Women Who Travel Solo: Advice from the Experts
- Madlyn McAuliffe
- Mar 14, 2019
- 12 min read
Ever dreamed of traveling the world with nothing but your camera and carry-on? Solo travel, especially for women, can be empowering, but it’s natural to have safety, budgetary, or other concerns.
But you're in luck! We’ve asked some of our favorite solo female travel bloggers our most burning questions about exploring the globe by themselves, and they’re happy to share their wisdom!
Gabby of 'Packs Light'
What do you like best about solo travel?
I like the independence (read: opportunity to be selfish). I don't have to compromise on what to see, do, or eat on my trip. I can wake up and see the sunrise or sleep 'til noon. The autonomy of not having to compromise on a single thing about my trip is so liberating, and something I think women especially can benefit from experiencing!
What has been your most memorable solo trip? Definitely my trip to the Republic of Georgia, a country that I knew virtually nothing about. I went on a whim at 5:00 AM on a Thursday morning from Dubai. It's a trip that taught me to continue to trust my gut because it was an absolutely amazing. A safe, very affordable, and unique [cultural experience] that I was so happy I took a chance on.
What’s an item you never travel solo without? My phone (duh). As for a travel item: definitely my packing cubes. They make organizing and finding my bits and pieces so effortless.
What factors (if any) do you take into account while traveling by yourself that you wouldn’t if traveling with others? Does my Airbnb have a doorman? How close am I to the American embassy? Is my Airbnb host a woman? Simple things like that matter to a[...] woman traveling solo.
What has been your greatest challenge when traveling alone? Hmmmm... I would say I don't have many challenges. I don't mind language barriers, I don't really get lonely, and I don't get homesick. Perhaps safety. I can never truly be 100 percent off my guard when traveling solo.
How do you deal with safety concerns? I ask locals a lot of questions before I travel places. Request blog posts. I make a few connections so I know I can call someone local if needed. I sign up for the STEP program if I'm going somewhere truly hairy. Never get too drunk/intoxicated when solo. Sometimes I check pepper spray just to carry around locally (never have had to use it though). Otherwise, I keep my wits about me, don't let my guard down, and RELAX. Globally, most people are inherently good, and are willing to help you and do the right thing! I've never had an issue traveling solo.
What’s the single most important thing a gal traveling solo should know? Have fun! You'll be fine. People are good. Life is short. You'll never know if you like it or are good at it until you DO IT!
Experienced solo female traveler Gabby Beckford is the founder of Packs Light, a millennial-focused travel blog where she creates unique resources to empower young people to see the world and “change what they see as ‘possible’” in regards to budget, ability, and opportunity. Find Gabby and Packs Light on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
Renuka of 'Voyager for Life'
What do you like best about solo travel? My freedom. My own perspective towards the place and the idea of exploring it.
What has been your most memorable solo trip? Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Kashmir. These experiences enriched me as a traveler and as an individual.
What’s an item you never travel solo without? My hiking shoes and my camera.
What factors (if any) do you take into account while traveling by yourself that you wouldn’t if traveling with others? The place should be interesting and suitable for solo travel. For instance, people of that place should be OK with a woman traveling alone.
What has been your greatest challenge when traveling alone? There's nobody to take my pictures! Well, on a serious note, I miss home if I fall sick. I had to come back from Leh after two days, as I fell sick badly and was all alone. Had I been with somebody, I would have stayed.
How do you deal with safety concerns? I follow my instinct. I take care of myself. I don't do anything that would attract attention. To be honest, I don't think solo travel is unsafe per se. You can be [harassed] even when you are with your male partner. You just need to be careful wherever you are — be it around your home or anywhere in the world.
What’s the single most important thing a gal traveling solo should know? She shouldn't know anything! She should just know her mind. She should be confident [in] what she's doing and be normal about it.
Writer, photographer, and travel consultant Renuka Walter is dedicated to encouraging and inspiring others to travel as often as possible for them. Renuka shares her incredible solo travel experiences and helpful how-tos on her blog Voyager for Life, which was named one of the Top Solo Woman Travel Blogs of 2018 by HelloTravel and among the Top 100 Solo Travel Blogs to Follow in 2018 by FeedSpot.com. Find Renuka and Voyager for Life on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Briona of 'You Me Lunch & Travel'
What do you like best about solo travel? I really enjoy the freedom that solo travel brings. It wasn't until I went on my first solo trip to Sperlonga, Italy, that I realized I'd never truly been alone, ever. It was a short but impactful trip, and it changed the way I viewed solo travel. Now I'll hop on a plane by myself without hesitation.
What has been your most memorable solo trip? I just got back home from a week-long adventure in the Philippines, and it has been my most memorable (and longest) solo trip thus far. It was a birthday trip that I'd been planning for a while and it was so crazy to finally be there. My great, great grandfather was Filipino, but I'm the first person in my family to visit the country. I've been dying to get there since I was a kid, and to finally make it happen was really a dream come true. It's a great country to travel as a solo woman.
What’s an item you never travel solo without? A battery pack. I have way too many devices not to travel without a battery pack, and having one makes me feel more "safe" knowing that my phone will always be charged if I end up in any emergency situations.
What factors (if any) do you take into account while traveling by yourself that you wouldn’t if traveling with others? When I'm traveling alone, I have to consider things like traveling during the day and joining group trips or tours. As a solo traveler, I always try to land in a city while it's still daytime so that I can navigate this new place (and possibly get lost) without having to constantly look over my shoulder. Whereas when I'm traveling with friends, I feel like there's strength in numbers, so traveling at night doesn't worry me as much. Also, if I'm traveling alone, I typically join more group trips and tours so I can meet other travelers ,which isn't always necessary when I travel with my friends.
What has been your greatest challenge when traveling alone? My greatest challenge while traveling alone has been stepping out of my comfort zone in order to meet other people. I can be somewhat of an introvert, but not having my travel buddies there forces me to find new ways to socialize with new people. I am still reserved but am finding more ways to be comfortable sparking up conversation with people I don't know. This newfound openness has lead me towards making friends all over the world.
How do you deal with safety concerns? I deal with [safety concerns] the same way that I do at home — by staying vigilant, always. Whether I'm in London (where I currently live) or halfway across the world in southeast Asia, I am always aware of my surroundings, especially in public places. I am observant of people in the room I'm in and how they're interacting with me. I make it a fact to always check in with myself to make sure that I feel safe, and if I don't I remove myself from the situation.
I grew up with a military dad, so it's been instilled in me from [childhood] to stay mindful and observant, and to be ready for anything at all times. It's always comforting for me to know that my iPhone location is shared with my sister at all times so she can know where I am. When I was in the Philippines scuba diving, she texted me asking why it looked like I was in water. (Lol!) She was scared that I lost my phone or that I was lost at sea. It made me feel safe knowing she was making sure that I was OK.
What’s the single most important thing a gal traveling solo should know?
Any solo traveling gal should know that a woman who travels on her own can literally do anything. It's the most empowering feeling and some of your best ideas, breakthroughs, and other magical experiences will happen during your solo travels. Nothing will make you feel more strong or independent than a solo trip.
Briona Lamback of You Me Lunch & Travel, is a travel and food writer who lets her love of culture and human connection guide her around the world. Currently, she's an expat living and working in London. She's the founder of boutique travel planning company, You Me Travel Co., through which she helps black millennials see the world. Find Briona on Instagram, and You Me Travel Co. on Instagram and Facebook.
Annette of 'From Annette with Love' & 'Fat Girls Traveling'
What do you like best about solo travel?
One of the best things about solo travel is that you can do ANYTHING you want. You can see all the tourist destinations one day, then Netflix and recoup followed by a day of museum hopping. Or you can spend everyday at the beach or pool. You don’t have to consider what anyone else wants to do, wants to see, or where they want to go, and that is one the most freeing feeling ever!
What has been your most memorable solo trip?
I’ve been traveling to Thailand for about four years consecutively and always solo. Those trips are incredible. But I’d say the most memorable right now was my recent trip to Bali. I did a Workaway, which means that I volunteered in exchange for accommodation.
I was extremely nervous before I went because, truth be told, I’m a control freak. I’ve never been in a situation where if things aren’t going the way I’d hoped, planned, or anticipated, I didn’t have the option of leaving. Obviously, I could leave if things got really bad, but I’d made a three-week agreement.
The first week was HARD! Call your mama crying hard! But I got through it. I really connected with my host and my co-volunteers. Then we started traveling together, connecting on deeper levels besides volunteering, and now we’re still extremely close. I message or speak to them once a week.
The thing is, when you travel solo you are a little vulnerable. But it allows you to meet people and make connections without having [your] guard up. Sometimes the friendship you build in two weeks of travel feels just as strong as friendships you’ve had for years because when you are traveling, you generally have more time to get to know people. You’re not juggling work, errands, or a partner. You’re just immersed in the situation with very few distractions, which leads to more authentic friendships.
What’s an item you never travel solo without?
I’m a digital nomad— I have to bring my laptop so that I can work. But on a practical level, I always bring my luggage scale. Cause ain’t nobody got time for extra baggage fees!
What factors (if any) do you take into account while traveling by yourself that you wouldn’t if traveling with others?
I’d say the biggest one is accommodation. If you’re traveling with a friend, splitting a hotel room can be really affordable. But when you’re solo, you have to be a little more conscious of your budget. I usually stay in hostels. But when I’m solo traveling, I do my homework and read the reviews. Asia and Europe have great hostels with prices so affordable that you can pay for a private room and still spend less than you would at a hotel.
As far as reviews, I’d definitely suggest checking Agoda. You can sort the reviews to only see those of other solo travelers, so you’ll know right away if it’s a good option for you.
What has been your greatest challenge when traveling alone?
I’d say the greatest challenge is making friends — which is why hostels are perfect. Travel is really all about the experiences, and when you can share experiences with someone else, it makes it a little more special. However, it’s even better to share those new experiences with new friends and then meet up in a different country to reminisce.
How do you deal with safety concerns?
I generally feel very safe. I always research if there are any religious laws or cultural norms I need to keep in mind. For example, going to a Muslim country and [not] wearing booty shorts and a crop tank[...] because it’s disrespectful of the culture and a really quick way to potentially draw negative attention and energy to you.
However, even with all of that in consideration, I have been verbally assaulted, groped, grabbed, and propositioned [while traveling]. It felt like shit. But, unfortunately, it’s a reality of being a woman. These things don’t happen often, but I’d be doing a disservice by not mentioning it.
What’s the single most important thing a gal traveling solo should know?
The single most important thing to know is that you’ll never regret the chances you did take. Sometimes things don’t work out as planned, [so] you have to just go with the flow. But if there is something that you really want to do but feel like you’re holding yourself back for one reason or another, just know [that...] even if you fall on your face, you learned something. But if you never try, you’ll always wonder. I say WANDER instead of wonder!
Digital nomad, writer, and stylist Annette Richmond created her plus-size fashion and travel blog From Annette with Love to share her experiences and address the lack of diversity and body inclusivity in the travel and fashion industries. Annette also founded Fat Girls Traveling, which now is part of the blog Fat Girls Guide, to promote body positivity and spotlight influential voices in plus-size travel, fashion, and more. Find Annette on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Flora of 'Flora the Explorer'
What do you like best about solo travel? I really like the freedom that solo travel brings. I'm able to spend my time doing whatever takes my fancy at that moment, and I don't have to worry about what my potential companions want or need to do.
What has been your most memorable solo trip? I spent eighteen months traveling South America, and was theoretically solo throughout that time. Of course, it's hard to quantify what being a 'solo' traveller really looks like — I was volunteering on various projects in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia throughout that time and forged firm friendships as a result — but I'd still describe the trip itself as a solo one!
What’s an item you never travel solo without?
There's plenty of things I wouldn't travel solo without! The first which comes to mind is a notebook and pen, but that's due to my incessant need to write everything down! I guess my phone is now a necessity when traveling solo. Also, having a good padlock never goes amiss!
What factors (if any) do you take into account while traveling by yourself that you wouldn’t if traveling with others? I'm definitely more aware of how to keep myself safe when I travel solo, as I'm the only person responsible for my safety. In the evenings, spontaneous nights out with people you've just met can often happen: still, I watch the amount I drink and I always make sure I've checked a map/Google for how to get home at the end of a night. I make sure I have enough local currency in my wallet to pay for a taxi if necessary (and I'll have saved taxi numbers into my phone beforehand). For communicating with locals, I write out a little list of useful phrases in the local language which, in a pinch, I can show/point to (as sometimes it's hard to pronounce words in a language you're not familiar with!).
What has been your greatest challenge when traveling alone? I often feel quite self-conscious when traveling alone, so I guess getting over the feeling that people are watching/judging me when I'm wandering through a tourist site solo, or eating alone in restaurants with a book. The upside is that I really like my own space, so as long as I feel comfortable in a scenario (e.g., when I've got a good book on the go), I'm pretty happy.
How do you deal with safety concerns?
In most situations, I trust my gut, and get out before things take a bad turn. I've lost count of how many times I've turned away from walking down a street which is a bit too dark or too quiet, moved tables in a restaurant when someone is staring at me a bit too much, or approached a friendly family when a stranger won't stop talking to me. One of my failsafes is to look for a woman with a child — they're usually always happy to speak to a foreign female traveler if they look at all in distress!
What’s the single most important thing a gal traveling solo should know? That traveling the world by yourself is not as scary as people seem to make out! Most of the time it involves using your common sense, just like you would in your own familiar neighborhood back home. If you feel confident enough to travel solo around your home city, there's no difference traveling any other place in the world.
Flora Baker is the intrepid voice behind Flora the Explorer, where she writes about travel, life, and the people she’s met around the world. Flora is passionate about sharing her stories and experiences with a community of people who have come together to connect over their love of adventure and writing. Find Flora and Flora the Explorer on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
**Editor's note: answers have been edited for clarity.
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