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Whether domestic or international, traveling solo is a truly engaging, self-building experience. Many of us are used to traveling to Orlando, New York, or even Rome with family and friends, but many of us may find traveling to these destinations by ourselves a bit intimidating or perhaps unattractive. While the thought of traveling alone can be daunting, it shouldn't be an experience you pass up.

Traveling alone in itself is wholly dependent on your independence. You're truly alone, but in a "you need to take care of yourself" kind of way. I discovered this on my recent solo trip to Tokyo. Keep in mind I was only 17 at the time, so this was a big step up from preparing my own lunch or ironing my uniform for school. I was truly on my own, but I loved the challenge of taking care of myself in a foreign city.

From the basics of arranging transportation from the airport to my hotel and even checking in to my hotel (might I mention the added fear of being caught for checking in under age added to the excitement!), I actually enjoyed the feeling of independence these regular tasks brought to me.

Luckily, I was raised to take good care of myself, so making my way through the metropolis of Tokyo came very easy to me. For me, I am a very independent being and enjoy "flying solo," so flying, arranging transportation, navigating the metro, and finding some nice restaurants came easy to me. For those who may not be as independent as I, you may need to build yourself up a bit before you jump into any major trips, such as Tokyo. For those who thrive on solo experiences, jump on in and see how far you can take yourself!

Solo travel also offers another huge benefit to travelers like me: we have the freedom to set our own schedules. This is huge for me, as I will admit I am not great in group decision making. I'm more of a leader and like to take charge, but unfortunately that isn't a trait that works well in a group when voting on restaurants. So if you're like me, solo travel affords you a great opportunity to set your own schedule.

I found in Tokyo that I really enjoyed not feeling the pressure of others in decisions on restaurants, train selections, sightseeing, and even what time the wakeup call should be made for. Once I had arrived at my hotel, I felt I needed a quick shower to freshen up, which I was able to do without any hesitation or concern for a group schedule! After a quick refresh, I set out for Tokyo Tower, where I spent as much time as I wanted to. Dinner that evening was my decision and lasted as long as I wanted it to.

On a day where jetlag later hit me like a rock, it was very helpful to have control of my schedule. The next morning I woke up around 4 a.m. and decided to start my day. Normally, I would have to wait for my travel mates to wake up, but traveling solo allowed me to get the early start I needed. Control of my schedule allowed me to fit in an early morning Mass and spend several hours in the Imperial Gardens before heading back to Narita Airport. Traveling solo truly sets you free and grants you the freedom and flexibility to see the world the way you wish.

It goes without saying that traveling solo does have a drawback — the absence of family or friends to share the experiences with. While I did find myself missing others at times throughout my trip, I wouldn't wish for them to be there now. It sounds mean, but it's not. Traveling solo isn't about being alone; it's about building yourself through very personal and intimate travel experiences.

There are simply some travel experiences that cannot be truly appreciated or engaged in with a group of people. Traveling solo offer the perfect conduit to these types of experiences. So, every so often, if you have the opportunity, take the step into the world of solo travel. If you do, the odds are you will have a truly unique and self-building life experience just as I did in Tokyo.