Everyone has their preferences when it comes to travel, whether it’s solo, with friends, or with family. Today, we’ll explore the differences between solo travel and group travel, focusing mainly on trips with friends.
1. Decision-Making and Compromise.
Travelling solo offers immediate freedom to do as you please without needing to compromise with others. Something as simple as finding a place to eat can turn into a Cold War-level standoff between two dietary preferences.
There are usually characters in the group who are relaxed by nature and find it the easiest out of solo and group travellers because they can just follow the herd into the restaurant of choice.
That’s not to say solo travellers have it easy just because they don’t have to make compromises with others.
Referring back to the previous example, sometimes not having someone to lean on can sap your energy. Finding somewhere to eat for your meals during the day can become tiresome for those who like a bit more structure by nature. Not to mention other responsibilities like figuring out public transport or trying to get past a language barrier when asking for help when you’re travelling solo.
2. Social Interactions
Solo travel is notorious for its ability to get globetrotters to throw themselves out there a bit more and interact with the people and scenarios around them. This has been amplified by platforms like Hostelworld which creates group chats with other travellers who are visiting the place you are going to at the same time so that you can link up with people even easier than before.
When it comes to travelling with friends, these interactions evolve a little bit.
I find there is a lower sense of interacting with others as much because you have the safety net of the people you are abroad with. There is less pressure to connect with the local culture as much because you’re with people you are close to and you’re almost able to treat it like you are out for an occasion back home.
While travelling with friends offers the comfort of familiar companions and may result in lasting memories, solo travel often fosters unique connections and a sense of independence, albeit with occasional feelings of solitude.
3. Budgeting
Money is the biggest material difference between solo travel and travelling with friends. If you’re going for a weekend away in either scenario, fronting the cost of airport parking, any extra bag space, and taxi/Ubering around will typically hit home more when journeying alone.
Travelling in a group gives you breathing space that you’d otherwise have to be really money savvy for when solo travelling.
Food and drink for multiple people? Could be covered by a well-organized shop.
Need a way home from a night out somewhere? Splitting the Uber amongst 4 people softens the blow.
Undeniably, travelling in a group provides a financial ease that you’d otherwise have to make sacrifices for whilst solo travelling. I would never have stayed in a place as nice as this had I not been with friends to split the price.
People are very different in their spending habits but as a general rule, you’ll typically find trips cheaper when you can work through it with friends.
4. The Solo Travel Learning Experience
Naturally, getting yourself out of your comfort zone is going to open your mind up to new ways of learning, thinking and experiencing and I have never found anything as powerful as solo travel.
Whilst travelling with friends encourages the interactions between each other and further group dynamics, exploring the world alone provides you with time to reflect on your life and what led you to this moment.
It’s no wonder that many older people wish they had travelled more when they were younger; solo travel is an experience that is incomparable to anything I have personally encountered before.
There is almost a spiritual side to seeing how you would react to situations you find yourself in when you’re alone. This could be how you speak with locals or try to align with local customs in a particular way.
Not only does it act as confidence building but it opens your mind up to seeing the world in other ways.
5. Level of Organisation
Organising 4 – 8+ people is no joke and those responsible for spearheading group trips will know all too well the responsibility that comes with trying to make sure everyone gets from A to B smoothly without any issues
Solo travellers, on the other hand, are laughing in this scenario.
After sorting out flights and check-ins, they are ready to go out in the world and wing it. This is because solo travel allows you to book events, accommodation and tickets based on last-minute decisions. Yes, a group of friends may be presented with an opportunity which forces them into a decision at the last minute, but I find these occur far less frequently than when you are travelling alone.
It’s worth mentioning that the level of planning varies from group to group, but it’s safe to say that you will rarely find a solo traveller who has meticulously planned their itinerary for the next 6 months.
Conclusion:
To sum up, it’s worth giving both of these types of travel a go when you get the chance. Solo travel is a unique learning experience whether you do it for a weekend or for months at a time. Travelling with friends or whoever in a large group is an occasion where you’ll make communal memories that will last forever and the trip is quite pleasant on the bank account.
Whichever way you choose to travel, the experiences and memories you’ll create will be invaluable. So, pack your bags and embrace the journey ahead. Safe travels!
