So you're thinking about solo traveling. That's great! Is this your first time traveling without your parents? It's unbelievably scary. Trust me. I traveled to Denmark all by my lonesome without my parents for the first time and was scared to death the ENTIRE time; even before I was on the plane or at the airport.

Here are some key differences between traveling by yourself vs traveling with your parents.

1. Oh, god. Airports are the worst.

You're so used to navigating airports...or actually, you're used to having your parents navigating the airport. You may think you have the airport all figured out. But, it will be a whole different ball game without your parents. First of all, you have no idea where you are. Second of all, you have to buy your snacks and you realize how expensive airport food really is. Just stick with snacks from home. You don't have the kind of money to afford a $5 KitKat. Don't kid yourself.

2. Who am I even going to experience this with?

With your parents and possibly other family members, you are used to going to dinners, outings, and sights with them. There was never the question of "who is going with me?" But, when you're alone, be prepared to have a few meals by yourself. I combat this awkward experience by trying to get most of my meals to go and then finding a nice bench where I could read and eat by myself. It was a lot better than sitting at a table by myself.

Another nice thing to look into is travel groups. A lot of countries have programs or tours set up for solo travelers. So, when you're on the bus to go see the London Eye, you'll have a bunch of strangers that are in the same boat as you. You're already in a new country, try to get out of your comfort zone. Talk to locals, you'll never know who you'll meet.

3. Everything is so expensive.

Traveling is expensive, you probably figured that out the second you paid for that $800 flight. Be prepared for that to be one of the cheaper parts of the trip. Everything will start to pile up on you, from eating out to entertainment to transportation. You can lose track of how much you're actually spending so easy. You are probably used to having your parents pick up the tab, but it's all you this time. You will find yourself looking at how much something costs a lot more than you're used to.

Try to plan as much as you can out. Set a price for restaurants, plan entertainment in advance, find the cheapest way to get around, whether through subway, taxi, or bus. Also, don't be afraid to take a couple days to explore the town you're in. It's free and you can learn a lot from just walking around like you are a local.

Tip: don't go to Denmark for your first solo trip. That country was so expensive I almost fainted. I was broke then, I'm broke now. Try to go somewhere safe, but still affordable. Denmark is by no means affordable.

4. You can do whatever you want to, whenever you want to.

Do you hate hiking, but your mother loves it? Oh no not seafood, but it's your sister's turn to choose what to eat. Another zoo for your little brother?

Traveling alone means making your own itinerary. You choose when you wake up, what you eat, what you do, and how you do it. Everything is up to you. That doesn't mean sleep in until 3 pm, because you'll miss so much. But, it does mean that you don't have to go hiking or eat seafood. You choose.

Whether with your parents or alone, traveling is by far one the best experiences you can possibly have. Get out there and see the world!