by Jenny Sherman

Created on: May 25, 2009

"You're traveling alone?" the Peruvian waitress asked me, eyebrows raised. "Aren't you scared?"

My first time in South America was also the first time traveling by myself. Although several people declare it their preferred method of seeing the world, it remains intimidating. But if I required someone to join me every time I wanted to travel, I wouldn't go anywhere. Now that I have passed through five South American countries on my own, I can confidently list the advantages and disadvantages of traveling solo.

The most noteworthy advantage of being a lone trailblazer is that you are in charge. You are the decision maker. There is no one to contemplate restaurants with, nobody to dislike the route you've chosen, and no one to argue with if you change your mind. This leads to increased spontaneity and experiencing things you might not if there are more people to consult. This advantage is a disadvantage for the indecisive: If you generally need someone to make decisions for you, you may get stuck doing nothing.

Another benefit of traversing alone is meeting new people. When you are with a buddy, partner or group, it is easy to ignore everyone else in the room and still have a great time. Not so when you are by yourself. Being alone in a new place will force you to reach out to new people and lead to more social interactions. And the more you do it, the easier it gets.

A telling disadvantage of a trip by oneself is attracting unwarranted attention. This is especially true for non-native appearances and women. Since it is not common for tourists to be alone, (and it is clear you are a tourist), a solo traveler will stick out. This could result in anything from aggressive catcalling or being overcharged to more dangerous occurrences, such as robbery or kidnapping. Wherever you happen to find yourself, being as inconspicuous as possible is always good practice.

Another con is that the general danger factor is raised a couple degrees, say, from code yellow to code orange. You must take the highest caution when walking around, going out at night, taking buses and taxis and performing other common activities that you wouldn't have any problems with in groups. You have complete responsibility over the vigilance of your baggage and wallet when in public spaces, and unwarranted wandering should be kept to a minimum. But a heightened awareness and careful precautionary measures are all one needs to be safe.

An obvious but surprising advantage of being one and not many is the world's ability to accommodate you. A late reservation for groups or even pairs leads to problems with overbooking and having to split up. But more often than not, a crowded hotel or hostel will have one available bed, a bus one free seat, and a tour one open spot. The opposing disadvantage is that groups are often eligible for discounts on tours and accommodations, so just link up with your new friends to get the same perks.

The most dreaded disadvantage, which occasional raises its ugly head, is loneliness. Instead of sharing all of your experiences with your lover or best friend and creating lifelong memories, you are sharing it with your journal. You must get used to eating, traveling, and exploring by yourself. This is a side effect of the solo journey that will only make the journeymen stronger, more independent people. Because, hey, if you can dive into the unknown by yourself, you can do anything.

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