A 2019 survey by the ABTA Travel Association found that the average solo traveler is 47 years old and 84 percent of all solo travelers are women. It was also found that 65 percent of US women have vacationed without their partner and that 59 percent of those single female travelers would travel alone again within the next 12 months. These statistics show that many women travel alone and enjoy it very much.
It took me until my mid-40s to finally travel alone. Before that, I only traveled to work alone. Business travel is perfectly valid solo travel, of course, but I found that solo business and leisure travel require different mindsets and skills.
Now, having experienced solo travel for both business and pleasure many times, I have found that there are certain resources that make solo travel easier, safer, and more enjoyable for women, and less stressful for the loved ones who are left behind. While every trip is associated with inconvenience and risk, a woman traveling alone – regardless of her age – faces additional challenges.
The following resources are great for intrepid female solo travelers, whether new or experienced. You don’t have to use it every time on every trip, but it’s good to know what’s out there and plan ahead using some of the tools on one trip and others on the next.
Maiden voyage
I came across this female (and LGBTQ +) business traveler website years ago and I still recommend it. Set up as a source of information and training for women traveling the world on business. Maiden voyage offers a variety of helpful resources, from lists of women-safe and women-friendly hotels to city guides and travel tips especially for women traveling abroad.
The Maiden Voyage team reviews all of the hotels it recommends looking for potential pitfalls like dark underground parking lots, as well as rewards like flooring for women only or taxi rides for women only. The city guides are written by local ambassadors who are familiar with the sights, local customs, etiquette and networking opportunities in the area.
Maiden Voyage is a great website to visit during the planning phase of your trip, whether you are traveling for business or pleasure. This is especially helpful if you intend to travel to a destination that women traveling alone may be uncomfortable with.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is an excellent resource to access, especially if you are a bit of an adventurer and enjoy traveling to places that are off the beaten path. I haven’t personally used it as I’m not a US citizen, but I wish I had access to something similar while on a road trip in Australia. There were times when I didn’t see another car for hours and didn’t have a phone or Wi-Fi connection.
Join the STEP program if you are traveling to a politically unstable destination, are on the road for a long time, or have limited access to the internet or news. Not only does this make you feel more secure, but it also gives you peace of mind to your family members and friends back home as they can get in touch with you more easily under the circumstances than they normally would.
To participate, you must register with the government and provide your travel plans, dates and contact details. You will receive regular security updates for your target. If an emergency occurs in the area you are in, the embassies know where to look and will work together to help you connect with your family back home.
Meetup
Traveling alone is all well and good, and often we choose this route so that we can be alone with our thoughts and see and do what we want. But if you get lonely and want to learn more about your destination, or just want to chat with like-minded people, this is it Meetup App can help.
The website lists tons of groups around the world in pretty much every major city. You’re sure to find a group that shares your interests. I used the site to practice my French while I was in Paris. I decided on a language level and met a group of expats and travelers who were all sitting at a table in a Parisian café and talking in French.
But you can also meet with locals who are willing to take you for a walk in their neighborhood, take you to the theater, or teach you to paint. The possibilities are limitless.
Tourlina
Even if you are traveling alone and not accountable to anyone, sometimes it is nice to have a travel companion to chat and share experiences with.
Tourlina is a women-only app that can connect you with a like-minded woman traveling to the same destination at the same time as you (or with a local willing to meet and share their knowledge with you). There’s no need to spend your entire journey with this person, but it could be fun to bond for part of the way. The app brings women together in 160 countries and is aimed at all types of travelers, from backpackers to luxury vacationers.
Voice apps
There is no doubt that knowing a few sentences in the language that will be spoken in your destination is a good thing. Even if you don’t go beyond saying hello and thank you, the locals will appreciate your efforts and will treat you better. There is nothing worse than a tourist yelling at someone abroad in loud English.
There are many apps that you can use to learn a language. Personally, I have used Duolingoand although I found it useful for the lengthy French I needed when I moved to the country, it might be too boring if you just wanted to master a few sentences. Memrise is great for basic vocabulary and is easy to use. For vacation I like Mondly because it allows you to learn vocabulary for specific situations, such as restaurants or the weather, and while it isn’t too detailed in terms of grammar, it works well for the basics.
Viator
Viator is probably the largest online provider of local tours and trips. I’ve used it many times to visit specific places that might have been accessible by public transport, but taking an organized tour not only allows you to learn and see more, but also to chat with other people on the tour. It’s not the cheapest option, but it does offer trips to most of the major attractions around the globe. These excursions are offered in a variety of formats, from small group tours to large group tours and half-day trips to multi-day trips. It’s easy to book online at short notice.
Radical storage
One of the most annoying things about traveling alone is that no one can watch your bag. Radical storage helps people find venues like cafes or shops that are ready to take care of your bags for a few hours for a low price. This option allows you to walk around freely without worrying about your items. Radical Storage has storage facilities around the world in most major cities and is very easy to use.
do the washing up
Now maybe I’m just me, but wherever I am and what time of day I look for toilets. Yes, you could stop for coffee every time and basically pay for a potty break, but that’s do the washing up App shows you all the public options in your area – much easier.
TripWhistle Global SOS
The local emergency number is different in pretty much every country. The TripWhistle Global SOS App tells you which emergency number to call for an emergency in your destination. It’s simple and useful in case you need it.
These are just a few of the handy resources for solo female travelers. They cover all of your bases, from hotels to tours and from new friends to potty breaks, which makes traveling easier and happier.
