Why Your Next Vacation Should Be Solo
As soon as I learned about fika - the Swedish tradition of creating time each day to enjoy coffee, cake and coziness - I knew I would enjoy my solo trip to Stockholm. Like the Swedes around me, each day, I would head to a local cafe, order a coffee and kardemummabullar (cardamom bun) and choose a table.
Because I was travelling solo, it was up to me to decide which cafe to stop in, when I’d take my fika break, how long I’d stay and if I’d order another pastry for the road. No schedule to follow, no travel companion to negotiate with and no one to distract me from the soft and flavorful cardamom bun in front of me.
“No schedule to follow, no travel companion to negotiate with and no one to distract me from the soft and flavorful cardamom bun in front of me.”
That’s not to say I wouldn’t have enjoyed a fika break with my husband, mom or friends. In fact, I went back to Sweden a few months later with my husband, mom, and family friends, and we embraced the fika tradition together.
But there’s something different about experiencing a new place, custom, or cuisine all by yourself.
My memories from my solo trips are bright. No one else was with me when I hugged a koala in Sydney or walked along the beach in Phu Quoc. It’s up to me to remember the eucalyptus and palm trees that frame those moments.
“No one else was with me when I hugged a koala in Sydney or walked along the beach in Phu Quoc. It’s up to me to remember the eucalyptus and palm trees that frame those moments.”
While solo in Bath, I designed a whole day around literary heroes, exploring Jane Austen and Mary Shelley’s old haunts. I didn’t have to drag anyone around or explain which Pride and Prejudice adaptation is the best (sorry, Colin Firth, but Keira Knightley wins for me).
And in Antwerp, after a morning of slogging around town in the rain, I didn’t have to justify to anyone when I decided to get Vietnamese takeout, a bag of Belgian chocolates and spend my afternoon watching Netflix back at my hotel.
Solo travel is not being responsible for anyone else but being immensely responsible for yourself. It’s putting more thought into every moment and designing a day exactly as you’d like it to unfold. It’s the scary reality of being alone with your thoughts but realizing, hey, it’s not so bad up here!
What solo travel is NOT
Many women are put off solo travel, and understandably so. A quick Google Images search for “solo travel” brings up photos of 20-something women with their backs to the camera, floppy hats on their heads, staring out at the view from the top of a mountain or edge of an ocean.
Google image results for ‘solo travel’
And while I’m glad to see Google Images dominated by photos of women rather than men, they’re not exactly relatable. At least not to this 30-something who doesn’t own a floppy hat and would likely be keeled over if I had to get to the top of a mountain.
Solo travel does not equal adventure travel. You don’t have to take on an epic physical challenge. You don’t have to carry a tent and sleeping bag on your back. And you don’t have to go find yourself in the middle of nowhere.
Of course, if your idea of a good time is scaling Everest or spending weeks in the Amazon Rainforest, more power to you!
But if it’s not, that’s okay, too. Solo travel can be luxurious. It can be modern. It can be expensive (though it doesn’t have to be!). A solo trip can be walking the Vegas Strip just as much as it can be walking the Pacific Crest Trail.
Solo travel is also not a point of no return. Just because you go solo doesn’t mean you have to completely reinvent yourself and only travel solo from now on. You’re allowed to do it once and never again.
But something tells me you’ll want to…
Why go solo?
If you still need some convincing, here are five excellent reasons to book that next flight for one.
You embrace your own interests. One of the best parts of solo travel is being deliciously selfish. You control the itinerary. You get to decide if you spend all day museum hopping, at the spa, on a hike or sleeping in until noon. You can design an entire trip around a niche interest, like that indie band you love (but your partner hates) and who you’ve always wanted to see play in their hometown.
You get to know yourself. You’ll spend much of your solo trip alone with your thoughts. As scary as that sounds, it’s actually kind of wonderful. No interruptions, no conversations and no one else to influence you. You get to really tune into that voice in your head.
You learn to rely on yourself. Even if your solo trip doesn’t involve slot canyons or bungee jumps, you still learn a level of self-reliance on the road. When the wifi stops working, and you have to order dinner in another language, it’s all on you. And while that may sound intimidating, I bet you’ll surprise yourself. You’re more resourceful than you think!
You take a break from everyday life. One reason I love travel in general is that it shakes up my everyday routine. That’s even more true when I’m on a solo trip. I’m not worried about meal planning or walking the dog. I have the luxury of only focusing on me and my trip.
You deserve it. Solo travel is one of the best forms of self-care. And I’m not just talking about spending your whole trip at the spa. Solo travel allows you to focus on yourself without distraction. You become more attuned to your own needs and wants, relearning how to prioritize yourself.
Scared to strike out alone? Start small
If you’re nervous about booking your first solo trip or can’t imagine how you’d take a day - let alone a week or two - off of work, away from your partner or without your kids, let me put you at ease.
Remember, solo travel doesn’t have to be this huge, earth-shattering, mountain-ascending kind of trip. You can start small.
Feeling anxious? Build up your confidence by practicing solo activities at home. Treat yourself to a solo spa day, solo afternoon at the art gallery or solo dinner out. This is also a great option if you don’t have the time or funds for a full solo trip.
Once you’re ready to hit the road solo, you can still do so in baby steps. Choose a destination closer to home, with a familiar culture and language, when you’re just dipping your toe into the solo travel world. Opt for a weekend or week-long trip instead of months away.
You can also plan a semi-solo trip. There’s no rule that says you have to be alone 100% of the time. Head out with the girls and then tack a few solo days onto the end of the trip. Book yourself onto a group tour to make new friends.
You can also take an afternoon away from your partner on a couple’s trip. You know what they say about distance making the heart grow fonder.
Break the rules (because there are none!)
Your solo trip can be whatever you want it to be. There’s no list of requirements you must meet or panel of judges you must impress. You’re allowed to bring a book to dinner or FaceTime a friend if you don’t want to dine alone.
But I do hope you spend some time alone. Even if it’s only for a few hours just outside of your comfort zone, you deserve to experience the magic of eating a fresh cardamom bun solo.
Riana Ang-Canning is a content and copywriter based in Vancouver, Canada who is always planning her next trip. You can follow along with Riana's travels on Twitter (X) and at Teaspoon of Adventure.