6 Reasons to Travel Solo (As Discovered in Belgium)

Last weekend I took a whirlwind solo trip to Belgium…except the “solo” part was, well…an accident. Originally supposed to be a romantic weekend getaway for two, a last-minute work assignment stranded C in Hungary while I was left to absorb all of the romance for the both of us. I used to revel in traveling solo, but I’ll admit that I’ve gotten rusty at it. (I’ve been spoiled with an amazing travel buddy, after all.) But then I applied the most valuable travel skill I know: managing my expectations. Once I wrapped my head around my new single’s vacay, I was able to stop feeling sorry for myself and start to embrace all the pros that come with traveling solo (Aka, flexibility, confidence…and zero judgement when you stop at two Belgian waffle stands in the space of an hour). If you’re hesitating to travel solo, check out some of these reasons why it can make for an adventure.

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1: You Completely Control your Budget–Having a different budget than your travel group/partner can cause a lot of stress during your travels, and I was glad to only have my own wallet to worry about. I may or may not have spent too much on souvenir chocolate and could only afford to eat a €3 waffle for dinner, whoops. (Tout en Fruit in Brussels and V-Chocolatier in Bruges both had beautiful and affordable selections!). But it was fine! I was able to adjust accordingly without inconveniencing anybody else. Or on the other hand, maybe you want to blow your budget on that restaurant that rules TripAdvisor, or on that foodie walking tour with rave reviews and so now you can only afford cereal for all your other meals? No problem! When you’re alone you can channel your time and funds into the things you truly care about.

2: Your schedule is flexible. Your schedule is all yours, so you don’t have to worry about fitting in things that you don’t want to do–or worry about cancelling things you were looking forward to. I had looooong list of things to do/see on my one day in Brussels. But when I woke up sick, that list shortened to “find food and find warmth”. I didn’t have to seize the day at all–a leisurely brunch at the quirky Peck 47 (oh my GOSH get the cheesey waffle with poached eggs on top) and an afternoon exploring the Museum of Beaux Arts were just right! I didn’t have enough energy to do much else, so I was glad I didn’t have someone else’s schedule to keep up with, and that I didn’t end up letting anybody down. When traveling solo, you get to decide what you’re capable of and how you budget your energy.

3: You make room for more headspace–One of the first questions people ask when I bring up solo travel is “Well, wouldn’t you get lonely?”. But we should look at it differently. Traveling solo isn’t necessary a recipe for being lonely, but for being alone with yourself. You’re in a different environment where nobody knows who you are or expects you to act a certain way…and that can give you a lot of clarity. You might have heard me complain about the cold all throughout my Instagram stories, but the truth is, walking along the canals of Bruges in the brisk winter air was sharpening, refreshing. And along with self-reflection, solo travel can give you a lot of confidence. When you solve any unexpected problems, allll that credit goes to you. Being on your own is a great way to show yourself what you’re capable of!

“Solo travel is a recipe for being lonely, but for being alone with yourself.”

4: There Are Shorter Waits–Perhaps one of my favorite perks of traveling solo is that it’s usually easier to be seated in a restaurant if you’re on your own rather than if you were in a group (it worked out great in Boston, and it worked out great here!). This definitely worked in my favor when I stumbled on the popular bagel brunch place, Sanseveria. It was packed, but showing up single meant that I could bypass the group of 4 (who even had a reservation) and settle into one of the few open seats. And then I got acquainted with Ruby (the signature bagel with apples, walnuts, and a mountain of crispy bacon smothered in a blanket of Brie).

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5: You Meet New People--Like I said, loneliness is one of the biggest reasons people list when they say why they’re hesitant to travel solo. It’s true that when you’re alone, you’re forced to seek out connections you might not have if you were comfortable with a buddy/group, but that could be the best thing that happens to your trip! If I hadn’t been alone, I would have missed connecting with a beautiful soul Paton of  WildOneWandering as we both waited in line for brunch at Peck 47. There was a table for two available so we shared a breakfast and a conversation and my oh my, it was a blessing. If talking to strangers in line for brunch is a little out of your comfort zone, try looking for events on Meetup or Facebook. Hostels are also a great source for meeting other travelers. Many of them have lively bars or programming that you can participate in–whether you’re staying there or not! Check out which hostel has the liveliest reputation and stop by!

6: You Can Find Your Own Rhythm–Travel solo and you’re free to march to the beat of your own drum! I’ve definitely clashed with friends over this on trips when we had a different travel style. What I see as a laid-back and spontaneous schedule bad planning and a waste of valuable time to them. Whether you like to plan out every moment or go with the flow, you’re free to set the primary pace of your trip (and switch it up if/when you feel like it!). This definitely worked out in my favor when I tried to see Ghent and Bruges in one day. Technically it might have been more prudent to pick one city for the day, but I just couldn’t decide! To some, this daytrip might have felt rushed, but I loved the whirlwind of it all!

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Compromise is a great skill to have and learn, but sometimes you just want to do things your way. So. Travel solo and have complete control over your schedule, budget, and decisions. Maybe that sounds exhilarating, or maybe that sounds terrifying–either way, the confidence and lessons that come from traveling solo mean you should do it at least once! And you don’t even have to hop on a plane–just start with the next city over and see what you discover. There’s adventure everywhere, after all 😉

Have you traveled solo before? Is there anything holding you back? Let me know in the comments below!