The first time I traveled solo was to Argentina back in 2014. I had arrived in Buenos Aires faced with the daunting reality that I was in a new country completely alone. There wouldn’t be a welcoming party at the arrivals terminal, there wouldn’t be a companion to watch my bags, there wouldn’t be a gaggle of girlfriends to accompany me on my adventures, there wouldn’t be a boyfriend to hold my hand.
Since that first solo travel adventure in my early twenties, I have found myself wandering alone in countless countries—from Canada to Indonesia—as a seasoned traveler. I have been drawn to the concept of solo traveling, especially as a woman, because of the sheer strength, confidence, and self-reliance that comes from navigating a foreign country sans companions.
While the idea of traveling solo has always existed, in recent years, it has reached a fever pitch as women embrace travel and all its intricacies with open arms. According to a 2014 survey from Booking.com, 64 percent of women have traveled without a partner, and 72 percent of American women solo travel. Rather than fear strangers and the dangers that may exist abroad, women are staying savvy, street-smart, and open to the experience of discovering themselves against the backdrop of an exotic locale. Of course, the world we live in is not one without its dangers. There are things to consider when venturing into the world alone for the first time.
Know Your Destination First
I have a love affair with spontaneity when I travel. I love serendipitous encounters, stumbling upon charming cafés, and meeting people from around the world. More often than not, the best moments in travel (and life) are the ones we don’t plan for. When flying solo to a new destination, there is a fine line between embracing chance and being unprepared.
When I caught a boat over to Uruguay in my early twenties, the lack of preparation I had done was comical. It wasn’t until my passport was stamped and I was standing on Uruguay soil did I realize I had no idea where to go, no idea where to exchange my money or how to get around. As a first-time solo traveler, it’s good to leave plenty of room on a trip for whirlwind adventures and chance meetings, but you should also be armed with practical information on the destination to which you’re traveling.
Trusting your Intuition Abroad
It’s said that women have a very keen sense of intuition and an uncanny way to sense danger a mile away. When I was visiting the rough and tumble neighborhood of La Boca in Buenos Aires, I was advised by many to be careful. La Boca is beautiful, colorful, and playful, but beyond the two streets that tourists populate, there are dangers to be had.
As I roamed through La Boca with my camera bag hoisted on my shoulders, I noticed a palpable shift in the air as I crossed over a set of train tracks and realized I was no longer in the “tourist-friendly” part of town. I felt the change before I saw it and promptly turned around, knowing that nothing good lay ahead. As a first-time solo traveler, my intuition was my greatest asset in throwing up red flags in situations I knew I should potentially avoid.
Be Confident
It may be your first day in a new country, and you may be clinging to a map like a lifeline, but you are savvier and stronger than you give yourself credit for. One of the first things I did when I arrived in Buenos Aires for that first solo trip was to go to a restaurant to ease into being alone.
Get comfortable in your own skin and let your thoughts wash over you as you explore a new destination and all the intricacies of your personality. Confidence is absolutely key and emanates in how you walk, carry yourself, and talk. Be patient and give yourself time to adapt to this new mode of travel.
Embrace the Good and Lonely Side of Solo Travel
There were so many beautiful moments of solo traveling that left me smiling deliriously and feeling utterly alive, but there were inevitable moments when loneliness won out over confidence and trailed me like a debt collector. Solo traveling is an experience that reveals parts of your personality and a full spectrum of emotions. As much as I learned to enjoy the moments and embrace the present, I also learned to pick myself up at times when home felt lightyears away.
The best advice I can offer first-time solo travelers is to expect to get lonely at times and to embrace this feeling as you will every other thought and emotion that washes over you during your trip. There is a real power and simplistic beauty that comes from knowing you have the strength to lift your own chin up when sad, comfort yourself when lonely, and keep moving forward.
Go Off the Grid, but Stay Connected
There is, of course, an appeal to being fully submerged in your solo travel adventure, but when you’re out there alone, it is best to stay connected to friends and family back home. Whether you are uploading photos to Instagram, sharing Facebook updates on your latest passport stamp, or simply messaging via WhatsApp, it is smart to let people know where you are and where you’re headed.
Be Patient with Yourself
Whenever I travel, I joke that it takes a day or two for New York to leave my system. In a city like NYC, life moves quickly; lunches are inhaled, delays are not tolerated, and scheduling is a way of life. It wasn’t until I was abroad that I realized just how tightly wound New York can make me. As I eased into solo traveling, I learned to be patient with myself and slow down.
Ask Yourself “What Do I Want To Do?”
During my first solo trip to Argentina, I met a person who left me with a simple piece of advice: Don’t ever do anything you don’t want to do. I’ve mulled these words over in my mind and realized that too often in life, I tend to put myself in situations and circumstances I wish I hadn’t, whether for fear of disappointing someone or a sense of obligation.
Solo traveling offers the refreshing and revolutionary freedom to ask yourself, “What do I want to do today?” Each morning I woke up in Argentina, I asked myself that question. Whether I spent that day writing at my favorite café, catching a last-minute flight to Iguazu, or hopping a boat to Uruguay, everything I did on this trip was because I wanted and chose to. In life, we don’t always have the freedom to choose for ourselves, so savor this question, get comfortable with it, and relish the endless possibilities of living life on your own terms.
Remember to Enjoy it
There is a favorite quote of mine that reads: “A ship docked in the harbor may be safe, but that’s not why ships are built.” It’s human nature to be cautious, but life truly begins when we step outside of our comfort zones and take a chance on the unknown.
Solo traveling is an experience that inspires, tests, and strengthens anyone who ventures into the world alone. Of course, there are dangers to consider and risks to keep in mind, but so long as you’re savvy to the destination, aware of your surroundings, and keen to your intuition, the trip has the potential to be life-changing.
I love this. Everything in this article is exactly what I believe in. Especially the part about trusting our intuition. It’s way more effective than Google Maps ????
I had my first taste of solo travel when I was 24 and can’t wait to get back to it later this year. Here’s to more trips and self-discovery!
You have done excellent job and Im going to bookmark you blog becuase I want to get more knowlage.
This is so beautifully written and on point. The “never do anything you don’t want to do” should be a motto for life, and traveling solo is the best way to practice. Once you get a taste of that kind of freedom , you may never turn back. Which is why you take a leap in the first place. Thanks team Unearth for this great writing!
I agree with you thanks for your positive response.
I’d like to see content about solo traveling while ‘older’. So many solo travel articles assume the traveler is taking a gap year… How about an article or two for 60+ women traveling alone?
I love the ship quote and the tip on trusting your intuition.
I have traveled solo as a single woman but have also enjoyed finding day friends on those trips just to share experiences with. Some of the sites you see are so truly spectacular that you want to share a nod or a smile with someone..even if it’s a stranger or a friend made for a day.
I’ve occasionally travelled solo since my divorce 20+ years ago, and it is truly invigorating and rewarding. Grasping that many cultures do not understand women who are alone, unmarried, without children, etc. can be tricky to navigate. I’ve learned that a warm smile and assurance that “I’m good”, goes a long way with easing the angst of many of my hosts. I have noticed this most in South Asia and the Middle East.
We agree! Solo traveling is truly a transformative experience!
It was really nice when you pointed out that a woman should be confident in traveling alone because she is savvier and stronger than she actually thinks. I will mention this to my sister since she wants to travel to another state in the near future. The problem is that she wants to take me with her, but I can’t because I have a job to do. It’s a guided driving tour anyway. I am sure she can manage on her own. All I need to do is encourage her.
Solo traveling for women is difficult and while the traveling they have to become a strong person. Safety is most important for solo traveling. All things need to be taken care of from the distance of travel. I am reading your blog and I get the valuable information on this blog. Thank you so much.
It would be cool if you wrote an article about the history of some places. It’d probaby get a lot of shares…
It is very instructive post for me. I enjoy perusing the blog. Awesome information with wonderful images. The information you have covered satisfy the necessities of each solo traveler. Thanks for sharing.
Great tips,solo traveling is difficult as compared to travel in groups, safety is most important and and taken care off your all the things like bags and money, all the informative tips are here in this blog thanks for sharing.
Great Informative post about Solo Travelling.Keep posting such posts,
Hi Nikki, Amazing post! I remember my first solo trip to Dubai. The first time I visited Dubai on a solo female travel trip was around 2012, and when i was crossing the road, a flashy Mercedes stopped in front of me with a cheetah in the front seat. Omg, literally I got scared at that time.
Best tips for solo traveling.I’ve mostly preferred to travel solo sometime and easily visit every place.
I just get fascinated by your writing. I loved the way you organized your thoughts and present it so beautifully with words and that’s what I appreciate the most.
I also tried to put together my thought regarding Women Solo Traveling through this article in a slightly different way – https://www.gogaffl.com/blog_posts/why-women-should-travel-solo
It’d be awesome if you check out & let me know your thoughts about it. Looking forward to your feedback.
Thanks for this great article I really like your writing style keep sharing.
Great tips. I usually travel solo. I am always on the lookout for new solo travel tips for women. I am glad I found this article. This is amazing I really enjoyed reading this blog. Thanks, for sharing this informative article 🙂
Thanks for sharing. Hundred tips… that’s a lot. Hope I can remember all of them. But even if I remember some of them, that will be very helpful.
very amazing tips for travel and very helpful for almost everyone thanks for share
I love to travel and these tips for best for me
thanks for share.
Thanks for sharing.I found a lot of interesting information here. A really very thankful and hopeful that you will write many more posts like this one.
The excellent topic I really like your writing style.
Great work you have done thanks for sharing.
Thanks for this in-depth review.I am a korean man and can’t eat without korean food.
I am planning to visit Toronto but concern about the food.
But your guide helps a lot as it helps me to go a restaurant where I can find my fav korean food.
Thanks again for this useful guide.Please reply me soon.
Nice post. It was really inspiring post. Thanks for sharing it!
Such a really good article.. Thanks For sharing this article.. Keep post
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Best tips for solo travel and helpful for everyone and thanks for sharing!
informational blog thanks for sharing.