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Solo Travel As A Woman

In my younger years I happily traveled alone to many places, including Europe, Asia, and parts of East Africa. The older I got and the more experienced I became with traveling made me realize that the solo life was not for me. I really hated traveling alone!

I know that some people thrive on being alone, reflecting, and soaking up the culture as a single traveler. As a self-proclaimed introvert I can agree with all of these things! But when it comes to travel, I love having someone to travel with.

When I see amazing, weird, or interesting sights, I find it sad when I have no one to share my thoughts with. I remember being in Rome by myself and marveling at all of the amazing museums and history.  Viewing these incredible sights, I realized I had no one I could turn to and share my wonder.

Solo Travel For Women

One of the most difficult things as a woman is to travel alone and not attract unwanted attention. I have friends who would wear a fake wedding band just to keep local men from hitting on them – although it didn’t always work! I find the best way to blend in as a woman is to respect the culture and research what women wear in the countries you are visiting. Especially in more conservative, developing countries, you might find that covering your legs and shoulders is the best way to not attract unwanted attention. See my post on dressing in different cultures for more!

Solo Travel: A Personal Choice!

I’m not advocating that all women need to travel with a partner. Many women find empowerment and strength through traveling on their own, challenging themselves, and making new friends who are happy to help the solo traveler. I do believe this is a very personal choice for every traveler. Over the years, I have met many amazing women who have traveled the world alone. As an introvert, you would think I would love to be alone, but this for me is actually not so!

I am so thankful to have found my husband, Andreas, who shares my love for travel. He is just as eager to explore as I am! I have also made a lot of friends who are quite adventurous, so even if Andreas can’t travel with me I can usually find someone who will. It is also great staying in hostels and meeting new people that you can explore cities with. You never know who you meet that might make a lifelong friend!

Solo Travel: General Advice

Traveling alone, even if you are not a woman, is something you should plan ahead in advance. I do think it is important that someone you know has your itinerary. If something did happen to go wrong, you have someone who knows where you are and can check up on you if needed. Solo trekking or exploring in many parts of the world can be a wonderful experience, but if you don’t check in every so often, your friend who has your itinerary would know that maybe things didn’t go as expected and they can help out.

Skiing in Fiesch, Switzerland

When I travel alone, I always make sure someone has my flight and contact details and a rough idea of where I am staying. I have very good friends who faithfully check up on me when they have not heard from me in a while, and I’m grateful that they are aware! I have actually continued with this system even when I travel with Andreas or others, and make sure that someone I am not traveling with always has my basic itinerary.

Solo Travel: Be Aware

Another thing to be aware of when traveling alone is where you are eating and drinking. If you go out for drinks with some friendly locals, please do not leave your drink or food alone. You may trust your new friends, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

On the steps of the Church of the Holy Sculpture, Jerusalem

If you are alone, always have a backup plan for any situation. I once had a guy in Istanbul ask me to go out for drinks. I arranged for another friend to call me 30 minutes into the meeting. If all was well, I had a “safe word.” If all was not well, I used the phone call as an excuse to get out of the situation. This was in the pre-smart-phone-era! Now, there are apps that can do this work for you if you do not have a friend who can call you. Check out the apps bSafe, Circle of 6, or Watch Over Me, among others.

For the traveler on a budget, it’s tempting to take public transportation home after a late night out. In some situations, you might want to use a more expensive mode of transportation like Uber or a taxi – just to ensure you make it safely home and don’t encounter any bad or uncomfortable situations.

Hiking in Patagonia

Above all else, my best advice for you if you are alone is to carefully assess the situation, be aware of your surroundings, and if something does not feel right – LEAVE. Don’t tell yourself that maybe the situation will get better. Be safe and get out of the situation immediately.

10 Tips for the Solo Traveler or for Traveling Alone

1. Respect the culture around you in your dress and manners (do your research on what is appropriate)
2. Always be aware of your surroundings
3. Don’t wear flashy jewelry or clothes
4. Be polite but firm with unwanted attention (this can vary from country to country)
5. Know the emergency numbers for the country you are visiting (they are not all the same!)
6. Make sure someone you trust knows where you are at all times
7. Never leave your food or drink unattended
8. Always have a backup plan (safety apps, call a friend, know your next steps)
9. Pay for a safer mode of transportation if necessary (Uber, taxi, etc.)
10. If you aren’t sure about a situation then leave (better safe than sorry!)

Go ahead and pin the below picture to save for reference later!

Do you have any stories to share about traveling alone as a woman (or a man!)? Do you prefer to travel alone or with friends? Let me know in the comments below and share your advice!