6 Tips for Solo Women Travelers

“Ooooo you are brave” is perhaps the number one reaction I get when people discover I wander the planet as a go-it-alone female. Strange, I don't think of myself as brave – in fact I'm pretty sure I'm not. All sorts of things scare me.....even cows for goodness sake. 

The second most common reaction is a question - “don't you get scared?” closely followed by "don't you get lonely?” The answer to both is 'yes, of course – sometimes' but ask anyone in the whole world those questions and they would probably answer the same, no matter what their lifestyle. Besides, I have strategies in place for dealing with both.

Solo travel wasn't something I chose for myself initially – it was rather foisted on me. For 8 years my almost constant world wanderings were with my long term partner Chris by my side. When we separated my travel addiction had firmly taken hold so my choice was to continue solo or not at all. The latter was inconceivable for me so in 2011 I boarded a plane for Thailand. I was terrified. 

Several years on.....it's hard to remember quite what I was so terrified of. My reward has been too-many-to-count encounters with some incredibly colourful characters, a plethora of heart-stoppingly spectacular sights, a handful of dreams come true and several items ticked off the bucket list.

Taking the Lonely out of Travelling Alone

Despite the common myth that solo travel is one endless round of having fun and meeting people the truth is that real life isn't like that and neither is travelling alone. Every solo traveller will tell you there are times when you get a little lonely......and so will just about every human being on the planet.

The bottom line is there are heaps of solo travellers out there, the majority of them women in my experience, and the beautiful chance encounters which arise from going it alone are interspersed with periods of well......going it alone. Personally, I think it's worth it and then some.

To increase my chances of meeting up with like-minded souls I always stay in hostels with lots of communal areas and I book myself on group tours occasionally. If I want only my own company – and sometimes I do - I stay in a hotel. I also couch surf – this gives me instant companionship, THE best insight into a country's culture combined with THE best tour guides going – the locals.

I also do lots of voluntary work – something which has introduced me to some of the most precious people currently in my life.

Staying Safe as a Female

Having been a female all my life I am already familiar with having to exercise common sense where my safety is concerned. I apply the same premise whether I am walking the streets of an English city or in the back of beyond in Asia. I don't wander alone in isolated, unlit areas after dark wherever I am. I am careful but in no way do I let ungrounded fears and paranoia take over.

1. Do your homework - when travelling there are specific cultural differences which can add to female vulnerability. For example – did you know that wandering around in rural Thailand in a sleeveless t-shirt labels you instantly as an immoral women? No, neither did I before I went so now I always take some time to find out any country-specific cultural differences before I go including what is considered appropriate dress. This one isn't just about staying safe either – for me it's about respect for the people of a country in which I am a guest.

2.  Arriving after dark – hardly rocket science but if I know I will be arriving after dark – often unavoidable - at some unknown destination I make sure I have accommodation booked and know how I will get there.

3. Ask the girls – get chatting with some other female travellers for any destination specific hazards. At the risk of firing up a gender-related debate, don't bother asking the guys! Understandably, they are often very unaware of what situations present challenges to females.

4. Trusting your instincts – call it what you like but sometimes I just know and often female intuition can be the best weapon I've got. If something inside me is loudly shouting 'something's not right here' I've learned to listen and get the hell out.

5.  Avoid the tired – when you travel as one of a couple or a group you can pick up the slack for each other but travelling solo means each and every one of your decisions comes down to you. I tend to make ill-judged decisions when I'm tired so if I'm not firing on all cylinders I allow myself rest and recovery time before I travel on to my next destination.

6.  Travel insurance – I scrimp and cut corners in just about every area of my travel budget until it comes to travel insurance. I always make sure that should the worst happen – and it has – I have comprehensive and high quality insurance which will truly help me take care of things at the time I need it most.

Travelling solo as a female is of course very different from travelling with a big burly man by my side and people occasionally ask me which I prefer. That one takes me all of 1 second to answer – solo is the way to go!

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