I've read lots of articles on the subject of solo travel. More often than not, these articles tend to romanticize the concept of being a solo-traveler. I feel like they give half the picture on what it's like to travel on your own, which I think is not fair to the reader. Don't get me wrong, I'm a solo traveler and have been all my life. So I'm very familiar with the the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of traveling on my own. These are my two cents on this subject.

Most people don't try solo travel because they fear being alone. They presume it'll be difficult to meet people and make new friends. While this might happen, the reality (in my experience) is the opposite. In my travels I've met a large number of people under many different circumstances. Traveling solo actually opens you up to the possibility of making new friends. It forces you to become more social.

If you're hesitant about traveling alone or are looking for ideas on how to meet people on your trips, below are some easy tips to make friends while traveling solo:

Part of the allure of solo travel is the idea of self-discovery. We head out into the unknown looking to discover new things about ourselves or hoping to reawaken parts of us that we thought died a long time ago. But is it possible to plan a trip that will give us the answers that we've been searching for? Is it rational to think anyone can plan a vision quest to successfully uncover this undefined holy grail of self awareness?

Traveling solo is a great adventure and wonderful way to the see the world. You're the captain of your ship and have complete control over where you go and what you see. There's no one to consult or negotiate with. It's an intoxicating freedom, but its important you keep your wits about you. Here are my 12 rules to staying safe while traveling solo.