Are you thinking about going on a trip all by yourself as a solo female traveler? Making the decision to travel solo for the first time can feel intimidating and uncertain. Below I share the pros and cons of solo female travel to give you an idea of what to expect, and to help you decide if it is right for you.
The pros of solo female travel
Pro # 1: You can do what you want when you want.
There is SO much flexibility when you solo travel. Not everyone has the same travel style, so one advantage to solo traveling is that everything you want to do, you can do it.
Do you want to walk 30km in one day and not take public transport? Go for it. Want to sleep in? Do it. Feel like wandering around a museum for hours on end without being rushed? Why not! With solo travel you can change your plans at a drop of a hat without needing to consult with anyone else.
Pro #2: Solo female travel will boost your confidence.
After you have traveled solo, you will feel like you can conquer the world. Literally. There is nothing that will boost your confidence as much as solo traveling. Navigating a new city, eating in a restaurant alone, and meeting other people will make you realize how self-sufficient you can be.
Pros #3: You don’t need to wait for others to travel – you can just do it.
This is one of the best parts about solo traveling! If there is a destination you would LOVE to go to, then why wait for others? It happens so often with trip planning: either someone say they want to go and never do, or back out.
Or, your travel style may not mesh well with your travel companions and then you’re stuck doing activities you don’t want to do, or waiting around for them while they sleep in (or being forced to wake up early).
Pro #4: You will meet so many other people.
As a solo traveler meeting new people while traveling is a great way to avoid loneliness. It’s also easier to have conversations with new people while traveling. Everyone else seems to be open to meeting new people, and it’s fun to learn about where they come from and where they are going.
Pros #5: Or you can enjoy being alone!
Contradictory to the point above, when solo traveling you don’t HAVE to meet new people if you don’t want to! It’s entirely up to you on whether you want to explore a place all by yourself. You can sit in peace at a cafe and people watch, walk around a museum all by yourself without having to also make conversation. And then go back to your overnight accommodation and journal about your day in peace.
Pro #6: In a crowded area, you don’t have to worry about keeping track of where everyone else is.
Have you ever been in a crowded area, and spent most of your time keeping track of where everyone else in your group is? Well, with solo traveling you don’t have to worry about that at all.
When I went to the Harry Potter Studios as a solo female traveler in England, it got crowded in a few area. Since I was there solo, I didn’t have to worry about where a travel companion was. I was able to explore the studios at leisure.
The cons of solo female travel
Con #1: You will need to be more alert about your safety.
Planning a trip requires more research and preparation compared to if you are traveling with someone else. As a solo female traveller, you always need to be diligent about your safety. NEVER tell anyone you are alone.
Researching where to go, which areas to stay in, how to get from point A to B safely, and looking confident are more important when you are solo traveling compared to if you are with someone else or in a big group.
Con #2: You are limited to “where” and “when” you do things.
With solo female travel, you are limited to when you can do things for safety reasons. Walking around late at night alone, drinking alcohol, and arriving in a new city at night are more dangerous to do when you are a solo female traveller.
There are also many countries where it is more dangerous, or requires you to be extra diligent about your safety as a solo female traveler compared to if you are in a group.
Con #3: It is harder to get pictures.
As a solo female traveler, it can be difficult to get pictures of yourself in epic locations. While this can be discouraging, there are ways around this: Ask someone else to take your picture, use a selfie-stick, or a tripod. Even traveling as a couple it can be difficult to get nice couple photo, so don’t let this discourage you from travelling somewhere new!
Con #4: It can get lonely.
Solo traveling can definitely make you feel lonely. There usually isn’t anyone else to share experiences with, or talk with at dinner, or relax with in the evening. But, while these may sound daunting (especially if you are an extrovert), there are ways around this to help ease your loneliness. Facetiming friends or family back home during a fun moment, while you’re eating, or alone in your accommodation can help.
Suggested Reading: How to avoid loneliness while solo traveling.
Con #5: Eating out alone can feel intimidating.
Eating out alone can feel intimidating, or even make you feel lonely, if there’s no one to talk to. I can assure you though, most people will either not notice, or admire you for eating solo.
Eating breakfast and lunch are easier meals to eat solo. So many other people do it (locals on their work lunch break, for example).
At dinner, go to a restaurant that isn’t extremely busy, or that have long tables with single seats that look out the window. And if all else fails – get take-out or meal-delivery!
Con #6: There will be no one to watch your bags in the airport.
This is always a bit annoying as a solo traveller. If go to the bathroom, you need to bring everything with you. And usually that awesome chair you were sitting in at the airport gets taken by the time you come back!
Con #7: When there is a mistake, there is no one to help but yourself.
While solo female traveling, making a mistake can be much more scary compared to when you are with someone else. When you are with someone else, it’s easier to laugh about it and figure out what to do.
If you are solo traveling, you need to try and fix the mistake by yourself, or determine who you can and can’t trust to help you. Making a mistake can mean getting off at the wrong train spot in a dangerous part of town and not having the “safety in numbers” to rely on.
But, when you do make a mistake keep calm, and ask for help if needed. Usually people are kind and willing to help you out, but always trust your gut!
Con #8: It can be more expensive.
There is no one to split the accommodation cost with if you want to stay in a hotel or Airbnb. To make it more affordable, staying in a hostel is an extremely cheap place to stay as a solo traveller. Private tours are also always cheaper the larger the group, so as a solo traveler it’s much more expensive.
Con #9: Traveling solo is addictive, and all you will want to do is travel and spend all your money.
I didn’t want to end my pros and cons of solo female travel on a negative note. But seriously. Once you realize you don’t have to wait for others to explore the world, then that is all you will want to do.
Tips for solo traveling: Is solo traveling right for you?
After reading the pros and cons of solo female travel, does it sound like something that is for you? If you are unsure of where to go, or if it is your first time solo traveling, pick a country listed in the top safest countries, or somewhere where they speak the same language as you. This will be less overwhelming.
The more you do it, the more confident you become and the easier it gets.
You can ease into solo traveling by going on organized group tours by yourself. On organized tours, you usually have the opportunity to walk around for a few hours by yourself, which is a great place to start!
And remember, if you travel to somewhere new by yourself, you don’t HAVE to be by yourself the entire time! Go on a walking tour to familiarize yourself with a new city without feeling vulnerable. Or go on an organized day or multi-day trip so that you can enjoy the pros of traveling solo with the added comfort of being around others. Spend part of your trip in a hostel, and then spend a couple of nights by yourself in a hotel.
That’s the beauty in solo traveling, you can decide what works best for you.
Have you traveled as a solo female, or are planning to? What are your pros and cons of solo female travel? Let me know in the comments below!
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