You have a destination in your mind. It’s a place that you have always wanted to visit. But, you’re waiting.

Waiting for your schedules, budgets, and timings to align with a certain travel partner. Why not go solo?

Although you talk about going to this destination often, you haven’t yet purchased the ticket. You feel like you will never make it there. You suddenly realize that. . .

• What if I went solo?
• Can I travel solo as a female soloist?
• Can I have fun by myself?
• Will I feel lonely?
• What will I do if I’m not accompanied?
• Is it safe?
• Who will take my pictures?!

Do you find this familiar? It’s because it’s all too familiar to me. I waited patiently for the right person, at the right time, and the stars that would align to allow me to visit my dream destination. It never happened, but I didn’t stop waiting.

So I booked a solo flight. I had an amazing time, and this trip lead me to a solo travel adventure.

It’s been a long time since I started, so I wanted to share all my top solo travel tips with you.

These are 8 Solo Travel Tips for Women You Should Know

1. You can do things solo

To prepare for your solo adventure, the best thing to do is to become a tourist in your city. Start exploring tourist spots that you haven’t yet visited and make plans to visit them alone.

Solo travel involves eating alone. You might feel uncomfortable at first so it is best to start small. Bring a book and a cup of coffee to a cafe.

Treat yourself to lunch or dinner at the place you’ve always wanted.

It’s a great idea to sit at the bar. Bartenders are often friendly and you might even be able to chat up someone who is eating alone at the bar.

2. Take a Short, Easy Solo Trip

Test yourself as the date gets closer. You can book a weekend getaway for one in a location that is easily accessible by public transport or within driving distance.

Do something you love during the weekend. You can find the best restaurants. You don’t have to rush, there’s no hurry and you won’t be rushed.

You’ll find it hard at first to navigate around foreign places alone while on your weekend getaway. But, you can find restaurants, activities, and places to stay all by yourself.

You will also be able to drive back home if you don’t like the whole experience of being alone.

3. Meet new people!

It can be frightening to go to a foreign place and not know anyone. You might have learned this on your own even before you travel.

Joining a Meetup group that interests you is a good place to start. You’ll meet other solo people, so you will have someone to talk to.

This can be combined with the first tip. If you are dining out, choose a place at the bar near a friendly single person.

As you sit down, say hello and start talking about the TV program, a game, or something similar. Let the conversation flow or let it die naturally.

It can be easier to make friends once you’re out on the road. Many activities are geared towards tourists, some of which will make you bond with other travelers.

Walking tours that are free of charge can be a great way to meet new people. There will be a few female solo travelers looking for friends, just like you.

Introduce yourself and break the ice. You might end up spending the rest of your day together.

4. Prepare

Once you have the confidence to go into a room alone and make new friends, now it is time to plan your trip.

These planning strategies will increase your confidence so that when you land on your plane, you’ll be able to fully break down how your trip will go.

Planning increases your confidence and gives you a sense of security. There are many ways to plan your trip. It’s up to you how you travel.

You can either plan it all in advance or let the trip unfold naturally.

5. Get organized and share your itinerary

These are some things that I recommend before you leave:

• In a notebook, write down the emergency numbers for your destination and those at home. You can still reach people if your phone gets lost.
• Make copies of all your travel documents and save them as PDFs. Give one to someone you trust.
• Make a spreadsheet that you can share with others. Fill it out if you have planned everything ahead. You can update it as you go, and share it with friends and family.
• Share your location using your smartphone with those you trust. They will simply need to look up your location and see if it matches what you had planned on your spreadsheet. If something is not right, they can try to contact you.
• Although it might sound extreme, this could be a good way to keep in touch with people you trust. They will know that you are seeking help if you use a certain ‘key phrase ’ to contact them. This ‘word’ will help them confirm your presence. They already have your shared address, your itinerary, and other documents to assist you.

6. Secure and reliable accommodation

Hostels (not hotels) can be a cost-friendly option for travelers and are a great way of meeting people. You can find everything you need, from private rooms to dorms with 15 beds.

How can you pick a safe and clean option for your stay? Hostelworld is a great place to stay.

Pay attention to:

• Overall rating
• Location
• Reviews

Find a hostel that meets your needs and search for it on Google Maps. Look for photos that were taken by guests since they are usually more honest.

7. Determine Your Transit

You can book your hostel or hotel ahead of time so you can plan your journey to the destination. You can feel confident and focused when you arrive at your destination of choice.

Locate the best transportation options from your current location to get you to your hostel.

You should also research from your hostel or hotel in order to find the most cost-effective and secure ways to reach the city center.

8. Plan your Itinerary . . Or Don’t

As a solo female traveler, tours are a great way to meet new people. You can organize your time, however – that’s what solo travel is all about! Plan!

If you are a planner, it will make you feel more confident knowing where and what you’ll be doing during each activity.

This can be exhausting if you are not a planner.

You can consult a guidebook to find the best attractions, and then choose the ones you wish to visit.

You can also leave space for locals to offer advice about places to visit, or simply to sit in a café and watch the world go by.

Mixing both of these could work well. You might plan one or two tours for group practice and then leave the rest to spontaneity.

A free walking tour is an excellent way to start. This will give you an overview of the area, help you to meet other travelers, and introduce you to places you would like more information about.

Conclusion!

Are you ready to cash in or push for purchase on your first solo adventure? Now you know how to feel confident and comfortable in this venture.

One thing I want you to remember is that there are many solo female travelers.

Anecdotally, I have found that the majority of solo travelers I meet at hostels are female. Each person travels in a way that suits their comfort and style.

Solo travel is not a bad thing. These solo travel tips only scratch the surface. Don’t wait for someone to travel with, go solo! Why wait for someone to do it?