Don’t have a partner, friend or family to travel with? Don’t let that stop you! Whether you’re a seasoned solo traveller or want to gently nudge yourself out of your comfort zone, the Lonely Planet team shares their expert advice for women who are embracing adventure while doing it on their own terms.
1. Seek out female hosts (ideally with pets)
If I’m booking accommodation online, I tend to opt for women owners (preferably with pets in their host photos!). This is partly psychological, but I’ve also found that women tend to think about things like where to go to avoid crowds or safer alternatives to more touristy places. It’s nice how protective women are of each other, especially when we’re travelling alone.
– Akanksha Singh
2. Ease into it
It can be tempting to throw yourself outside of your comfort zone all at once, but doing things alone – solo travelling or even just going out to dinner or the movies by yourself – can feel intimidating at first. But it’s a muscle you build up over time. Start with a day trip or an afternoon wandering a museum you’ve always wanted to see, but didn’t know who to go with. When I backpacked through Australia, I tacked on extra days at the end of group tours so I had solo time to explore (and decompress!) after non-stop socialising and being “on”. I’d already acclimatised to the new-to-me destination while travelling with the group, which meant I had more confidence and knowledge to navigate the streets on my own.
– Deepa Lakshmin
3. Consider hostels for connecting with like-minded people of all ages
Hostels are a great way to meet people, especially fellow solo female travellers. I truly believe you’re never too old for hostels. Many cater to people of various age groups and backgrounds, and offer private rooms for added comfort and privacy. I find it’s easier to meet like-minded people in communal settings – the kind of people who are eager to exchange travel tips and stories with you, and who genuinely want you to have a good time. I’ve made lifelong connections with the people I’ve met in hostels.
– Sasha Brady
4. Start with a solo afternoon
I’m not quite 100 percent to the point where I’m ready to dive into solo travel, so I like to just carve out a day or an afternoon of “Rachy Adventures” when I’m travelling with friends or my wife. (Said adventure often involves a croissant and an overpriced latte.) Some of my absolute favourite parts of a trip have been a rainy afternoon spent wandering alone, or sitting alone with a good book on a largely empty beach, taking in the waves.
– Rachel Lewis
5. Book some group activities
If you’re feeling apprehensive about taking a big solo trip, arrange a tour or activity for each day. This way, your days will be organised around a preplanned group event. I made connections from all over the world on a solo trip to Australia in my twenties – and 20 years on, am still in regular touch with a Swedish woman I met on a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef.
– Fionnuala McCarthy
6. Hop on a boat or a bus
I get my bearings by taking either a hop-on, hop-off bus tour or a boat tour. On my first solo trip to Paris, I decided to take a cruise down the Seine – during which I wrote out my plans for the trip and got to know people by offering to snap their photograph. I also find spending time in local bookstores to be a great way to really immerse myself in the destination I’m at, as well as a key way to meet fellow travellers and locals who seem very happy to help and offer tips and advice.
– Brekke Fletcher
7. Bring a book
I’ve cycled, hiked and taken trains all over the world by myself, and I never did any of it without a book on hand. Waiting on delayed trains, sitting down to meals, relaxing in a bar at the end of the day – all of these situations are improved with a book. Reading can also be a useful way to put off any potential unwanted conversation. A woman on her own can be a magnet for chatterers – and I’m not always in the mood to talk to strangers when travelling.
– Amy Lynch
8. Be present
Travelling by yourself is a great opportunity to be mindful. With no need to rush or please anyone else, I find myself doing a lot of thinking and reflecting. I try to limit interaction with my phone as well to really enjoy the quiet. I find some of my most vivid travelling memories have come from solo trips.
– AnneMarie McCarthy
9. Plan some rest days
For every seven to 10 days of travel, set aside a day to breathe. Sleep in, treat yourself to a nice meal or just give your legs a break. If you can resist the pressure to programme every moment of your trip, you won’t feel like you’re “wasting” your time. This is especially true when you’re travelling solo and not on anyone else’s schedule.
– Ann Douglas Lott
10. Download a playlist
When I’m travelling solo, I like to listen to music to really set the scene while I’m exploring. And if you’re like me, I like to have my headphones in so that no one approaches me (hello, introvert!) – even with no music playing. Obviously, be careful and don’t have your noise-cancelling on so that you can’t hear your surroundings, but oftentimes, it’s a great way to block out all the noise (like in a museum) and anxiety you might feel. Plus, when you get back home, you might have a nice memory from listening to a specific song from your trip.
– Serina Patel
11. Use apps to your advantage (and with headphones)
When navigating a new city on foot, plug your destination into a maps app, then listen to the walking directions through headphones. This allows you to avoid pulling out a map, which is equivalent to waving a flag printed with “tourist”! Most importantly, when you’re making your plans, try to resist fear, which is used to manufacture headlines and generate clicks. Language and cultural barriers can raise discomfort, which will make you hyper-aware of your surroundings. But that doesn’t mean said surroundings are unsafe.
– Jessica Lockhart
12. Feel your feelings and cry if you need to
Especially if you’re travelling alone for the first time. Particularly if you’re far away from everything you’ve ever known. Especially if you feel confused or lonely, or out of place. I’ve shed tears in more airports than I care to admit. You’re outside your comfort zone and that’s scary! It’s normal to feel homesick and miss the people, places and routines that feel familiar to you. But you probably embarked on a solo adventure because some part of you craves something new – and any change requires getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, at least for a little bit. It’s okay to go through it.
– Deepa Lakshmin
13. Go on a food tour
One thing that makes a lot of solo travellers apprehensive is the thought of eating alone. But if you join a food tour, you’ll have dining companions for the evening and the opportunity to try out a bunch of new restaurants – all while learning about the local culture. I joined a food tour of Trastevere while travelling solo in Rome. Not only did I get to meet fellow travellers, but the tour included a mix of casual street-food spots – excellent for solo travellers – and restaurants. After you check these places out in a group, you may feel more relaxed coming back on your own for that next solo-dining experience.
– Alex Butler
14. Travel with a power bank
Travelling alone, you will most likely be using your phone more than usual to take photos and videos, and for navigating maps. Even if your phone has a reliable battery, it’s always good to know you have a back-up, especially if you’re on your own. There are plenty of small and lightweight power banks that you can purchase to slot into your bag when on the road.
– Zara Sekhavati
15. Share your location
To ensure peace of mind, I make it a habit to inform at least one person back home of my whereabouts using the Find My Friend phone app, which allows them to track my location in real time. While it can be reassuring for safety reasons, what I appreciate the most about it is the tangible sense of connection it provides. My family, in particular, loves that they can place me on a map and accompany me virtually on my explorations.
– Sasha Brady
16. Role-play at restaurants
Dining alone can be the best kind of mini-adventure. You can chat with the bartender – often a wealth of local knowledge – or other patrons. You can play at being an international woman of mystery and hunker down with a book or a notebook and pen. And if you’ve had a long day of sightseeing, sometimes it feels good to just sit at a quiet table and fiddle with your phone. The best part? Solo diners can often glide right to the front of the line at popular and award-winning restaurants, even without a reservation.
– Laura Motta
17. Don’t overshare
The temptation to share your entire trip via social media can be overwhelming, especially if you’re having a fantastic time. But for safety concerns, it’s best to avoid sharing every movement with every follower until you return home. Not only do real-time posts alert people to where you are during every part of your trip, but they also let folks know you’re not home. Consider sharing your photos and videos from the road just with a close number of friends or wait until your trip is over to flood your social media.
– Alicia Johnson
18. Don’t wait for a partner
I’ve travelled solo to places like Hawai‘i, Italy’s Amalfi Coast and the Dominican Republic. When I tell these stories, someone will occasionally say something to me like, “Oh, I want to go there on my honeymoon, so I’m waiting to take that trip.” My advice? Don’t wait. If you want to go somewhere, even a place with a reputation as a “romantic” destination or a honeymoon getaway, go anyway. There are so many ways to enjoy a destination and to make your own memories – with or without another person. If resorts or entire destinations cater specifically to couples, you will see a different and sometimes more interesting side of it by going solo.
– Laura Motta
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