I thought traveling alone would be awkward or boring — but my first solo trip proved me wrong with its surprising perks

One of the nice parts of planning the trip was that I didn't have to coordinate transportation with anyone else.

No group texts about which airline to fly, what days work best for everyone, or trying to coordinate train and flight schedules so we can all arrive at the same time.

With just me, that extra layer of logistics disappeared, and I got to travel based on my preferences.

So, I traveled by Amtrak for the first time. I picked a 6 a.m. departure because I'm an early bird when it comes to travel, and I upgraded my seat for extra comfort.

One of the biggest advantages of traveling solo was having complete control over my day-to-day schedule.

I could spend as much time as I wanted at any spot without feeling rushed, and change my schedule spontaneously depending on my mood.

Whether I was craving a seafood restaurant, needed a quick nap back at the hotel, or wanted to walk an extra mile to see the fall foliage on the Charles River Esplanade, I didn't have to ask if anyone else was down — I just did it.

My flexible schedule also allowed me to have control over my budget. I feel pressured to match someone else's spending habits or compromise on what I wanted to splurge on.

Instead, I was free to prioritize what matters to me, whether that was splurging on a nice dinner, saving money by walking instead of taking a rideshare, or skipping attractions that didn't interest me.

This level of autonomy not only helped me stick to a budget, but it also allowed me to spend in ways that reflected my own values and interests.

I found it not only to be a more intentional way to travel, but also a more financially sustainable one.

I never considered myself someone who needed a lot of room on a trip, but it felt nice —and even luxurious —to have a hotel room all to myself.

I was able to keep the room tidy, sleep until the time I preferred, and the biggest advantage is I never had to fight for the bathroom.

I'm used to traveling with friends, where we're coordinating who showers first, who gets the mirror for makeup next, and who's using the blow dryer.

Although it's always fun getting ready together, it was refreshing to have the space all to myself. I relished it.

I found that being alone often made it easier to get into crowded places or enjoy unexpected perks.

For example, one night I walked into a packed restaurant without a reservation. There were families and groups waiting to be seated outside, but when the host saw I was by myself, I was let in right away without waiting.

From my experience, even if a restaurant is packed, there's a good chance they have a single bar seat to spare.

Another instance of this was on my Amtrak ride home, when a staff member noticed I looked a bit lost.

I had asked him where to go, and instead of explaining, he kindly introduced me to a family that was boarding early to lead me to where I needed to go. Not only did I avoid missing the train, but I also got to board ahead of the crowd.

When you're alone, people can often squeeze you in, or you're more likely to fly under the radar. It was an unexpected perk I came to really appreciate.

As someone notoriously bad with directions, I usually rely on others to take the lead when it comes to navigating, whether it's finding stations, following signs, or figuring out public transit.

Traveling solo forced me to take charge, and to my surprise, I wasn't half bad.

I didn't get lost walking around Boston, I found the right platforms for my Amtrak rides, and I even figured out public transportation in Salem.

Sure, I asked for help from workers and attendants along the way — but I did it.

It was incredibly rewarding and gave me a sense of independence. It pushed me out of the comfortable habit of following someone else's lead, and reminded me that I'm more capable than I give myself credit for.

I thought I would go crazy not having anyone to talk to on my trip. However, I quickly realized that traveling solo just opens the door to talking to new people.

It may be because I seemed more approachable on my own, or I was initiating more conversations because I didn't have a group to rely on, but either way, I spoke to plenty of people while I was out and about. 

I chatted with fellow patrons in restaurants, my servers and I shared stories of where we were from, and I had engaging conversations with locals I never would've had if I had been traveling with company.

Walking down the streets of Salem, a woman with a typewriter caught my eye, and I began talking to her about my first solo trip. She crafted an adorable poem for me, and we shared a warm interaction.

As an extrovert, I not only love meeting new people, but others' perspectives on the area I was visiting also made my trip more meaningful. 

This one might be niche to me and other book lovers, but I had plenty of downtime to read as much as I wanted.

Reading on a trip always sounds relaxing in theory, but it's not always practical unless I'm traveling with people who also enjoy books.

During this trip, I had the freedom to whip out my Kindle any time I had a spare moment. I read at restaurants, on trains, or while waiting in lines.

As someone with a long TBR (to be read) list, I appreciated having that uninterrupted reading time.

It also gave me something to do that wasn't just scrolling on my phone, and it helped me avoid feeling awkward being alone in public spaces.