Solo Travel Tips for Female Travellers!
Solo travel can be one of the most rewarding experiences. You get to explore different places and cultures completely on your own time without anyone else’s ideas or opinions getting in the way. You’re completely reliant on yourself so you can eat whenever you want, rest whenever you need to, and explore all the places you’ve always dreamed of experiencing.
While solo travel can be amazing, it’s also intimidating and can be unsafe, especially as a solo female traveller. I’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a bit so far in my life, but as I get ready to embark on my first solo trip I wanted to reflect on some tips I’m going to be using to make sure my time is spent wisely (and safely!)
Be Confident
The best way to avoid being targeted as a solo female traveller is to look confident. If you look like you know exactly where you’re going and what you’re doing, there is less opportunity for random strangers to approach you to try to take advantage of you. You don’t want to constantly be looking at your phone for directions as this indicates to people that you’re a tourist and you don’t know where you’re going. It also keeps you distracted when you should be paying attention to your surroundings.
Of course, you can’t memorize all the directions you need in every new city, especially if you have a ton of places in your itinerary! But there are a few things you can do to appear more confident and sure in your travels.
If you have Airpods or other headphones, pop them into ONE ear and listen to your directions instead of looking at them. Google maps is great for speaking directions out loud so you can keep your phone in your pocket. Don’t put both headphones in- you want to make sure you’re paying attention and listening for what’s around you. But keeping one headphone in is a great way to get around and look more confident!
You can also make a mental note of important landmarks in the area of your destination. Often, the more touristy landmarks are indicated with signs all over the city. If the place you want to go to is close by one of these landmarks, you can keep an eye out for these signs or even the landmark itself so you know the general direction of where you’re headed.
Another thing I do to prepare myself for a walk around a new city is to use the street view mode on Google maps ahead of time. It’s like doing a “pre-walk” before you’re actually there! It gives you a feel for what the area looks like so you’re more familiar when you’re experiencing it yourself.
Don’t Flash Expensive Items
One of the easiest ways to make yourself a target is to flash your valuables! If you’re carrying cash, make sure when you’re paying for things you’re not taking out wads of bills and rifling through them. That just screams “Steal from me!!” You can make little groupings of bills, let’s say $50 for example, and bundle them up in your wallet. Then, when you go to pay you can take out however many of those little bundles you need to pay and keep the rest safe. You won’t look like you’re rolling in dough to any onlookers, and you’ll still be able to easily pay!
You also want to avoid wearing any flashy jewelry or designer clothes in touristy places. These items are huge indicators to pickpockets that you have money to spend and puts a big old target on your back. Opt for more low-key bags without designer labels and keep the jewelry in the safe in your room (or don’t bring this stuff at all!!) Travel is expensive enough, you don’t need to show off too!
Have a Budget
Before your trip, make sure you create a (realistic) budget and stick to it! You never want to be in a foreign country, halfway through your trip, and come to the horrible realization that you’re out of money. It’s so easy to overspend when you’re on vacation with all the good food and fun activities you want to check out, but it’s important to keep yourself in check too. It’s also way easier to overspend if you’re dealing with a different currency than you’re used to! Solo travel can sometimes make it easier to stick to a budget since you have full control over what you do and where you go, but you’re also not splitting any costs with someone else so it’s important to keep that in mind as well.
One of the easiest ways to keep track of your budget while travelling is to use an app! You Need a Budget and Expensify are great apps to use to keep track of your daily budget. Any time you buy something, add it to your budget app as you go so you don’t lose track of what you’re spending.
Make Copies of Important Documents
Even if you’re incredibly careful with all of your important documents, there’s always a chance that something might happen to them. The last thing you want is to be stranded by yourself in a different country without your passport!
Take pictures of all your important documents, from your passport to your license to your travel insurance. Then, if the worst case scenario happens and you lose one or all of the above, you’ll at least have pictures of the important stuff! This is especially important if you’re travelling to multiple destinations and you don’t have a safe space to lock up your passport.
But don’t stop there- what happens if your phone disappears too? It’s a good idea to print out physical copies and keep them in a safe pocket in your luggage. You’ll have all your bases covered.
Purchase Travel Insurance
Some people opt out of this, but it’s a really good idea to make sure you’re covered in the case of an emergency. In the end, it could save your thousands of dollars! If you have benefits, see if you’re covered through your existing plan. There are also ways you can purchase travel insurance- check out your bank or another reliable company in the country you live in to see what the best option is for you.
Don’t Reveal Too Much
One of the best parts of solo travel or travel in general is all the new people you meet! It’s great to strike up conversations with strangers, but it’s also very important that you don’t reveal too much about yourself or your travels, especially if you’re a solo female traveller. Try to avoid telling people that you’re travelling alone (although sometimes its pretty obvious) and if someone asks make sure you say you’re meeting up with friends and family within the next day or two, even if it isn’t true.
You should never give details about where you’re staying or where you’re travelling to next. It’s okay to have generalized conversations but saying too much can open yourself up to some very scary and negative situations.
Arrive During the Day
Sometimes when you’re travelling on a budget, the cheaper trains or flights may be later on at night. However, if you’re a solo female traveller that may not always be the best and safest option. It’s great to save a bit of money, but it’s harder to get a good feel for your surroundings in a new city if you arrive when it’s dark. Plus, unfortunately as a woman it’s even more important to be careful at night! Stick to arrival times that get you to your destination while there’s still some daylight to keep your travels safe.
Be Careful With Social Media
Nowadays, posting everything you do on social media is like drinking coffee- it seems like a necessity! While I would always encourage you to live more in the moment than worrying about what picture you can post on your Instagram story, it’s even more important to put social media on the back burner during solo travel. That doesn’t mean don’t post! But you need to be a lot more aware of what and where you’re posting. You never want to divulge where you’re staying, at least not until you’re no longer staying there. You also want to be careful about posting where you’re eating or what bar you’re at. I’ve seen horror stories from girls on Tiktok where they’ve done so and all of a sudden a random guy finds them at the restaurant they’re at. Creepy! Share your trip with your friends but make sure you’re being smart and safe about it.
Don’t Overpack
I’m SO guilty of overpacking, no matter how much I try not to. I always end up throwing in some extra clothes or shoes or makeup as a “just in case” or “what if” and then I never use them! If you’re travelling alone, you want to be able to easily carry your own luggage wherever you go, especially if you’re going to multiple destinations. Trying to maneuver by yourself through cobblestone streets, onto trains, off of planes, etc. will be a lot more difficult if you’re lugging along a big suitcase!
Try to create a capsule wardrobe so you can mix and match different pieces throughout your travels. I like to take pictures of all my different outfits so if I’m feeling stuck I can just go back and flip through the outfits I’ve already curated. And don’t be afraid of being an outfit repeater!
Check Reviews
Travelling on a budget is pretty easy, but it’s important to check the reviews so you don’t waste the money you are spending! If you’re staying in hostels, check out the reviews on Hostelworld to see what other travellers are saying about it. If you’re staying in cheaper hotels, check out the reviews on TripAdvisor, Expedia, or even the Google reviews. You want to check out how safe people feel, how clean the rooms and facilities are, and even how friendly the staff are so if you’re in a pickle, you know you have somewhere to go to ask for help. This is so important for solo travel! It’s also important to check out the reviews for restaurants or activities you’re thinking of going to. Of course, one of the fun parts of travelling is finding new places as you go, but if you’re going to be spending any kind of decent money you want to make sure it’s worth it!
Do Your Research and Plan
When you’re going to a new city or country, you want to have an idea of what you want to do and see. It’s all well and good to figure things out as you go, but you have to do at least a little bit of research so you don’t miss the important things! Researching will help you create a list of things you want to do and will help you map out the best possible routes so you can see as much as you can. I like to over-research- I would rather have way too much to see than feel like I’m wandering around and wasting the limited amount of time I have in that city.
Researching can also help you save money! You may find better methods of transportation, a deal on tickets to an attraction that you want to see, or whether or not an activity is actually worth going to. I like using multiple different mediums when researching. Look up blogs on Pinterest, scroll through some Tiktok videos, and watch some vlogs on YouTube. You’ll get different perspectives from people that have actually been to these places and they can help you figure out if you actually want to go!
I would also recommend researching fun activities to do for solo travel in each city you go to, especially if it’s your first trip! I’ve looked into cool classes and pub crawls since I’m not staying in hostels, because even though I want my own space I still want to meet new people! Look up a cool cooking class or good bars that you’d feel comfortable sitting in alone.
But Don’t Over Plan
While it’s super important to plan ahead, you still want to leave room in your itinerary for spontaneous fun! You should have a basic idea of where you want to go and what you want to see each day, especially if you’re only going to be in certain locations for a small amount of time-but you don’t want to plan everything out minute by minute. Give yourself space to explore new areas you wander across as you travel!
Keep Your Family/Friends Updated
Whenever you solo travel, it’s important to keep your friends and/or your family updated so they know where you are. The easiest way is to share your location with someone, and to regularly text or call so they know you’re okay. However, you may be going to places without great cell service- while it’s easy to assume the whole world is well connected at this point in time, you don’t want to get stuck somewhere and no one knows where you are! This is especially important if you’re hiking somewhere. I would also recommend that if you have an itinerary of where you’re going and where you’re staying each day, send it to a family member or a friend!
Try the Local Food
Sometimes it’s easy to stick with what you know. But one of the things I love best about travelling is trying the local food in each destination! Try not to scope out the bigger chain restaurants that you can find at home- solo travel is all about getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things. While you’re researching before you go, look up what food you should eat before you go and try to make a point of going to restaurants where you can try those items! I know dining during solo travel can be a bit intimidating, but push yourself- you might find something new you love!
Don’t be Afraid of Group Tours
Solo travel can make it a little difficult to get to the more remote places in the country you’re visiting, especially if you’re not renting a car. That’s why group tours can be so beneficial! I know the point of travelling alone is to do whatever you want whenever you want, but doing a group tour can also be a nice break from planning everything yourself. You’ll have a guide to take care of timing and directions, plus they usually have some great information along the way that you wouldn’t get by yourself. And group tours aren’t just for senior travellers! I’ve seen a ton of solo travellers in group tours, and it can be a great way to meet people!
Know Your Limits
One of the most important things to keep in mind during your trip is to know your limits. Whether it’s your first solo trip or your 10th, you gotta know when it’s time for a break or when you’re pushing yourself too far. The only person you have to answer to is you! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of dining alone or you’re tired of walking or you feel uncomfortable in any situation, leave! You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, so make the most of your trip by taking things as they come and adjusting based off of how you’re feeling. You’ll have more of a successful trip if you’re in tune with yourself!
Do you have any tips for solo travel? Let me know!
