Should I Travel Alone? 15-Question Quiz
At age 22, I was buzzing to take my first trip overseas. But I had no one to travel with and worried that solo travel might be weird. Still, I wondered, should I travel alone?
Now, after 6 years of solo travel, I know that solo travel only suits a certain type of person. Below is a 15-question quiz to help you determine whether you are the type of person who should travel alone.
You should travel alone if you are adventurous, enjoy meeting new people and discovering foreign cultures, and appreciate having control over your itinerary and budget. You should not travel alone if you are unable to take responsibility for your own safety, health and well-being.
Nomadic Yak has 100s of tips if it’s your first time travelling solo!
15-Question Quiz: Should I Travel Alone?
You’re itching at the bit to adventure overseas but you have no one to travel with.
Keep a tally of your answers to the 15 quiz questions below to find out: should I go travelling alone? Your score will reveal whether solo travel is worth it for you!
Question 1 – Do I want to build my own itinerary or have someone build it for me?
A. I want to build my own free and flexible itinerary
If you want to enjoy freedom and control over your itinerary, you should travel alone. You can be as spontaneous as you like. You don’t have to compromise with others when choosing your destination, travel dates, accommodation, dining options, etc. See my list of the 193 best places to solo travel for inspiration.
B. I want a set itinerary that provides a little free time and flexibility
If you want the convenience of having someone set your itinerary, you should join a tour as a solo traveller. However, try to choose a group tour that provides you with free time to explore each destination.
C. I want someone else to set my entire itinerary for me
If you are happy to compromise with others on your itinerary, you should travel with a group of family or friends. But you likely won’t have the freedom to do what you want, when you want.
Question 2 – Do I want to immerse myself in the culture of the destination?
A. Yes, I want to delve into the culture and enjoy authentic interactions with the local people
If you want authentic cultural experiences and adventure, you should travel alone. When you travel alone, you are more likely to go where most tourists don’t, interact with the local people (e.g. hiring a local guide) and be invited into their lives (e.g. visit their family home).
B. I want to touch upon the culture whilst also enjoying comfort and safety
If you want to learn a little bit about the culture but you’re nervous about being alone in a foreign destination, you should join a tour as a solo traveller. Whilst the cultural experiences may be more touristy, you don’t have to worry about your safety or planning.
C. No, I am more concerned about comfort and convenience than I am about cultural immersion
If you are not concerned about authentic cultural experiences, you should travel with family or friends. Whilst you may experience some of the culture, you will likely only visit tourist traps that are convenient but crowded.
Question 3 – Do I want to experience self-discovery and personal growth whilst travelling?
A. Yes, I want to find myself and grow whilst travelling
If you want to become more socially skilled and self-confident, you should travel alone. Solo travel requires you to be independent and overcome fear and anxiety alone (e.g. making friends, language barriers, etc.). You also have a lot of alone time to journal, meditate and reflect.
B. I want to experience personal growth but am hesitant to travel alone
You should join a tour as a solo traveller. You will still face challenges (e.g. making friends with strangers) and benefit from a boost in your social confidence. Plus, you’ll also enjoy the convenience, comfort and safety of an organised tour.
C. No, I am not worried about personal development whilst vacationing
If you want to avoid challenging yourself, you should travel with family or friends. Unfortunately, however, you may not experience the same boost in social and self-confidence that solo travellers enjoy.
Question 4 – Am I willing to take risks if it means having an awesome adventure?
A. Yes, I will take responsibility for my own safety during my adventure
If you are willing to face risks and take responsibility for your own safety, you should travel alone. You will face unique dangers when travelling alone. But there are solo travel safety tips that you can use to minimise those risks and make your adventure more exciting.
B. I would like to have an adventure but I’m hesitant about my safety
You should join a tour as a solo traveller if you want to experience adventure whilst having someone else take responsibility for your safety. If the tour is accredited and run by responsible professionals, they will only allow you to partake in activities that they deem safe.
C. No, I do not want to experience adventure if it means taking risks
If you want to minimise the risks of travel as much as possible, you should vacation with someone familiar in a safe tourist destination. Whilst no form of travel is completely safe, travelling with others means you have someone else to look out for you.
Question 5 – Do I want to make new friends and potentially find love whilst travelling?
A. Yes, I want to make lots of friends and potentially find a soulmate whilst travelling
If you want to boost your social confidence and make new friends every day, you should travel alone. As a solo traveller, you are forced to interact with like-minded people and you make friends from around the world. Plus, many solo travellers find love along the way (and they also have more sexual partners that the average person)!
B. Yes, I want to make friends but I don’t want to have to meet new people every day
If you want to make a few new friends but don’t want to socialise with new people every day, you should join a tour as a solo traveller. You’ll quickly make lifelong friends with some of the other travellers in your tour group. See my guide to solo travel for introverts.
C. No, I don’t want to meet people whilst travelling
If you’re not interested in making new friends whilst travelling, you should travel with your friends or family from home. Often when you travel in a group, you stick to your bubble and rarely interact with new faces.
Question 6 – Do I want to determine my own budget?
A. Yes, I want to stick to my own budget and stretch my travel funds as far as possible
If you want to determine your own budget and have discretion over how much you spend each day, you should travel alone. Solo travellers can plan their trip around their savings and extend their trips by spending less.
B. I want to know the cost of my trip beforehand and pay for everything upfront
You should join a group tour as a solo traveller if you have a set budget in mind and want to pay a fixed cost upfront. However, be aware that solo travellers may need to pay more for private rooms when taking organised tours.
C. No, I’m happy to compromise with others when paying for my holiday
If you are willing to share travel costs with other people, you should travel with family or friends. However, be aware that you will have to compromise with the financial needs of the group when choosing your accommodation, restaurants, etc.
Question 7 – Will I enjoy doing activities on my own whilst travelling?
A. Yes, I enjoy visiting attractions and sights on my own terms
If you like determining which activities and sights you visit and how long you spend at each, you should travel alone. And if you don’t want to go alone, you can tag along with some of your new travel buddies (e.g. other travellers from your hostel).
B. Most of the time I would prefer to go sightseeing with a group
You should join a tour as a solo traveller if you prefer doing most of your sightseeing with a group. You will likely have some free time to explore alone as well if you like. But you will not have as much discretion over your itinerary as if you were travelling alone.
C. No, I only want to visit attractions and go sightseeing if I’m with a group
If you only want to do travel activities with a group, you should travel with family and friends. You will have to compromise on which attractions you visit, when you visit and for how long you visit.
Question 8 – Is it easier to organise travel by myself or with a group?
A. It is easier to plan my own travel
You should travel alone if you like having the freedom to plan your own travel. Solo travellers can choose their own route, accommodation, transport, meals, attractions and more. Use the Nomadic Yak solo travel destination guides for assistance.
B. I want to travel alone but I want someone else to plan for me
If you would like to choose from a range of set itineraries, you should join an organised tour as a solo traveller. This gives you some discretion over where you travel, what you see and where you stay without the hassle of planning.
C. It is easier to plan travel with a group (if everybody helps)
You should travel with family or friends if you think it is easier to organise travel as a group. However, be warned that most of the planning often is left to one poor soul. It can also be difficult to make compromises without causing resentment amongst the group.
Question 9 – Do I appreciate my privacy and personal space whilst travelling?
A. Yes, I want privacy to do my own thing
If you want the flexibility to choose your own private room or stay in a shared room (e.g. a hostel dorm), you should travel alone. Even if you are on a strict budget, solo travellers can still find affordable private rooms in most hostels.
B. I want the option of staying in a private room or a shared room
Most organised tours give solo travellers the option of staying in a private room or sharing a room with another tour member. However, you will likely be charged a surcharge if you opt to stay in private rooms.
C. No, I am happy to share all my time and personal space with other people
If you don’t mind sharing all your time and personal space with someone else whilst travelling, you should travel with friends or family. However, your privacy will be minimal.
Question 10 – Do I want my travel memories to be special or shared?
A. I want to return from my big adventure with my own exciting stories
If you want to live out your very own adventure and return home with exciting tales, you should travel alone. Because solo travel tends to be more adventurous than group travel, the memories and the stories are often more exciting.
B. I am happy to share my travel memories with a new group of friends
If you join a tour as a solo traveller, you will share an experience with a new group of friends. Should you stay in contact with those friends, you can look back on them fondly together in the future.
C. I am happier sharing all my travel memories with a familiar group of friends or family
If you travel with family and friends, you will share the experience. It’s always nice to have group memories that you can look back on fondly together.
Question 11 – Am I worried that I will look weird if I travel alone?
A. No, I’m self-confident and unconcerned with what others think of me
If you’re self-confident enough to travel alone without worrying about what others think of you, you should try solo travel. You’re one of the lucky few who don’t have this fear. But there’s still a lot to learn about yourself!
B. I’m a little hesitant about looking weird whilst travelling alone
If you’re worried about looking weird as a solo traveller, you should read my article: is it weird to travel alone? It will provide you with tips for overcoming the awkwardness of solo travel. However, if you’re still self-conscious about solo travel, a group tour might be the perfect solution.
C. Yes, I don’t want people to think I’m a loner
Almost everyone worries that they will look weird if they travel alone. Again, I would recommend using the tips in my article: is it weird to travel alone? However, if you can’t overcome the awkwardness of solo travel, it may be better for you to travel with family or friends.
Question 12 – Am I worried that I will get lonely and bored if I travel alone?
A. No, I am rarely lonely or bored and enjoy spending time by myself
If you have no fear of being lonely or bored, you should try solo travel. Although solo travel is rarely lonely, you can make the most of the time you do get alone by doing things you enjoy (e.g. writing, watching films, playing guitar, etc.).
B. I am a little worried about being lonely and bored whilst travelling alone
If you are a little worried about loneliness or boredom whilst travelling alone, consider joining an organised tour. You will be constantly socialising with other tour members and always be busy with a pre-planned itinerary.
C. I am terrified I’ll get lonely and bored if I travel alone
Solo travellers spend very little time alone (i.e. less than 10-20% of the trip). This is because you are almost always surrounded by other travellers. I recommend that you read these guides: is solo travel lonely and is solo travel boring? If you are still worried about these issues, it may be best to travel with family or friends.
Question 13 – Do I have health concerns that prevent me from travelling alone?
A. No, I do not have health concerns that prevent me from travelling alone
If you do not have any health concerns that prevent you from travelling alone, you should travel solo. Congratulations, this is quite rare! But you should still take all necessary health and safety precautions.
B. I have a few minor health concerns and could need assistance
If you have a few minor health concerns and would like some peace of mind knowing that there are people around to help, you should join a tour as a solo traveller. Try to choose an accredited tour company that has professional staff who can provide medical assistance if needed.
C. Yes, I have health concerns and should not travel alone
If you have health concerns that make it dangerous for you to travel alone, you should only travel with family or friends. They should be able to provide medical assistance if needed.
Question 14 – Do I have anyone to go on holiday with?
A. No, I have no one to go on holiday with
If you have no one to go on holiday with, you should travel alone. You will quickly find that it is better than travelling with family or friends, as you constantly meet new people and get to set your own itinerary. If you are nervous, see my articles about travelling alone for the first time.
B. I could convince my family or friends to holiday with me
If you have to convince your family or friends to holiday with you, it is probably not worth the effort. You will likely be left to do most of the planning on your own and it gets stressful. Instead, consider finding a tour that interests you and join as a solo traveller.
C. Yes, I can travel with my family and friends
Just because you have someone to travel with doesn’t necessarily mean that you should. Consider all the advantages of solo travel and the disadvantages of group travel (see below). However, if you are seriously concerned about your health and safety, you should travel with family or friends.
Question 15 (optional) – Should I travel alone as a woman?
A. I am not hesitant about travelling alone as a woman
If you have no concerns about travelling alone as a woman, go for it! Solo travellers who display outward confidence are less likely to find themselves in dangerous or scary situations. You will face challenges head-on and maximise your potential for personal growth.
B. I am hesitant about travelling alone as a woman
If you are hesitant about travelling alone as a woman, you may be better off joining a tour. You still get to enjoy some of the benefits of travelling alone and you will feel safer travelling with a group and a professional guide. After some experience with a tour, you’ll likely have enough confidence to travel alone as a woman.
C. I would never travel alone as a woman
The majority of solo travellers are women. However, solo travel isn’t for everyone. If you do not feel safe travelling alone as a woman or joining an organised tour, you should travel with someone you know and trust (family and friends).
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Quiz Result: Should I Travel Alone?
If you answered (A) to the majority of questions above, you should travel alone. You are adventurous and independent. You like to set your own itinerary and budget and plan your trip on your own terms. You want to make new friends, have authentic cultural experiences and grow in both social and self-confidence.
If you answered (B) to the majority of questions above, you should join an organised tour as a solo traveller. You are adventurous but a little hesitant. You are happy to pick a pre-planned itinerary that is safe and suits your budget and interests. You want some experience travelling alone with a group before your first real solo trip.
If you answered (C) to the majority of questions above, you should not travel alone. You should travel with someone familiar (i.e. friends or family). You are concerned about your safety, loneliness, boredom and/or health. You are happy to compromise with others when planning a group holiday.
For more information, see how I compare my experiences with solo travel vs group travel.
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Find More Solo Travel Tips on Nomadic Yak
Decided that you should travel alone? Find more first-time solo travel tips on Nomadic Yak!
Nomadic Yak helps solo travellers to plan journeys that are adventurous and authentic.
Every article is written by me, Harry Dale. I’ve travelled to 40+ countries over the last 5 years – alone.
You’ll find 100s of solo travel tips on how to save money, make more friends, build a social media following and much more.
Plus, you can use my solo travel destination guides to discover international sights and attractions that few other travellers get to witness.
