Boris Kester

Often misunderstood, for me, traveling alone is one of the best ways to explore the planet. Sure, when I was 19 years old and did my first solo travel, I felt miserable for the first few hours. But within days, I started experiencing a freedom I had not tasted before.

You are free to decide when to do what, how long you want to stay somewhere, where to eat and sleep. You don’t have to take into account anyone else’s wishes – you can do whatever you like. People sometimes ask me: but aren’t you lonely, when you’re on the road? The answer is: not at all. One of the big advantages of traveling by yourself is that it is much easier to meet people. People from the country you are traveling in, who will more often than not be curious about you, want to help you, and/or proudly show their country to you. Before you know it, you might be sitting at their table tasting local delicacies while chatting about life and its challenges. One other big advantage: your self confidence will grow every time to manage to reach your destination, sort out stuff, deal with the challenges that travel inevitably brings.

The downside is, that solo travel can be more costly. In many countries, hotels charge more for single occupancy. The other one: you can’t share your experiences with someone else – unless, of course, you meet up with new friends on the road.

Some people might be anxious to travel alone. I can wholeheartedly advise them to just do it.