Travel alone can be an incredible journey of self-discovery and personal growth, but it also comes with a lot of worry. Without one detachmentyou are inherently more of a target, especially if you are a woman. Plus, once you're roaming a new place at night, things can get a little dicey. There are obvious ways to stay alert, like never walking around with headphones on and asserting confidence, even if it's a fake-it-till-you-make-it situation. But what about the social aspect? Is it possible for a woman to socialize without inviting harassment when she fly alone in a new environment?
A few days ago, a Reddit user, a 40-year-old woman looking to take advantage of her new financial capacity to travel solo, asked the Internet for advice on this difficult situation on the subreddit r/solotravel. We've gone through the comments and put together a list of best travel tips for women looking to embark on solo travel.
Start by traveling within the country
One common piece of advice centered on the idea of practice. As with any skill or new hobby, you won't become an expert overnight.
“I'm in my 40s, female, (I've) traveled a lot alone. My suggestion would be to start small: go to Chicago for a weekend or new York or another big city with lots of things to do. Go for 2 to 3 nights and see how you feel. Do this a few times before embarking on a longer trip. read a response“There is real joy and peace in being a woman who can travel alone!”
Chat
Avoiding small talk at all costs in pursuit of deep, meaningful connections seems like a reasonable idea on paper, but, according to our editors, it might actually prevent you from making travel friends who just need to a minute to open.
“I'm in the same boat as you because I really struggle with small talk. I will say that with all these surface level connections, you might also be lucky enough to meet someone who you have a great connection with! During my year abroad, I met 4 people who I still keep in touch with, which is not a lot of all the people I met, but I like them a lot! wrote a respondent. The same user recommended trying to strike up conversations with other people who appeared to be solo travelers so that you have at least some basic commonality.
Lower your expectations
While there is a romantic idea of going on a solo trip and meeting a group of instant best friends who share your love for traveling to new and unexplored lands, it doesn't always happen. A woman, a 73-year-old solo traveler with decades of practice, gave some advice for this purpose.
“Why are you traveling?” What are YOUR interests? Art? What types? What periods? Architecture? What centuries, periods or millennia? Music? What types? Focus on YOUR interests and you will have fabulous trips. Each day will be filled with wonderful sights and experiences. Even the days off, sitting in parks, watching kids learn to ride bikes are worth it. (I have seen the most fascinating children's play equipment just by being an observer).
Don't expect to meet people. If you do, great. Otherwise, it’s no big deal because you have a long list of things to see and do that really interest you,” she wrote.
In a similar vein, another wise Redditor recommended scheduling routes in advance that directly align with your own interests, rather than sitting in a coffee shop until someone approaches you.
“Go somewhere that interests you. For example, if you like the outdoors/nature: go to Banff for (a) a few days. Banff is extremely safe. Book a guided tour to see their parks, book activities that interest you. Booking guided tours, day trips or food tours is great in my opinion when traveling alone. It's also a great way to meet people with similar interests. the user replied.
Use the Internet to Your Advantage
Although the Internet often feels like an open pit of vipers, snakes, and climate apocalypses, it can also bring us together. Another tip from Reddit is to join online communities to find like-minded people you might get along with.
“Join local Facebook groups (e.g. groups like Madrid, Madrid Digital Nomads, Madrid Expats), post about an activity I want to do (e.g. visit a particular museum), and invite others to join me (note: if a reservation is required, everyone reserves). /pays for himself). This way I had a lot of good company when I was low on energy or unmotivated for solo sightseeing, had a lot of interesting conversations and discovered new places or things to do with others. wrote one user.
She specifically recommended the group Hosting a sister where women can organize meetings or stays with other women from all over the world. The user herself met a lifelong friend through a similar program.
Safety first
While the beauty of traveling is meeting people, hearing stories, and experiencing places far removed from the daily rhythm of your life, it's essential as a solo female traveler to also stay safe. One commenter recommended taking a self-defense class before booking your first solo trip.
“I hate to say this, but take some self-defense classes. Carry a knife or bear/pepper spray. Hopefully you'll never need to use it, but it's still great insurance. I heard somewhere: don't be safe, be smart. It has become my motto. the user wrote.
