Solo Female Travel: The Complete Guide!

If you are a lady who is planning to go on a solo trip, then don’t think twice, it could be one of the best decision you made in life so far. The whole idea of solo female travel, was a scary thing a few years ago, unlike men, women had to think about their safety which was also the reason why most people backed out of the idea. Today when the internet has everything connected, solo female travel is not a hollow dream anymore- it’s possible and enjoyable too. 

The Complete Solo Female Travel Guide

Travelling solo can do a lot for you, it can be intimidating as it takes you out of your comfort zone but it can be great to boost your personality.  Before packing your bags and stepping out, there are few things you could consider to make the journey and true experience for life. Feeling nervous and self-conscious is normal. Here is my complete Solo travelling guide for women.

Beating Travel Anxiety!

The word travelling solo might be intimidating but if you want to get over the anxiety and fear, all you have to do is realise that you are technically not alone. With the internet, you are connected 24/7 with your family and friends (unless of course, you are travelling to some remote and red-flagged area). You could also join various solo female travel groups and forums on social media networks (1).

Pre-plan

Planning ahead can help you feel more in control of your trip. Especially when you travel alone, doing online research, booking your rooms in advance and finding the best places to visit can make you feel confident and more organised. Also if you can plan and write down an itiniary then it would make a huge difference. 

Planning ahead can certainly be helpful when planning to travel alone. But make sure you don’t freak out if things don’t go according to your plan.

Keep a small travel book 

It’s always better to go to a place by studying in advance the basic information. Carry a small notepad with all the local emergency numbers of the place you are going to visit written in advance. Also, make sure you gave the numbers of the hotel and other places where you would be spending the night.  This will make sure you are ready for any trouble in advance. This will also once again help in keeping the travel anxiety at bay. 

Know your comfort level

When you plan to travel around the world it is important to know what you are comfortable doing and what you are not going to be. Doing something that troubles or scare you can ruin your entire trip. When you travel to a new place there could be stuff that is daring and tempting if you think you can do it go ahead, but if it intimidates you stay out. 

Don’t panic when things don’t go your way

Just like every other aspect of our life things don’t always have to go according to the plan. When you travel, your flight, train, weather etc can be unreliable. At situations like that try to remail calm. Keep the phone as well as your route map handy. Keep a clear head and try to come up with an alternative solution. It’s also good to have a backup plan B pre-planned.

Plan your pickups and drop

Prebook cab for pick up from various points that you want to travel. Trust me guys, planning proper pick-up and drop can get rid of most of the anxiety and nervousness.

Stop trying to be a control freak!

Come to terms with your self that you can’t always control your surrounds and the weather, to work your way. Let go and make the most of the situation you have at hand. 

Keep connected

This I think is one of the most important and best ways to feel no so alone on the journey. Even though you are on the move keep connected with your family and friends(2). Share your day’s experience. This will not only clam them down but will also help in calming yourself down. 

Find The Best Solo Female Travel Destinations

Picking the right destination is one of the most important aspects of planning to travel alone. If you have never travelled far pick the easiest and the safest places for solo female travellers first. Here is a list of some of the best countries you can start off your solo travelling experience from.

Here are some of the best solo female travel destinations 

If you are a beginner and this is your very first solo travel then I think the best country to start off with would be(3)…

Switzerland: Not only is the country breathtakingly beautiful but also one of the easiest place to travel and find your way around. The people are fascinating as well as friendly. Also if you want to take things up a bit, do visit the alps it’s a combination of beauty, peace and adventure.

Iceland: Stunning as well as safe. The people here are very welcoming and proud keeps of their tradition and culture. I could say Iceland is also one of the best places to make good friends.

Denmark: No wonder this place is known as the happiest place on earth. A beautiful place with warm and amazing people with lots to explore.

If you love adventure and some exploring, then Croatia (land of games of thrones), Bosnia and Croatia, Costa Rica, India, Peru, etc.are some of the places that you need to check out.

If you are looking to travel to a place where you can commonly meet a lot of solo travellers then I suggest visiting-Bali, Singapore or Thailand. These are some of the solo traveller’s hub where you can meet and make friends. 

List Of Solo Travel Essentials For Women

Most of the time when we travel we tend to pack half of the house but end up using the only 1/4th of it. But when travelling solo it’s best to travel light. A super-heavy backpack and luggage would cause trouble all along the journey. 

One of the best ways to avoid overstuffing your travel bag is to:

• Make a checklist.
• Pack dress (basics) so that you can mix and match. 
• Pack a good pair of trekking shoes, a comfortable shoe and a basic sandal. If you are going to a place when it’s snowing then maybe a good pair of boots.

Here is solo female travel tip: always make sure you choose your essentials depending on the kind of place you are planning to travel to.

Pick the right kind of bag

Choose a bag that’s compact but has a large storage capacity. A basic suitcase backpack, a sling bag would do the job. The more stuff you carry the more you have to haul them along.

Way to pack cloths and also stay trendy

Choose some of your best pair of jeans and shorts. Carry some comfortable tops. And if you are going to a cool place maybe some sweaters or a good jacket that goes with all your dress. Make sure that whatever you pack go will all the other dresses. For example, a basic black and white t-shirts, more yellows, beige and brown- these colours tend to go with most of the colours. Follow the basic mix and match equation- 4 dress is equal to 8 outfits. 

The best way to pack

Roll up everything! Rolling will not only keep your dress tightly packet but will also help save space and keep them wrinkle-free. 

Keep your essentials small

When you travel, always carry your stuff in a travel-friendly size. Carry a miniature perfume, moisturiser, sunscreen and makeup. If you cannot find miniature versions of everything then you can easily get travel-friendly bottles and kits on Amazon. It’s cheap and you can easily take the amount you would need.

Measure your luggage on the scale and give a final run-up

It’s likely that when after so much scanning we would still end up carrying a lot for that necessary. Therefore before you step out the door go over again. Trust me- you don’t need that green clutch or that frock. 

Use an organizer to carry your basic first aid as well as your accessories

A pillbox can be used in so many ways than you think. It could carry your vitamins as well as your earings. I personally recommend not to carry any heavy or expensive  jewellery while on the road (just to stay on the safer side)

Here Are Some Of The Solo Female Travel Safety Tips 

• Have a safety whistle, personal alarm and maybe a bottle of pepper spray
• A door rubber stopper (you don’t want to be stuck in the bathroom of some hotel do you)
• Choose a decent hotel in a well-lit area(4), a place where you know people would always be on call.
• Watch what you eat and drink
• Dress comfortable as well as conservatively (cultures may differ from place to place. Any dress that would draw fewer attention works. You don’t want to be walking the roads with  that plunging neck like with people staring at you)
• Never tell strangers or someone you meet on the way where you stay
• Always register yourself with the local embassy
• Meet people, enjoy but always be cautious.

Solo female travel is a pleasure by itself. You will learn to be independent and be confident in yourself. A lone time explores new places can also help a lot with physical and mental health. Try it and let me know what you think. For more question get connected with me through the chat section below.

Face your fears, there is nothing more empowering!

RESOURCES

1. Digital Nomad Designs. (2018).The Solo Female Traveller Network. [online] Available at: https://www.thesolofemaletravelernetwork.com/
2.  Solo Traveler. (2019).Solo Female Travel Tips: Advice from Women Who Know.
   [online] Available at: https://solotravelerworld.com/category/how-to-travel-alone/solo-female-travel/
3. The Blonde Abroad. (2019).Safest destinations for solo female travelers|theblondeabroad.com. [online] Available at: https://theblondeabroad.com/10-safest-destinations-solo-female-travelers/
4. Flight Centre (UK). (1998-2019 ).Advice for Travelling Solo as a Female|www.gapyear.com.[online] Available at:
   https://www.gapyear.com/articles/travel-tips/solo-female-travel