You Should Travel Alone in Your 20s
My first travel experience without adults was when I was 13 years old. But it wasn’t just some short flight, it was a 12-hour expedition across the Atlantic.
Luckily, I had my cousin of a similar age beside me — so with our combined brain power of a person in their mid-20s, we made it across the pond in one piece (technically two separate pieces).
Albeit, the only time during this trip I was without adult supervision was at the most security-heavy place a 13-year-old could possibly be at. Beyond the security doors at my destination in the rural airport in Poland, my grandparents were waiting for me and my two-month-long summer vacation.
This sounds crazy now that I reflect on it — I’m not sure why my parents trusted me that much considering how young and naive I was.
But I’m glad they did; I took so much knowledge out of travel.
Once I hit my twenties I began to travel much more, and it made me a much better person overall.
The confidence I’ve grown thanks to early travel not only lets me feel comfortable in foreign cultures, but also at home. There’s so much you can learn when observing social psychology on a global scale.
Traveling alone is the best way to experience a new culture.
When you travel alone, you are free to explore and immerse yourself in the local culture without any distractions or influences from others.
You can move at your own pace, try new things, and make your own schedule. Plus, traveling alone forces you to be more self-reliant and resourceful, which can be a great way to build confidence and independence.
When traveling with a group of friends, you’re essentially bringing comfort to a foreign environment.
It’s like the difference between playing a competitive sport with your friends versus with strangers. You’re going to feel a bit more relaxed competing with your friends, and more inclined to improve when competing with strangers.
That’s a poor analogy because travel isn’t a competition — but it is a challenge. It’s a challenge to place yourself in a completely new situation where you can’t predict your surroundings. A challenge that helps you grow.
Related: 5 Family-Friendly Trips to Europe — With Travel Tips and Itinerary Ideas
Solo travel lets you give your destination your undivided attention.
Looking back at those flights I took alone at 13, it would have put me in a much different place years later.
When traveling with someone guiding you, you don’t really have to pay attention to what you’re doing and can just mindlessly follow them. You zone out, you chat, but you don’t force yourself to be mindful of your surroundings.
Related: The Habit That’s Making Your Vacations Less Enjoyable
Although 13-year-old me was anxious and overwhelmed by my surroundings, I learned problem-solving and figuring out how to get to that darn gate on time.
Now when I travel, I feel free.
I have the experience under my belt to understand getting around an airport and a new city. Travel feels so liberating now, and I have so much less mind fog and anxiety when roaming the world.
I highly encourage you to explore on your own and place yourself in unfamiliar territory. It might feel lonely, overwhelming, or give you anxiety, but that’s the point!
Don’t let those feelings stop you, let them encourage you to do something about it.
If you’re already set on booking an adventure, I’m glad you found my story inspiring, but I also think you might find these next steps helpful:
I Found a Great Website to Explore Incredible Travel Destinations!
I encourage travel a lot, but I encourage mindful travel much more. Please be a part of this world as much as you can — as yourself, not as the stuff you consume. That means leaving no trace, embracing the change, and practicing mindfulness.
Happy travels!
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