For me, solo travel opens up a world of self-discovery and empowerment. Yet the myths around solo travel can be what brings holiday dreams to a grinding halt for some people just because they don’t have a travel buddy.
In this article, I unravel the truth behind five common myths surrounding solo travel, encouraging you to embrace the freedom and excitement it offers and to look at the benefits of joining a travel group solo.
Myth 1: Solo Travel is Lonely
Reality: Embracing Independence and Connection
Contrary to popular belief, solo travel doesn’t equate to loneliness. You may leave home alone but that doesn’t define that you’re up for lonely travels.
Engaging in group activities or joining tour groups or staying in social accommodations can transform your journey into a vibrant discovery of shared experiences.
Top Tip: If you’re not sure about travelling solo, join a tour group and ask the tour company if they regularly get other solo travellers that join. Better still, join Encounter Travel small group tours for ‘Solos Only’.
Myth 2: Solo Travel Is Only For The Young
Reality: Age Knows No Bounds for the ‘Young at Heart’
Solo travel is not exclusive to the young and Encounter Travel is the proof. My entire business is forged around solo travellers over 40 years and dominated by solo travellers in their 50’s and 60’s with a range of ages, even into their 80’s.
And the big plus is that more often mature solo travellers have more time, more budget and more independence to suit themselves and embrace their solo travels.
Myth 3: Solo Travel is Expensive
Reality: Solo Adventures Await for all Budgets
Solo travel doesn’t have to break the bank and tour offers range from the budget to the most extravagant.
But it’s true that, in many cases, if you are a solo traveller, you pay a portion more – to cover the cost of your own room (the ‘single supplement’).
There’s no getting around paying for your own room rather than splitting the cost with another person if you want your own room. But there are tour companies that won’t slog you with inflated prices for this supplement.
Side note on cruising: it’s usually not as economical as touring with supplements for your own cabin at 50% or close to double the fare of a twin share cabin booking.
Top Tip: If you’re open to sharing, there are tour companies that will offer the option to share, ‘share with a stranger’ or ‘roommate matching’ to take advantage of the cost of sharing the room. This doesn’t suit everyone but it’s an option at least.
We take care of this with our solo travellers offered a same sex roommate option on most of our trips.
Myth 4: You Are Going To Dine Solo
Reality: There are options to avoid dining solo
A big part of enjoying a meal when you’re travelling is sharing the experience. Sampling the local cuisine contributes to our memory bank of travel joys.
The last thing you want to do is miss out on the dining enjoyment because you’re travelling solo and you don’t enjoy dining alone. This is when joining a group makes a huge difference.
Top Tip: Not all travel groups approach dining in the same way. When exploring group options, pay attention to the dining inclusions offered.
Opt for a tour where more meals are part of the package, ensuring you’ll have the company of your fellow group members. On the evenings when dinner isn’t included, a tour group just for solo travellers will close to guarantee you’ll find others that are eager to venture out together to discover local restaurants.
Myth 5: I Don’t Have Time To Plan
Life is fast with busy work and home schedules. If you’re single and planning on your own, it can feel like a burden when all the travel planning lays 100% with you.
How much easier is it if someone’s done the planning for you? This is where a tour company takes over; all the planning is taken care of, but it’s much more than that.
Credible operators know the highlights and you avoid the queues at the busy tourist spots (a very big part of European touring) and there is the peace of mind of a local contact on hand in the destination to help you with questions and for advice.
I hope I’ve invited you to rethink solo travel and to know that travelling by yourself doesn’t have to mean doing so alone.
Whether you choose to explore independently or join a like-minded group, the world is yours to discover and the possibilities for unforgettable experiences are endless.
