“I want to travel solo, but … What if?“
I get a lot of solo female travel envy from friends, colleagues and strangers. They miserably tell me that they wish they were brave enough to travel alone and wonder how I have the courage, the wit, the wisdom. When asked their reasons for not traveling solo, they list several ranging from loneliness to too much planning to the costs of solo travel. The reason that I hear most often is, “it’s not safe for females to travel alone.” So let’s dive right in!
I can’t travel solo because … the world isn’t safe.
I know women who walk alone through Chicago in the middle of the night without a second thought. But, ask these women to walk alone in Sydney or Bangkok and they would be frightened. (And Chicago has one of the world’s highest murder rates and episodes of gang violence.)
Unfortunately, modern media – including our social feeds – has a lot to do with our worldly viewpoints. We’re shown everything possible about the bad, the dangerous, the frightening. And sure, terrible things do happen. I won’t sugar coat the truth. Desperate people resort to bad things. And there are desperate people all over the world. However, in my experience and from what I’ve heard from other travelers, the world is not as scary as you may think, and the situations that you hear about are far from the norm. Every culture and country has issues and risks. While safety should definitely be your top priority using common sense, doing your research and trusting your gut can go a long way.
- Know your priorities: Protect your, yourself documents, your money and your personal items – in that order. You should be willing to protect your person first and throw away the rest if necessary.
- Do your research: Know the risks of your destination before you leave. The U.S. Department of State website (or GOV.UK for British travelers) offerscountry-specificc information about safety and security, natural disasters, terrorism, current travel advice, local laws and customs, entry requirements and health. The more prepared you are, the better you can react if unexpected things happen.
- Don’t make yourself a target. Leave the expensive jewelry and technology at home. Dress humbly. Do your research and dress as the locals do. For example, in may countries, you should always keep your shoulders and cleavage covered. Likewise, when entering temples and/or churches, you may need to cover your head, shoulders and knees. Carry a lightweight pashmina for this purpose.
- Keep your money stored in different places. When sightseeing for the day, only carry enough to cover daily expenses. Store all other cash, credit cards and important documents either locked securely in your luggage or locked in the accommodation’s safe.
I can’t travel solo because … I might get sick.
One of the benefits of solo travel is personal growth. When you’re faced with a problem while traveling solo you WILL solve it because….you kind of have to! At the end of it al,l you’ll realize just how capable you are. Yes, you might get sick (just as you do at home). So take the proper precautions (just as you do at home) to keep yourself in the best health possible.
- Get your vaccinations and immunizations. Don’t ever think that, “I can’t get sick.” Prevent unnecessary illnesses by getting the appropriate vaccinations and immunizations.
- Have a sound travel insurance policy. Travel insurance is vital. You cannot predict what is going to happen, and travel insurance not only helps you out in instances of sudden illness, but many policies also cover lost/stolen luggage or other personal belongings, trip interruption, emergency evacuation and much more.
I can’t travel solo because … I’ll get lonely.
Yes, there are times when you will feel lonely. Embrace these moments. You will need to accept it and enjoy your own company. This is a time to learn about yourself and feel comfortable with your own company. At other times, you will have tons of people to talk to. Solo travel opens so many possibilities to meet people who wouldn’t ordinarily cross your path. It is these types of experiences and personalities that will enhance your journey.
Best of all, you get to choose between being a social butterfly or just enjoying your own company. You will quickly find that there are many, many other solo travelers — especially solo females — traveling the world and you may very well find some life-long best friends.
Try to choose social accommodations, get out of your comfort zone and talk to strangers, join walking and day tours to meet other travelers who are new to the travel scene and find groups to connect with either by taking a local class (language, cooking, ceramics, etc) or looking at different online communities (meetup.com is a popular one!).
I can’t travel solo because … what if I get harassed?
Getting hassled happens much less often than you might think and it is usually harmless. Pay attention to local customs and nuances and blend in a bit. Dress conservatively and understand the local nuances and norms. And, if you do feel threatened, try these tips:
- Keep walking. If someone does start to follow you, pull out your phone and pretend to have a call. Or step into a shop, hotel or restaurant to “wait it out.” If you feel very uncomfortable, call a taxi or have the shop owner or front desk at the hotel help you out.
- Arrive during daylight. Schedule your arrival well before dark, especially for the first few nights at a new destination. You won’t be searching for your accommodation in an unfamiliar location and if you’re not comfortable with the current place, you have time to swap.
- Trust your instincts. Listen to them. If something doesn’t feel right, get out of there.
Traveling alone as a woman is a unique experience and is achievable as long as you have encouragement and confidence. I assure you that the gains from a solo trip far outweigh the fears and anxiety you might experience at the outset!
