Truths Nobody Shares About Traveling Alone As A Woman
If you haven't done it before, I'm here to tell you that you need to go ahead and get away. Traveling is good for your mind, expanding your knowledge, and your body (if you don't drink your weight in alcohol every night).
But before you do the big trip, you should know a few unspoken truths about the reality of traveling as a solo female. They'll help you get prepared for your trip and set you up to have the Mama Mia Greek fantasy vacation you've been dreaming about since you saw the movie in theaters.
Wo-manspread
I'm not saying leave your stuff lying around, because that's a great way to get robbed, but don't be afraid about taking up extra space where it's available.
As females, we're conditioned to take up as little space as possible, but when you're carrying around a month's supplies of stuff on your back you have to learn to take advantage of space where it's offered. That means not being afraid to take a nap or stretch your legs if you're weary.
You Better Start Getting Comfortable Eating Alone (Not In The Sad High School Bathroom Stall Way)
Look, mealtimes are incredibly social events that you want to spend with family and friends breaking down the news of the day and catching up. And while traveling has 100 other positive aspects, you've got to let go of the expectation that you're going to have company for every meal.
Don't let this stop you from experiencing all that a region has to offer through its food because there are some incredible tastes to be found out there in the world's restaurants. If anything, you should use it as an incentive to try and find people to dine with.
Always Spring For The "Customer's Only Bathroom"—They're Nice
If you're trekking around the world you've got to get used to being perpetually constipated. I'm sorry, it's high time someone told you. I recommend springing that extra Euro for that private washroom.
This is especially important if you're on your period and really can't afford to be running around looking for a public one. Your bowels and your uterus will thank you for it.
You Can Pack Light And Still Have Day-To-Night Looks
Listen, I know how annoying it is to be told you have to "pack light" when your destination can range from rocky mountains to pubs in old cities, but it can actually be done. Fitting a wardrobe that's both appropriate and compact starts with choosing basics that can accomplish it all.
That means choosing neutral tops and pants that can be dressed down or up depending on your accessories or footwear. If you become a top-tier packer then you can basically go from day to night just by changing one item.
Be The Roaming Cowboy—Make Your Friends In Bars
Okay, don't go getting out of control and putting yourself in unsafe situations obviously, but bars are a great place to meet locals and fellow travelers.
Alcohol makes people friendly—so if you're a little socially awkward but looking for friends, I'd recommend saddling up to a bar and seeing what happens. You'll definitely get talking with someone as long as you don't bring your massive backpack and plop it on the stool beside you.
Never Disclose How Long You'll Be Traveling Alone For (Even If You're Running Away To Be A Mountain Hermit)
Solo female travelers are often targeted more often than solo male travelers and because of this, we should always be thinking about smart answers to questions that might be trying to get you to disclose personal information. One of these is often the most common—are you traveling alone?
And while yeah, duh, you obviously are, a good response that chips away at that target on your back would be saying, "yes, but I'm meeting a friend in a day and I'm in constant contact with my family."
Try Not To Fall Into Old Habits Like You Fall Back With Your Ex
Jet lag can be a serious mother trucker to conquer, but the biggest time-dwindler you're going to have to face is your non-vacation schedule. If you're used to waking up at 10 am every day, eating lunch at noon, and going to bed by 11 pm then you need to throw those habits out the window.
Vacations are all about letting loose and making the most of your time—so lean into that spontaneity! If that means waking at 7 am and eating a bagel on a German train while you funnel mimosas on your way to Oktoberfest, then so be it.
Girl, Use You Charms To Haggle
Look, I'm not saying use your feminine charms to take advantage of kind local merchants, that's not it at all. But sometimes local market vendors can try and drive the price up for tourists.
So, if you recognize that kind of behavior happening over what should be a two euro baguette, don't be afraid to get right up in the merchant's face batting your eyelashes and saying how much you want it. Seriously, if you're friendly and play your cards right you can save a lot of money.
Stay Mean, Stay Clean
I don't have to tell you about the value of staying healthy on your trip...but you should definitely try and do just that. There's zero fun to be had traveling the world with a cold, plus, nobody wants to be anywhere near you on public transit if you have one.
Carrying around little bottles of hand sanitizer may make you feel like your mom, but it's your best option. Also, sanitizer does double duty as quick (and small) sponge baths if you don't have water. That's gross but it's the freaking truth.
Solo Female Traveling? There's An App For That
Even though the biggest joke in our digital world is saying that there's an "app for that"—traveling alone as a woman really is an app-licable thing. Even if you hate my jokes, you should really get the Magpie app.
The Magpie app was created to connect women with other female travelers through groups, locations, and interests. That way you can look and see if there are other likeminded free spirits in the area and link up with them.
Airport Security Sucks And You're Just Going To Have To Go To Your Happy Place
TSA, we love you and understand you, but oh my God do you get a little too personal. I don't quite understand why I can't have my tiny bottles of lotions or liquids when I'm flying but I digress.
If you're flying out, make sure you're prepared by not wearing jewelry, have your comfiest clothes on, and are emotionally prepared to have your legs patted down by a middle-aged man wearing rubber gloves.
It's Literally Never A Bad Time To Have An Eat, Pray, Love Journey
We may watch Eat, Pray, Love with Julia Roberts and think "dang, I'm not a successful and hot recent divorcee working through her breakup emotions." But don't stress about that, because there's never a bad time or a life requirement to start in on your travel journey.
Whether you're fresh out of school, fresh out of a divorce, or looking to enjoy your retirement, every woman should definitely travel if they have the resources to do so. Don't let Hollywood dictate the "right" stage of life for you to travel.
Get Friendly With The Locals
Locals are your best bet for the good spots to eat, drink, and adventure that aren't super populated with tourists and will give you that "authentic" experience that every travel blogger craves for. So make sure you're open and friendly with the locals because they definitely have good tidbits of knowledge to share.
But, as always, the caveat is that you make sure you're being safe and keeping your wits about you. If someone suggests you drink at a bar that Google maps can't find, maybe don't check that particular spot out.
You're Going To Forget About That Moroccan Karaoke Night—So Keep A Journal
We all have those crazy nights but sometimes a photo doesn't do the whole experience justice. That grainy Instagram video you took while your new best friend Peter vomited in the streets of Dublin after challenging an Irishman to a drinking contest? That's a story that deserves a whole page of context.
Keeping a journal is also a great way to stay organized and cognizant of where you've gone, so if you're planning another trip you'll know where to go next time. It's just the write idea.
Know Your Transportation Options (Yes, I Do Mean That Beat-Up Rental Kia)
Even though everyone tells you how "easy" it is to travel in Europe, you still have to plan a few things beforehand because it's not like magically hopping into a land where you can all of a sudden go wherever you like whenever you like.
Check into transportation routes and schedules because the last thing you want is to be stranded somewhere you may not have accommodations for. This can be especially dangerous as a woman.
Rely On Your Good Buddy Google Translate
I'm not here to preach at you, but I do have a soapbox in the back of my closet that could use a good dusting-off when it comes to the topic of speaking the language of the area. You can't expect every place you go to speak English, so it's in your best interest to learn at least a little of the regional dialect.
Not only will a little knowledge prevent you from getting lost, taken advantage of, and suckered into purchasing an overpriced tourist item, but it'll show the locals you're willing to try—and they're more likely to meet you halfway. If all else fails, rely on Google translate.
We All Want That Group Love Vacation—But It Pays To Be Wary
Even though an unspoken rule of traveling by yourself is trying to network and connect with as many people as possible, that can potentially leave you vulnerable to be taken advantage of.
We've all heard the travel nightmares so I won't even mention them, but a big truth about traveling alone as a female means that you need to be on guard at all times. That means being purposely vague about where you're staying, where you're heading, or what you're carrying if you're getting bad vibes from a person or situation.
Unplug Even Though Your Vacay Is Totally Instagrammable
Look, I know that it's tempting to fall right back into scrolling habits like we all do—but your vacation should be the one time you unplug for a bit. I'm not saying stop texting family and friends, and please keep using Google Maps to see where you are, but get off the 'gram for God's sake.
We can often feel the pressure to update everyone constantly on our travels and adventures on social media, but we should try to live in the moment on vacation. It'll make it more fun, plus, nobody really cares what your lunch in Bangkok looked like.
Keep An Eye Out For Other Female Travelers (Look For Those Massive Backpacks)
Even though you're traveling alone, there's nothing wrong with trying to make friends and some of the best people you can befriend are other female travelers. They'll be likeminded women who will help look out for you and can give you advice about where to go in the region.
Even better is if you can meet someone who's heading the same way as you. Catching trains, planes, and boats is always easier when organizing with someone else. Just make sure they're not going to sleep through alarms.
Better Get Used To Public Transit
Not to burst your Jet Blue fantasy bubble, but flying to your destination isn't going to be the greatest thing. Not only is the plane going to be crowded, noisy, and uncomfortable, but you're probably going to feel pretty stressed about the entire airport experience as a solo female.
Especially for long trips, you're probably going to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of planning you're going to have to put in to just to get in and get out of your destination. I recommend investing in a fanny pack, a good neck pillow, and some noise-canceling headphones to achieve a little namaste in gate 7.
