Why Traveling Alone Could Be the Best Decision You Make.

Is it necessary to travel with others to be able to enjoy your time? Do you need a companion to ensure your days abroad are engaging and fulfilling, avoiding that creeping sense of wasted time?

My Travel Experiences:

Over the past few years, I’ve travelled extensively, always scouting for parts of the world that might captivate me enough to consider relocating. My journey has taken me to Malaysia, America, Switzerland, France, Greece, Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and most recently, Croatia.

It all started in 2016 when I made a life-changing decision to visit New York. At 16, with no savings to my name, I worked tirelessly over the summer to fund the trip. That experience ignited my love for travel, showing me the freedom I could give myself. Since then, my travels have often been driven not by a clear purpose but by sheer curiosity—an urge to see if reality matched the TV shows and films I grew up watching.

Growing up, family holidays often meant meeting family friends, visiting museums, and checking off landmarks. While these trips were enriching in their own way, I often returned home feeling exhausted rather than inspired. It wasn’t until I began travelling solo that I discovered the transformative potential of travel.

Solo travel opened up possibilities I hadn’t considered before—learning life skills like navigating unfamiliar environments, figuring things out when stranded far from home, or simply sitting in a café and being present with myself.

Most Memorable Travel Moments:

My first trip to New York was a dream come true. Growing up watching romantic comedies set in Manhattan, I always imagined what it would be like to experience it for myself. The city didn’t disappoint, but surprisingly, the moments that stayed with me weren’t the iconic views from the Empire State Building or the Rockefeller Center. Instead, it was the less glamorous moments—the times when I felt completely lost in Times Square with my dad, desperately trying to find a place to eat amid the chaos of tourists.

Fast forward to my trip to Paris with my childhood friend in 2023. It was the first time we had travelled together, and I thought everything would be perfect. But in reality, the trip was filled with unexpected frustrations. We both found ourselves getting frustrated and for the first time, I started noticing sides of my friend I had never seen before. The simple decisions we took for granted—like where to eat or how to navigate the metro—suddenly became sources of tension. We were two people with a shared history, but in a new place, we became unfamiliar with each other’s rhythms, needs, and expectations.

It was then that I realized something crucial: we often expect to travel problem-free when we have someone with us, thinking that their presence will shield us from the inevitable challenges that arise. But the truth is, even when you travel with someone, problems will always emerge. Solo travel teaches us that even with people around, we still need to navigate life on our own. It’s about realizing that we can’t rely on others to solve every issue; we have to face challenges and find our own solutions, no matter who we’re with. Travel—like life—is rarely smooth, and sometimes, the most meaningful lessons come from the unexpected bumps along the way.

Why Traveling Alone Could Be the Best Decision You Make:

This moment forced me to confront the question: Is it necessary to travel with others to truly enjoy the experience? Do I need someone more engaging than myself to ensure my time isn’t wasted?

The reality is that solo travel is rarely seamless at first. Without a familiar face to lean on, you’re left to navigate discomfort and confusion on your own. Yet, this very struggle becomes the foundation for growth. Figuring out how to rely entirely on yourself—whether to make plans, solve problems, or simply find joy in the quiet moments—builds resilience and confidence.

Travel teaches us an essential life truth: that the purpose of any journey doesn’t lie in the destination or the company, but within ourselves. It’s the mindset we bring, the ability to turn challenges into opportunities, and the courage to face uncertainty that gives travel its meaning.

Whether we’re physically travelling across the globe or figuratively navigating life’s twists and turns, we’re ultimately responsible for charting our own course. And with each step, we learn that the purpose we seek isn’t somewhere out there—it’s within us, steady and unchanging. I spend years trying to understand and discover my purpose, always asking myself 'Is this what I should spend the rest of my life doing?', 'Is this what I should be doing ?'. But when I began to travel alone, seeing life through raw and vulnerable perspectives I understood the undying lessons one can reap when they choose to travel alone, and how it turns out to be one of the best decisions a person can make.

So, is it necessary to travel with others? Maybe not. Because the most important companion you can have on any journey is yourself, and once you discover that, the need to chase external validation or purpose fades. You carry your purpose with you, wherever you go.