gottacaseofwanderlust

Why I Solo Travel:

I am often met with surprise when I tell others that I’m traveling somewhere alone. 

Eyebrows raise, and I am either met with a, “Wow that’s brave of you,” or “That’s cool, but I’m too scared to travel solo.”   

In response, I nod because their reactions are valid — but it’s hard to take credit for bravery when traveling solo has never daunted me. 

I’ve always been fiercely independent — I hate depending on others to make plans and show up. 

There is nothing worse than planning a trip with a friend who backs out at the last minute.

At the end of the day, the only person we can depend on is ourselves. 

Learning to travel solo grants us total freedom to travel anywhere at any time without needing anyone else.

Moving freely as you choose is such a gift when traveling solo because how often in our day-to-day lives do we get to base all of our decisions just on what WE want?

Solo travel also offers us the unique opportunity to connect more deeply with ourselves.  

Of course, it can be incredibly challenging to sit with your own thoughts.

I can definitely feel lonely if I’m alone for too long.

But this is part of the self-exploration journey. It is a great opportunity to reflect on questions like:

• Why are you uncomfortable with certain parts of yourself? How can you understand it better?

• How much time can you spend alone before feeling lonely? Do you wish it could be longer?
• What is the perfect balance between solitude and socialization for you?

Solo traveling helps to open up not just to yourself but also to the world. 

When you’re alone, you explore with heightened awareness and receptiveness to novelty. 

I engage with a destination much differently when I’m alone versus with company.

I find I’m more in tune with the environment itself rather than focusing on the person I’m with.

Furthermore, traveling solo means saying “yes” to people or experiences you probably wouldn’t have if you were with a friend. 

A lot of my best travel memories have only happened because I was alone. 

Like being a street performer in Alghero, exploring Mexico City with a barista, or hitching a ride with strangers to a volcano in Hawaii.

You are more likely to want to approach people to hang out, and others are more likely to approach you if you’re alone.  

Ultimately, I would encourage anyone to try a solo trip at least once, if only for a few days. 

It might not be for you, and that’s okay…

but it might just be something you fall in love with.

You never know until you try!

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How to Enjoy a Solo Trip:

1. Be open-minded 

Serendipity is around every corner when you’re alone because you’re simply more perceptive of your environment versus when you’re with someone. 

You never know what things you’ll see, who you’ll meet, or where a place will take you if you’re willing and open to new experiences. 

2. Stay in a hostel

I’ve said it many times before and I’ll continue to say it: hostels are the best places to stay for solo travelers. 

Not only are they often the cheapest option, but they make it easier to make new friends.  

Traveling solo doesn’t mean you’re alone — good hostels have tours, common areas, and online group chats where you can connect with other travelers much more easily than if you were in a hotel or Airbnb. 

Check out my guide to finding the best hostel here. 

Most of my favorite travel experiences have been because I stayed in a hostel and met amazing people. 

3. Wander around 

Don’t we all want the freedom to go wherever we want whenever we want? 

As a solo traveler, you have complete liberation to move at your own pace. 

You can linger longer in places you like, and leave the second somewhere else calls. 

I love spending the first day in a new city simply walking around without a planned itinerary. 

Soaking up all the new sensations of a place is best spent solo. 

4. Bring a journal or book 

While people-watching can be enjoyable, sometimes, you need a break from watching the world. 

Carrying around a journal or a book can help in moments of potential boredom. 

For example, I never feel awkward dining solo in a restaurant if I have my journal to write in. 

It’s a great time to reflect on everything you’re seeing and doing. 

Reading a book at your table is also a good way to not feel awkward sitting alone. 

5. Listen to your body… but also say “yes” more often 

Part of the beauty of traveling solo is not having the pressure to do things you don’t feel like doing. 

If you’re not feeling the vibe, listen to your intuition. You’re allowed to say “no” — and no, that doesn’t make you rude.  

BUT if you don’t feel that your safety and health are at risk, I recommend saying “yes” to spontaneous experiences. 

More often than not, they’ll result in good memories and even friendships. 

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Safety Advice as a Solo Female Traveler:

I want to preface this by saying I think we place too much stigma around solo female travel. 

I believe a woman can go wherever a man can. 

I’m not denying that women may have to take extra precautions or may experience things that men don’t — but if a man can travel somewhere alone, so can a woman.

The sad reality is that although there may be different degrees of how they manifest, patriarchy and sexism exist no matter where in the world a woman travels. 

Catcalling, getting approached by men, and living under the male gaze are constants at home and in foreign countries. 

The key determination then, when deciding which destinations are “safe for solo female travelers”, is based on the individual’s level of comfort with discomfort. 

For example, I am comfortable being uncomfortable if I get catcalled on the street. 

I am not saying I like to get catcalled — I think it’s completely objectifying and inappropriate — but it is something I have gotten used to, and therefore does not faze me much when I travel.  

However, if you are not used to catcalling, then traveling to places where catcalling is more acceptable may not feel “safe” for you. 

Ultimately, safety is subjective. 

Nevertheless, there are ways to be more proactive in the face of potentially unsafe situations. A lot of it comes down to common sense and listening to your intuition, but it’s always good to review safety guidelines.  

Here are some practices to protect your safety as a solo female traveler: 

1. Walk with the crowds

This is the number one rule I follow when traveling solo. Make an effort to always be walking on crowded streets, rather than empty ones — ESPECIALLY at night. 

People with bad intentions are probably not going to act in the presence of other witnesses. 

I always try to walk near at least a few other people if I’m alone so I can have extra assurance that there is potential help nearby. 

2. Be conscious of your surroundings 

 This is obvious advice, but it is so easy to forget. 

Try to remain alert to who’s around you when exploring. 

Every so often, look behind you when walking. 

Don’t be glued to your phone screen. 

Change paths if someone makes you feel uncomfortable. 

I’m not saying you should be paranoid and hypervigilant, as I encourage you to enjoy the moment as much as possible — but when you’re alone, your guard should always be up. 

3. Blend in when you can, and act like you know what you’re doing if you can’t

As someone who stands at five feet, I usually default to the former when I travel solo. 

I walk to avoid drawing attention. It also helps to not show too much skin and avoid eye contact with other people (especially men). 

In some destinations, this can be harder to do. In these cases, walking purposefully and swiftly helps to avoid looking like a lost tourist. 

Try to avoid navigating while staring down at your phone the whole time, because this definitely indicates that you do not know where you’re going.  

People with bad intentions look for those who look like easy targets. Don’t look like an easy target. 

4. Be smart with your belongings 

Carry as little valuables as you can when you’re out and about. This means no flashy jewelry (or anything that looks like it could be expensive), no precious family heirlooms, and no personal identification cards like your passport. If you have these things in your possession, leave them somewhere safe at your accommodation. 

Don’t carry large sums of cash and don’t carry all your cash in the same place. Store some in one pocket, and some in another. 

Buy and use a slash-proof, anti-theft crossbody bag, if possible. 

I bring my Travelon bag with me everywhere. 

Keep your belongings on you at all times.

But if you tend to lose things, I highly recommend buying an item tracker like a Tile tracker or Apple AirTag. 

5. Learn to say “no” 

This is something I’m working on. 

If a person or situation makes you uncomfortable, say “no” and walk away. 

As a lifelong people-pleaser, I find it easier to sit with my discomfort rather than make another person feel uncomfortable by rejecting them. 

But at the end of the day, you do not owe anyone anything. 

You are allowed to say “no” and assert your boundaries. 

Protecting your safety does not make you “rude.”

Walking away from uncomfortable situations is not “selfish.”

Respectable men will honor your “no.”

Do not trust men who disregard your “no” by trying to persuade you further, guilt-trip you, gaslight you, or insult you because you are claiming your right to honor your needs.  

Let’s kindly dismantle our conditioning as women to always be “nice and polite.”

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That concludes my guide to solo female travel. 

Solo travel is and will forever be one of my biggest passions and I hope to inspire others to try at least once. 

If you have any comments or questions related to this article, I am happy to connect with you if you reach out via the comments section or my social media linked below. 

Here’s to fearless wandering and endless self-discovery! 

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