When you think about becoming as confident as the female solo travellers who inspire you online, while your heart sings with the idea of a new adventure, your fears and anxieties can quickly kick in, turning your dream into a nightmare of doubting your capacity to do so.
Does that sound familiar?
Chill out, sista, I totally get you! Most people feel some sort of apprehension when travelling alone. Because of this, I spoke to some superwomen who inspired me during my journey, and asked them to help me help you with one piece of advice. This way, I could create a guide based on real women and their personal travel experiences, so that you can avoid their ‘faux pas’.
After almost fifteen days, I collected 8 (goddamn!) hot tips from solo travel women from eight nationalities and completely different backgrounds. Check the gold material to see what it has become. Ready? 💛
1.“If you’re a female travelling solo, use your trips to know yourself and care for who you are becoming.”Ana Terra Azpilicueta, a.k.a me. 35 years old, Brazilian, visited 16 countries and lived in 4. Yada, Yada, this is not about me. But this is something I wish I could have learned earlier.
If you’re already part of the 35+ female solo travellers crew like “moi”, it is more than time to make your life about you, my little lemon tart. Before planning any itineraries, start designing your dream trip by thinking solely about yourself, and stop trying to carry the world on your shoulders.
Discover yourself to find your place in the world and discover how to contribute to the collective. What makes your heart sing? Whatever your dream is, use it as fuel to learn everything you can about it and nurture your passion. Nurture and cherish yourself with no shame!
Remember to recharge your energies through self-care and enjoy your own company. If you’re into journaling, I highly recommend it to organise your thoughts and feelings, too.
2.“Research thoroughly, including the political climate, and never partake in their political or social justice movements; no matter how moving it may seem, one’s just inviting problems.”Tanvi Shetty, 39, is an Indian woman who has visited 20 countries
and lived in four. She has already cooked for a US president and his wife,
as well as some Hollywood stars, and lived with a royal family that kept
a tiger as a pet. Through these experiences, she discovered that
her true passions lie in animals and plants.
Click on the IG icon to meet the real Tanvi:@tails_of_tinu
Girl, for God’s sake, remember that you’re not in your country, especially if you’re travelling alone! Every nation has specific laws regarding strikes and protests.
Participating in a strike you shouldn’t have joined can result in fines, deportation (👋🏽), or even jail time (ouch!) in a foreign country. Misinterpreting cultural contexts can hinder more than help the cause you’re involved in and lead to conflicts or violent backlashes.
If you still want to participate in a strike abroad, please thoroughly research local laws and customs. Doing so is at your own risk and can have potential consequences!
3.“I would tell women who are travelling at this time not to be dazzled by the beauty of discoveries, not to be completely carried away by emotions, and always to maintain a good degree of lucidity in their travels.”Erika Tola, 48, an Italian ragazza, who has visited eight countries and lived in two. Cool fact about her: She lives with the Maasai community in the Savannah of Tanzania, Africa, and helps make their lives easier by crowdfunding for schools and lifestyle improvements.
Here’s a little of the real Erika’s super cool life:@masaiadventure.erika
No matter how safe a country may look, it’s essential to stay alert, especially as a female solo traveller. Like in the Savannah where Erika lives, “predators will always prefer the easy prey”, and they will watch you opening your mouth in awe at everything, completely forgetting your surroundings.
Please plan and organise your trip, my black truffle pizza slice. Have a copy of your passport in case it is stolen or lost. To avoid stalkers, refrain from posting about the places you visit or stay. Prioritise driving apps over taxis, as you can share your trip in
real time with people you trust.
Have a backup plan and a list of the closest hospitals, banks, ATMs, police stations and embassies, and figure out in advance what you want to do in case of an emergency. Also, get good travel insurance and study what it covers exactly and what it doesn’t.
4. “If you’re a woman travelling alone, always stay in contact with somebody you trust and share your location and itinerary of the day with family and/or friends.”Augusta Vieira, 53, is a Portuguese “bonita” who has visited 14 countries and lived in 3. She and her husband are building a super rad motorhome to explore Europe ethically and authentically. Her motorhome is called Juanita, but I affectionately nicknamed it Maria Juana.🍀
“For me, the most important thing is to always keep in contact with somebody trustworthy, always letting them know I am okay, because if something happens, this would be a sign.”Nadia Helena, 33, has visited 14 countries and lived in 3. She lives and works in Paris and has had to adapt to an entirely new reality herself, which she has done with mastery and courage, whilst building her own businesses in Brazil and France. Follow her for local tips about Paris, although we are preparing together a complete session about it for you on my section ‘Tips for Europe’!
@Paris.com.batom
In case of an emergency, your loved ones will know where you are and how to reach you, providing you with extra safety and keeping them informed and at peace of mind while you’re away.
Use location-sharing apps like Google Maps or Find My Friends, if you’re an Apple user, to share your real-time location with somebody you trust. And certify you also have offline access in case you need it.
Send your travel itinerary, including accommodation and transportation details, to your friends and family, and schedule regular check-in times according to your preference and availability. Limit the audience!
Although sharing the details of your trip is useful, choose only to share them with people you trust. In this case, ‘caring is NOT sharing’, okay?
5. “My advice would be always to follow your intuition. If something feels off, it most likely is. However, don’t let fear stop you, and be open to meeting new people. But trust your instincts and watch out for the red flags when they appear. You don’t owe anyone an explanation in these cases. Make your safety a priority. But don’t forget to enjoy life and adventures while doing so.”Marleen van Dullemen, 37, is a Dutch psychologist, (and lucky me a dear friend!), who has visited over 110 (f*cking) countries and lived in 3:
Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands. She has also visited UN countries, and her favourite place in the world is Brazil.@ridethewave_oflife
“Trust your gut, whether keeping you safe or pulling you toward something unexpected. If something feels off, don’t overthink it. Move. Leave. Change plans. But also trust that feeling when something catches your eye, even if it seems random. Wander into that little shop, check out that cafe, stop and chat with the artist on the street. Some of the best experiences started with a simple ‘Why not?’”Sonia Torres, 39, is an incredible American human being who has visited 27 countries (she’s about to hit another 4 this year) and lived in 2. She was born in Alaska and said the Northern Lights were part of her childhood.
Sonia got over the cold weather and has decided to live in Costa Rica, where she enjoys the sunshine, cheeky raccoons invading her house, and plenty of coconut water!@simply_sonia907
Trust these two, and trust your intuition, you witch b*tch! Especially regarding your safety and establishing new relationships.
It’s essential to strike a balance between being open to new experiences and protecting your beautiful carcass. Staying aware of red flags while enjoying life and exploring the world can help you build meaningful connections without compromising your well-being.
Always prioritise your safety; don’t hesitate to say a polite but firm NO. And no is no, it doesn’t need justification.
Trust your sixth sense, and remember all times when you had that feeling in your gut that later proved true. Healthy relationships involve mutual respect for boundaries. If somebody disregards yours, this is a significant warning sign. 🙅🏽♀️
6. “Look, I’ll tell you what: One piece of advice I received changed everything (everything!) when I was starting to travel to Bahia, Brazil. I met a woman going to visit her grandkids in the South. She told me: Learn how to transform your fears (that limiting feeling that paralyses you), into precaution and attention.”Pamela, 37, is my beautiful Argentinian hemarnita who has lived in three countries and visited almost every corner of Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. She travels with her two dachshunds, Bella and Terra, and has recently added to her adventurous crew a mini beautiful soul like her, whom she nicknamed Solcita.
She helped to organise the first disability-inclusive carnival parade in São Tomé das Letras, MG, Brazil, using incredible colourful costumes she made
entirely from recycled materials.@pamdesire.foto
Pam also says, “Be present in every situation of your trip; this will help you to know how to react in undesired situations.”
Transforming fears into precaution is a skill we need to evolve as solo female travellers, especially when dealing with new experiences and challenging situations. This shift in perspective allows you to remain conscious and safe without letting fear stop you from enjoying your life.
When you feel afraid, ask yourself what is causing the fear. Practice mindfulness and breathing exercises to contain your anxiety.
Use your experiences to learn and correct your future responses. See every challenge as an opportunity to develop and grow.
7. “A tricky situation for me when travelling alone is engaging in activities typically enjoyed in groups, with partners or family, like visiting an amusement park. It can feel a bit awkward doing these things by myself. Once, I found myself in a restaurant where the seating was arranged for at least two people. Sitting in the centre all by myself while trying to enjoy my meal was pretty uncomfortable. How do I overcome the situation? ‘Just do it,’ because I am already in the middle of doing it”.Nang Hayman, 25, is a brilliant, kind and shy young woman from Myanmar who overcame her fears and dared to visit 8 countries and live in 2.
She is now living in Thailand and working remotely as a data analyst, which gives her the freedom to travel the world and soon, she’s going to conquer a master’s degree in Germany. You go, girl!@nang.hmo
Not everybody feels comfortable doing things alone, and that’s totally fine! When you need it, bring a small object that reminds you of your home, and take it easy.
In fact, a huge concern for the new travellers (Gen Z) is feeling lonely during their travels. This post reminds you that you can travel solo and still join a friendly travel group with mixed people or exclusively for female solo travellers.
Before joining a group trip, check the company’s reputation on Trustpilot and read the comments section to get an overview of what people have to say about their experience. I always have some eccentric group trips published on my Join My Trip profile, in case you decide to join me in one of my adventures. ☺️
Last, but not least:
8.“Just do it! Travelling by yourself means freedom, independence, self-knowledge, and a unique feeling of power. Everybody needs this moment to find
themselves and evolve.”Natalia Pereira, 30, is a Brazilian who has visited 8 countries. She’s a skilful dancer and party animal, exploring the best clubs worldwide.
This independent boss creature doesn’t mind enjoying a massive party in Ibiza by herself and runs her own language school, as she is a polyglot, talented little thing.@psnaat
Following the Solo Female Travel Survey, 87% of women travel to escape from routine and responsibilities, 79% travel for self-care reasons and enjoy that ‘me time’, 74% do it to challenge themselves, and 55% do it because they don’t have anyone to travel with.
Whatever your reason, whether you enjoy the chaos of a buzzing city or the peace of coastal and island scenery, keep exploring your passions!
I hope these incredible and confident female solo travellers can inspire you to explore the world as the brave and talented woman you are, just as they keep inspiring me. 💫
