Solo travelling as a woman has become an important part of self-care. Women who grew up being taught to look out for others are ready to now put some of that energy into discovering themselves. The past few decades have seen the rise of solo travelling as an act of introspection and learning. While it comes with plenty of challenges, doing the same as a woman can seem far more complex. Safety, societal limitations and financial dependence are some reasons why women don’t travel as often. Does that mean you accept it for what it is? Not really. While making the decision as a woman to invest in travelling might seem daunting, it brings long-term gains. When you do decide to take the leap as a solo female traveller, nothing can stop you except for yourself.
This guide explores the various challenges you might encounter solo travelling as a woman and the different decisions that you might have to make along the way.
Solo Travel as a Woman – What Can you Expect?
When you travel alone, you have to plan everything by yourself. Chances are that no one will remind you to check whether you packed your passport- wallet-identity cards. Apart from that, even seasoned solo travellers experience waves of loneliness and homesickness. This can be even more overwhelming as an Indian woman since you were never given the freedom to explore on your own. Your first-time solo travelling can be a fulfilling and enlightening experience if you plan well. But again, a little planning is all that you need to make your solo travels successful.
So if you are a woman who has finally gathered the courage to swim against the currents and take a leap, these are some things you should consider
Research your Destination before You Travel
As a woman, your safety will always be your primary concern. However, plenty of solo women travellers believe that if you trust your gut and plan well, you will travel without any hiccups. Instead of being afraid and packing your pepper spray, consider researching your destination. A lot of problems arise when you don’t know your destination well. You could end up at the wrong bus stop, be stuck at an airport with no taxis or get lost in a shady corner of town.
The idea is to seek resources and make decisions based on the information you find. You can start with public forums such as Quora, TripAdvisor and Reddit. While they are often reliable, take all responses with a grain of salt. In the end, individual experiences can differ. Consider calling up your hotel/hostel and ask them to help you out with information about public transport and taxis. Lastly, plenty of travellers have talked about intuition and how your body knows when something isn’t right. Be fearless, plan your routes, avoid the unsafe parts of town and listen to that tiny voice in your head.
Navigate your Finances when You Travel
Money is the only thing that can make or break your adventures solo travelling as a woman. Make sure to save enough for your travels and pick a destination that fits your budget. Apart from that, spend some time researching credit cards to pick the one with the most benefits. Add every expense that you can think of to your budget – from public transport and food to hotels and flights. Lastly, consider keeping a buffer amount for emergency expenses.
Meet New People
Solo travelling is all about self-discovery; meeting new people and making friends can make the experience so much better! Reach out to people at your hostel, look up community events in your locality and book group guided tours. These are some wonderful ways to meet people and maybe get a travel partner for your next adventure. Moreover, travelling solo can get overwhelming and make you homesick, no matter how often you do it. Meeting new people can balance out your alone time and can also make going to bars and clubs late all the safer.
Indulge in Solo Experiences
As an Indian woman, your solo trips will give you access to plenty of alone time with yourself. If you pick a destination that doesn’t constantly call you out for your fashion choices, even better. Take this time to invest in solo experiences. Go wine tasting or hiking, plan a solo dinner date, take a bus to a random town, hit a bar with karaoke or just laze on a beach. Indian culture emphasises community over individualism. While it’s not a bad thing, establishing an individual identity drastically changes how you experience life. So do things that are out of your comfort zone and challenge your fears. These situations might just show you a side of you that you didn’t know existed.
Pack Smart
As a solo woman, you need to make some tough decisions about packing. Generally, women are expected and conditioned to always look ‘pretty’ and ‘presentable’. However, when you travel solo, you need to pack light and choose wisely, especially if you are a heavy packer. Start off with packing clothes for your destination’s weather and climate. Along with that, it is important to keep in mind the activities you might be doing. Ideally, pants and shoes over dresses and heels are much more comfortable, especially in cases when you might have to walk a lot. Worry less about how you look and more about how your body feels. Lastly, try to repeat or mix-and-match outfits to avoid overpacking. Not only will your bag be easier to move, but you will also save money on baggage fees on flights.
Travelling solo as a woman can seem scary. However, the key to a successful trip is planning well and executing it with confidence. Your fear has a reason, but often it’s the one thing that can get in the way of you truly enjoying solo travelling. Pack smart, invest in yourself, be concise with your budget, make new friends and trust your gut. Don’t forget to pick a destination that suits your travel needs and budget.
