There is a big difference between taking an extended vacation and traveling solo for the long term. While it can be an attractive way to explore a destination in detail, it is also worth noting that solo travel may not be for everyone.
Solo travel can be a series of highs and lows, and offers a very different experience to that which most people will have in their everyday lives. It is true that if you have saved hard to be able to travel solo, you won't be working every day, but it is possible to support travel through occasional work, and the experience certainly isn't a bed of roses.
Here are some things to consider if you aren't sure if long term solo travel is really for you.
Sacrifices You Will Need To Make
An important thing to consider when you are deciding that you want to travel long term is understanding the things that you are going to sacrifice so that you can travel. In most cases you will be giving up the chances of promotion or developing a career in the place where you are currently working, and the majority of employers will be hesitant when it comes to employing you again in the same job when you return. You will also be giving up having a normal home, rather you will be living from your rucksack for the most part, so you will also be without the luxuries that come from the normal western home.
Seeing Your Friends
Most people will find that seeing their friends is something that will happen several times a week, and once you are traveling solo, while you may meet many friends along the way, the chance to go out with your usual group of friends will be on hold.
This is something that many people underestimate before they travel, and the familiarity and running jokes of a group of friends can be something they will miss. If possible, encourage your friends to meet you somewhere along your route, although this will not always be possible.
Family Responsibilities
Family commitments can be another factor that people will need to bear in mind before they go traveling, as many people will have others within the family that depend on them. Children can make it difficult to go traveling solo, while having a husband, wife or fiancee can also mean that many people won't simply be able to drop everything and go traveling. If you do have to care for children or elderly parents, make sure you put arrangements in place that you are genuinely happy with, otherwise you may find yourself anxious and worrying about your family when you should be enjoying your trip.
Do You Need Others To Entertain Yourself?
There are certain types of personalities that settle better into solo travel than others, and if you normally find yourself at your best in social situations, you may not always find that solo travel is for you. Although many people will often find others to relax and travel with in hostels and at different attractions, there will be a certain amount of time where you will simply have to relax and listen to music, or read a novel, and some people find this aspect of managing their own time the most difficult.
What Are You Expecting From Your Solo Trip?
Solo travel is challenging and exciting, but it is also important to have a realistic expectation for what you are likely to achieve during your journey. You will be able to immerse yourself in different cultures, try new types of food or even enjoy experiences that you wouldn't get anywhere else. Going in to solo travel with the expectation of meeting a life partner, or finding some sort of overwhelming enlightenment may leave you a little disappointed, however good your trip really proves to be.