Hey Guys…

I’ve just landed in San Francisco and am about to submit this before heading off to bed. 🥱

…It's been a while since I’ve gone on a mildly controversial rant. So, herreeeeee we gooooo…. 👇

This one Content Creator, (who shall remain nameless), posted some “clickbait,” and now there’s an active debate on social media about solo travel. 

She basically said that all these content creators are capping (a Gen Z term for lying), about solo travel and that solo travel was boring. 

Do I believe that some Content Creators fake and exaggerate certain experiences? Most definitely! We’re all human and as a fellow human, I can be guilty of exaggeration too…but I keep it real, maybe even TOO real, 99.9% of the time. 😆

What pushed me over the edge was when I talked to a fellow reader who described how she had never had a good experience traveling with other people. Other people = drama! 

Her: “Traveling is not for me”

Me: “That’s easy….travel solo”

Her: “I could never travel solo”

Me:

And that’s what did it folks! Some of my best memories have happened while solo traveling!!

You’re meeting new people with different outlooks on life and even so, you’re able to make meaningful connections. 

When you’re in a group of people, (large or small),  you’re in a protective bubble. For example, when 5 American tourists walk into a bar, then it’s a private party. But, when 1 tourist walks into a bar, they seem a lot more approachable and locals may be more likely to talk to them. 

You learn about the area by communicating and understanding the cultural nuances from a local’s perspective. Period! It’s not just about seeing the sights or eating the food.

Let’s be real though…some of you don’t even like who you’re traveling with anyway! 🤣You just don't want to be **alone** and trust me, I get it!... BUT, you don’t NEED to travel with someone else to have a good time. 

If you're with your friends, family or significant other, everyone has a slightly different agenda and no one likes doing exactly what you like to do. - Unless, you have a clone 👽. If left unchecked, an imbalanced itinerary could result in a full-blown dispute or even a minor conflict — even in the most relaxed travel destination. 

When you travel solo, you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. Doesn't get much more peaceful than that! 

These are some of the things I hear from people who are against solo traveling. 

Reason 1: I'm shy and meeting people is hard. 😔

I'm shy too. I promise! I'm the type of guy who even avoids people that I know at the supermarket if I’m not in the mood to chit chat that day. I actually just did that at Wegmans on Friday. 

Even if you’re shy, people are more likely to approach you if you’re alone. Why?? Because it’s less intimidating and almost like an invitation for at least small talk. Sometimes, locals want to practice their English or they're just curious and want to learn more about you. 

And don’t worry, extroverts are very skilled at finding introverts to talk to!

Reason 2: It’s Dangerous 

Don't let novelty taint your views on safety. Everyone's afraid of shark attacks, but you're more likely to die in a car accident or from a slip and fall incident in the shower. It's the same thing with traveling. Just be aware of your surroundings and truthfully, you should be cautious even in your home country. People can be crazy y'all! Keep your eyes open 👀

Reason 3: Dinners are going to be awkward. 

Who cares if people are staring at you because you’re eating alone? They’re probably bored and should mind their own business. Bring a book, go on social media, take food pics, or chat with the restaurant staff. 

Here are some additional tips for solo travel

→ Take your hobby with you! It's so much fun connecting with people through hobbies. For example, I like dancing and can relate to people through that medium. It’s great learning about the differences in music and how hobbies are enjoyed in other countries. You might even meet  and stay in contact with international friends. Then… from those friends, you meet friends of friends that can hook you up with housing or other recommendations the next time you’re in the country. And NOW, you just created a global network for yourself! 

→ Join some expat groups or meetup groups: Expat groups are basically groups of foreigners that choose to get together and mingle. Also, Meetup is a great resource where you can sign up to attend events with people who have shared interests. 

→ Go on a group tour: I’ve made friends with strangers just because I spent the whole day with them on the same tour and then we organically started traveling together. Next thing you know, we’re having dinner and even hanging out the next day. 

→Stay at a hostel: Hostels are usually inexpensive and full of diverse groups of people. It’s hard not to connect with a fellow traveler when staying at a hostel. However, do your research! Sometimes you get what you pay for and the living conditions might not meet the standards that you want. 

What's your stance on solo travel?