Why everyone should travel solo at least once
Holidaying abroad with partners and friends is great, but the sense of freedom, empowerment and limitless choice when you’re by yourself is cooler still. And there’s no waiting around for others
Ihad always thought of myself as an intrepid traveller, venturing out of my comfort zone during my foreign sojourns to try skydiving, deep sea walking and quad biking. But nothing prepared me for the butterflies in my stomach on the eve of my first solo trip to Austria and Prague.
I had strategically timed my holiday to coincide with my birthday. With the husband not in town, there was no way I was prepared to stay back in Dubai and sulk on the most precious day of my year. So here I was, Schengen visa stamped, winter gear all tucked into my suitcase and rehearsing my social media posts. But a strange sense of nervousness dawned on me.
Weird, considering this wasn’t my first overseas trip, but it was my first without my partner or friends in tow. My friends and I do an elaborate trip every year, where the itinerary is planned months in advance. But the butterflies this time were probably out of fear of taking off to an unknown land without an agenda.
My anxiety levels were rising with every passing minute, so much so, that I even contemplated cancelling the trip and staying under my blanket to avoid the embarrassment of chickening out of a solo holiday. On D-Day, I calmed my nerves and checked into the airport — I have to say, I am not partial to airport waits and cramped cabins, so this wasn’t making the beginning of the journey any easier.
And thus began my footloose and fancy-free holiday. My first few mandatory social media posts left friends aghast: “Are you bonkers to travel solo?”, “Why are you wandering around the world without your husband?” Strangely enough, these social misgivings quelled my fears and I decided to conquer the world, one day at a time.
I must admit, the first day of sightseeing in a new city overwhelmed me. With no agenda, I was navigating palaces, museums, alleys and sites packed with tourists in Vienna. Slowly, my confidence grew.
Travelling solo lets you do things at your own unhurried pace: no one can restrain you from paying a whopping 50 euros to roam in a royal, horse-drawn carriage; you can binge-eat Sachertortes all day with no one asking you to watch the calories; drink all the beverages you want without gentle reminders to take it easy. Not to mention all the times you get invited by folks who want to take you to the opera — psst, don’t tell my husband!
Strangers are kind to a single woman traveller, I learnt in Vienna. I am grateful to a Metro commuter who guided me in an alien language when I was about to board a train in the wrong direction; the waiter who made space for me in a crowded Hallstat café when I walked in all frozen and pale; and to the umpteen Chinese tourists who relented and took my pictures when I grew tired of taking selfies.
Friends who had traveled solo earlier had recommended that I stay in hostels. It’s the best way to meet new people, I was told. Now while I am adventurous enough — perhaps not to that extent. I like my few minutes of peace and privacy after a long day. But I did make friends from the US and Argentina during a road trip from Vienna to Prague. Clubbed together with two Argentinians who spoke no English during a walking tour, I brushed up my sign language skills. We struck a camaraderie over our mutual love of sightseeing and frantic search for Wi-Fi.
All good things must come to an end. As I packed my bags to return home, I wondered if this was my last solo trip. Of course, I love seeing the world with my partner in tow, making memories together. But I would not trade in anything in the world for the sense of empowerment I experienced on this trip, taking my own decisions, acting on my whims and with no one around to judge me or coax me in a different direction.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s awesome to travel with people and groups, but when you’re alone, there’s no waiting around for others. You will have moments of weakness while travelling solo, but overcoming them will leave you with a better understanding of who you are and what you want from life.
My anxiety levels were rising with every passing minute, so much so that I even contemplated cancelling the trip and staying under my blanket to avoid the embarrassment of chickening out of a solo holiday