Pros and Cons—Solo vs. +1 Travel

Okay, so I just returned from my first multi-day solo trip. To be specific, I flew out on a Wednesday night and returned to Kansas City Sunday evening. That meant I slept away from home four nights. My main purpose included this experience: I wanted to know I could do travel alone, but I also wanted to see what my favorite and least favorite parts to both kinds of travel would be.

Solo Travel

The main obstacle in solo travel proved to be the mental issues. What would other people think? Would I be treated differently? Would I be safe?

First of all—NOBODY cared. When I say that, I am telling you everyone I encountered either didn’t notice or commented on how brave they thought I was. As I looked around, I even saw other solo travelers, and they seemed just as content as me.

I intentionally decided to hike in more trafficked areas, which meant I meandered through areas frequented by locals. Some locals took their dogs while others donned headphones and set off for their daily dose of exercise. Many soaked up alone time. I looked like a local, and that helped me feel right at home.

Embracing the solo life, I decided to eat in restaurants. The wait staff happily seated me and provided the same quality of service they did to couples or groups. Sometimes while I waited for food, I’d pick up my phone, but mostly I spent quality people-watching time. I noticed how patrons interacted with others, and I grew comfortable with my surroundings. At only one restaurant did I feel awkward. However, I talked with the waitress about my journey to the airport and all uncomfortable exchanges disappeared.

My favorite motto included, “My trip; my choice.” I splurged on a room I knew I’d enjoy. Yes, I spent most of my time exploring the great outdoors, but my return always came before darkness arrived. That translated into more time in the hotel. I loved that I chose cozy spots to enjoy. Had I been traveling with someone else I’d likely have stayed away longer and chosen less unique accommodations. There’s something to be said about finding a fun place to stay.

+1 (Plus One) Travel

While I loved my time as a solo traveler, I found a few things that might have been better with a partner. First, I paid the complete price of everything. My hotel, the cost of the ferry, car rentals, and gasoline all fell under my budget and mine alone. Had I traveled with a plus one, we’d have shared expenses.

Secondly, my navigating skills suffered. I tried parking in Portland and circled around three times before I made the right choice. Yes, I had navigation on my phone, but I lacked confidence. Sometimes I delayed my interpretation of the verbal directions and missed an exit. When driving with an additional person, their focus on the navigation always allows me the opportunity to concentrate on safe driving. A plus one definitely calms my nerves because having someone else to bounce ideas off helps.

Finally, mutual experiences enrich my travels. When my friend Jenny travels with me, we each experience interests of the other. I don’t drink, but we visited a winery together. My knowledge and learning of vineyards and the work it takes grew from this. Also, we can look back and talk about the times we shared joys and sorrows. Jenny accidentally reformatted her camera, and we lost all her France pictures. Of course, my luggage had been snatched from the car, and I finished the trip with only two sets of clothes—one I bought and one I had been wearing. Having a plus one helped us both escape our grief. And…it has given us a story for years.

Now, I loved having my own memories from my solo travels, but nothing beats sharing the world and your time with a friend.

What’s Next?

Since my trip to the Pacific Northwest, I’ve done some self-reflection, and I look forward to the inevitability of more solo travels. Will I travel with others? Any chance I get. However, the peace I felt on my first solo trip—this solo trip, let me know I can not only succeed, but I can also embrace solo travel.

This summer my plans have slowly started to take off. My niece wants to visit the beautiful Prince Edward Island. I have a couple troll hunting friends who might take a trip to Minnesota with me. I have an acquaintance who wants to take a rail trip across Canada. I might join a travel company for solo specific travels, and I hope to visit Puerto Rico. Each option delights me. I hope as you continue reading about my roaming, you’ll find those adventures of your own—ones that will leave you with a little more knowledge and a lot more love for the world around us.