Have you ever tried going on a solo travel journey? If yes, how has it changed the way you travel and your life in general? If you haven’t tried going solo yet, why?

If you’ve always travelled with friends or with a group and later on took a step forward and travelled solo, congratulations for stepping out of your comfort zone!

Travel is an escape from your corporate life and personal stress. It allows you to forget the time and just immerse yourself in your destination’s culture, broaden your perspective, meet and connect with local and new people; and spend a while for a little self-discovery.

List down the places you’ve travelled to and how many times you’ve went there. Notice how many times you’ve explored the same city? Have you tried other activities aside from hiking and swimming on the beach? Maybe it’s time to try something new and different; it’s time to go and come out of your comfort zone.

What you’ll learn:

Live without the comforts of a home

Many travellers gave up home comfort: private single room with a comfortable bed all to yourself, air conditioning and heater, private bathroom, and the likes, for cheap accommodation which saves them a lot of money. Some travellers, especially the new ones, find it difficult to give up this comfort.

The same goes for food, TV and internet access. You’re lucky to have these nice things that you usually take for granted back at home. Maximize your time without these and you’ll find yourself taking on learning and enjoying new experiences. You’ll learn in the long-run that these home comforts are actually not necessary.

Become more adventurous in food

Stretching your food options becomes a necessity when you travel far (especially in other countries.) Once you go see the world from another angle, expect to push your boundaries in terms of what food you’ll eat. Try out raw sushi’s in Japan, Indian cuisine’s fantastic dishes of various herbs and spices, and other country’s food culture and signature dishes.

You’re in another country anyway, so maximize your time there and get risky with your food adventures. Plus, it’s a succulent way to delve into their food culture.

Talk to people

If you’re a more reserved type of person, it could be one of the factors that holds you back from getting out of your safe zone. When you start travelling, you’ll realize that it won’t take you anywhere and you have to initiate the conversation with others.
Even if you’re not a shy or introverted person, this will hone your communication skills in a way. And while you’re going at it, step up to learning their language or dialects as well. Communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal, are a top-notch valuable strength.

Conquer fear

Before you finally break your walls, take a moment to breathe in, prepare, and accept the reality that you can’t control your environment, especially when you start travelling. At home, you know very well which streets are safe to roam in and which should be avoided. When you visit an unfamiliar place, these notions are gone. It’s pretty scary but it’s freeing all the same.

How to travel outside your comfort zone:

Go on a solo trip. Going on groups give an unapproachable vibe which prevents you from sparking interactions with the locals—you’ll have to initiate contact first to break the insularity. Plus, going by two’s or solo opens a far wider opportunities and activities for you. sure some activities are fun with a group, but on the bright side, you get to team up with other people and travellers alike to form a group.

Always be curious. Travelling brings about a wide array of unfamiliar things and concepts to us. It stirs up a lot of questions and tickles your curiosity. No, don’t go looking up your questions on Google. Instead, approach the locals and shoot them your questions. Whether it’s about where the bathroom is or what are the ingredients to the tasty food your indulging in, always ask questions. Stay curious.

Skip the public transit, walk instead. If the distance from where you are to your hostels is too far, skip the cab and take the public transport. However, if the location is quite close to where you’re staying, skip the train or cab and hit the sidewalks. Regardless of how long or short the walk is, walking is a journey in itself you shouldn’t just ignore.

Do the thing that scares you. What scares you when traveling? Is it the food choices and cultural differences? The language barrier? Is it your safety and security in an unfamiliar land? Perhaps it’s getting lost? Whatever it may be, overcome it.

Chances are, you’ll survive eating spicy foods and raw sushis. Having trouble with getting around the area? Ask the locals, they’re generally warm and helpful. It’s a matter of turning what scares you into what drives you to keep moving forward and take on challenges with an optimistic view.

Just because you’re encouraged to be courageous and go forth beyond your safe walls doesn’t mean you should crumple the map and get lost. Keep your awareness and alertness on high level. Trust your gut instincts.

How do you travel out of your safe zone? Share your experiences, tips and advices!

About Chie Suarez

Chie Suarez sails from the PH and enjoys travelling with her family and dog. She found her passion for travelling quite late, not to mention she writes for Kims Luxury Accomodation & Romantic Getaways in Toowoon Bay NSW Australia.