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I’ve spent extensive time doing both solo and group travel. And while they both have a place in the travel community (as do many other types of travel), they both come with pros and cons.
If you’re trying to decide if either of these options are right for you, just know you don’t ONLY have to travel one way. But here are some things to consider when pursuing either type.
SOLO TRAVEL
Pros:
- Freedom to do what you want – you get to make the itinerary and stick to it… or not
- Greater opportunity to meet people – I meet soooo many more people when I’m out and about by myself vs when I’m with even one other person
- Learn a lot about yourself – like do you actually like that activity or have you always just done it because other people like it? My intuition has also become a lot stronger as well as my ability to trust and listen to it
- Enjoy experiences without others opinions – ever had an experience (or movie, or meal, or moment) ruined because the person you were with didn’t like it? Yea, me too.
- Lots of flexibility in your schedule – you are the maker, creator, coordinator of your life. Start early, stay out late, take a nap, make the trip what YOU want it to be.
Cons:
- Logistics can be overwhelming – sometimes it can be a lot, research alone takes a lot of time, and if things go wrong, it’s all on you to fix it
- Can’t split costs – hotels, taxis, meals, this can sometimes mean not staying at the nicer accommodation or only sticking to public transit if you’re traveling on a budget
- Sometimes it can be lonely – it’s a myth that solo travelers are always lonely. I would say most enjoy the experience, but it doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes get lonely or tired of surface level friendships and crave something deeper
GROUP TRAVEL
Pros:
- Immediate new friends – people are joining this to make new friends. Honestly this is the easy part!
- Share experiences with others – the moments I share with others are always stronger memories, plus it’s fun to have someone to reminisce about that amazing pasta dish or crazy run in with the police
- Logistics are taken care of – let someone else take care of the details so you can be the passenger princess and just enjoy
- Most expenses are up front – planning for a group typically requires pre-booking and deposits so most expenses are all up front. On trip, you’re likely only having to cover some meals and souvenirs for yourself
Cons:
- May not like everyone – I’ve done enough trips to know that not everyone will get along, such is life
- Set itinerary with less flexibility – It’s the trade off to delegating the logistics. And the more people on the trip the less flexible it usually is
- May not like all activities – you may not like everything, but you also may discover something you never knew you would enjoy!
Want to Travel With Me?
And if you’d like to join a group trip, but not sure where to start, I’ll be hosting my first one next year!
Designed for solo travelers who crave connection, local gems, and enough breathing room to actually enjoy it all.
Fill out this form to get on my email list to be the first notified when the trip launches and put in your preferences for WHERE we travel to.
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