My first ever solo travel was also my first plane ride. I was already working and I was still doing corporate and got burned out from too much work that I needed motivation to live life differently. So, I traveled alone from here, to land of Lakers  and to the Golden Gate Bridge. That trip was a prelude to what was in store for me. I never had the luxury of traveling when I was younger except for the regular trips to our neighbor’s house just to play computer games. Back then, Atari and the Nintendo Family computer was a blockbuster.

There is this love hate-relationship that’s been going on between me and solo travel. I hate the fact that I can be at a moment and enjoy what’s in front of me and a few minutes later I feel bored because I don’t have anyone to talk or share it with.

I was in bohol on my own and got bored.
Good thing I decided to ditch the beach and move elsewhere in the island

Traveling solo is different from watching movies alone, or eating at a restaurant alone. There are similarities but the psychology is different. There are moments and places that can be best experienced when you are with someone. And there are moments and places that are best experienced with love, friends, and family.

There are four things to consider when traveling solo

1. Your Schedule. I like this, being alone and just enjoying the moment. No one to bug me to leave when Im still enjoying, No one to prod me to take photos when im not in the mood. I can have my pace, my time, my IT. I can skip places and activities I am not interested with. I have a certain standard when it comes to stories. I rarely like to watch and look at artifacts and crafts, or a crib where some president was born. unless it was a manger where pigs ate. Now that’s interesting. On the other hand, having a companion can also mean having more options. They may know something about a place that you don’t. The worse thing that could happen to you is get bored because of an empty slot in your IT.

2. The Moment – the worst thing that could ever happen to me is stay at a place where you can enjoy it with someone but cant. I was at Mt Pinatubo with some friends and it was great that we were there because we could all enjoy the blue green pastel colored water. Whether its to just watch and view the mountains and the clouds that are perfectly in place. You could talk about anything at all, the last trip youve been to. the worst experiences, and the scenery becomes a great background.


I went to Puerto Princesa on my own and stayed there for 2 nights.
This photo doesnt say Palawan at all because I didnt intend to shoot and simply found myself spending most of my time inside a farm eating fruits. Epic!

Similarly I was in Batanes and had the time of my life staring at nothing.. or at least right in front of me was a mountainous graze of green and the ocean trying to reach in. My mornings here are perfect. I always spend time on that blue swing by the porch, and sometimes my neighbor in the other room would do the same. But these are moments you would want to enjoy on your own. God’s creation is awesome. Of course having loved ones with you and enjoying that moment of silence is an exception.

3 . Your Budget – there are things that you are limited to do when youre alone and on a budget. It tends to get more budget friendly when youre in groups.. for example, you can rent a paraw and split the costs with your barkada, otherwise, you cover it all on your own. On the other hand, when you’re on youre own, you tend to get creative. Sometimes you can even get freebies because you’re alone. Say a stranger wants to treat you in exchange for a worthwhile story. You may not be able to experience that if there were four of you traveling. Locals and fellow travelers have budgets too.

My favorite spot in Batanes where I love to spend time alone just staring at nothing

4. The People that you meet – traveling solo forces me to meet people. It forces me to talk with people and get to know them because, one, I do not have anyone else to entertain, and two, to get rid of the boredom that comes with it. On the other hand, if you dont want to meet people, then tag someone along, specially if it makes you feel safe. Im comfortable either way.

In reality, this isn’t just a Philippine thing. I just wanted to put Philippines in the title really. So there ya have it folks. Whether you enjoy traveling on your own or not, no one is stopping you.


This is my entry to the 6th Pinoy Travel Bloggers Blog Carnival held this month of April 2011 with the theme “Why Travel Solo?” hosted by my good friend Nina of Just Wandering

Do check the March 2011 blog carnival too where I hosted for that month with the theme Best 1 day Itineraries