As a seasoned solo female traveler, I speak from experience when I say traveling alone is both exhilarating and terrifying. Nothing is more freeing than knowing your bucket list dreams are not tied to the availability of others, but I’d be lying if I said thoughts of safety weren’t invariably in the back of my mind. If you’re wondering if solo vacations are safe for you, the answer is YES! Stay safe and plan the perfect trip with these tips for women traveling alone.
Why Every Female Should Solo travel
You Are In Complete Control of Solo Vacations
Whether you are traveling with friends or family, everybody has their own agenda that may not align with yours. In order for everyone to have an enjoyable trip, you may pass on some of your bucket list items to accommodate what others prefer. Solo vacations give you complete control to do whatever you want whenever you want.
Traveling Alone Builds Confidence
Knowing you can rely on yourself in unfamiliar places gives you confidence that you can rely on yourself for anything, anywhere. I’ve made a lot of embarrassing and naive mistakes while traveling by myself, and I’ve lived to tell the tale. With each new obstacle, you learn something new about yourself and the world, making each new day easier to navigate than the last.
Solo Travel Opens Up More Travel Opportunities
Gone is the excuse “I wish I could, but I couldn’t find anyone to do it with me”. If you don’t need to coordinate schedules and budgets with others, you may be able to travel more often. Not only that, but you can plan unique trips your friends aren’t interested in. Rather than dragging my husband to museums and history tours he won’t enjoy, I plan a solo trip to those places and plan trips we can both enjoy together.
There are no unwanted opinions when you are traveling by yourself
Have you ever enjoyed an experience only to have someone else’s complaining ruin it? You can’t unsee the flaws they point out and can’t help but feel the same way, or maybe their negativity alone ruins the experience. When solo traveling, you don’t have that problem; the experience is yours, uninfluenced by the opinion of others.
Traveling By Yourself Is a Break From the Chaos
You are not a terrible mom, wife, friend, or daughter if you want to travel alone; solo travel is self-care. Everyone deserves to make ourselves a priority, and we all deserve a break. Stepping away to prioritize your needs gives you the strength to be the superhero your friends and family need you to be, so don’t let anyone convince you that traveling alone is not fair to those you leave behind.
SAFE SOLO TRAVEL TIPS FOR WOMEN
Change your Perspective on Solo Traveling
Somehow we’ve gotten the idea that women who travel alone won’t be safe, but why? Walking alone in our home cities is a common occurrence; you don’t need an escort to at home to run errands, why would you need one in a new city? Sure, some areas are unsafe, but research areas to avoid ahead of time. Putting off solo travel because it might be risky is silly and hinders your travel opportunities. Go on girl, travel like no one is watching.
Research Safe Places To Travel Alone
You never know what kind of events are in town filling up available rooms, and I’ve seen hotels with no vacancies turn away guests without reservations. It’s stressful trying to locate a place to stay when space is limited, you waste time, and you could wind up stuck somewhere that’s not safe. Research and reserve a place to stay ahead of time to avoid the hassle.
Trust Your Instincts
When traveling alone as a woman, trust your gut; if it doesn’t feel safe, then leave. It doesn’t matter if you are right, just do what feels best to you.
Stay in a Hostel
If you are the type who enjoys the company of others, consider staying in a hostel. Communal areas in hostels are designed to encourage interaction between guests and some hostels host daily group outings or parties, which is a great way to make friends with other solo travelers. Not all hostels host events, so check the reviews and research the hostel’s website.
Book a hostel at Hostelworld.com. Not a sponsored link, just a great resource.
Stay Engaged with Your Environment
Avoid looking at maps or guide books that make you stand out as a tourist.
Join a Guided Travel Group
If you are still unsure about taking a solo trip and don’t have anyone to join you, try group travel. Not just a guided tour of one site, but the whole trip. Group travel is a great way to travel by yourself, but never be alone, and it comes with the bonus of not having to worry about any logistics.
Common Solo Trip Mistakes to Avoid
Don’t Get Solo Travel Anxiety
All this advice on how to stay safe when traveling alone may start to make you feel like you should feel unsafe when you didn’t before. That fear can
Bring Cash
Don’t be afraid of your own Company
“But don’t you get bored being by yourself for too long?” If you’re the type to get bored on your own, then keep busy with things to do, plan out the next day in the evenings, eat meals on the go instead of sitting in a restaurant, and find guided tours. If you stay focused on doing activities it will be harder to get bored of your own thoughts. You can always start small with a long weekend trip until you feel more comfortable on your own.
Best Solo Vacations
Best Places To Travel Alone In The U.S.
Feeling safe is important, interesting things to do is even more important! I’m not going to leave home to explore the backyard of an Airbnb because I’m afraid to leave the front door. Here are six of my favorite cities that are safe and full of amazing attractions.
Portland, Oregon
This big city is perfect for a hybrid vacation of city life and outdoor adventures.
Page, Arizona
Arizona Vortexes are perfect hiking alone and taking epic travel pictures. Antelope Canyon or Horseshoe Bend. Or take a day trip to the Grand Canyon and Sedona.
Washington, DC
The perfect place to travel alone and save money! You could spend a week in the country’s capital without spending a dime on attractions with the amount of cheap things to do in Washington, D.C.
Asheville, north Carolina
Amazing fall foliage, the Great Smoky Mountains, and local eats makes Asheville great for adventurous women.
Salt Lake City, Utah
With 5 national parks in the state, Salt Lake City is great for adventurous women who love hiking alone
Charleston, South Carolina
It will be easy to stay busy at Charleston’s many beaches, festivals, and American history museums.
Safest Solo Female Travel Destinations Around the World
Japan
Japan caters to solo travelers with cheap capsule hotels.
Iceland
The crime rate is low and everyone speaks English.
Chile
National parks offer tour guides for hiking so you don’t have to worry about the dangers of hiking alone.
Spain
Wear conservative clothing in this catholic country and you will fit in just fine!
Germany
Germany isn’t as prone to pickpockets or tourist scams, also public bathrooms are easier to find.
Italy
Gelato, coffee, and pizza until the heart’s content.
