Why would a girl travel alone?

When I tell someone who doesn’t know me well that I travel solo, they usually ask me, “But, why?” Giving a short answer to that question is impossible. How can I boil down all the things that I love about solo travel? Do I emphasize that I’m an introvert and enjoy my own company? Or do I explain how being flexible with a planned itinerary is necessary so I can deal with any of my health issues that may crop up at an inconvenient time?

To me, the reason why I travel solo is simple, but explaining it to another person is definitely not. What I think is most important may not seem important to others, and the things that could be must-sees for them are not at all important to me. For these reasons, along with many others, solo female travel is the best choice for me.

I know I’m not alone in preferring to travel on my own. Every day, more and more women are choosing to go it alone, and the benefits to each solo female traveler vary. There are many benefits to traveling solo, and I believe every woman should try solo female travel at least once in their lifetime. Do it for yourself! Maybe you’ll surprise yourself and want to do it again.

Here are a few things you can expect from the solo female travel experience…

1. You’ll make yourself proud.

Stepping out of your comfort zone and planning a solo trip is an accomplishment in and of itself, but actually going for the first time reframes how you see yourself. Being scared and doing it anyway is a huge win!

Doing all of the planning on your own can be super stressful, but it may really be easier than planning a vacay with a group of friends or your family. When you only have to consider yourself, crafting an itinerary (or deciding to just wing it because you are on your own) is so much easier.

If diving in head first makes you too nervous, try a quick Google Search and check out Facebook to find a solo female travel group. In these groups, you can chat with the other members and join a tour with like-minded women. This baby step will encourage you on your journey as a new solo traveler. Veteran solo travelers generally love helping those who are newer to the lifestyle and can also recommend the best destinations for solo female travel.

I was super nervous before I left for my first solo trip, but once I was in my rental car speeding along the southern coast of Spain toward my apartment for the week, I was so proud of myself for being nervous but doing it anyway.

2. You’ll discover something new about yourself

If you are new to solo travel, every trip is a chance to learn more about who you are as an individual. How do you deal with unexpected speedbumps like missing a connecting flight or finding out your Airbnb looks nothing like the listing photos? Do you like to stick to your carefully laid out plans, or does going on the fly to see something off your chosen path make you happier?

You may also realize that you make decisions differently than when you are in a group. If you tend to be the person who goes along with the group instead of speaking up and telling your friends what you want to do, how do you decide what to do when you are on your own? Do you tend to stick firmly to an itinerary, or are you more likely to stray from your plans when you find an opportunity to do something more interesting or exciting? Flying by the seat of your pants can be uncomfortable, or it may be liberating, but you won’t know if you never try it.

3. You’ll try something new

If you have typically gone on beach vacations with your travel buddies, try a solo trip to a city. If you’re a museum nerd, try an adventurous hiking trip. You can see where I’m going here. Solo female travel allows you to try things your usual travel buddies don’t want to try.

Even something as simple as trying a new food can feel empowering. On my first solo trip to Paris, I ordered escargot for the first time and loved it. Being able to get past knowing that I was eating snails opened up a whole world of new things to taste, and now I look forward to trying new foods wherever I go.

Trying train travel when you usually fly, or drive is another way to try something new. If you usually book guided tours, try finding an audio guide so you can download it to your phone and explore the city on your own. Start thinking of any trip you take as an exciting opportunity to try something new.

4. You’ll explore according to what you want to do

Ever been on a trip where you were the only one who wanted to visit a museum instead of going to the beach? Did you win that argument?

With solo female travel, you choose what to see and when. If you aren’t interested in following the usual tourist path through a big city, seek out the smaller, more specialized parts of the city that fit your personality. Eating where the locals eat instead of at the restaurants in the guidebook is often the better bet. Let everyone else flock to the big-name eateries while you waltz into the locals’ favorite place. Whatever your tastes are, YOU are deciding where to go, what to see, and what to eat.

Some people may not understand your choice of destination and question you about it. Last fall, I needed to do my interview for the Global Entry program upon return from an overseas flight, meaning I had to leave the country and then go through customs on arrival back into the US to do the interview at the airport.

I was in line with two couples who had the same idea. They had gone to Cancún, but I had gone to Mexico City. They thought I was nuts to do that when I could have chilled on the beach for a long weekend to get to the interview. I’m not a beach person, and I travel solo so I can avoid it. Museums and cultural attractions are my jam.

Ignore the questions and snide remarks. You do you and ignore the negative comments. If people question your choice of vacation destination, you can choose whether to explain it to them or ignore them and move on. I am a solo traveler so I can do what I want without any arguments or hurt feelings. You can do it, too! Prioritize yourself.

5. You’ll build confidence and independence

Traveling solo builds character. So many women don’t travel on their own because they think they can’t. If this is you, there is no shame in it. Just dip your toe in the water by trying a short overnight visit to a neighboring city first. If you handle making all of the plans on your own and then actually take the trip, you will prove to yourself you can travel solo. Taking that first solo trip builds confidence.

Enjoying your own company while traveling solo can be eye-opening. Did you think you could have a great time without sharing your vacation experiences with another person or a group? Becoming comfortable doing things as a party of one, like eating in a restaurant on your own or taking a solo cruise helps you grow a sense of independence. Even if you start slow, you are becoming more confident and independent with each solo trip.

6. You’ll grow as a person

All of the things I’ve talked about here regarding solo travel will change you. You will become more empathetic. You will be more open to trying new things. You will learn about what is important to you and what you can let go of.

Instead of thinking about how much something scares you, you may see it as an adventure or challenge to tackle. Traveling solo has changed my worldview for the better, and I see this in my daily life, not just while I’m traveling solo. I’m confident and independent, and solo travel has helped me realize that.

I’m a homeowner, and when something in my house breaks, I try to figure out how to fix it myself before calling in an expert. I never would have attempted that before learning how capable I am of doing new things through solo travel.

I’ve started thinking of solo travel as my superpower. Who doesn’t want superpowers?

Solo female travel is worth trying out at least once!

If you are unsure about solo travel, try to figure out what makes you nervous about traveling on your own. Is it money? Work out a budget by consulting some guidebooks or websites to get a rough estimate on what you can expect to spend per day in your choice of destination.

If it’s safety that concerns you, search for the country you would like to travel to on this page. It is maintained by the US Department of State with up-to-date safety and crime advisories, as well as a ton of other useful information.

The solo female travel groups I mentioned before are also great resources for information on the best solo female travel destinations. I recommend making sure the advice you take is coming from someone who has actually been to that country fairly recently.

If you are worried you will be lonely, maybe try out a hostel, as those are great places to find new friends. They often have organized walking tours, day trips, and pub crawls. If you prefer your own space to sleep in, try signing up for a tour through a company like Viator, which I have used for guided tours and skip-the-line tickets for many of Mexico City’s museums.

Once you’ve pinpointed what is making you nervous and you’ve done the research needed to help you push past those, fears get to work. Make a plan, give yourself a pep-talk, and go! No one ever gained a fresh perspective without breaking out of their comfort zone.

Solo female travel is enlightening and empowering, and learning more about yourself and the world as a whole is so gratifying. The new perspectives I’ve gained through solo female travel have changed my life and how I choose to live it.

Give solo female travel a shot and see how you grow!

Add this post to your travel boards on Pinterest!