Empower Yourself: 7 Reasons Women Should Travel Solo
You see me documenting my solo travels. You see me happily smiling in my photos. What you don’t see is how scared & embarrassed I felt before going on my first solo trip.
See, what is now completely normal for me was once something I feared. I thought it was weird to travel alone. I figured I would be judged… or worse.. someone would think I’m an easy target.
I’ve come a long way since my first solo trip in 2019. I had this deep desire to travel, but nobody in my life shared that desire- at least not enough to actually make it happen. Eventually, I came to a major realization: If I REALLY want to travel, I will have to travel with or without anyone. It’s up to me. I can’t keep waiting around. If I waited my entire life to do what I want, I may never have the opportunity. That’s when I booked my first solo trip. It was nerve-wracking. Yes, it felt a little weird at first. Ultimately, it was the best decision I’ve ever made.
6 years & over 20 countries later, I’m still solo traveling by choice. I LOVE solo travel! I love that I can choose my journey. If I want to chill, I can. If I want to go hang out with people at my hostel, I can. I always end up having a way more interesting trip than if I had gone with friends or family. And don’t get me wrong, I love traveling with friends and family… but there’s nothing quite like traveling with me, myself & I.
Solo Travel is Very Common
Something I didn’t know until I traveled solo is that a LOT of people travel solo. Just because it isn’t particularly common in America, doesn’t mean it’s uncommon all over the world. I meet tons of solo travelers everywhere I go. Some are traveling indefinitely, with no idea when they’re going back home. Some are traveling solo even though they have partners back home. If there’s anything I’ve learned while solo traveling, it’s that it’s only weird if you choose to make it weird.
I do occasionally have someone ask if I’m alone in a pity tone, but I just say “yes” with a smile. I tell them that I love solo travel and that they should try it, too.
And now, I’m going to convince YOU to solo travel, too!
I really believe women should try at least 1 solo trip in their life. If you hate it, you never have to go on one again. But I believe that with the right mindset and proper planning, solo travel can be one of the most empowering things you can do. You take the trip with the intention of spending time in a different place and learning about another culture & maybe seeing some landmarks. What you end up leaving with is more powerful and profound than you could have possibly imagined. Traveling solo is life changing. But you can’t know that for sure till you take your first trip! So, here’s 7 reasons why you shouldn’t let not having anyone to travel with stop you:
1. We are Our Only Constant
Here’s a bittersweet reality: We are the only ones we are guaranteed to have throughout our entire lifetime. We may as well learn to enjoy our own company.
One of the most valuable things I’ve done in adulthood is get to know myself better. I did that by spending meaningful time alone: solo nights in, taking myself to a cafe, and yes, traveling to other countries solo.
Growing up, doing things alone was heavily stigmatized. You were a “loner” if you did something by yourself. That’s so silly. Doing something alone doesn’t mean you’re a loner. It means you’re doing something alone.
I have a wonderful support system. I’m VERY close with my family and I have incredible friends. Also, I travel solo. Two things can be true at once. Traveling solo doesn’t make you a friendless loser. It makes you someone who does the shit you want- with or without anyone. THAT is cool. If someone tries to make you think you’re weird for doing something alone, they’re probably just mad that they lack the confidence to do it themselves.
Fortunately, social media has helped a lot. Solo dates and doing things alone has become more common and more openly embraced, so therefore solo travel is becoming more socially acceptable. The vibes have definitely shifted in a positive way since my first solo trip (seriously, back in 2019, I had to seek out travel blogs like this because I really felt like I was doing something crazy- Shout out to Adventurous Kate).
If you aren’t used to doing things alone, a solo trip is a great opportunity to get to know yourself. I think being comfortable with being alone is a flex. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about! Go travel solo and spend quality time with yourself, then come home and tell your friends all about it. THAT is living a full life!
2. Traveling Solo is a Confidence Booster
Traveling solo doesn’t just mean having amazing experiences alone. It means planning alone. It means problem solving alone. And there is something so empowering about that!
Navigating yourself through a foreign country alone can seem scary if you’ve never done it before. Fair enough. But once you successfully navigate and get yourself back home in one piece, you’re going to feel much more confident.
A lot of people tell me they want to travel solo but they worry they’ll lack self-sufficiency. I get it. Honestly, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes & slip ups when traveling, but if there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that everything is figure-outable and I can be the one who figures it out.
You’re smarter than you think. And you can accomplish way more than you think. Once you plan the trip, go on the trip, and come home safely, you’ll be so proud of yourself! Also, you’ll realize it’s not so hard after all. Stay on top of things, but have a good sense of humor when something doesn’t go as planned. Minor inconveniences and slip ups are part of the journey. You build confidence by overcoming them.
3. You’ll Have Experiences You Wouldn’t Have Otherwise
Solo travel is a massive step outside most people’s comfort zones. That means that most experiences while solo traveling will be ones you don’t have every day.
You might end up bar hopping with some people you met at your hostel earlier that day.
You may end up having an interesting conversation with a local you met on the street.
Most of my interesting travel stories have come from my solo travels. While yes, any of the things listed above could happen while traveling with others, I think it’s less likely to. When you’re with people you’re already comfortable with, it’s easier to just stay in your comfort zone. When you’re alone, it’s more tempting to get out & meet people. You may also be more open to spontaneity. That leads to incredible memories and connections you may not have if you were traveling with friends or family.
While in Japan with my mom, I had an incredible time with her. My main focus was making sure she had the best experience possible. In turn, I really didn’t meet a lot of people compared to when I visited Japan solo. Both trips were valuable and incredibly special to me. I hope to travel with my mom much more in the future. I also hope to continue making awesome memories through solo travel. The connections you can make are unmatchable. I’ve met so many people while traveling that I still keep in touch with.
4. You Gain Perspective on Daily Life
Isn’t it paradoxical how we gain the most perspective on our daily lives by taking space away from it? That’s because when we’re living our normal life, we’re too close to the picture. When you travel and take time away from your usual surroundings, you’re able to see your life from a completely different perspective. I always come home from a trip with new insights and breakthroughs that I can bring into my life.
Solo travel is a wonderful way to reflect on your life and evaluate your priorities. What isn’t serving you anymore? What’s been holding you back? Is there something new you want to try when you come home? When you travel, you’ll find the answers even if you aren’t actively searching for them. Your solo trip may shift your mindset on a part of your life or it could change the entire trajectory of your life. Whether it’s big or small, there is perspective to gain when you travel.
5. You Get to Choose Your Journey
If you want to have a chill day to yourself, you can!
If you want to go meet as many people at your hostel as possible & have a sleepless night, You easily can!
Want to go get a spontaneous mani/pedi? You can.
In the mood for ice cream for lunch? Nobody’s stopping you.
You get to do whatever you want when you solo travel. When you travel with others, yeah you can definitely venture off and do your own thing if you want, but there’s usually an expectation of sticking with the group and/or the plan.
With solo travel, you’re in the drivers seat and there’s no passengers. This is your time to do whatever you want, whenever you want.
6. You Discover the Good in the World
Safety concerns are arguably the main reason why women choose not to solo travel. And honestly, those concerns are valid to an extent. It is true that women have more to worry about. It’s a very sad reality. But here is another reality: Anything can happen to you anywhere.
Could something bad happen to you while traveling? Yes, it sure could. But something bad could also happen to you while you’re running errands or grabbing your morning coffee. With that said, safety concerns are totally valid, but I don’t think they should stop you from traveling.
Here’s the truth: I’ve never had anything bad happen to me while traveling solo.
I HAVE had bad things happen to me in my own city.
To be totally honest, most exchanges I’ve had while traveling have been positive. People’s kindness and hospitality have made so many travel days special. People around the world are kind, funny, curious, and not much different from you. Solo travel has actually shown me that the world is not so scary after all. There is much more light than darkness.
It’s OK to be scared to solo travel. Here’s a lil secret: I still get scared before every solo trip. I just don’t let it stop me now that I know it will quickly pass. Don’t let the fear stop you.
Yes, practice good judgment. Yes, definitely stay aware of your surroundings and practice safety precautions. That’s just being a responsible adult. But ultimately, ask yourself, “what could go right?” If you believe in the good in the world, you will easily find it. There are so many kind, incredible people in this world. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you let fear stop you from solo traveling.
7. You Won’t Have to Face the ‘What Ifs’
…Because you did it! Instead of wondering what would have happened if you had taken the leap of faith, you can feel fulfilled knowing you made it happen!
After my first solo trip, I immediately wanted more! “what else can I do?”, I thought to myself.
Many people want to travel, but they’re either waiting for retirement or someone to join them or to win the lottery. You can choose to take action on what you want right now. You can set a goal to take a trip in the next year, and once you do, you’ll see that it wasn’t so hard or scary after all.
But knowing that really does take experience. I can tell you all day how solo travel has changed my life for the better and it really wasn’t that tough or expensive to make it happen, but you won’t fully understand until you see it for yourself.
So, now you have 7 powerful reasons to take that solo trip. Plus, I have a post about staying safe as a woman traveling solo, a post about planning your trip, and tons of posts about the destinations I’ve traveled to solo. You have what you need. Now, take the leap!
