The first thing I did after I decided I was going to quit my job, sell everything I owned and buy a one way plane ticket was to pour myself a large glass of wine and then flip open my laptop to see if this zany idea could work out.
Scrolling through many travel blogs, checking out trip advisor and travel magazines I suddenly felt quite overwhelmed. Could I actually do this all on my own? Me - a girl who hates speaking on the phone, who huddles at the back of a packed room, who doesn’t ask questions that I needed answers to for fear of being laughed at - was actually thinking about flying half way around the world On My Own.
I topped up my glass and indulged my inner geek by making a checklist. I knew that I was going to travel, there was never any doubt about that but I just hadn’t figured out if I was strong enough to do it solo. So I looked into group travel, researched prices, reviews and pre planned tours before I could make up my mind.
Here is what I found:
Self-organised solo travel – PRO’s:
Freedom – No pre-planned times to stick to, no boring guides to follow and no set rules to adhere to. You can stay as long or as little in one place as you like. Don’t wait until you can find someone to go travelling with. Take the leap, book your flight and have faith in yourself and that it will all work out.
You decide everything! – If you’re desperate to see a certain place at a certain time then you go ahead and do it!
It’s cheaper – As you’re in control you decide when and how to travel; meaning you can find cheaper off peak transport, cheaper dorm rooms and eat when and where you want aka street food every single night.
Social - Solo travel does not mean travelling alone, but it does mean that you can pick who to hang out with and if there are times when you’d rather it was just you and your thoughts then go off and explore by yourself.
Self-organised solo travel – CON’s:
Requires a lot of planning – How are you getting there? Where are you going to stay? What are you going to do? All this is up to you which is super exciting BUT it also means all this is up to you to sort out.
Need to be aware of own safety – You won’t have the luxury of a group to protect you. You’re out here alone and will need to have your wits about you.
It’s all on you – You and only you are in charge of getting from A to B. If it messes up then you only have yourself to blame and console yourself (with the help of local booze and chocolate).
Could get lonely – Ok, so yes you’re more likely to mix with other backpackers being just one but there will be times when the frustration, stress and worry all falls on your shoulders. If you are naturally shy or anxious as a person then being far from home all by yourself is probably not the best idea.
Tour Group Travel PRO’s:
Simple and easy to book – There are so many tour groups out there it’s just a case of choosing one that suits you and clicking book and pay.
Hassle free travel – Turn up at the right time and go with the flow. You don’t have to worry about a thing. This is stress free travel planning at the max. If you’re someone who loves routine and a plan then the set schedule of tour group travel would be perfect for you.
Very social – You may be with a group of up to 30 people so will always have someone to hang out with and share these amazing memories with.
Finer things in life - Usually on a pre planned tour group as you will pay more it means you get more. Including knowledgeable travel guides, fun activities, nice accommodation and food all chucked into the price.
Tour Group Travel CON’s:
You have to follow the rules - Perfect for those who like to let others make decisions but could cause you to feel trapped by always following the pack.
Speedy Travel - Usually you visit numerous places, cities or even countries in a fast paced trip. With so much crammed into a short amount of time you may feel like your feet never touch the ground.
You’re stuck with your tour group – You’ve paid to be with these people for X amount of days or weeks. If you don’t get on with them then you’re kinda stuck.
Expensive – As everything is organised the price is obviously bumped up.
On that first backpacking trip I took decided to travel solo to really challenge myself. I wanted to see if that quiet, nervous girl could be courageous enough to go it alone. Since then I have also spent time backpacking with group tours and travelled as a couple and have come to realise that it is totally up to you as a person how you chose to travel, as we all know there is no right or wrong way. Just have fun, book the trip and if I was you I’d give both options a go at least once in your life!
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