So you are thinking of doing your first solo trip? That’s amazing.
Maybe you got tired of waiting for friends and family to finally book the trip. Or you just want a break for your routine. No matter the reason, you will be happy to know that you are not alone. You will be joining a large group of women have embraced travel freedom. In fact, women make up 71% of solo travelers.
I have been traveling solo in some capacity for the last 10 years and I fully treasure this time. I’ve been approached by a few women who are wanting to do some solo travel themselves. They have asked me to give them some tips on solo travel, especially what is a good destination for a first solo female trip. Particularly, they are looking for a destination that is safe, solo traveler- friendly, and that they will enjoy exploring it on their own. I usually give them the five tips below. Finally, I decided to put these tips into a blog so anybody who is getting ready to start their first solo trip can access.
- Keep it Local
Traveling within your own country or state is a great way to start your solo travel adventure. There are definitely some big advantages in keeping it local:
- Lower culture shock: locals at your destination will speak your language and norms and customs will be generally the same.
- Simple planning: there is no need to convert currency, inform your financial institution that you are leaving the country, or get an international data plan from your phone carrier. These factors drastically lower the amount of planning you have to do.
- Lower costs: Traveling locally eliminates the need of a pricey international plane tickets and expensive currency (looking at you Swiss Francs) or foreign transaction fees.
2. Make it About your Hobbies
Planning your first solo trip around a specific hobby is a great way to get started. Are you a foodie? Make your way through Italy, taking pasta making classes and enjoying apero every afternoon. Are you a wine lover? France has great wine regions. If you are into the outdoors, the Western US has plenty of national parks with miles worth of hiking trails. Or are you a Pride and Prejudice fan? There are tour companies in England that will take you to all the sites from your favorite movie. Including Chatsworth House (the film version of Mr. Darcy’s home). By organizing your first trip around a hobby, you will have plenty of inspiration and motivation during your trip. You will also meet other like-minded travelers.
3. Head Across the Pond
Europe is a great destination for first time solo travel. According to a 2202 survey, 54% of solo female travelers recommend Europe as a solo destination. Europe has a few advantages for solo travel:
- It is a major tourism destination and therefore has a very robust travel infrastructure.
- Europe is a very safe destination, particularly for women. European countries rank very highly on the Women’s Danger Index survey and in the Solo Travel survey. Many women that have traveled solo in the past, recommend Spain, the UK, Italy, and Portugal as safe destinations.
- Plenty of historical and cultural activities
- There is a steady flow of other solo travelers
If Europe is not your cup of tea, there are other safe destinations rated highly by other solo female travelers such as Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
4 Keep it short
If you think you could get lonely during your trip, one way to mitigate this is by keeping it short. You don’t have to do a full-blown production of 2 weeks for your first trip. Keep it to a week. Maybe a long weekend will do. Take the time that makes sense to you and your budget.
5. Solo But Together
Just because you travel solo, doesn’t mean you need to travel alone. There are a few ways to combine your solo experience with company.
Stay with Friends
My first solo travel was in the style I call the “half and half.” I traveled to Paris to visit my friend April who was studying her MBA in the city of lights. I spent a whole week with her. While she went to school during the day, I explored the city on my own. In the afternoons, we did plenty of activities together. For me this was the perfect way to dip my feet into solo travel.
You could visit family or friends that live abroad or in another city, dividing your trip between solo exploration and together time.
Solo Travel Companies
Another way to travel solo but together is through solo group travel. There are many companies that offer tours for solo travelers, even female only tours. I have not personally used these services, however, in my latest trip to Portugal I met many women who were using this kind of tour. I met Ashley, a 25-year-old from Australia, in a patisserie class and she mentioned that she enjoyed traveling this way because the tour company took care of all the logistics. And since it was her first time traveling solo, she appreciated the company of other solo travelers while having the independence to experience destinations on her own.
Don’t forget to get some advice from friends and family. For me, they are a great resource. Instagram posts may look fabulous, but following in the footsteps of a trusted loved one might be a great way to find your ideal destination.
In the end, you should pick a destination that makes sense to you and where you will feel comfortable.
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