6 reasons to take your next trip solo

There's no denying the world is a scary place. Getting on an airplane can seem like a daunting experience, especially when you don't have your best travel partner sitting beside you. But it's important to remember that flying is safer than ever –  and getting even safer  – while destinations all over the world are happily welcoming visitors.

Have you ever considered visiting them solo? Better yet, here's why you should visit them solo.

1. Ultimate freedom. Do you love waking up early to hit the museums and cultural attractions, but your travel buddy would rather party all night and sleep all day? Do you enjoy outdoor adventure, though your friend's idea of hiking includes wandering the mall? When you're traveling solo there's no need to compromise, as you have ultimate control of your itinerary. You may want to even give yourself an Eat Pray Love-style goal, as there will be nobody there to distract you from fulfilling it.

I personally learned the value of ultimate freedom when traveling through Europe for the summer with another woman I'd met online (and, spoiler alert, I neglected to ask the important pre-departure travel buddy questions). While my idea was to go with the flow, Kelly* needed every minute of the itinerary planned a week in advance (on Monday, I knew I'd be eating a grilled cheese for lunch Friday). Parting ways turned the trip from miserable to incredible instantly.

2. To realize what you're capable of. One aspect of solo travel that's both scary and rewarding is the fact you're completely responsible for yourself. That means if something derails the plans – a lost passport, a missed train, a stolen purse – you'll need to figure out how to handle it. And you will, because when faced with a challenge your problem-solving intuition naturally kicks in.

When I was on the above-mentioned Euro-trip, after Kelly and I had parted ways, a budget airline lost my luggage (shockingly it wasn't Ryanair). After five days of wearing the same outfit, the airline told me I'd have to travel from Italy to France retrieve it – dashing Amazing Race-style from train to train to taxi and back – in order to make it to my Florence hostel before check-in closed for the night. It was scary and frustrating, but I did it – and I got a great story out of it in the end.

3. To meet new people. Yes, you can meet new people when traveling in a group, but when you're with others, you don't have that awkward-lone-foreigner feeling forcing you to mingle (although a number of apps also help you meet locals). Another tip: sitting at the bar alone makes you approachable. In the worst case scenario, you end up chatting with the local bartenders.

4. Easier budgeting. Budgeting can be one of the most stressful parts of a trip, an anxiety that's heightened when you travel with someone who isn't 100% on your same page. I can't think of a single group trip where I wasn't pressured into spending more than I wanted to appease someone's accommodation request, or to have to miss out on something I wanted to do because my travel friend was being stingy. Solo travel means saving and splurging as you see fit.

5. To grow your relationship with yourself. Between work, family engagements and outings with friends we often neglect to nurture one of life's most important relationships: the one with ourselves. And while vacations with loved ones are important, so is taking some "me time" on the road. You can achieve a real, amazing clarity while spending hours alone with your own discoveries and thoughts.

6. To gain resume-enhancing skills. Travel enhances your resume, and solo travel takes it to another level. Every time you negotiate at a market, figure out a foreign subway, plan an itinerary leg or expertly use those reward points you're proving your office capabilities – and illustrating that you're adept at getting things done without needing anyone to hold your hand.

What do you love about traveling solo?

Jessica Festa is the founder on the solo and offbeat travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, and the online responsible tourism and culture magazine, Epicure & Culture. She's constantly searching for local experiences beyond the guidebook. You can follow her travels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.