I DON’T LIKE SOLO-TRAVEL
If you've been following me for a while, you probably know that I travel frequently. However, I've never truly traveled solo before—and by solo travel, I mean visiting somewhere new where I don't know anyone.
I originally booked this trip to Mexico City thinking it would be my first solo adventure. As it turned out, I knew people living here, and several friends from the States happened to be visiting at the exact same time.
Even though I spent time with these friends during my stay, I was still alone in the city most of the time. This gave me a taste of what solo travel is like.
And it was enough to learn that I don't like it.
Introversion is a spectrum, and I fall somewhere in the middle—leaning more toward introversion. I'm content when alone, and I'm usually more productive taking photos by myself. So I thought I'd fare pretty well traveling solo here.
But this trip quickly taught me that I actually prefer traveling with others. While that's not entirely surprising, since it's how I've been traveling for the past few years, it really does make a difference in my own personal enjoyment.
Being an introvert, I assumed solo travel would come naturally to me. Ironically, it might be even more challenging precisely because I'm introverted. The essence of solo travel seems to be that it pushes you to create new connections and seek out experiences specifically because you are alone and don't know anyone. While you could spend the entire time by yourself, that's not really the point. Instead, it's meant to be an opportunity to meet people and experience new things. The problem is, I've never been good at meeting new people unless it's through mutual connections. I'm just not someone who can confidently walk up to a group of strangers and introduce myself, though I wish I were.
I'm not embarrassed to admit I didn't meet anyone new here—largely because I didn't put myself in situations where I could.
Solo travel demands being proactive about meeting new people and seeking new experiences. You need to deliberately place yourself in situations where connections can happen. Like stay at a hostel, rather an Airbnb like I did. I didn't do this during my stay, which is probably why I missed out on this aspect of solo travel.
Mexico City | February, 2025
I'm fortunate to have friends who not only love to travel but are also easy to travel with. When I'm with them, we don't feel pressured to spend every moment together. This creates a perfect balance: the comfort of familiar company with the freedom to explore independently. I've realized this style of travel suits me much better. For me, sharing new and interesting experiences with someone else is more fulfilling than experiencing them alone.
I won't rule out solo travel entirely. It's a challenge that pushes me out of my comfort zone—and that kind of challenge often leads to personal growth. I'm definitely interested in giving it another try.
But until then, I'll focus on finding the right balance between solo exploration and shared experiences. Maybe the key isn't choosing between traveling alone or with others, but rather learning how to be comfortable with both. After all, growth happens when we embrace new challenges while staying true to what works best for us.
