Solo female travel is becoming increasingly popular—and for good reason. Traveling alone is a rewarding experience that can provide unique opportunities for personal growth.
However, the idea of traveling alone as a woman can be intimidating. Whether it’s safety concerns or worries that you’ll feel lonely, you may have certain reservations preventing you from booking a solo trip. Although these are valid concerns, you shouldn’t let them hold you back from embarking on an amazing adventure.
Whether it’s your first time traveling alone or you already have a few solo trips under your belt, read on to discover 36 tips for traveling alone as a woman to prepare for your next adventure.
1. Research the Best Solo Travel Destinations
If you’re a beginner solo traveler, it’s important to choose your first few destinations wisely since some places are better for solo female travelers than others. To start, consider choosing a top vacation spot since these areas cater to travelers. They are typically easy to navigate and offer increased safety measures. Plus, you’re likely to meet and interact with other travelers.
Cruises are another excellent option to ease into your first solo trip. With organized social events and plenty of things to do on a cruise, you won’t get bored. Plus, they include meals and entertainment, which means fewer things to worry about.
2. Set Your Intentions
Before you embark on your trip, think about what you want to get out of your time solo traveling. Then, make plans to ensure you get the experience you're hoping for. For example, if your intention is to experience new adventures, plan an activity to do during your trip or sign up for an excursion. Other intentions you may consider include self-discovery, mindfulness, creativity or connection.
3. Take a Walking Tour To Get Acquainted With the Area
On your first day, begin your trip with a walking tour to get the lay of the land. During the tour, your guide will point out popular landmarks and hidden gems while sharing stories about the destination’s history. Many tour companies offer cheap or even free walking tours—just remember to tip your guide!
4. Share Your Itinerary With Trusted Family or Friends
Before embarking on your journey, create an itinerary and ensure you share all the details with a trusted friend or family member. Include information such as your flight details, the address of your accommodation and contact information for anyone you’re planning to meet up with on your trip. Keep in touch with your trusted person and inform them if any of your plans change.
5. Keep an Open Mind
While an itinerary is helpful, it’s also important to leave room for spontaneity. Give yourself the freedom to meet new people and shift your plans as needed. You may be surprised by what you can experience when you’re not ticking landmarks off a list.
6. Blend In With Locals
When packing clothing, research what locals in the place you're visiting tend to wear. Blending in can help you avoid standing out as a tourist.
This is especially important in countries with cultural or legal dress codes. For example, in many Middle Eastern countries, it’s respectful for women to cover their shoulders and legs. You might also consider bringing a shawl if you plan to tour churches in Europe.
7. Get Travel Insurance
There are many reasons to buy travel insurance before embarking on your trip. With travel insurance, you can be compensated in the event that you have to cancel the trip due to unforeseen events such as illness, natural disaster or the loss of a family member. Utilize AAA’s partnership with Allianz Travel for domestic and international travel protection.
8. Only Pack What You Need
Limiting luggage will make traveling much easier, especially by yourself. Pack light, and consider bringing basics to mix and match with different outfits. You’ll also want to leave some room in your suitcase for souvenirs to bring back home!
Here are a few must-have travel survival tools to add to your packing list:
- Sunglasses
- Ear plugs
- Snacks
- Portable charger
- Travel adapter
- Portable door lock
- Safety alarm
- Reusable water bottle
- Anti-theft purse or fanny pack
9. Trust Your Gut
When solo traveling it’s important to trust your gut. Pay attention to your instincts and if your gut is telling you something is wrong, remove yourself from the situation ASAP.
10. Arrive in the Daytime
Schedule your flight so you arrive in the morning. Arriving while it’s light out will make navigating from the airport to your accommodation much easier and safer.
11. Track Your Luggage
Consider putting a tracker on your luggage in case it gets lost during transit. Plus, you’ll have peace of mind when you see that your luggage has successfully made it on the plane.
12. Check Ratings and Reviews
Before booking an accommodation or tour, make sure to read the reviews. These reviews can provide additional insight into safety, noise and customer service.
13. Learn Key Phrases
If you’re traveling to a country where you don’t know the native language, try to learn a few words before your trip. Examples of key phrases you should learn beforehand include:
- Hello
- Excuse Me
- I need help
- Do you speak (language)?
- Yes
- No
- Where is the bathroom?
Also, make sure to download a translator app like Google Translate in case you have difficulties communicating with someone.
14. Meet New People
Solo travel doesn’t have to mean that you spend the entire trip alone. Go out of your way to spark conversation with locals or fellow travelers. Common places to meet other travelers include group tours and hostels.
15. Keep Up With Current Events
When traveling alone, do your best to keep up with the local news. This can help you stay informed about any potential safety concerns during your trip.
16. Pack a First Aid Kit
Pack a small first aid kit to bring with you on your trip. Include necessities like a thermometer, bandaids, aloe vera gel, pain medicine, Benadryl and alcohol wipes. Even though you hopefully won’t need it, you’ll be glad you have it in a pinch!
17. Be Aware of Common Scams
Certain destinations have common scams people use to target visitors. Do your research so that you’re well-prepared and can avoid being an easy target.
18. Don’t Get Too Absorbed in Your Phone
When traveling, you’ll most likely be using your phone to navigate. And while this can be very helpful for solo travelers, it can also be easy to get so absorbed in your phone that you’re unaware of what is happening around you. Not to mention, looking distracted can make you a target for pickpocketing or other scams.
One trick is to enable the voice navigation feature on your maps app and listen to the directions in one headphone instead of staring down at your phone.
19. Explore Sunrise to Sunset
Exploring in daylight is always safer than doing so at night, especially in unfamiliar areas. When traveling alone as a woman, aim to hit the ground running as soon as the sun comes up to maximize your time in daylight.
20. Keep Your Bag Close in Crowds
Pickpocketing is very common in certain countries, so it’s important to be cautious, especially when exploring popular tourist areas. Consider getting a crossbody bag, which is great for travel since you can wear it in multiple ways. Plus, they typically have adjustable straps that allow you to shorten the strap while it’s on you. When encountering crowds, shorten your strap and wear it on your chest instead of your side.
21. Bring a Book to Dinner
If you’re nervous about feeling lonely when dining alone, consider bringing a book to meals as a form of entertainment. This will help give you something to do while waiting for your meal.
22. Take Pictures
Remember to document your journey so you can share it with others back home. Consider getting a selfie stick or tripod before your trip so you don’t have to rely on others to take your picture.
23. Review the Weather Forecast
Check the weather forecast before and throughout your trip. That way, you can dress appropriately and bring an umbrella if needed. Plus, you may want to alter your plans or head back to your hotel room early in the event of severe weather.
24. Get Recommendations From Locals
Seeking out recommendations from locals can help enrich your experience. Whether you're looking to find the best restaurant in town or explore a hidden gem, locals can provide invaluable advice.
25. Set Aside Time For R&R
Traveling can be exhausting, especially when you’re solo. Make sure to set aside time to recharge so you don’t experience travel burnout.
26. Book a Group Activity
If you’re worried about spending so much time alone, consider booking a group activity in advance. Whether it's a group tour or a local cooking class, interacting with others can help you avoid feelings of loneliness.
27. Maintain a Slow Pace
While you may want to pack as many destinations and activities into your trip, a slower pace can allow you to fully immerse yourself in each place you travel to. Plus, not having to rush from place to place will help you feel more relaxed and at ease.
28. Store Your Valuables in a Safe
Whether you're staying at a hotel, rental property or hostel, store your money, credit cards, jewelry and travel documents in a safe. Consider bringing a portable safe with you on your trip in case your accommodation doesn’t have one.
29. Learn How To Use Local Public Transportation
Before embarking on your trip, familiarize yourself with the public transportation so you’re comfortable navigating around the place you're visiting. Take a look at what routes you may take to landmarks on your itinerary.
30. Know When To Lie
While most people strive to be honest during their day-to-day lives, you may encounter situations where lying is necessary for safety.
For example, if a stranger asks if you’re alone and telling them the truth could compromise your safety, you could tell them that you’re meeting up with friends and they’re expecting to see you soon. Remember that honesty isn’t always the best policy where your safety is concerned.
31. Bring Protection When Exploring Off the Beaten Path
If you’re planning to explore nature or go hiking alone during your travels, research what potential hazards or wildlife you may encounter to ensure you bring along the necessary protection. For example, if you want to hike around Yellowstone National Park, you’ll need to bring bear spray.
Plus, you might consider bringing additional personal protection, such as pepper spray or a pocket knife. Research the laws in the country you’re visiting to ensure these items are legal to carry.
32. Share Your Location
Consider sharing your iPhone location with friends or family while you’re traveling. Apps like “Life 360” or the “Find My Friends” feature on your phone allow your friends to track your movements, which can be helpful in the event of an emergency or simply for peace of mind.
33. Bring a Portable Charger
When traveling alone, you’ll be using your phone for the internet, connecting with people back home and navigating around the area. Therefore, ensuring your phone stays charged throughout your journey is important. Consider packing a portable power bank for on-the-go charging.
34. Have Access to Maps
If you lose signal or internet connectivity, you should still be able to navigate your way around. Consider bringing a paper map or downloading an offline map on your phone.
35. Write in a Journal
Writing in a journal while solo traveling can help you document memories and reflect on your experiences. Plus, it gives you something to do during downtime.
36. Start Small
When it comes to solo traveling, it’s best to start small and work your way up. Consider first solo traveling to a nearby destination or even going to a spa resort to practice spending time on your own. For example, if you live in Boston, you could take a solo day trip to Salem and work your way up to further destinations.
AAA Travel can help you have the best solo trip experience. Our experienced agents can help you book a trip that is perfect for traveling alone as a woman. Plus, you can use your AAA membership for exclusive discounts on hotels and rental cars.