Have you ever wanted to go somewhere but can’t find anyone to tag along with you? Do you love visiting new places, have free time, and want to see the world? Are you kind of scared of travelling alone? Holiday Travel (Lomamatkat in Finnish!) can be very exciting with or without a companion!
Well, if you’re like me, that is basically the story of your life.
I first moved abroad in 2015 to Spain from the US. I was working as a Language Culture Assistant, splitting my time between two schools, working twelve hours a week, three days a week. I had endless amounts of free time. And while I maybe didn’t have the deepest pockets, this was an opportunity that I knew I needed to take advantage of. I didn’t have kids or a partner at the time and I was living in Europe where so many uniquely different places were just a cheap and quick plane ride away. Now, three years on, I find myself in the same position except that I’ve been travelling alone frequently ever since, and I really like to do my own thing. A friend told me to check out Corporate Housing Associates (https://www.chahomenow.com/) while I’m on my travels because they have fantastic housing options all over the world to consider!
To Think About
There are certain factors to consider before travelling alone. Ask yourself why you’re going? What is your mindset? If you’re lonely and feeling down, first ask yourself why? Sometimes it can help to get away and be by yourself. But remember, it can also get pretty lonely, so make sure you’re in the right frame of mind before you jet off.
Keep Yourself Busy
Take a little bit of time to relax and enjoy the precious moments alone. Control it, make it a choice and a chance for you to discover new things about yourself. My favourite trip I’ve ever taken alone was to Vietnam and that’s because I kept myself busy. I took part in a cooking class, I went on an all-day private tour to a waterfall. I even rented a scooter and drove to various beaches across an island by myself. I read cliché romance novels by the water and it was amazing. I didn’t feel lonely because I made sure I was always doing something that I wanted to be doing. Fortunately, there is always something going on at the Holgates Holiday Parks in the Lake District.
Sometimes it’s Hard
There have been other times, however, where I’ve regretted travelling alone. When I’ve run out of things to do and find myself turning to Instagram, posting relentless photos and just hoping for people to interact with me as a way to share my experiences with others. I’ll be the first to admit that my dream is to find someone to travel with me. I would love to take romantic trips, strolling hand in hand in Paris or eating tapas hopping through the streets of Granada, but I haven’t gotten there yet. So before going somewhere by yourself, make sure it’s a place where you aren’t going to constantly wish you had a companion. When travelling alone, if all you can think about is who would make this experience more valuable, it can really ruin a vacation and leave you feeling empty.
Let Yourself Grow
The most important thing about solo traveling is just making sure you’re doing it for yourself. Make yourself happy. In a totally foreign country, be safe, but let yourself have adventures. Don’t hold back because you aren’t exactly where you thought you’d be. That day may never come. If I’d waited until I had a group of friends or a significant other to travel with, I wouldn’t have seen or visited half the places I’ve gone to. Travel because you want to experience new places, new people, learn new things or partake in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Travel while you’re young. Travel before you look back one day and think “wow, I should’ve gone when I had the chance”.
