There’s something so viscerally enjoyable about stepping out of the world. Something that draws us to drop what we’re doing, take a week off of work and take a flight or a drive or a train to, just, wherever. The idea of “getting away” is instilled in us from birth seemingly. We want–no we need to get away from it all sometimes.
Sometimes, in the process of getting away, we want to not only avoid our work, our responsibilities and our cell phones, but other people. Human interaction is something we need in everyday life, but everything is best in moderation, right?
But the companionship that others can offer on trips is unparalleled. There are pros and cons to both traveling alone and traveling as a part of a group, I’ll outline some below.
Traveling Solo
Advantages:
The biggest advantages in traveling alone come in terms of what you’ll be doing. When you’re traveling alone, you don’t have to answer to anyone else. You can do whatever you want. You can see whatever you want. You can eat, drink, ride, fly and go anywhere you want. The trip is yours and yours alone, meaning you’re not getting dragged along to see things you’re not interested in, nor are you on the flip side, dragging someone else to see a sight they’ve already seen.
By traveling alone you’ll also have ample time to relax and focus on you. As I wrote above, sometimes it’s nice to just get away from other people for a bit. Going hiking, exploring or even out for a meal by yourself can be incredibly liberating, but you won’t know until you’ve tried.
Disadvantages:
The biggest disadvantage, which you may or may not agree with, is the potential for loneliness. There are things that are best done alone, but the reverse is also true–some things are best done with someone there with you. Loneliness can easily set in on an extended trip if you simply need someone to talk to.
Other disadvantages, such as slightly increased costs can also hurt your solo travels, but for some this is a nonissue.
Traveling With Others
Advantages:
Traveling as a part of a group ensures that you’ll never be lonely. Your companions will be there throughout the duration, meaning you’ll always have people to engage in activities with. Similarly, the people you’re traveling and exploring with will often be able to offer up suggestions of what to do and places to eat that you might not have thought of alone.
Disadvantages:
The biggest disadvantage would likely come in the form of a mishmash of conflicting ideas. Some people want to do one thing, some want to do another, and no one wants to do what you’re doing. Splitting off will solve this issue, but fighting and bickering can (and often does, on extended trips) persist in group travels.
No matter how you do wind up traveling, make sure that you are traveling.
