friends I’ve traveled with, we nearly came home not friends anymore!