A lot of women like traveling, yes, but the idea of going on a solo trip can be so daunting that sometimes they don’t do it at all.
I agree that traveling by yourself can be scary. There are a lot of issues to consider. For those who have decided to go once and for all, they are again faced with another challenge: how to plan for a solo trip?
If you’re going on your first solo trip soon (or even your 100th!), check out the following tips from other solo female travelers . You will definitely find them helpful!
How to Begin Planning Your Solo Travel
What’s the first thing to do when planning your solo trip? Learn more about the place you’re going to, of course. Get out your world map and look at where exactly it is in relation to your own location.
Most solo travelers also check out travel blogs when planning their trip. Blogs are narratives of people who have experienced the place you’re going to, so you will definitely get impressions and advice that’s timely and personal. For some travelers, however, nothing can replace travel guides (check out the latest guides here via Amazon).
Whatever method you’re going to use to learn more about your destination, make sure to take note of:
Safety issues
What are the experiences of other solo female travelers there? Do they find it easy to go around by themselves? What does the culture dictate regarding appropriate clothing and behavior? (Read: 5 Safety Tips for Women Traveling Solo)
Weather
What’s the weather going to be like when you arrive? Will it be sunny? rainy? or snowing? It has major implications when it comes to packing the appropriate clothes. You wouldn’t want to pack shorts when you’ll be arriving at -10 deg Celsius weather!
Season
Summer is always the favorite of travelers. Who wouldn’t love strolling around in the sun? Unfortunately, it can also be the most expensive, too.
Because of my focus on budget, I prefer to be a contrarian traveler (getting more out of your travel experiences for less). Try going to places at a time when it’s usually not popular, and you’ll see. I went to Santorini months before tourists were expected, and I had the best time of my life!
Challenges in Solo Travel
One challenge: no one to take pics of you so you take pics of others!
Budget
When traveling solo, you will certainly face a lot of issues, so better consider them already while in the planning stage. Budget, for example, is my biggest concern. When you’re alone, you won’t have anyone to share that room with, no one to split the transportation costs, no one to share that delicious dish for two.
Solution: For accommodation, check out Couchsurfing (CS) or other hospitality networking sites. I have had a lot of friends from all over the world because of CS, not to mention huge savings, too, especially during my 70-day solo backpacking trip in Europe. You can also stay in hostels, where aside from cheap beds, you will also meet a lot of solo travelers who may be looking for travel buddies to split expenses with.
Safety
This is one of the major concerns of solo female travelers, and with good reason, too. Women traveling by themselves are sometimes seen as “fair game,” depending on the country they’re visiting.
Solution: Read up A LOT on the experiences of solo female travelers on the place you’re visiting. What are the best practices that travelers follow there? As much as possible as well, connect with others when you arrive, either in the hostel or through CS. Practice common sense as well; don’t drink too much. (Read: Of Eve Teasing and Solo Travel in India)
Loneliness
Loneliness is part and parcel of long-term solo travel.
Yes, traveling by yourself can be lonely sometimes. You don’t have someone to share those special moments with, like how breathtaking Angkor Wat looked at sunrise, or how the sight of Taj Mahal almost took your breath away.
Solution: Again, stay in hostels. Strike up a conversation with other solo travelers, and you can then go around with them. You may have left home alone, but you will definitely meet a lot of people along the way! You can also use homestays, if you want to see how locals go about their daily life. Another alternative is to book a group tour for every city you go to. There may be a free walking tour in the area, so do some research beforehand.
No time for extended travel due to work
Most people have 9-5 jobs with limited number of vacation leaves a year.
Solution: Be a weekend warrior! It’s not necessary to be on the road for weeks and months to whet your appetite for traveling. Even a weekend can be satisfying enough if you plan well.
Being overwhelmed by too many things to do in too little time
A lot of solo female travelers expressed this challenge as well; there are so many things to do in so little time!
Solution: Have a list of places to see or things to do before you get there, and prioritize them so that you don’t get overwhelmed. However, remember to have a little flexibility in your itinerary. After all, one of the best things about being a solo traveler is that you can change your schedule on a whim.
Tips for First-Time Solo Travelers
When you have experienced going on a trip on your own, without waiting for others to dictate where you go and what you want to do, you will realize how heady solo travel can be!
Here are some tips:
Since you are SOLO make sure you are doing things that YOU want to do! There is no one else you have to please! –@RTWkatiedays
[Solo travel is] not as hard as it seems. Scary to book, but easy to plan and travel. Conquer the hard part and chase your dreams! [Also] Don’t fall into the must-do trap. I’m trying not to waste time on attractions I know I won’t care about even if popular. –@newgirlintheairDo what you want, and plan as much as you want to, don’t care what others say. Jump straight in and enjoy every minute [of it.] –@gallivantgirl
Be smart, but also be open. Strangers are not all dangerous, and new experiences can change your life. And have FUN! –@DangerousBiz
Don’t be afraid, you will meet people, and you will be changed forever. Trust your gut and enjoy the ride! [Also], prepare to have an open mind and be willing to adapt. Be aware…but don’t let things intimidate you. –@kbwanderlust
Don’t let solo travel intimidate you! Might be overwhelming at first, but pros outweigh cons and it’s so rewarding! –@WLTravelerJen
Baby steps. If traveling alone is scary, just take it slowly. Also, no need to spread yourself thin to see it all. –@packmeto
Trust your instincts and you’re going to be fine. The world is far friendlier than you could ever imagine. –@bitesizedtravel
Trust your instincts. It’s okay and normal to be/feel overwhelmed, but if a situation/place scares you, get somewhere safe! –@JoannaTravels
Instinct is great. but purely emotional – not so much. Smart solo travelers use [both] intellect and instinct. [Remember as well to] arrive with a list things to do at each destination so you don’t feel “lost” or overwhelmed. –@4Luxury_Travel
Make sure [your] trips are about genuine experiences and not just things to cross off [your] bucket list. –@wanderingiphone
Do not over pack! –@TeaForTeri
Many thanks to those who participated in the Twitter chat about solo travel planning: kbwanderlust, gallivantgirl, newgirlintheair, mellyboo, RTWkatiedays, apwong, zorica_l, packmeto, turnipseeds, travelgogirl, global_goebel, bitesizedtravel, TeaForTeri, wanderingiphone, DangerousBiz, girlatplay, cilkroad, Uh_Oh_Janellio, JoannaTravels, wtfmorringhan, ihavethewanders, WLTravelerJen, 4Luxury_Travel, DawnCorleone, chelbycat, Travel2HongKong, the_W_ilocana, and cynicdesign. Safe travels, all of you!
Do you find these tips helpful? Anything you can add to help other solo female travelers plan their own trips?
Aleah Taboclaon is a location independent writer, editor, and the travel blogger behind Solitary Wanderer. She's partial to slow travel, and prefers extreme adventures like hiking and caving over sightseeing. She likes running (completed one marathon, training for the next!), diving (PADI open water diver), and traveling with her Kindle. Follow her on Instagram and Pinterest!
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23 Comments. Leave new
Really loving your blog. Great tips, I would love to do a solo trip to Vietnam and Thailand next year.
Thanks a lot for sharing. Really glad to see that women dare to travel on their own.
BTW, I’m a 23 years old guy & still worried to travel alone.
Funny! Huh!
I must inform you that I’m grateful to you, for being a source of confidence.
Best wishes 🙂
Hi Aleah, great tips. I hope this will encourage women who are hesitant to travel solo. I know that armed with good planning, sense of adventure and a lot of common sense, traveling solo is an empowering experience.
hello 🙂 i want to be a solo traveler.. but my problem is.. wala akong taga picture.. paano po yun?
monopods which you can attach to your camera or cellphone are the in thing nowadays and they are very cheap,
This is also a concern of mine. How to take nice photos since I do not like taking selfies…? 😛 I hope I can travel solo this year.
Nice tips and beautiful photos. You have one pic taken at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. We only dropped by for few minutes to take a pic at the gate only. Enjoy your travels.
Great tips which I could also learn from. Can’t agree enough on hostel stays, the social atmosphere is just so convivial for meeting others when traveling alone. That’s exactly how I ended up meeting a girl who also wanted to see this striking sunset on Easter Island.
hi aleah, i noticed the picture above taken in kolkata,how did you get to agra from kalkota.or did you take a different route?i wanna go to india but i think the cheapest way is to fly into india from malaysia via airasia but they dont have flights to new delhi.
Good post, Aleah!
I really wish CS would work for me but I’ve not had much luck on it. I know on profiles we all have to start with zero reviews and support, but man, it’s hard to launch if you don’t have those things. I’ve tried a handful of couches and either no response or not able to host. In that sense, it’s a lot of wasted time on email. Any tips for couchsurfers who can’t never seem to find a host?
There are many older solo female travellers on the road downunder in Australia staying in campgrounds and caravan parks. It can be daunting, especially in more remote areas, but introducing yourself to other campers, joining in communal activities and travelling in tandem with others heading the same way can overcome some of the issues.
Great round up of the ideas shared during the chat. Thanks for the quote too!
I think the important thing for a solo traveller is not where u go, but what options are available.
I *really* recommend going on a trip with Exodus or Explore, etc. They are excellent and a great way to meet other people. I have been on the Atlas Descent Bike Trip in Morocco, Lake Garda Mountain Biking, Sea Kayaking in Greece and the wonderful Multi-Activity in Turkey. HOnestly, they are wonderful.
If u decide to go fully solo, my main tips would be go to Eastern Europe (for great value and things to do) and then…
#1. Email yourself a scan of your passport in case your lose it.
#2. Also text yourself your passport number, expiry date & place of issue. It makes it SO much easier to check-in at a hotel than scrabbling around for ur passport.
#3. Make a simple list of currency conversions FROM local currency BACK TO your currency. Put it in your wallet for easy access (e.g. 100 Rials = 1.32 dollars **NOT** 1 dollar = 0.174 Rials, etc). Also stick another copy into back of your Lonely Planet for even easier access.
#4. Memorise 5 key phrases in the local language “Excuse me”, “Hello”, “Goodbye”, “Thanks”, “Thank you very much”. That’s all you’ll really need.
#5. Carry your valuables in a simple plastic bag or cotton bag. No one ever thinks anything in a plastic bag is valuable. Don’t carry a day backpack. Yes, they are comfy but they SHOUT “I am a tourist!”.
#6. Triple check every time your get on a bus/train that it is going to your destination. First ask the driver, then ask a fellow passenger, then ask another passenger.
#7. Carry your smartphone with you and join websites like Travlbuddy, Wandermates.com and VivTrav to help meet other people (like me http://www.wandermates.com/profileview.php?profileuserid=6 🙂 None of them are perfect, but they are useful.
#8. Stay in hostels, they are THE BEST place to meet other travelers.
#9. If there are no hostels, go on 1 or 2 day activity outings, e.g. diving, climbing, canyoning, etc. They are another great way to meet people.
very well said. i think this covers most of the challenges that solo traveling can present. you have given great tips.
i have never tried it and will probably not attempt to do it, but it’s just personal preference.
Thanks for sharing these tips… i do hope to be a solo (female) traveller soon and will be needing all this advice. 🙂
neither of us have ever done extended solo travel. thanks for making it a little less scary!
Safety is the main concern for me when traveling solo. I largely depends on where you travel. Great tips!
I actually read through your #WeGoloSolo conversations on Twitter, and I was truly engaged. 🙂 But I haven’t tried going on a solo trip yet (due to a very traumatic experience in life). But hopefully, I get to break off from my fears someday.
After the issues in the press with women last winter, we interviewed some solo travelers about keeping safe on the road. I’m sorry I didn’t know you at the time. There’s some great advice here!
This is great! I was on the twitter chat but because I was at work I missed some of the better tips, thanks for putting them into a neatly organized and concise space!
Safe travels!