4 signs you’re ready to travel solo (even if it scares you a little)
- Sassy Travels
- Aug 14
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 15
If you've been debating whether solo travelling would be for you or not, this may just be the post to convince you to book that ticket. In my opinion, if done right, solo travelling can be the most perspective-shifting, soul-filling, and transformative experience there is, and something you might even really get into. Nowadays I travel solo probably as much as I travel with others. Both have their perks, but today we are focusing on the former.
Quick note, I have already written a post about where to start with solo travelling, you can read it here. And now let's look at the 3 signs that show you’re ready for solo travel .
You crave to see what you're capable of alone and you're ready to take responsibility:
If you have been travelling with others before, but you are secretly looking for a challenge, to see whether you could do this alone or not, that might be a sign that your mindset is ready. The desire to travel solo often comes from an increased thirst for self-growth and discovery. When you travel with others, there is often a shared itinerary and you have to make decisions together. This can sometimes overshadow your personal preferences and desires. However, when you take a solo trip, you have the freedom to choose your destinations, the pace of your travel, and the activities that resonate with you the most. This opportunity can lead to a sense of empowerment, as you learn to navigate new environments, interact with new cultures, and tackle challenges independently. It means that you are ready to take responsibility for your own happiness because you understand it is worth the prize (independence and freedom). A lot of people underestimate the responsibility that comes with doing anything, but especially travelling, alone. But if you dare to take that solo trip, you will soon realise that freedom and independence comes with responsibility for your own wellness and happiness. This is one of the most character building aspects of solo travelling.
You have no idea how to be alone:
If just the simple thought of being alone scares you (not like stressed out and anxious scared but more like curious scared if you know what I mean), then you might be ready for a solo trip or at least activity. You may find that it's not for you, which is absolutely fine, but you may gain confidence from it. As you test your ability to stay alone, you might find beauty in it. In fact, you might find moments of peace and clarity that are often overshadowed by the busyness of everyday life. The quiet moments spent with yourself can lead to new perspectives and self-discovery, revealing interests and passions that you may not have have known existed. You might even uncover a newfound appreciation for your own company, which can be a liberating realisation. So, if you feel that twinge of curiosity mixed with fear at the thought of being alone, consider taking that leap. You might just surprise yourself with what you discover along the way.
You feel like you could do with a confidence boost:
Building on my previous point, the good thing about solo traveling is that no matter how well or badly your trip turns out, it will still give you satisfaction knowing you did this all alone. You may not want to do it again, but you know that you can trust yourself and are able to do this on your own. And the better case scenario is that it gives you so much confidence that you want to do this again and again. You will soon be stepping outside of your comfort zone more than ever before, and the things that used to scare you, or you thought 'I could never', are the things that you do on a daily basis. There might even come times when other people ask you how you do it so confidently and independently, and you will have to think about the answer because to you it is just second nature.
You can trust your intuition or you would like to learn how to:
In a world where we are constantly bombed with information and advertisement of what brands and companies may think we need, it is hard sometimes to just slow down and listen to out inner voice to see what we really need. If you are someone who is contemplating solo travelling and you know you can trust your gut instinct, I would book that trip. And if you are someone who would like to create a deeper connection with yourself and your intuition, I would also consider solo travelling. When you travel with others every decision is based on what's best for everyone (or at least in an ideal case scenario), and you may feel that you end up doing something you didn't really feel like doing, disregarding your own intuition on what would be best for you. When you travel solo, you can do whatever feels right. If you don't to go for a sunrise hike because your body is screaming 'I need more sleep' then you don't have to let anyone down by not joining an activity. When you travel alone there will also be times when you have to make decisions left, right and centre and all you will be able to rely on sometimes is your intuition. The more you get into these situations the more you will be able to distinguish between ego and intuition.
As you can see, solo travelling has a way of showing us parts of ourselves we didn’t know were there — or perhaps, had forgotten. The truth is, these lessons aren’t just for the road — they can transform the way we live every single day. The things that you gain while travelling solo go way further than booking a last-minute hotel or finding your way out of a jungle without a phone. They stay with you even when you return from travelling to help you up-level every other aspect of your life.
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