More and more women are traveling alone these days, but they may not realize the unique challenges they face. Whether you’re on a solo vacation or heading out for business, it’s important to read up on tips to protect your health and safety while you’re away. Read more.

Practical Tips Every Solo Female Traveler Should Know

If you’re a single female traveling to a new city looking to get to know the locals while still having a good time, you know how important it is to be prepared. You want to avoid pitfalls and land on your feet, but finding the right tips and advice can be a challenge. We’ve got 10 practical tips for solo female travelers:

  1. Keep your expectations low. This is the time to be carefree and happy. Being away from society is not only a time to be alone and do things that are not common. It is also the best time to do things that have no experience before. Solo female travel is an example of this kind of experience. Traveling alone is something that is not common. It is a little strange. However, it is a place where you can be yourself, have fun, and explore new things.
  2. Remember, you’re alone. This is a big change for you. It’s okay to be uncomfortable or scared. For solo female travelers, it can be hard to communicate with people.
  3. Be aware of your surroundings. It’s a good idea to carry a few items with you, like your cell phone, passport, and hotel keycard, just in case you need to make a quick escape from an uncomfortable situation.
  4. Don’t get drunk. For many, traveling by themselves makes us cautious, and for a good reason. It’s hard to know who we can trust or what is safe to do when we are not in front of an active group of people. But, like with anything in life, you should always be proactive and be prepared.
  5. Having a backup plan is essential for any solo female traveler. Have a plan B for any situation where your primary plan won’t work, and if something goes wrong, you’re ready to go. For example, if your flight is canceled, you may want to stay at another airport in the area as your first choice. Or, if your train is delayed, the next one you’ll need to take will give you a different route. Be prepared. Don’t be afraid to research the country you’ll be visiting. Just because you were raised in the US doesn’t mean you’re going to have a problem understanding the local culture.
  6. When you are traveling solo, it can be difficult to get to where you need to be. Having to deal with the stress of other travelers, finding a hotel, getting all the directions right, and finding the perfect place to eat can be a challenge.
  7. The best advice you can give yourself when traveling as a single woman is to think, act and dress like a local. To do this, you must become as knowledgeable as possible about the culture you are visiting. Take greater care to look and act like locals, to avoid being a “sensation.” But, if you are a solo female traveler, you already know this.
  8. Confidence is something that women can struggle with when it comes to traveling alone. When we’re out in public, it’s easy to let the fear of getting hit on taking over our common sense. Luckily, there are some things you can do to keep from being scared off by all the attention.
  9. Know your alter ego. Solo female travelers often find themselves struggling with finding things to do and places to go. Not only that, but they often don’t have anyone to help them plan their trip. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out! Just as you may have an alter ego when you go out, you can adopt an alter ego to ensure that you have a fun and safe time when you’re traveling alone.
  • Cherish the moment. There is so much more to life than just ourselves, our jobs, and our own happiness. Every day, we are presented with opportunities to learn about someone else that we would never have otherwise noticed, make a new friend, have a new experience, and appreciate something from this beautiful life we are fortunate enough to live.

Traveling as a solo female can be a culture shock for many people in today’s world. The social expectations and gender roles in other countries differ from what they are in the United States. It can be intimidating, embarrassing, and frustrating, but it is also an incredible opportunity to expand your perspective.