Study the text and analyse which option of travelling: solo or with friends, is better for you.

Agnieszka Sękiewicz‑Magoń Solo or Let's Go?

Holidays are coming and you are beginning to wonder: should I join my friends on a trip to the seaside or should I try travelling alonetravelling alone [travel alone]travelling alone? Both decisions might be good, but it is important to considerconsiderconsider what the pros and cons of each one are.

There is something about travelling alone that makes such a trip special. You learn to spend time with yourself, slow things down and find time to think and reflectreflectreflect. Whether you decide to travel abroadtravel abroadtravel abroad or in your own country, you let yourself get immersed inget immersed inget immersed in the surroundings and enjoy being in the present moment. You learn to depend on yourself rather than others, deal with different situations on your own and trust your gut feelingtrust your gut feelingtrust your gut feeling about whom to trust and whom to avoid, which will become a huge assetassetasset for you in general, not only when travelling. Learning to manage your financesmanage your financesmanage your finances better is another life skill you acquireacquireacquire – you become more aware ofaware ofaware of what you spend your money on and make financial decisions every day of your journey. Travelling alone can actuallyactuallyactually be cheaper than travelling with friends, as you tend to eat street food or buy something in a supermarket rather than eat out in fancy restaurants. The best part, however, is the freedom to go wherever and do whatever you want. You can make spontaneousspontaneousspontaneous changes to your plans, choose any itineraryitineraryitinerary you wish and feel no guilt about it.

On the other hand, sometimes you wish you hadyou wish you hadyou wish you had someone to share those special moments with: a glorious sunsetglorious sunsetglorious sunset, starry night or spectacular view from a mountain peak. Long journeys may also be boring and a little lonely, and generally it’s safer to travel with someone, because when you get in trouble you are not on your own. And, let's admit, it doesn't feel good when there is nobody to watch your luggageluggageluggage while you are using the bathroom.

Travelling with friends is the absolute best if you pick your travel buddiestravel buddies [travel buddy]travel buddies wisely. Remember that your best friends don’t have to be the best travel companions. You need someone with a similar attitudesimilar attitudesimilar attitude, then you are bound to havebound to havebound to have lasting memories of fantastic shared moments and adventures. Another good thing is that you can split costssplit costssplit costs and tasks among all the members of the group, and sometimes you can even get group discounts. Thanks to friends you will do things you wouldn’t otherwise do, because they will cheer you oncheer you on [cheer sb on]cheer you on and give you support when you decide to step out of your comfort zonestep out of your comfort zonestep out of your comfort zone. Besides, it’s important to have somebody who will have interesting discussions with you and who will give you constant support when things go wrong.

However, bear it in mindbear in mindbear it in mind that differences will inevitablyinevitablyinevitably arise, and they may put a serious strainput a serious strainput a serious strain on your friendship. Even the closest friends will fight after being with each other 24/7, especially while travelling abroad. Sooner or later, there will be a conflict of interests and you will discover that you have to compromise to make everybody happy. What’s more, travelling in a group makes you less approachableapproachableapproachable, because other backpackersbackpackers [backpacker]backpackers may feel intimidatedintimidatedintimidated to start a conversation, so you miss out onmiss out onmiss out on an opportunity to meet new people. You’re also less likely to speak a foreign language – why should you, if you always have somebody to talk to in your native tongue?

Well, you have to give all these arguments some serious thought before you decide how to spend the upcoming holidays. Whichever decision you arrive at, just make sure you make the most of the time spent on travelling.

1 Źródło: Agnieszka Sękiewicz‑Magoń, dostępny w internecie: Why Travelling With Friends is Better than Travelling Solo, https://www.tripzilla.com/travelling-friends-better-than-solo/78912 [dostęp 25.01.2022], Pros and Cons of Travelilng Solo, https://travelnoire.com/pros-and-cons-of-travelling-solo [dostęp 25.01.2022], licencja: CC BY-SA 3.0.