Solo female travel can be a daunting thought at first. The idea of being somewhere new, the fear of the unknown, the thought of being lonely, and the ultimate burning question of whether solo travel as a woman is safe. The short answer to that question is yes, it’s safe, but like with anything, there are precautions you need to put in place, and for the other questions you have, let’s find out if it’s just a myth or if it is the truth.

Why Do Women Travel Solo?

With so many questions surrounding safety and loneliness regarding female solo travel, you’re probably wondering why you should even solo travel, right?

The top 5 reasons I believe many women choose to solo travel is because:

They are tired of waiting for others to make travel plans.
They are looking for a liberating experience.
They want to embark on a journey of self-discovery.
They crave the freedom to travel the way they want.
They travel for a purpose.

At first, I decided to travel solo because I was tired of making travel plans with friends and watching them fall through. However, once I took the plunge and went on my first solo trip, I realised not only did all my dream trips come to fruition, I also discovered a lot about myself and realised how capable I was, and how liberated it made me feel. I now constantly crave the freedom of planning my own adventures, discovering more about the world and myself and continue to have liberating experiences.

Traveling solo has unlocked some of my best life experiences, and I believe every woman should experience solo travel once in their lifetime.

If you are still hesitating about booking your ticket then lets take a look deeper at some female solo travel myths that is holding you back.

Female SoloTravel Myths

Myth 1 # You will be Lonely

Travelling solo does not mean you have to be alone all the time. Many people think that when you solo travel, you will be alone 247. But that couldn’t be further away from the truth. Solo travel makes you more open to meeting new people, whether it be locals or other tourists. You will meet many like-minded people along the way and connect with locals hearing their interesting life stories.

If you want to travel but do not want to do it totally alone, there are many travel options available. You could book with a tour company and go on an organised tour with other solo travellers. I will link a few companies at the end.

Other options could be to join a travel buddy group on Facebook. Facebook groups like Girls That Travel are great for finding like-minded people to travel with. You can choose whether you want a buddy for the full trip, part of the trip, or just a buddy to go for dinner and drinks or a day trip. It is down to you.

When I travelled to Egypt, I used the Female Travel Buddies group to find a buddy for a 3-day Nile Cruise to share a room to cut costs. We just exchanged details, asked the tour company if we could pay via two separate pay links. My buddy was from New York and I am from England. We met in Egypt for our cruise. I ended up spending 6 days out of the 10 days with my Travel buddy while I was in Egypt, meeting up on other occasions. For my second solo trip to India I also used the girls that travel group met up with a girl from Kentucky, USA in India.

Another option is to stay in hostels to meet like-minded people or book a one or two-day private or group tour. I will list some of the benefits of this below.

Stay at a Hostel

Staying in a hostel will be budget-friendly and allow you to meet like-minded individuals like yourself. They also host evening social events and daytime activities, providing you with the opportunity to mingle with others.

Book Day Tours

I have booked myself onto day group and private tours on my travels. Both are great in there own right. I have put the pros and cons below.

Private Tours

Private tours give you the freedom to tailor-make your tour. You also have a free personal photographer as it’s just you for your guide to photograph. You can also be flexible with your schedule; the tour can start and finish when you decide. The downside to private tours is the price. They cost more, and if you like to do activities with others, the guide only sometimes comes with you. They may leave you to do the activity or explore on your own.

Group Tours

Group tours bring down the costs of the activities you want to do while providing an environment to meet other travellers.

However, sometimes group tours can feel rushed as you are kept on a schedule. Also if the tour is related to any major archaeological sites the tour buses and groups all arrive simultaneously at the site causing overcrowding. If that does not bother you then its fine, but bare it in mind when booking major tourists sites. Depending on the site, you may prefer to visit it at a quieter time.

With all that said great group tours for any time of day is free walking tours, food tours, group cooking classes and boat trips.

My preferred travel style is to travel alone without a tour company and book private and group tours while in the country. This gives me the most freedom to travel however I want but allows me to engage with people on my journey.

Myth 2 # People Will Judge Me If I Dine Alone

“What do you do for food? Don’t you feel funny dining alone?” The answer is no. I do not feel funny dining alone. I don’t know why people get so hung up on the idea of it. Nobody in the restaurant will care that you are sitting alone, and neither should you. Plus, you will always meet others at your accommodation or out and about to dine with you. I meet other guests at my hotel all the time and have dinner with them, and times I am alone I still enjoy it. If there is a particular restaurant you want to eat at, eat there. Use the time to really enjoy the cuisine and reflect back on your day. Sometimes I even use this time to make a video call back home to friends and family.

Dine With Others at a Cooking Class

Cooking classes are a great way to spend the evening. You will have the chance to brush up on your culinary skills, cook with others, sit together, and enjoy the meal you prepared. So, if you fancy a little company one evening and want a unique experience, book a group cooking class. I promise you will not regret it.

Myth 3 # Its Not Safe to Travel Alone

I can confidently say, girl, go book your ticket! Bad things can happen anywhere in the world. You just need to plan, take suitable precautions, and put the proper measures in place to make your trip more enjoyable.

Having travelled to various countries solo, including India, Egypt, Italy, Spain, France, Jordan, Japan, and Belgium, I have learned along the way and compiled some basic safety travel tips all solo travellers should know.

Be slow to trust.
Refrain from parting with too much information at first. Wait to make it known to others you are traveling alone. Not everyone needs to know.

Use common sense.
It may sound silly, but sometimes you can get swept up in a place and forget to use your common sense.

Only take drinks you have seen be poured.
I made the mistake of taking a drink from someone I had never seen be poured in a club in Japan, and I got spiked. It’s also important not to get intoxicated to the point that you do not know what is happening.

Don’t go too far off the beaten track alone.
Going off the beaten track can be a fantastic adventure, but do not go off alone. Take someone with you, a guide, or go with a group of people you may have met at your hostel or hotel. I booked a private guide to take me on a two day hike off the beaten track in Petra and it was amazing.

Be careful at night
If you are walking around at night, ensure people are around where you are. I will not tell you not to go out the late evening or at night, as I have walked around late evening and night in all the countries I have visited alone. You should get the feel of your location first and ensure that many people are walking around on the streets and keep to the main roads. I would also apply different rules to different countries and follow what the local women do in that country.

Have your money in multiple places.
Do not pull all your money out at once or carry it all with you. I put my money in different compartments in my bag and keep small notes together for tips and small purchases to avoid pulling out large amounts of cash. This especially applies in Middle Eastern and African countries.

Let your friends and family know your itinerary.
It’s essential to have at least one person back home know your itinerary, where you will be staying, and the contact details in case anything happens. Check-in with people daily so they know you are safe.

Buy a Local sim card.
Buying a local sim card at the airport can save you high phone bill fees and give you 24hr access to local calls and the internet. This is great because you can call your hotel, tour guides, taxis, and any other services or people you need to contact while in the country. It also gives your data so you can access google maps to get around. Its great for connecting back home with friends and family via what’s app calls, Snapchat, Skype, or Facebook calls.

Carry a Battery pack. You must always carry a battery pack in case you lose charge of your phone in an emergency. It is also vital if you are relying on your phone for Google Maps.

Know where your embassy is.
An embassy is a base for a country’s diplomatic mission abroad. They can help you if you lose your passport while abroad and other severe issues if they were to arise on your travels.

Dress appropriately to avoid unwanted attention.
I have travelled solo to middle eastern countries where it is customary to cover up. Countries like India, Jordan, and Egypt have strict religious rules, and it is not customary to wear revealing clothes. Shorts and tank tops may be acceptable in Thailand and Europe, but in many Muslim cultures covering shoulders and legs and sometimes your head in particular areas are expected. It is important to do your research beforehand.

Myth 4 # Don't Talk to Strangers

I know people say not to talk to strangers, but when you are over 18, this does not apply. I have had some amazing conversations around the world and met some fantastic people, both local and tourists who will be travel friends for life. Be open to making conversation with people but keep your wits up, of course. Do not overshare too quickly or give details of your accommodation or full itinerary. If you met them in your accommodation, that is different as you are staying in the same place, but the people you meet out and about, just be slow to trust and use your female intuition if someone does not feel right just move on.

Myth 5 # You Need to Speak a Foreign Language

The last myth is that people think is you must know the language to visit the country solo. This is not the case. Lucky for me and probably you, English is widely spoken worldwide. So essential communication is possible between you and the locals. However, I suggest you learn a few key phrases for the country you are visiting. It shows a little respect to the locals, and believe me when I say learning keywords like please, thank you, toilet, hello, and goodbye go a really long way.

There are also many apps you can use for speech and word translation if needed, and using google maps on your phone to navigate your way around is a lifesaver.

Now The Truth

The truth about solo travel is you will be nervous at first about the unknown. It’s natural to feel that way, even for me and its not my first rodeo. However, you should refrain from making your nerves or what you hear about a country decide whether or not you should go. If I had listened to the media or other people, I would not have gone to India or Egypt, but they were incredible destinations, and I never felt unsafe due to the precautions I took. Every solo trip I have taken I have loved and felt so enriched.

You must make your own decisions and form your own opinions of countries. Of course, there are some countries you have to take extra care in, but you should still go. If it is your first solo trip, then start small. Go on a long weekend break to see how you find things. Refrain from overwhelming yourself. Take advice from women who have been to the country before. Read blogs and watch YouTube videos to manage your expectations before you go.

Traveling solo is an incredibly liberating experience every woman should experience at least once in their lifetime. It’s enriching and eye-opening, and I know you will have fun. You just need to plan, research, and take the right precautions regarding your safety.

There is so much in this world to see, and you should not hold yourself back from it out of fear. I don’t know about you, but I would rather say, “I’m glad I did,” Instead of “I wish I had”

If you liked this content, and want more solo travel hints and tips please follow me on socials and comment below.

When you have booked your travel ticket, whether this is your first solo trip or not, I want you to type in the comment box, “I’m glad I did,” I would love to hear about your experiences once you’re back.

Facebook Groups

Female Travel Buddies Group Designed to find a travel buddy, Just post where and when

Girls That Travel Group Designed to find a Travel Buddy Just post where and when

Black Women Travel Solo Group For Travel Buddies as well as a travel agent offering group tours for Black Women

Tour Companies

The Adventure People– Great for adventure holidays. I have booked a 4 day group Tour for the Inca Trail in Peru

We Road Travel Adventure and off the beaten path travel

Soul Sync Discoveries – I have not used this company but their tours look amazing and I am booking one with them soon

https://www.wanderingbel.com/guest-blog/5-benefits-of-travelling-in-your-30s

5 Solo Female Travel Myths & The Truth

Why Do Women Travel Solo?

Female SoloTravel Myths