Solo Female Travel: What to Know
Recently I shared my “Seven Reasons Every Woman (& Man) Should Travel Solo,” in which we take a look at the many wonderful positives of traveling alone. Everything from better flexibility, to self-empowerment and more. And if I didn’t make it clear enough in the first post, let me say again: solo travel is a must. It’s a truly life-changing way of experiencing a little more of the world – and yourself!
But as promised, now I want to provide some tips & considerations for those hoping to embark alone. Because yeah, it’s a lot different than traveling with a partner or group – and in more ways than you might initially expect. But not to fret. Armed with the information below, you will be well on your way to making the unforgettable leap into solo adventure.
Planning:
Whether you’re a planner or not, when it comes to solo travel, having a successful trip all depends on good preparation.
Some ideas to get you started:
Start Small: While a monthlong backpacking trip in Central America or a soul-searching expedition across several continents a la “Eat Pray Love” may sound enticing, if you’re a first-time solo traveler, consider starting small.
Set yourself up for success by sticking to at least one of these ground rules:
Stay within your home country.
Go somewhere you speak the language.
Try someplace you’ve visited previously with others.
Go somewhere you have an acquaintance you can meet one day.
Limit your trip to 3-4 days.
2. Choose Smart: Make sure you’re traveling to a place where it makes sense to travel solo. In certain cultures, for example, it’s not widely acceptable for a woman to be traveling alone.
Tip: Cities may seem intimidating to some, but they are often the easiest and even safest.
3. Research: Generally speaking, I recommend people do a solid amount of research but stop before going overboard before any travels. What I mean is: I think there is a downside of knowing everything before you get there. With the Internet’s availability of photos, detailed reviews & guides, and even virtual tours of places around the world, sometimes prep work runs the risk of stealing our joy of discovery. That said, I tend to recommend doing a little extra research when traveling alone. You’ll have a lot on your plate, so digging into things like public transportation, museum hours, popular sites and even making a reservation or two ahead of time can help simplify. But make sure to still leave plenty of time each day unstructured!
4. Language Prep: Always, always, always learn at least a few key phrases any time you’re traveling somewhere with a foreign-to-you language. It’s a great way to connect, gain respect from locals, show respect, build confidence, and in turn make your travels a whole lot more enjoyable.
5. Share Your Plans: Make someone at home aware of your plans in as much detail as possible along with some times you’ll be checking in.
6. Smart Flights: No matter where you’re headed, I recommend landing early in your final destination. It can feel intimidating to arrive in a foreign city late at night, figuring out public transportation or a taxi under darkness (I know from experience). These days I always make sure I am at least scheduled to land by mid-afternoon, even if it means paying a bit more or having a slightly longer travel day.
Packing:
Two key things to remember: 1) You have no one to help you with your bag(s), and 2) You have no one to impress. So, pack as few non-essentials as possible (yes, I’m referring to outfit changes and unnecessary cosmetics).
I’ll do a full post about this in the future, but as a summary:
General: I prioritize items & styles that can be mix-and-matched to make outfits that feel new, and I always do carry-on only so I never have to worry about a checked bag being lost (learned the hard way). My go-to is two total bags:
A small messenger bag which holds personal items plus my laptop when traveling, then doubles as a purse at the destination
A “travel pack” – a backpack with some characteristics of a standard suitcase for the best of both worlds.
Smarts & Safety: Many places you may find yourself traveling are in fact much safer than most U.S. cities you might call home, so don’t let fear be a major deterrent. That said, petty theft is more of a concern when traveling alone. Why? If for example you get your wallet pick-pocketed and lose your credit card, you don’t have a partner to bail you out. So:
Consider a money belt or another discreet tool to store your essentials.
Bring a second credit card and form of ID (plus photocopies of your ID’s and travel itinerary) and keep those separated from your main wallet. This is your backup plan.
Don’t bring anything extra. Any credit cards or important documents you don’t regularly use? Leave those at home. That way it’s fewer things to deal with if you do find yourself relieved of your wallet.
Having the BEST Time:
This part is easy. As we explored in the previous post, solo travel means you can do what you want, when you want. You get to be your own boss, your own best friend, and you often can experience things more fully too!
A few extra ideas to help you get the most out of your time:
Make some plans ahead of time but be sure to leave plenty of extra space in your day to wander, linger over a meal, or do the thing you didn’t realize you wanted to do until right…now.
Want to try a great restaurant but avoid being out late, spending too much, or being around a bunch of romantic couples? Try going to that fancy spot for lunch and eating somewhere simple near your hotel for dinner.
One of my pet peeves is trying to enjoy a nice meal alone and being interrupted by a well-meaning passerby or waiter trying to keep me company with incessant chatting. Can you relate? (PSA: A woman alone is not a sad thing!) I personally never have the heart to ask to be left alone, so I’ve learned that bringing a book or notebook can give the signal I’m alone intentionally. (P.S. Cell phones seem to be less effective.)
Personal Safety:
I’m an advocate for faith over fear, and my hope is that more and more people find the courage to let their hearts drive their decisions more than their worries do. I’ve outlined tons of reasons why solo travel is awesome and safe. But, we live in a real world with real humans and real issues, so it’s always good to act smart when traveling on your own.
A few tips:
First, know that there’s no shame in having your guard up, even if everything turns out fine. My first time in a cab in Central America, I found it odd that the car I was riding in didn’t display as much “official” taxi credentials as we see in the U.S. So, I got out my phone and mapped the route to make sure we were staying on track. We were. Suddenly the driver pulled over, said something I didn’t catch, and dashed away from the car, leaving his door ajar and the vehicle running. Also odd. My instincts told me to take inventory of the contents of my bag (phone, passport, wallet - a.k.a. everything I needed), and I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt, rolled down the window and unlocked my door: calm, but ready to bolt. What was I thinking? I don’t know, I guess a half-baked notion that it could be some kind of setup where a third party would hop in the driver’s seat and take me God-knows-where. But sure enough, the driver came back a minute later with a sandwich in hand, thanking me profusely for being patient while he grabbed his lunch. My point? There’s almost always not something sinister going on. But, it’s never a bad idea to keep your head on a swivel, so to speak, just in case.
Trust yourself. If something feels off, just walk away.
Book your accommodations in the center of town or a busy area. Because…safety in numbers and in streetlights. Avoid hotels off the beaten path if you’re concerned.
Don’t share your accommodations or plans with strangers you meet while traveling – or with the Internet. I’m always very vague while chatting with folks I meet, and I never post anything on social media until I’ve already left a place.
Know your street safety. Again, traveling alone is very safe. The most common danger (like any travel) is petty theft.
Act confident; pretend like you know where you’re going and you stand out less.
Lastly, remember it’s OK to tell white lie. I’ve been known to innocently drop a phantom “boyfriend on his way” into uncomfortable conversations once or twice. Just be smart about it.
Avoiding Lonesomeness:
As I said in my previous post, traveling alone does not have to be lonely! And while I encourage myself and others to “lean in” to doing things alone, there are plenty of ways to get social when the time feels right.
Here are a few ideas:
Book a Tour: It might sound a little nerdy, but walking tours, food tours, cooking classes and more are great opportunities to learn & experience a place while meeting other (often solo) travelers.
Reach Out: That old friend, friend-of-a-friend, former acquaintance – it may seem like a reach, but more often than not, people love showing off their hometown. Send that text!
Stay in City Center: Feeling safer isn’t the only reason to stay right in the center of town; it’s a great way to feel a social buzz, even if you’re not actually hanging out with anyone. Give it a try!
What do you think? Let me know in the Comments section below!
