Traveling abroad alone is a much needed break from daily social obligations, an opportunity to explore independently and engage in the community rather than in your own time frame.
“One of the great benefits of traveling alone is that you have the opportunity to get in touch with yourself and have a deeper experience in the culture you visit,” says Sashalandauer, who works for a publishing in New York. 27) said. . Her first solo – a gap year before college, was to Nepal. She has since gone on her own to Tanzania and Kenya.
However, travel alone as a woman has certain considerations, especially in countries where language and culture are not familiar.
Here are some tips on how women can stay safe and enjoy their trip while traveling alone.
Choose your destination
Solo female travelers have plenty of inspiration, guides and other online resources.
Wanderful is a membership-based network ($9 per month) with 50 hubs, including London, San Francisco, Brussels and the online community. ESHEarth Women offers an online “feminist city guide” with hotel and dining recommendations.
It's best to choose an established but not crowded destination, advises Elise Fitzsimmons, co-author of Wanderess, a female guide to “smart, safe, solo” travel. “I have always had a better time in a country with a tourism industry, but that's not the point of strength,” she said.
Overall, smaller, walkable towns and cities are as friendly to solo travelers as they do destinations with reliable train systems. “Cartagena is an incredibly walkable city. With so many cultures, it's a great solo destination. Nikki, co-author of Wanderess, who also recommends France's Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Burgundy, co-author of Wanderess, co-author of Wanderess, who also recommends France's Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Burgundy, Nikki, co-author of Wanderess, who also recommends France's Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Burgundy, Nikki, co-author of Wanderess, who also recommends France's Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Burgundy, Nikki, co-author of Wanderess, who also recommends France's Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Burgundy, Nikki, co-author of Wanderess, who also recommends France's Vargas said:
Sites like Hoodmaps provide insight into where to stay. Which areas are fun to explore and potentially safe zones to avoid.
“I like to stay near the city centre in terms of accommodation, so that I stay near the beaten road,” I recommend searching for reviews written by a woman in Solo. Vargas said.
When traveling abroad, sign up for the US Department of State's Smart Traveler Registration Program for emergency travel alerts from the nearby US embassy.
For those who like hiking and trail running, the Italian Dolomite Mountains and the French Tour Dumont Blanc Loop are perfect for solo travelers. The trail is well-populated, including other solo women, and many sheds have communal meals.
Before you leave
It's best to plan your first few days, such as accommodation, have a rough itinerary, know in detail how to get from the airport or the station to the first stop. (Remember, taxis can be expensive when you're alone.)
Before your trip, please provide itinerary to friends and family and send us an update if anything changes. You can also share your phone location with family and friends via apps like Apple's Find My Friends or Life 360 Android devices. Consider using your data to purchase an international call plan. Alternatively, you can make sure you provide service as soon as you land before downloading ESIM, a digital SIM card that activates your phone plan without a physical SIM card. Also, download Google Maps for your destination to make it independent of the connections of the devices you are navigating.
Be aware of local customs, including those related to humility and clothing choices. Guides such as Reddit, Facebook groups for women traveling around Solo, and Lonely Planet are useful starting points. Fitzsimmons recommends imagining himself as an “observer.”
“If there are gender differences, if there are age differences, if there are tonal differences, if there are tonal differences, people will be happy to tell you what is going on in their country,” she says. I did.
Try to pack as much light as possible. Being independent is important and can make you feel more vulnerable when carrying many luggage.
Once you arrive
“Talking with locals, talking to people who run your hotel or hostel, and seeing what their experience is when they're on the ground,” Fitzsimmons said. Ta.
In public places, it becomes street smart. Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid using mobile phones or headphones. Even after dark, there are some cities and neighbours that feel very safe, but always know exactly where you're going. Also, many women refrain from consuming alcohol when traveling alone.
If you have multiple bank accounts, Fitzsimmons recommends leaving the accommodation and leaving the rest in the room and only having one card. Split the cash into individual pockets.
Apple Pay may also be an option: If you have an iPhone, paying on your mobile phone will prevent you from sorting different cards. Fitzsimmons also suggests using straps that can be attached to mobile phones.
“You can put it as a crossbody, and in your pocket, and you can whip it, and since it's much safer to your person, someone “But you can't take it from your hands,” she said.
Having an emergency credit card or cash on hand can be useful if you need to change your plan or move to another hotel. Keep your emergency funds in a separate pocket or bag than your wallet or other documents.
It's wise to avoid posting anything on social media from the time you travel back to avoid broadcasting your location.
Meet people
Traveling solo doesn't mean being alone all the time. Nomadher is a free app specially designed to help solo female travelers find travel partners, welcome accommodations and find travel tips.
Sarah Radzihovsky, 28, who works for a high-tech company, recommends staying at a hostel in Selina or working remotely. “It's a supersocial coworking and co-live hostel around the world,” she said. “I know that you can hang out with the people there without having to stay in Selina,” she said.
Saracolon, 34, the chief of staff based in Paris, energy company, is recommended to take a guided walking tour on the first day of her solo trip. In Rome, Colon met two other solo female travelers through a free walking tour of Rome.
“After exploring solo all day, it was fun to spend some social time when it got dark,” she said.
Group tours, online forums and local events are easy ways to meet people with similar interests. In Hawaii, Vietnam and Mexico, Radzihovsky used his Facebook group to find hiking groups and pickup games he met each week.
“Pick-up soccer, beach volleyball and surfing are really good ways to meet people because the language barrier is not a barrier, and the second is a really healthy connector,” Rajkhovsky said. .
