Female Solo Travellers First Time Guide

Solo Travel – it’s a phrase that sends shudders and anxiety into the minds of first timers, and excitement and exhilaration into those that have “been there, done that.” – And yeah, it can be scary traveling alone, especially when you’ve never done it before. But If you’ve been putting off a trip because you’re waiting for someone to go with — stop. Don’t let others hold you back from your dreams. Along the way you’ll make plenty of friends – One of the most common pieces of feedback we get on our Goddess Retreats is the surprise and happiness in meeting the other like-minded women who come on the retreat.

So how do you get over the fear and book your dream holiday that you can’t find anyone to join you on? What do you need to know? Where do you start? Why should you even consider it?

Every woman should solo travel at least once in their lives, for the confidence and self-empowerment it brings.

There’s no doubt travelling alone as a woman has its ups and downs. But any female who has ventured out into the world solo knows the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

How to get the confidence to travel solo:

Without realizing it, you’ve probably solo traveled already. Your commute to and from work, or when you have journeyed out to meet a friend – maybe they have been late and you have busied yourself in a bookshop, or ordered a coffee.

Start here and extend it. Next time this happens, strike up a conversation with the guy in the book store, or go 15 minutes earlier to sit by yourself and enjoy the coffee at the table. The point is, don’t shrink away and try to hide yourself. Sit boldly and watch what happens. – That is nothing. The fear you have of eating alone is just in your head. But what will change is your confidence to try it again, and again.

Feeling confident enough to solo travel? Read on for our The Goddess Retreats Solo Travellers First Time Guide.

1: Do your research

If you don’t know where to go, doing a simple Google search for “The Best Destinations for Solo Female Travel” will bring up lots of great results. If you know where you want to go, Bali for example, typing in ‘Female Solo Travel Bali,’ will give you great hints and tips.
Once you know where you’re going, prepare yourself for what to expect when you reach at your destination. You probably already do this for holidays, it’s just when you solo travel, you have to make sure *you* know each detail. – You’re in charge of all the logistics.
Know how to get from the airport to your first hotel. Print out the location and booking reference.
Then research other things; the local culture, public transportation, must-try foods, and even better if you make an effort to learn their language. (We recommend the travel basics).

(Hello, Thank you, Please, Can I have..? How much is..? Yes, No.))
Make notes on where you want to go and how to get there. (Try using Google Offline Maps, and if you’re super organised, save the locations before hand.)
Know your budget and work around it and make sure you prepare yourself to always have enough cash with you.

2: Pack light ….Really light.

Before you go make sure you check the weather and what kind of clothing you will need. If the trip is still a way off, Google the weather trends in the month you’ll be there, then a week before start looking at the forecast.
Prepare to pack light, as you’re going to be carrying your own bags. So if when you’re at home, you’re struggling to lift your heavy bag, it’s time to rethink your packing plan. Only take essential items that you can actually carry on your own, without fear of any crippling back spasms. So all the things you’re taking just in case? You probably won’t need them. Take half the possessions and twice the money. Don’t be the person that has the heavy bag, over balances, and ends up tripping over like a beetle on its back.

3. Eating alone is not to be feared.

Let’s face it, you’ve got to eat and at some point you’ll have to bite the bullet and do it solo. You’ll discover it’s really not so bad.
If you’re nervous, look for a busy restaurant, eat out at lunch rather than dinner, try somewhere where you can sit at the bar, or check out places with communal tables. If you don’t feel comfortable people-watching over a meal, write up your travel journal or play with your phone.

4. It’s all about you…

If you wait for others, you may never go anywhere. There are places you want to go, people to see, experiences to have, and food to try — and only so much time. Solo travel is the refusal to wait, and let others keep you from realizing your dreams.
Freedom to do what you want when you want is one of the best reasons to travel solo – it’s self-indulgent: eat whatever and whenever you want, (detox and diet if you want, or eat that hamburger and stay away from healthy food if you want!) Spend as long or as little as you like in a place. It’s a time where the only compromises you have to make are with yourself. No trudging around yet another temple if you don’t want to. Spending the whole day in a museum or on a beach surfing if you do. The flipside to being in charge is remembering you’ve always got to be in charge. If you don’t book the hotel room, check the opening hours, stock up on water and snacks, no-one will.

5: Safety comes first

Make sure you ask the local or the people that work in the hotel where you are staying as to what area that is best to avoid and why. The what-ifs can overwhelm you when you’re travelling solo. But instead of getting paralysed by fear, take a few sensible precautions (like letting someone know where you’ve gone) checking your research and start listening to your gut – if it’s telling you this isn’t a good situation, get right out. Never try your luck – you don’t want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Store photos or copies of your most important paperwork somewhere, whether that’s emailed to yourself or in the cloud. Keep some spare money tucked away, and always prepare yourself with travel insurance.

Want to Solo Travel and want to ease into the experience?
Try a Goddess Retreat in Bali, where Solo Travellers come together for a week of pure bliss.

Click here to learn more about the Best Bali Retreats for Female Solo Travellers.