I realised it when I was on holiday in England with a friend a few years ago. He wanted to lie on the beach while I wanted to visit an old castle. After our discussion he went to the beach but regrettably it was too late for me to visit the castle that day.

So in order to not regret missed chances anymore, I discovered travelling solo. During spring break, I made a solo trip through the West of the Netherlands and I noticed three things.

Firstly, it’s the loneliness people are afraid of before and during a solo trip. You will most definitely feel lonely some time. You will see things that will remind you of a person or you would like to show to him or her. Yet, enjoying a place by yourself will make you delve deeper, slow down, look around, notice different things. It is easier to get absorbed in an unfamiliar landscape when solo, reliant on no one and vice versa. And when a pang of loneliness hits you, be reminded you have someone to engage with: yourself. Besides, on your own you are more likely to have enriching chance encounters with strangers.

Secondly, after loneliness comes lightness: freedom. The place is there, ready for you to discover. Your choices count because they are yours and you decide what to get from the day. You cannot blame anyone – but the weather. This will make you stop complaining and accept situations as they are. You are free to contemplate or ponder rather than converse with a travel partner. You are free to only to meet your own expectations and no one else’s.

There will be no hour long searches for the right place to dine, you simply pick the one you like without arguing. You can take detours. You can just sit down for a while and take in your surroundings.
Thirdly, it is the discovery of yourself. By engaging with the surroundings instead of a travel partner, you get to know yourself better, what you like, what you are capable of.

So: Dare to get lost and share these trips only with yourself!

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