I’m a bit of a nut when it comes to traveling. Whether it’s a short weekend getaway, a few weeks in the sun or a three month sojourn spanning across a continent, traveling is something that really allows me to be, well, me.

I started traveling on my own when I was eighteen. Actually, my first big trip abroad was to Argentina in 1992. It was an amazing experience. I met loads of cool people and those friendships have lasted throughout the years.

With the exception of one journey to Mexico with a girlfriend in 2001, I’ve always roamed the world on my own. Three years ago, my travel adventures made an abrupt change when I met my fiance, John. It’s rare to find someone who shares your own passions in life. Soon, my world of one graduated to a world of two and we’ve been sharing our adventures together ever since.

More often then not, most people need someone to travel with. But before I met John, my travel adventures were made of different stuff. I was a woman on my own and traveling was a way of expressing my independence and freedom. Traveling alone might sound scary or boring, but this simply isn’t true.

So why travel alone?

Traveling solo is the ultimate freedom. Your choices are your own. You never need to worry about arguing with someone else or missing something because your travel partner isn’t interested in the same things you are interested in. When traveling with a group, you may not always get what you want.

You can change your travel plans on the spur-of-the-moment. Traveling alone means you make your own decisions. You have more independence and your journey is tailor-made for you.

Traveling alone can often be rewarding. It has its perks. It can be easier to book rooms and tables. I arrived in Beijing in 2003 without accommodations over a major holiday and was able to get a cozy little room for one at a rock-bottom price. A couple who arrived after me were told there were no vacancies.

It’s certainly easier to meet other travelers when you’re traveling alone. Other travelers will approach you if you’re on your own. In 2004, I met an American woman in Bangkok on her way from Kathmandu. We spent a lovely evening together trading travel stories. We have kept in touch over the years. She is still traveling on her own and sends me regular updates.

You’ll have more interaction with locals. While traveling by train through China I met a young woman who is a gymnast. We spent an evening together playing cards, chatting and eating sunflower seeds on the bottom bunk of a soft sleeper.

Traveling alone also means you can be the super cool crazy person on the road who said I don’t give a damn when everyone told you not to do it.

There are times when I miss traveling alone. Some of my best adventures tales stem from my solo journeys through South America and China. If the opportunity presents itself again, I won’t hesitate to grab my pack and head off into the sunset. Traveling solo can be just as fun and exhilirating as traveling with a group or with a friend.