Solo Travel Tips for Women: SoloTravelia

Introduction

Solo Travel Tips for Women: Exploring the world as a solo female traveler really can be one of the most rewarding experiences. 

It is about finding yourself, growing and empowering you, with the bonus of deciding your own speed and path along those elements. 

Yet traveling solo presents its own set of obstacles that call for some planning, mindfulness, and self-assurance. 

So this is my guide to travelling solo as a woman, with what I hope are some realistic and practical tips based on experience from me or from the many experienced women who have shared their insight with me.

So whether you are taking a quick little trip to a city next door or traveling across the pond, here is the full guide of best solo travel tips for women so that every single trip can become an adventure.

Key Research Tips

Look for travel blogs: Blogs from solo female traveler are often great resources of which places tend to be safe, local scams and pitfalls to watch for as well as culturally appropriate behaviours.

Look Up Travel Advisories: Most countries regularly publish travel advisories that contain information regarding safety, health warnings and emergency contact numbers.

Participate in Travel Forums: Websites such as TripAdvisor or specific groups for female travelers on Facebook provide you with real-time advice and recommendations. 

Which can come in handy when looking for a particular piece of information.

This type of research can help you have a more engaging experience while allowing you to best prepare for any cultural challenges.

Be Careful with Your Accommodation

Solo Travel Tips for Women: The accommodation is a decisive factor in the comfort of an experience when traveling alone. 

Many out of the solo female travelers but will opt straight hotels, while others might adhere to anything like hostels, guest houses or perhaps short-term rentals. 

Whatever you decide, just make sure to be safe and think about how the accommodation matches your travel approach.

Choosing Your Accommodation: The Tips

Pay attention to reviews: Online platforms such as Airbnb, Booking. Websites like booking.com, and Hostelworld have peer reviewed guest reviews—they can impart useful information about where a property is relative to safety, cleanliness and location.

Check location: Book your stay in secure, well-lit neighbourhoods that are within close distance of main attractions or places from where you can get transportation.

Choose female-only dorms: If you are staying at a hostel, most have female-only dorms available to ensure a more comfortable and safer space.

Look to stay with female hosts: If you are using Air bnb, there is an option to look for female only hosts which could be a little more reassuring

As one example, this individual female traveler indicated she felt more secure when selecting a small boutique hotel/guest house versus a large scale chain location due to the attention and community from the local family who owned the guest house.

Pack Light and Smart

Solo Travel Tips for Women: One of the most important skills that a solo traveller should have is to pack as efficiently as possible. 

The more you travel, the less you get stuck with lots of stuff to carry because it makes you less mobile and flexible to adapt at new places.

For solo female travelers, the key is to find a packing balance between comfort, practicality and safety.

Essential Packing Tips

Bring multi-functional clothing: Choose pieces that can be worn in different scenarios (home and the office). Clothes can stay practical and understated with neutral colours and layers.

Carry a cross body bag: Cross body bags are more challenging to snatch and keep your belongings near. But there are others that have an anti-theft feature as well, such as locking zippers or even cut-proof straps.

Essentials to bring: First-aid kit (incl. pain medicine), extra charge bank, reusable water bottle and personal hygiene items.

Do not take an unnecessary burden with you: Bring only as much as you can carry by yourself on long walks. 

If you venture out by bus or on foot for a long stretch, be sure that you possess an easily manageable rucksack, knapsack, or rolling bag.

Light packing allows you to travel with confidence, reduces anxiety in packing mode for a trip and also gives you the equipment needed to move around safely as well as enjoy your trip.

Implement Basic Strategies to Maintain Safety

For solo female travelers, safety is of utmost importance. Of course, there are no guarantees in life and you will never be able to completely eliminate the risks.

But if you follow these few simple and sensible safety tips you will notice a huge difference. 

Most female travelers recommend being aware of your surroundings, following your gut feeling and having established personal boundaries.

Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

Solo Travel Tips for WomenDon’t Wear Lots of Jewelry: Flashy jewelry, things like expensive gadgets and a lot od cash in hand can attract unwarranted attention.

Learn some basic local phrases: A couple of words like help or I am lost in the local language is indispensable when something goes wrong.

Consult discreet maps: Avoid tourist-attracting clear physical maps and lookup directions through your phone instead.

Tell someone your itinerary: Always inform a relative or friend at home of your travel and location plans. Your location can also be tracked by those in your inner circle with apps like Find My Friends.

One traveler said she posted her itinerary on social media, and checked in regularly with family, which offered both her and hers peace of mind.

Connect with fellow travelers and locals

Solo travel is not the same as travelling all alone on all occasions. Most of the solo female travelers come to have friends on the road. 

Either fellow travelers or locals. Beyond enhancing your experience, it can also bring an additional layer of security.

Tips for Making Connections

Choose social accommodation: Choose hostels, guesthouses and co-living spaces that will help you meet like-minded travelers. 

Most provide common spaces and activities where students can socialise.

Take group tours or classes: Joining local tours, a cooking class, or hiking groups will provide some means of getting to know others and experiencing the culture.

Some travel apps: Apps like this feature for joining group activities, staying (or giving) hospitality and others like Couchsurfing or Meetup.

Interact with locals in a polite way: Getting to know some of the locals can be really helpful as it helps you get to learn more about your surrounding area and makes you feel at home.

Case in point: A solo female traveler who took a cooking class in Thailand met locals and other travelers who became her friends for the remainder of her stay.

Follow Your Gut and Create Boundaries

Traveling alone, you need to trust your instincts. If something seems off, you should in fact follow your gut. Women talk about boundary setting and creating personal space as a must-have while traveling alone.

Setting Boundaries: If someone is making you uncomfortable, don´t hesitate to politely but graciously finish the conversation or leave.

You aren’t required to divulge personal details: You are under no obligation to tell anyone your entire travel itinerary, where you are staying or anything else.

Get an out: Know the exits, know appear they come in handy or where you serve to be safe.

In Practice include a personal story about how one solo traveler turned down drink offers from strangers at a local bar and still enjoyed herself (backed up by the safety of friends, etc).

How to Use Technology for Navigation and Safety

When traveling by yourself you should always use hashtags to hustle, as technology is your best friend. 

If you have the right apps and devices, navigating, staying connected with friends, and calling for help are always close at hand.

Apps You Need to Have for Traveling Alone as a Woman

Solo Travel Tips for Women: Google Maps: not just for finding your way around town, or places to eat, but also directions.

Whatsapp or Messenger: To have a chat regularly with your family, friends and also locals or other travellers.

Google Translator: Assists with the language barrier by translating text or speech in real time.

Uber or Grab: If the public transport does not feel safe, these rideshare apps can be used to provide safer transportation options.

These apps help keep solo travel safer and more convenient, while also keeping you connected in any corner of the world you wander to.

Eating Alone & Group Activities

Sure, dining solo does seem daunting at first but for most of the solo travelers, it soon becomes a pleasurable experience that helps them feel empowered on the road. 

Tips for Dining Solo

Select communal seating restaurants: Most of the cafes and restaurants have huge tables where more than one or two people can dine at a time together if you wish to be accompanied.

Have a little something to read: A book or journal makes solo dining less awkward (and more entertaining).

Sample regional cuisine: Take advantage of the chance to try new food – it can make eating alone a unique cultural experience.

One was for a solo traveler in Italy who spoke about how tall he had enjoyed going to local pizzerias all of her own thus far, with the waitstaff usually eager to speak with her regarding traditional pizzeria dishes and the area culture generally, making them personal cultural experiences.