Let’s keep it real. With solo female travel, there were nights where I wasn’t sure where I was going to sleep. I missed flights, had to sleep on airport floors, was homesick and lost with no service. One time, I almost got thrown into a german jail because I had the wrong train ticket. These are not here to scare you, but rather to highlight the reality sometimes of being a solo female traveler. I only experienced minor hiccups and was fine in the end (mom if you’re reading this I’m sorry). Go in with a wise perspective of knowing what to watch out for and how to prevent it.
social media
Social media tends to glamorize people who solo female travel. This leads us to thinking we can’t afford it or we are not worthy of having adventures like this. If money is what you’re worried about, I personally think the best way to travel is on a budget. Staying in hostels, eating cheaply, doing free activities, and meeting people from all over the world. Many of these “influencers” live for the camera, so are they actually having authentic experiences and living in the moment? Don’t compare your experience to others, everyone is unique and therefore your solo female travel experience will be too (duh!!).
At first, I was obsessed with taking inauthentic photos for instagram just to brag to others. I would check snapchat constantly, seeing what my hometown friends were up to. The obvious solution? DELETE social media. Who cares what people are doing, focus on you and stay in your lane. Once I limited contact with my “old life” that’s when I started to attract amazing experiences and people because I was finally present. The key is to have no expectation, just go in and let the universe take it from there.
homesickness
Homesickness is inevitable at times. It stems from an inability to be present. The first few weeks you might experience major culture shock, so here are some things that helped me:
- I deleted all social media and focused on what was going on in MY life, not other people halfway across the world
- I scheduled weekly calls with friends and family from home
- I did activities I liked doing at home such as cooking, bike rides, going to the gym, and walking barefoot/earthing
- I kept busy and planned upcoming trips which made me excited
- I reminded myself that these feelings were temporary and I would be home before I knew it
- I openly expressed when I was feeling homesick and my new friends there resonated and supported me
being alone
With solo female travel, you are alone a majority of the time. You will likely eat alone, travel alone, spend your days alone. For some (like myself) this sounds great! For others, the task of having to eat alone in a restaurant is embarrassing. Honestly, I feel like you can choose how social you want to be. When you stay in hostels, you are in the same room with multiple strangers. Even just sitting in the lobby of a hostel, you will come across numerous conversations.
If you don’t want to be alone as much, ask someone to go somewhere for the day with you. If you’re a bit more introverted, take days to explore by yourself and nights for social interactions. You never know who you will meet. At one point I ended up traveling with several people I just met and we all stayed in an airbnb. The best things in life happen unplanned and spontaneously! So for all my type A’s out there, let loose a little. Keep in mind to monitor your social battery though, don’t let it burn out and nourish it when needed.
hostels
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about staying in hostels, all thanks to that horror movie. Sure you may run into problems when sleeping with strangers like bed bugs or being uncomfortable. I booked my hostels on the app Hostel World which allows you to see ratings and reviews. By staying in hostels that were above an 8 star rating, I never ran into any cleanliness problems and felt very safe. You are certainly always taking a risk, but just keep your stuff locked up. Hostel staff works 24/7 so if you ever need help, they will switch rooms for you.
your safety
You’re a foreigner in a new country. Stop acting like a ditsy tourist. I quickly had to learn how to be a smart traveler. I couldn’t easily trust people, I could only trust myself. This is the hard reality, especially because I think everyone has good intentions. There are always the possibilities of the what-ifs in life, but let’s not manifest those into existence. Here is some basic safety advice I followed:
- do not travel after dark (try and arrive to your next hostel BEFORE the sun sets to avoid being lost and confused in a new area)
- keep all items locked (hostels usually provide lockers or storage areas and you bring your own lock)
- use an anti theft purse (this sounds silly but lots for places are know for pitpocketers so keep track of your bags when traveling)
- don’t drink when you don’t feel safe
- be aware of people trying to drug you at clubs (always cover your cup!!!)
- always tell someone from home where you are going / give people your live iPhone location
- use a buddy system if you go out (find a cool girly in the hostel and she’s your mate for the night)
your problems follow you
Many people, like myself, use solo travel as a means to “escape the real world” and run away from problems. Well news flash, whatever unhealed suppressed baggage you are carrying will be with you no matter where you go. Having so much free time forces you to face your darkest emotions. This can be overwhelming when dealing with the past while in a different country. It’s not unbearable (depending on the person) but getting help with therapy might be a good start. Some things that helped me was listening to music, podcasts, journaling and shadow work. For me in my self growth spiritual journey, this reflection period was necessary. However, I was silly to think that my problems would poof in a new country. I came to learn how critical it is to bring peace to yourself anywhere.
mental health
Neglecting your mental health while traveling can lead to mental breakdowns and burnout. On top of this, stresses of homesickness, and navigating different country (booking hostels, trains, plans etc) may arise. It’s helpful to know your limits. Since this was my first time traveling alone, I pushed myself way too hard. I tried to do too many things at once and couldn’t keep myself grounded. So slow down and take some deep breaths in a local park. It takes a certain type of personality to travel, so slow down and take some deep breaths. Your doing amazing sweetie!!
If planning your own route is a stressor, there are abroad programs that provide more structure. For instance, organizations like Contiki and Give Volunteers plan all your days for you. The cost is more, but if you want to be a bit more relaxed this option may be best.
meeting new people
Everything in life is temporary. As someone who tends to cling to new people, this is a harsh reality. As you travel you will make new friends and then the next day they are gone. Unfortunately, goodbyes never get easier. It’s like freshman year of college all over again because everyone is so eager! Realize and appreciate that people come in and out of your life at certain times. This pattern shows you exactly what you need in that moment. The universe gives you people to teach you lessons, and sometimes when their purpose is done they leave. Everyone I met abroad will forever be in my heart. However, people grow apart and those worth fighting for you will keep in touch.
in conclusion ….
Solo female travel will certainly push you out of your comfort zone. I went through many hardships but in the end the pros outweigh the cons. You will have an amazing, unforgettable experience, but your safety is number one priority. Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s, and remember the universe will divinely guide you. It took me a while to realize this but a little faith and trust goes a long way. On a more positive note – there are so many reasons to solo travel!
much love, peace & vibez 2 u & all beings everywhere
-EC <3
