Planning your first solo adventure? Discover expert solo female travel tips covering safety, confidence, accommodation, transport, budgeting and common travel myths to help you explore the world independently.
Why travel solo?
I fell in love with travelling when I started travelling solo and there are countless reasons why I think everyone should try it. First and foremost, this will help you build confidence in yourself. Travelling solo means that you have the freedom to create your own itinerary and explore at your own pace. It offers you new experiences, flavours and views of the world around you.
Travelling on your own helps you get to know yourself better and grow as a person. Even the challenges you will experience are an opportunity for you to build your problem-solving skills and become more creative. This way of exploring the world gives you dopamine and provides novelty that your brain will enjoy.
Solo female travel tips
Planning
When picking your destination, there are several important factors you need to consider:
- airport proximity from the places you want to see;
- airport transfer and public transport links;
- language;
- currency and if you are going to need cash;
- visa and country entry requirements;
- how long do you have;
- what exactly you want to see;
- do you want to stay in the town you are flying into or you prefer to travel further using other modes of transport;
- walkability;
- tourism tax;
- safety reputation;
- what budget you have prepared.
A good way to start is by booking a microtrip – either an extreme day trip (flying to your destination in the morning and going back home the same day) or a weekend trip (with only one night spent in the other country).
Booking
I usually start by booking my flights first. Then any other means of transport I plan to you. Then, based on the airport, the transfer options and the train/bus stops, I look for suitable accommodation.
The apps I use to book cheap flights are Google Flights and Trip.com. For train travel, I use Trainline, TrainPal, Trip.com or Omio. For bus travel within the UK, I use National Express and for Europe – FlixBus.
Research
Before I go on any of my trips, I do detailed research – I use Google, AI and YouTube to find landmarks, hidden gems and best viewpoints for photos. I bookmark them all in Google Maps and this is how I build my route. I also research local foods and drinks because I like to try traditional food representing the place I am visiting.
In your research, you can include areas to avoid, local scams, public transport operation hours, emergency numbers, cultural norms and weather.
You can use Facebook Groups and Reddit discussions to gain a better understanding of the place you are planning to visit.
While planning your stay, you may also want to book some experiences or group tours – Get Your Guide has you covered in that regard. I also use Booking.com for finding good offers for experiences and attractions. Another good option is again Trip.com.
Accommodation
I always aim for a balance between price and comfort, but I do not compromise on safety. I have had a situation where I had to cut my stay short because my room was dirty and the area I was staying was not safe. I tend to book hotel rooms as I think this offers more safety and privacy compared to AirBnb rooms and hostel beds. I use Booking.com and Trip.com and with small exceptions, I have been quite happy with most of the hotels I have stayed in. Although I always book on a budget, so far I have stayed in places with brilliant SPA and wellness services, a hotel with a rooftop pool, hotels with big pools surrounded by palms, spacious rooms and welcoming staff.
If you prefer the more sociable hostel experience, I would recommend you book with HostelWorld.
What I look for in a hotel is no less than 3 stars, easy to get to from the airport/station, unless I have plenty of time. I prefer the hotel to have easy access to the landmarks I would like to see. Ideally, a 24-hour reception desk or responsive hosts.
Since my bad experience when I had to leave a room early due to its condition and location, I now also check reviews across different platforms (including Google), to make sure I am booking the right place for myself.
Transport
Plan your route ahead of time and screenshot it. Google Maps is usually a good indicator, but I would always advise on leaving yourself a time cushion in case your transport is delayed. Check ahead of time if you are going to need cash to pay for your ride and where you can withdraw local currency from. It took me ages to find the ATMs in the airport in Belgrade, only for one of them to swallow my bank card and display an error. Luckily, after 5 extremely long minutes and pressing every possible button, I managed to get my bank card back.
Maps of the public transport are often displayed on bus stops and in stations – it is worth taking a photo. Ensure you are travelling in the correct direction, not only on the current line. I am not sure which city I was in, but at least once I had to run back because I was heading in the direction opposite to the one I wanted to go to. Great times!
If you are not sure if you are going to have mobile data, download the map for the place you are visiting on your phone. Worst case scenario, tourism offices usually have free maps. When I travelled to Dublin, my mobile data settings were wrong, so I was without any internet for the whole day – one of the free maps saved my trip!
Staying connected
Speaking of mobile data, no one wants to end up in a foreign country for the first time and be without the internet. Even if it’s just to post on your social media or video call your friends and make them jealous. Most people use eSIM line Airlo and Saily.
Another solution is to have a SIM card with a mobile operator such as Lebara. They offer plans that include up to 30 GB of data in the EEA and bolt-on for the rest of the world. For example, when I go to Türkiye, I buy a data package from them ahead of my trip.
Make sure you have your phone settings in the correct way to receive roaming mobile data – your mobile services provider may be able to help you with this. Other operators would require you to call them upfront and set up the roaming with them.
Whatever you do, make sure you are not being charged for your roaming because it’s quite expensive.
Using the hotel WiFi is an easy solution, especially if you don’t have a big roaming data allowance. As often public WiFi is not secure, I would recommend the use of a VPN purely to keep your personal data safe.
Keep a sticky note with your emergency contact in the back of your passport for emergencies.
I always keep a close relative or a friend updated on my trips, so they know where I am and how often they can expect contact from me. This person is usually my mom, who gets regular photo bombs. This way, if regular contact drops, she will know something is wrong.
Budgeting
You don’t need a lot of money to travel – you need to budget correctly. Sometimes you need to do a detour to get to your dream destination cheaply. Other times, you can fly into one country and make your way to another to go back home.
I often spend days monitoring the plane ticket prices for the day I know I want to travel to. Also, I spend a considerable amount of time comparing hotel prices and reviews to make sure I am spending my money wisely.
Money saving tips:
- Book your trips outside of school holidays.
- Don’t spend money on food at the airport or on the plane. It’s often very overpriced.
- Bring a water bottle. Many airports and public areas have water fountains.
- Eat in places where locals eat (avoid the restaurants in tourist areas).
- Travel with a backpack only. Ensure it fits under the seat and pack only what you are going to really need.
- Don’t pay for a seat in the plane. Often you will find that cheap flights are not full and you can ask to be moved.
- Book trips midweek – Tuesday to Wednesday.
- Walk everywhere. If it’s too far, use public transport, not taxis.
- Book accommodation with breakfast included.
- Research free attractions.
- Go to alternative destinations – sometimes hopping on the train may mean cheaper accommodation, no crowds and more local culture.
- Set up a daily budget cap.
- Shop from local supermarkets. One of the best local foods I have found during my trips is from local supermarkets, not in expensive restaurants.
- Avoid tourist traps – ask yourself, do you really need to pay to see something and is there anything better that is cheaper or free to visit.
Safety
This is one of the biggest concerns of people who are preparing for their first solo trip. I have been across 3 continents and many countries and I have mostly felt safe. Usually the world is significantly friendlier than what many consider it to be. Local people are mostly welcoming and happy to help. However, there are still things you need to be mindful of:
- Trust your gut. If you feel something is “off”, the chances are it will be, so feel free to say “No” and move on.
- The hotel door trick: If you feel like you need additional security when you are in a hotel room, prompt a chair against the door and make sure it is right underneath the handle. This way it will block anyone who may try to get in or at least, it will make a loud noise.
- Keep your belongings safe. Places like London are known for phone snatchers. Keeping your valuables in a small bag that is always in front of your body is a good solution. Secret pockets in your backpack, bodywarmer/jumper pockets can also provide the needed security.
- Be mindful, where you are using your selfie stick or a tripod.
- Bring a padlock – especially if staying in a hostel.
- If you are in a taxi/Uber and you feel uneasy, share the driver’s or car’s details with a trusted contact and update them on your location and the status of the trip.
- Always have a money cushion. This is your best insurance in case you miss a flight or you need to re-book something.
- Use a virtual bank card connected to your phone, rather than an actual bank card. In Antwerp, as I was filming and taking photos, I noticed a male taking photos behind me and really zooming with his camera. I realised that my bank card that I was keeping in my phone case was exposed. I cancelled it immediately and requested a new one. Since then, I prefer to use digital cards.
- Listen to your body. If you feel that you are tired or sad for some reason, take a break. Travelling alone is also time to reflect and spend time with yourself away from the noise of your daily routine. During my trips, I have had amazingly happy moments, but I also have had moments when I was looking at the next flight back home, considering ending a trip early. Be kind to yourself.
Best destinations to start with:
Dublin
Rome
Athens
Sofia
Budapest
Vienna
Copenhagen
Lanzarote
Larnaca
Solo female travel Q&A:
Is travelling solo as a female safe?
Yes, it is safe in general, but you have to mindful when picking an area to stay in and use common sense when communicating with strangers. Listen to your gun.
What is the safest country you have been to?
I found Türkiye safe – Istanbul is a place where I usually do my shopping and walk back to my accommodation around midnight and never felt unsafe.
Most of the places I have been to felt safe.
What to pack for a solo trip?
I usually pack light and only what I am actually going to need during my trip. Must-have items included soap-sheets, a small towel, sunscreen (if travelling to a sunny allocation), plug adapters, laundry bag, sunglasses, gloves (if cold), a padlock and flip-flops. When it comes to clothes, I layer up – t-shirts or blouses in my bag with a jumper and or bodywarmer I wear. Leggings and shorts are easier to pack. I use travel packing bags to reduce the space my clothes take in my backpack. For best results, use self-sealing vacuum bags.
This is my backpack and I never had issues with any airline (yes, including RyanAir!).
Is solo travel lonely?
I personally enjoy my time alone and I get creative while I am travelling. If you prefer more sociable experience, you can join walking tours or events around the area you are visiting. Another way to socialise could be through your accommodation.
Another thing you could do is stay in a area with a booming social and night life, such as St. Julian’s in Malta.
How does it feel to eat alone?
I like playing something on my phone while I am eating at a restaurant, but I often take my meal to go and eat in a park or on the beach, where I can enjoy the view at the same time I am enjoying my food.
Is it expensive?
No, it is not. It’s all about planning and budgeting wisely. Some of my extreme day trips cost me less than a £100. My hotel rooms are usually in the region of £50 per night, flights I get for anything between £10 and £50. As I travel with only a backpack, I am not tempted to buy unnecessary items along the way, which also helps me save.
I hope you enjoyed this article and feel inspired to start your solo travel adventure.
If are looking to take things to the next level, next Sunday I will be posting about DIY solo travel challenges, so stay tuned and subscribe for our newsletter and get a free Solo Travel guide.
