So you've decided to take that first step in beginning your adventure. Congratulations! Now you must decide on whether you should go alone or with a friend/friends. So here's my story. When I first began backpacking, I met up with a friend of mine because she wanted to travel for a bit as well. I was originally suppose to go alone but was extremely happy that she met up and we ended up having a great time. That was for the first half. The second half, I was alone though it had nothing to do with my travel partner as we were just heading out in different directions. So let me first talk about traveling with a friend.
To travel with someone means that you will be spending quite a bit of time together whether you like it or not. Thing of it in terms of survivor but not so extreme. You will see this person/persons when you wake up, when you go to sleep, sometimes when you take showers so if you are prepared to do it, then go for it! Okay, perhaps I'm creating a negative tone but I want to make sure that you realize what you're getting into when you arrive together. I was fortunate enough to travel with a very compatible individual but I also met a lot of people that didn't find each other as compatible. In other words, they were either split apart due to unresolvable differences or they would be constantly fighting (hoping to leave each other at the next train stop). So I highly suggest you find someone who you are comfortable in talking to if any such instances were to arise. Traveling together doesn't necessarily mean you are attached to one another which a lot of people fail to understand. If one person doesn't want to go somewhere, he/she doesn't have to go! All you need to do is split up for a few hours and meet again later. Another suggestion I would make is to plan out what each others expectations are and what would happen if certain situations arise. Don't go with someone simply because that person is fun to be with. Make sure that this person is also someone who will endure your everyday habits. As for couples, it is said that if you can travel together and still be together at the end of the trip, then you can handle anything.
Advantages to traveling with others is this. It's cheaper! This is for several reasons. First, when you go to the supermarkets, no longer will you have to buy the whole package of ham and throw out half of it, you can split it with your travel buddy. Second, solitaire can be fun to a certain extent, however, I'm sure playing cards with a buddy will be a lot more interesting. Still need convincing? Well, think about this. When you're tired of going around different hostels and just want to go to a nice hotel, the costs will definately be cheaper. Safety issues also arise as it is a lot easier to rob one person versus two. But I would have to say that the most advantageous aspect of having a travel partner (and the most obvious) is that you have a friend to share all the memories with. In the end if you manage to remain in speaking terms, you can reflect on the adventures you had together laughing at each others mishaps. Also note that I may seem pessimistic when talking about travel partners, but the reality is that there are alot of times when things do work out for the best and your relationship actually grows a lot stronger.
Now regarding traveling alone, the first advantage has to be the freedom to do what you want to do. You never have to worry about waiting for someone or making sure that they're as happy as you are. You can chose what you want to do when you want to do it and not feel any guilt. I find that you also meet a lot more people when you are traveling alone because you get tired of talking to your imaginary friend (let's call him "wilson") so you force yourself to meet new people. You can also go at your own pace and visit the cities you want to. This is great because if you're in a particular museum that you find interesting and want to stay longer, you can. I would have to say that the greatest thing about traveling alone is you learn a lot about yourself and what you're capable of. You learn how to overcome adversity and challenges that make you a stronger person overall.
Disadvantages of traveling alone would first have to do with safety. They say there's safety in numbers and yes, that would be true because robbers would rather rob the smaller number. Another disadvantage would be that you can't share your memories with anyone else. This, however, is not necessarily true as I met so many different people and shared so many different moments with, that you get the feeling that you're not as alone as you think you are. Traveling alone also means relying on yourself and no one else. This forces you to adapt a lot quicker because you know no one is there to help you. I found this to be one of the most rewarding yet difficult challenges.
So in conclusion, I hope I've given you an idea of what its like to travel alone and with a friend. Ultimately, its up to you to decide what you weigh as more important. If I had a chance to change either situation, I wouldn't.
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