Choose Your Own Adventure

Have you ever read a choose-your-own-adventure book? You get options to pick from. Do you want to do A or B? You proceed to page ___ depending on what answer you decide on. Whatever decision you make determines the outcome of the narrative you want. Depending on who’s reading the story, the path will be different.

Wouldn’t traveling be fun as a choose-your-own-adventure? Yes. Yes, it would. That’s why you should travel by yourself.

Okay, yes. It can be more fun to travel with people, especially depending on the vacation you’re taking.

If you’re going to, say, somewhere romantic, yeah, it’s probably nice to go there with your significant other. That ski lodge in the Colorado mountains may not be quite as fun on your own. Sure you can snuggle up with a blanket at night in front of the fire and read a good book. But it might be a bit more fun to spend that time secluded with someone else. Then you have their company, the romantic seclusion, and someone to talk about that good book with. So, yes there are some trips that would be more fun with the person you’re dating.

Okay, and I’ll give you the fact that your spring or summer beach vacation may not be as enjoyable on your own. When you’re surrounded by a sea of tourists and countless families, it’s not like you’re going to be able to enjoy the serene quite the beach may offer. It would probably be more enjoyable to brave the seaside crowds with a group of friends. An alternating few of you can get up earlier to grab those A+ beach spots while the rest of you sleep in. That way at least you all get to enjoy some extra shuteye for a few days on the trip. You’ll have someone to bitch with about that obnoxious kid who keeps running back-and-forth in front of you, splashing water and sand on you as he speeds by. You can enjoy drinking your beach-themed cocktails (strawberry daiquiri in a pineapple, anyone?) while getting some vitamin D and relaxing with your besties.

But traveling on your own is totally underrated. Remember that choose-your-own-adventure story I was talking about? That’s what traveling alone is all about. There aren’t other people making those important decisions for you. You get to craft the exact story that you want.

Think about this.

You get off the plane in New York City (it’s the exact dates you wanted to be there because you didn’t have to coordinate with anyone else). Your ride share picks you up at the airport and takes you to an Air BnB that’s in the neighborhood of your choosing. You don’t have to stay right by Times Square this time because you know better and didn’t have to convince your buddies otherwise.

Each morning, you can get up when you want to. If you’re an early riser, you don’t have to wait for everyone else to wake up. You can start your morning at a new coffee shop each day. It’s always easier to find a single seat at a shop rather than an entire table for everyone you’re there with. Sip your coffee and enjoy it. You’re not running around trying to fit a bit of what everyone wants to do into the daily plans. Everyone having to choose the one or two things they really want to do because that’s all the time you’ll have to make sure everyone has a good time.

Once you start getting hungry, you can grab a bite wherever and whenever you want. Is the smell of Mediterranean cuisine calling to you as you pass that restaurant? Thankfully you don’t have to worry about if the friends you’re with will enjoy it. When you’re done eating, you can grab some sweets at the next door bakery, and no one will be there to judge you for eating so quickly after dinner.

Your travels will be everything you want, and when you return home, you can tell everyone about everything you did. The thought of traveling alone can be daunting, but it’s not like it’s a sign that you’re alone or couldn’t find someone to travel with (though, there’s nothing wrong if that’s the case, either). You’ll have people you can come back and share your adventure with. You’ll sound like a total badass for going there on your own, anyway.

The best part of it all? The freedom. With work and life, it’s not often you get to do things on your own schedule. Take advantage of it when you can. Create your own adventure. Create your own world.