Top 3 perks of solo traveling for millennials
A few years ago, over the summer, I went on my first solo vacation to Wrightsville Beach and the neighboring city of Wilmington, NC! I’ve wanted to join the solo vacation traveler wave for years and finally let go of my fears. For my first trip, I decided to go somewhere locally to get a sense of planning and being alone. I knew I wanted to go to a beach because there is something about being near a big body of water that soothes me tremendously. It may be because my sun sign is Cancer and in the water element, who knows! Going and spending time doing activities that I love was so enriching I highly recommend it! Being on my own filled my heart with self-love and love for all of God’s creations, whether that’s nature or the kind humans that I interacted with on my journey. Today I will share my experience and provide the 3 best reasons to create a trip for you and only you!
1) YOU become the supreme planner and decide your agenda
Planning a vacation with multiple people that have different agendas and interests can be difficult if everybody isn’t on the same page. How many times have we seen someone say on social media that they don’t like going on trips with people who have a planned itinerary or who want to eat at the same local restaurants from their hometown, etc? The different opinions on how & what to do on vacation shows just how unique we are as individuals! While there is beauty in learning to compromise and share experiences with your soul travel tribe, there is something special about going on a trip that you planned and enjoying it in solitude!
Here are some examples of the possible perks of deciding the agenda:
· Originally you planned to go to a well-known restaurant found in a Google search. But while you are out shopping, you meet some locals who recommend another spot, you now have the authority and agency to change your mind! No group discussion is needed!
Below is a picture of the restaurant, Crust, I got recommended by a local art gallery owner and loved the food! (I was very hungry after walking so much & forgot to take the standard photo of my food plate but got the restaurant and drink! I recommend this spot the customer service was on point & the food/drink was the bomb)
· In my experience, I got extremely lucky and was able to work out a deal with the lovely hosts at the IHG Hotel where I extended my stay for an extra day and ended up spending less money than planned! I’m very thankful for the ladies there that helped a sister out because I genuinely didn’t want to leave! Now imagine if I went with others who had work obligations or something else that prevented them from staying an extra day. Yes, in that scenario, you can still stay. But for a lower cost and in the same quality room? Less Likely!
· You can take showers when you want (no hustle for the showers after the club or in the morning…my ladies who have been on group trips with other women already know the struggle! Ha-ha)
· You can leave out items in preparation for the next outing w/o worrying about them being tossed aside or tampered with!
2) YOU can transform into a chameleon in a new environment
Another perk of solo vacations is you get more time to appreciate your surroundings and take everything in. It is surreal to be fully immersed in an environment different than what you are familiar with and when you are in solitude it makes it an amazing experience! Going to the beach and seeing the waves washing on the shores was calming in the day and the night. Seeing the fishermen fishing and being patient and not in a rush inspired a helpful attitude adjustment for me as well. We can take our time and still have a great outcome!
3) YOU become an expert in communicating and researching
When you are by yourself you have no choice but to let go of any inhibitions and communicate with others in your environment. This can be freeing because you develop a sense of inner confidence that doesn’t rely on the strength of a group dynamic. People are more willing to engage on a one-on-one basis when you aren’t in a big social group, and you never know whom you meet when you make yourself more approachable! At Bottega Wine Bar I met some laidback and friendly people and even learned the basics of bachata from a gentleman in the bar!
Now if I had been closed off and not open to conversation with him, I wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to practice dancing bachata for the first time! Oh, how I wish I asked the bartender to take a video of us dancing but at least it will be a memory forever ingrained in my brain! Engaging with the bartenders, art gallery owners, and the kind people who are willing to take pictures of you is when you will learn about so many historical gems and local hot spots in the area!
Before going to Wilmington, I had no idea that the show One Tree Hill which I watched faithfully when I was younger was shot there! (Brooke fans unite) From talking to the locals I learned about Wilmington’s history. Did you know Wilmington was the only coup d’état ever to take place on American soil? If you are interested in knowing more, here are some links with details:
https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/wilmington-massacre-2/
https://www.wilmington-nc.com/wilmington-nc-history.html
Here is a documentary to watch available on Amazon Prime:
Bonus tip: Always take photos!
Anytime I go somewhere, I like to take as many pictures as possible because you ensure you can always go back and revisit those memories! This can help keep you motivated when you return to your day-to-day life and place of work. This blog post has some of my favorite pictures and videos I took on my trip. Feel free to look through them, get inspired, then comment and tell us about your next ideal solo vacation! Happy planning!
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