To travel alone or with others is perhaps the one variable that can make the biggest difference to your trip. You can be in the same place, under the same circumstances, doing the same things, but have two totally different experiences depending on whether you’re alone, with a partner, friend, new travelling companion or part of a group.
The first thing to consider when pondering this question is to think about why you want to travel. To have fun? To challenge yourself? To immerse yourself in the local culture and meet new people? Of course, these things aren’t mutually exclusive; they can easily be incorporated together into any one travel experience. But it’s important to bear in mind that one or the other will likely be easier to achieve alone or with others.
The other factor to take into account is your own personality and travelling style – which will most likely be linked to the reason you want to travel anyway. Do you prefer to be surrounded by people you know well, taking pleasure in shared experiences? Or do you love being open to new encounters with a wide variety of people? Do you function best with plenty of alone time? Or do you quickly get antsy when you find yourself without company for too long?
If you’re undecided about whether to fly solo or take someone along for the ride, here’s a list of the benefits and drawbacks associated with each.
Pros of solo travel
(& cons of travelling with others)
FREEDOM
Complete control and freedom over everything you do
VERSUS
Needing to take into account other people’s wants, feelings, ideas and expectations which takes up time and energy, results in compromises and could occasionally lead to conflict.
CHALLENGE
It’s more challenging to travel alone so there’s a greater sense of achievement associated with it, especially if you go out of your way to push yourself. Solo travel is more likely to result in personal growth, increased self-understanding, as well as cultivate self-reliance and an independent mindset.
VERSUS
Potential over-reliance on others, and perhaps not such a great sense of accomplishment.
IMMERSION
Greater immersion in both the physical and cultural environment. Solo travellers are much more likely to be approached by others, as they are perceived as less threatening and sometimes more vulnerable and in need of assistance. This makes it easier to befriend and integrate with people, especially locals.
VERSUS
It’s all too easy to form and get stuck in a bubble with the people you’re with, which acts as a type of barrier between you and the outside world. This effect is worsened the larger the group.
ALONE TIME
You get to enjoy peace and quiet, your own company and have plenty of time for being inside your own head – especially important if you’re an introvert. If you’re the kind of person who is uncomfortable being alone, solo travel can be a great way to practice and get better at it.
VERSUS
It’s harder – and in some circumstances, virtually impossible – to be alone when you want to.
Pros of travelling with others travel
(& cons of travelling solo)
RESPONSIBILITY
Shared responsibility takes the pressure off. You have someone to lean on if you need to make difficult decisions. You can also complement each other’s skills, and be stronger than you would on your own as a result.
VERSUS
You have sole responsibility for everything, which can be stressful. You’ve only got yourself to blame if things go wrong.
FUN
Being with others is usually more fun than being alone. This is the case even for many introverts, assuming the company’s good and as long as it’s well-balanced with sufficient alone time. You can benefit from the shared experiences and memories. Having others around can help you better process and appreciate your experiences or look at things from a different perspective.
VERSUS
More vulnerable to loneliness and boredom.
SECURITY
Greater security – both psychologically and in real terms.
VERSUS
More vulnerable and more likely to feel scared 
ENCOURAGEMENT
Planning a trip with others – especially if it’s an ambitious one – provides the momentum and encouragement you need to get started and keep going. Others can be a great source of practical and emotional support if you run into trouble.
VERSUS
You need to be 100% self-motivated. There’s no one to pick you up if your belief or motivation start to flag.
COST
Travelling with others usually works out cheaper, as you split the costs of accommodation and other shared items such as gear and food.
VERSUS
You shoulder all the expenses yourself.
INTERACTION & INSULATION
We generally feel more confident about approaching others when we’re with someone we know well or if we’re already part of a group. On the other hand, if you’re not in the mood, you can let the other person or people you’re with do most of the talking (especially useful if you’re an introvert travelling with an extrovert!).
VERSUS
It can be tiring and intimidating (not to mention repetitive) having to be the one constantly interacting with all the new people you encounter.
So, what are you after? Freedom, challenge, responsibility, immersion and time to yourself? Or fun, greater security, shared responsibility and a confidence-boost? Hopefully you should now have a good idea about whether to travel alone or with others. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
To finish, here’s a quote I came across from someone on doing a bike adventure solo versus with others. It nicely encapsulates the benefits and drawbacks of each:
“Cycling with four other people has been so different to riding alone. Not better, not worse, just different. With a group of people there is no security risk and no problems with leaving your bike whilst you shop or eat or go to the toilet. You have practical support with breakages and repair, enormous moral support in the face of 200 staring people. There’s relief from monotony as you talk away the long, dull cycling hours, company in the evenings, fun, laughter and evening beers. But cycling en masse deprives you of the days of silence, the intensity of experience, the unavoidable (and ultimately unmissable) interactions with locals and the fears and tears and frustrations of being alone – the character building. In conclusion: if you want to have fun then travel in a group. If you’re not after that, stick by yourself.”
More resources:
Of course, there’s also a huge difference between travelling as a pair or a three and being part of a larger group. I’d recommend checking out this entertaining article from 20-something travel on why travelling as part of a larger group is often so difficult.
For more on this topic, I’d suggest heading over to Alistair Humphrey’s site for a great selection of comprehensive advice from seasoned travellers.
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