Chelsea
Uncover seven lessons from solo female travel that are designed to help you feel more confident and empower you to take your first solo trip.
Solo female travel wasn’t something I’d ever considered, mostly because all my previous trips had been with family or friends, which I absolutely loved. Then something unexpected happened…the multiple jobs I had been working all became fully remote at the same time. I immediately wanted to board a plane and explore the world for months at a time!
I knew long, slow travel like this wouldn’t be possible for many of my usual travel buddies, which is why I started to think about solo travel. In 2023, after doing A LOT of research, I decided to take the leap, and I booked my first-ever solo trip.
I’ve always enjoyed my own company, so I wasn’t worried about being lonely. I was also starting in Istanbul, which was a city I’d visited before, so I would be familiar with my surroundings. Overall, I was super excited, BUT I’d be lying if I said there weren’t a lot of nerves.
This blog post is designed to help you overcome those first solo trip nerves. It will take you through 7 lessons from my solo female travel adventures and some key takeaways. It is the hope that this will inspire and empower you to book your own solo trip.
7 Lessons From a Solo Female Traveller
Lesson #1 – People are mostly kind and helpful
Safety is probably the most common question that comes up when talking about solo female travel, and rightfully so. It’s important to plan a trip carefully, be aware of your surroundings while travelling, and just generally be prepared, especially when you’re a woman.
However, my first lesson from solo travel is that the majority of people are kind and helpful.
Just one example of this was during a weekend trip in Türkiye. I’d based myself in Istanbul and took a weekend getaway to Konya in central Türkiye (which is a very underrated city by the way – see my blog post on Konya here). On my flight from Konya back to Istanbul, the woman sitting next to me saw my Australian passport and struck up a conversation with me. She was curious as to why I was so far from home, why I’d chosen to travel around Türkiye, and why I had been to Konya. When she realised I was travelling solo, she immediately gave me her contact details. She encouraged me to call her if I needed any help during my trip and offered me a place to stay in Istanbul if I ever needed it. I was blown away by the kindness and generosity.
KEY TAKEAWAY – Kindness from strangers is more common than you think.
Lesson #2 – Solo travel can bring more flexibility and freedom
I’ve always loved travelling with friends and family, and even on occasion, I’ve enjoyed travelling as part of a tour group. All of my past trips were amazing, and I loved sharing these experiences with my nearest and dearest. For this reason, I was shocked by how much I actually liked solo travel.
One of the things I loved most about solo female travel was the flexibility it provided. This was especially helpful when I was working remotely and travelling at the same time.
If there were days when I wanted to take it slow, I could. If I wanted to start sightseeing at 7am, I could (which also helped me avoid tourist crowds.) If I didn’t feel like eating at a restaurant, I could get food and eat it back at my accommodation. As an introvert who needs quiet time to recharge, there were several days when I chose to eat at my accommodation.
KEY TAKEAWAY – Embrace the independence and flexibility.
Lesson #3 – Walking tours are even better as a solo traveller
I’ve always loved a walking tour; it’s usually one of the first things I do when I arrive in any new city. A walking tour gives you a fantastic overview of the history, culture, and key landmarks of a city. You can also get some really helpful tips from the tour guide, like the best places to eat and tourist traps to avoid.
One thing I noticed during walking tours when travelling solo is that you build better connections with people. When I’m travelling with friends or family, I tend to stick with them. But when you’re solo, you tend to connect more with the guide and with other travellers in the group, especially when there are other solo travellers.
Solo travellers are like magnets, they’re drawn to each other. The perfect example of this was when I met another solo traveller during a walking tour in Prague. We started talking, and after the tour we decided to see the ‘Walk of the Apostles’ together. This is the hourly show at the famous Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square. We found a nearby restaurant in front of the clock, had a drink and shared travel stories. Afterwards, we went our separate ways, but not before we connected with each other on Instagram.
KEY TAKEAWAY – Solo female travel changes how you connect with others, and also how they connect with you.
Lesson #4 – You learn to be even more adaptable and resilient than you already are
I can be spontaneous at times, but it’s pretty rare. I’m a meticulous planner, and I just generally love the research part of travel. BUT, anyone who has ever travelled will know that things don’t always go to plan.
Sometimes you need to find ways to adapt, and this is especially true when travelling solo. It really is character-building, because sometimes you have no choice but to figure things out on your own.
One example was my first trip to Izmir, Türkiye. I had booked an AirBnB in Konak, the historical centre of Izmir. My AirBnB host did not speak English, but was able to provide me with clear instructions on how to reach the accommodation via public transport. The plan was to catch the train from the airport to Alsancak and then a tram to Konak. This sounded easy enough…
While on the train, I could hear announcements mentioning the name Alsancak. However, because all the announcements were in Turkish, I had no idea what was happening. All of a sudden the train stopped at the next station, and everyone got off. I got off too, but was left wondering what was happening, and where I was.
I tried to call my AirBnB host, but he didn’t speak any English, and I couldn’t find anyone else who spoke English. Izmir isn’t considered a popular tourist destination, so I was surrounded by the locals who were buzzing around in the peak hour rush. There also didn’t seem to be any attendants around. An added stressor was that my phone was on 15% battery, and my power bank had conveniently decided to stop working.
Everything felt a little bit frantic, so I literally sat on the ground for 10 minutes, had a drink, and let the crowd dissipate. This was exactly what I needed to be able to ‘regroup’ and figure out my next steps.
I got back up and walked around for about 10 minutes until I eventually found an attendant who spoke broken English. It turned out that a train further up the line had partially derailed. I ended up having to change trains, and then instead of getting the tram, I had to get on a different train line to Konak. I eventually found my way to my Airbnb, and despite a rocky start, Izmir was well worth the visit.
KEY TAKEAWAY – You will figure things out, but sometimes you just need to pause and take a breath first.
Lesson #5 – Things that go wrong make for the best stories!
This is perhaps a nice segue from Lesson #4. The saying goes that travel is about the journey rather than the destination. One of the biggest lessons from solo travel is that travel mishaps often make for the best stories. Although it can be stressful and frustrating, sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
One example was when I travelled from Istanbul to Paris. I landed at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and had planned to catch the airport train to the city centre. The first step was to change terminals at the airport, and of course, the inter-terminal train wasn’t running. Instead, I had to find my way to the inter-terminal bus. As you can imagine, it was packed; three buses came and went before I could even get on. During that time, I met an American woman who was also travelling solo. We started chatting, and together we navigated our way to the airport train station. We each bought our train ticket (€12) and then made our way to the platform.
When we arrived, the platform was full and no trains were running. There was no information in English, and the only thing we could decipher on the electronic signs was an exclamation point, which is rarely good news. It turned out the trains weren’t running due to a safety issue. We waited some more and then my new friend and I decided to split a cab to central Paris (€55!) Once we arrived, we got some food from a local French patisserie and exchanged contact details. We are still in contact to this day, and it’s one of my favourite travel memories.
KEY TAKEAWAY – These travel mishaps can lead to strong connections with others and make for great stories. Fun fact, I recently caught up with this friend when she visited Melbourne for the Australian Open tennis.
Lesson #6 – Eating in a restaurant alone isn’t as intimidating as it seems
For some reason, the thought of eating by myself in a restaurant for most meals made me uncomfortable. Even the thought of staying at a hotel and going to breakfast alone felt awkward, especially when couples, friends, and families are together sharing a meal. But it turns out, it’s really not that bad. Most people are caught up in their own world and don’t even notice you, and those who do notice you may be up for a chat.
If there is no one to talk to, my recommendation is to sit back and enjoy the surroundings. It’s a great time to do some people-watching, which is one of my favourite things to do. Whether it’s in a touristy area where it’s all hustle and bustle, or in a less touristy area where you can observe how the locals live, there is always something interesting to see. There are other options too for when you’re dining out – you can take a book along with you, or a notepad and pen to spend time journaling. And worst case, you can always scroll through your phone if you’re feeling uncomfortable.
KEY TAKEAWAY – Dining alone is a chance to enjoy the atmosphere and have a good ‘people-watching’ session.
Lesson #7 – Meeting locals is the best part.
When you’re travelling solo it can be tempting to connect only with other tourists. This is great, but I also recommend making the effort to connect with the locals (even if it’s via Google Translate). Take the time to start a conversation with the people you meet along the way – the tour guides, hotel staff, or people you meet in restaurants. Be curious, ask questions, and really listen to what they have to say.
The locally owned hotel I stayed at in Selçuk, Türkiye was one of the highlights of my first solo trip. The owner had a wealth of knowledge on the region and helped me book a tour of Ephesus. However, what I remember most are the many long chats we had in the hotel lobby over Turkish tea. We spoke about family life and local Turkish culture, politics, travel, and everything else in between.
The hotel owner also offered to drive me out to the nearby town of Şirince so I didn’t have to catch the local bus. During this road trip, they gave me a tour of the area and showed me where their family farm was located. It was these conversations, experiences, and the personal connection that left a lasting impression on me.
KEY TAKEAWAY – Solo travel isn’t just about seeing the sites, it’s about connecting with people.
Summary
Hopefully, you enjoyed reading some of these lessons from my solo female travel adventures. All of these experiences have stuck with me, and it’s what always excites me to take my next trip Despite some of the challenges that come with solo female travel, hopefully, this gives you an idea of what to expect, reassurance that you’ll be okay, and ultimately empowers you to take the leap.
This post was all about lessons from solo female travel and tips for conquering your first solo trip
If you’re keen for more travel-related content, make sure you follow @Roamingwithchelsea on Instagram. If you’re interested in some tips for solo female travel in Türkiye, check out some of the posts below
21 Free Things to Do in Istanbul: How to Maxmise Your Visit
7 Things to Do in Konya: Explore the Magic of Türkiye
Quick Guide: 10 Tips For Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Happy travels,
Chelsea xx
