Solo female travel- the ultimate guide

So you're thinking of taking the plunge and going on a solo trip as a woman? First of all YES, DO IT! There’s something incredibly powerful and freeing about booking a one-way ticket just for yourself. No one to wait for, no compromises on where to eat or what to do, just you, your gut instincts, and the wide open world.

Whether you’re heading out for the first time or you’ve already dipped your toes into it, this guide is here to help you feel safe, prepared, and open to all the beautiful chaos that solo travel brings. Here's our ultimate guide to solo female travel, with tips on safety, connection, packing, and how to make it all feel a little less intimidating and a lot more exciting.

Let’s talk about safety

Safety tends to be the first thing people bring up when you mention you’re traveling alone. “Aren’t you scared?” is usually the go-to response. And the honest answer? Sometimes, yes. But that fear becomes less about the world being dangerous, and more about learning how to move through it with awareness and confidence.

Internet access

One of the easiest ways to feel a little more secure is by having access to the internet from the moment you land. This might sound basic, but not having signal while navigating an unfamiliar country, especially when you’re alone, can feel a bit scary at times. A local SIM card is often cheaper and works well for longer stays. The downside? You might need to provide passport details and might only be able to pay cash. Local SIMs can’t always be purchased in the airport unless you're in a bigger hub, which means you might be without data during that first taxi or bus ride into town, arguably the moment you’d feel most vulnerable.

On the other hand, an eSIM can feel like a small luxury that pays for itself. You set it up before you fly, and the moment you land, you're connected. Yes, it’s often a little bit more expensive than a local SIM, but the trade-off is peace of mind. You can load Google Maps, check your accommodation info, check the local currency, or order an uber ride without trying to look for public Wi-Fi. If something doesn’t feel right, you have instant access to help, which can make all the difference when you're standing outside an unfamiliar airport with a taxi driver trying to haggle.

Money

I always recommend carrying more than one bank card, and keeping them in different spots. If you lose your wallet or your card gets swallowed by an ATM (yes, that happens), you’ll be glad you stashed a backup in your toiletries bag or hidden pouch. A little cash tucked away on you, not just in your bag, also comes in handy for tipping, snacks, or grabbing a tuk tuk when the card machine’s "broken."

Musts; passport, phone and a power bank

Your passport is your golden ticket, so treat it that way. Keep it somewhere secure and close to your body when in transit, especially on travel days. If you're moving between destinations, wear it under your clothes, not in an easy-access backpack. It’s not a must, but I also like to travel with an extra old phone, just in case. Another must: bring a power bank. Your phone is your map, your emergency button, your translator, your flashlight, and none of that matters if the battery dies. I always travel with a fully charged one,  especially on long travel days or when I'm heading somewhere new after dark.

Neighborhoods & sketchy areas

And lastly, know your limits when it comes to walking around after dark. One rule I tend to follow is: if it's more than a 15-minute walk at night,  especially in a place I don’t know well,  I’ll usually just grab a cab or taxi. It depends on the neighborhood, the lighting, and whether I’m walking alone or with someone else, but walking 40 minutes through an unfamiliar city in the dark late at night is rarely worth the risk. You don’t want to accidentally wander into an area that locals themselves avoid. This is especially important in big cities where neighborhoods can shift fast, one block feels totally fine, the next not so much. In smaller surf towns or laid-back villages, it’s often less of an issue, but still worth checking in with someone local before heading out. A little research goes a long way, knowing which areas to avoid after dark can save you from awkward or unsafe situations.

Party mood

If you choose to drink while traveling, do it mindfully. Being solo means there's no one automatically looking out for you, so staying aware of your surroundings becomes even more important. I’m not saying don’t have fun, just know your limits and never leave your drink unattended. If you're going out, let someone know where you're headed, even if it’s just a quick message to a new travel friend or hostel staff. The goal is to enjoy yourself and get home safe.

You've got your back

Be smart, watch your back and sometimes, a little white lie is your safest option. You don’t have to tell every stranger you're traveling alone. If someone’s asking questions that feel too personal, I’ll often say I’m meeting up with a friend at the hostel, or that my travel partner is waiting for me. Most people mean well, but there’s no need to give out information that could make you more vulnerable. You're not being rude, you're being smart.

Apps that actually make solo travel easier and safer

There are a few apps I wouldn’t travel without. Google Maps or Maps Organic are the MVPs, especially if you download offline maps in advance. I use it to navigate, save places I want to check out, see where things are open late, and to screenshot directions in case I lose signal. Google Translate is another lifesaver, the camera feature lets you read menus or street signs instantly, and the voice function is helpful when trying to communicate with a driver or vendor. WhatsApp is huge almost everywhere, a lot of tours, hostels, and even transport services use it instead of email. If you’re staying in a hostel, Hostelworld can be helpful not just for booking but for reading between the lines in reviews to find places with a social vibe (look for “communal dinners” or “easy to meet people”). Ride-share apps like Bolt, Grab, inDrive or Uber are also good to download ahead of time if they exist in your destination,  it saves you from that first “how do I get to my hostel?” stress. It’s not about having 50 apps, just the few that make your days a little smoother and your nights a little safer.

People are kind <3

All that said, it’s important to remember: most people are good. The world is full of kindness. If you ever do get into trouble or feel stuck, there are usually more people willing to help than you’d expect, especially when they see that you’re on your own. So yes, stay sharp, trust your gut, but don’t let fear close you off from the good. Because the good is out there, in abundance.

Picking a destination as a solo female traveler

Choosing where to go is one of the most exciting parts of planning a solo trip, but it can also feel overwhelming. I usually start by asking myself: what do I want? Do I want slow mornings by the ocean, or the buzz of a big city? Do I feel like being around lots of other travelers, or leaning into quiet time on my own? Some places are known to be especially solo-travel friendly, think Thailand, Portugal, Bali,  places where the infrastructure is there, and where it’s easy to meet others.. If it’s your first time, I recommend picking a place that’s a little outside your comfort zone, but not too far from it. Somewhere that stretches you without completely overwhelming you. Read some blogs, ask in travel Facebook groups, and look up the vibe of different neighborhoods before booking accommodation. You don’t need to figure out your whole trip,  just a good place to land and feel confident for your first few days.

How to spend your first 24 hours in a new place 

Those first hours in a brand new city can feel disorienting, everything’s unfamiliar, your brain’s on overdrive, you might feel jetlagged and are out of water and food and that point and even something simple like finding water or an ATM can feel weirdly stressful. That’s normal. Breath, make a little list of things you’d like to organise and go for a short walk to see a bit of the area. Try to find a café nearby where you can sit, eat something light, and observe. I always download an offline Google Map of the area before I arrive, so I don’t need to rely on Wi-Fi right away. Drop a few pins, your hostel or Airbnb, an ATM, maybe a little grocery store. Message a friend or family member to say you’ve landed. And if you're feeling up for it, chat with the front desk or someone else in the hostel common area, ask what they’ve done in the area or what they’d recommend for food. That first day isn’t for sightseeing,  it’s for landing. Let your nervous system settle, and remind yourself there’s no rush to be “on” or productive. You made it, now ease in.

Let’s talk about meeting other travellers

Traveling alone doesn’t mean being alone the whole time. In fact, some of the most open-hearted, spontaneous friendships happen on the road, especially when you’re not together with a group.

Hostels 

Hostels, even if you don’t sleep in a shared dorm, are great places to meet people. Hang out in the kitchen, join a group dinner or a walking tour, those awkward hellos can turn into a full day of adventures with someone you just met over breakfast. Group activities like surf lessons, cooking classes, or even volunteering are other natural ways to meet people with shared interests. These settings remove the pressure of having to "approach" someone. You’re already doing something together and the conversation will go from there.

Online communities 

Don’t underestimate the power of online communities either. Facebook groups and WhatsApp chats have become modern lifelines for solo travelers. There are groups specifically for solo female travel, others for each country, and even ones tailored to cities. If you're staying in a place longer, you might find a yoga meet-up, a digital nomad brunch, or a beach clean-up happening the same week you’re there. You just have to look.

Smile & be approachable or approach yourself :)

And of course, sometimes it is as simple as smiling at the person next to you. Ask where they're from. Share a tip about a local café. You never know where a conversation might lead.

What to do when you feel lonely while traveling

Feeling lonely is normal, no matter how confident or seasoned we are as travelers. And being alone in a beautiful place can sometimes feel more intense than being alone at home,  because you’re surrounded by people, but not with anyone. When it shows up, I try not to push it away. I let myself feel it. Call a friend, cry if you need to, or just write a few thoughts in your Notes app or journal. Sometimes loneliness is just your body asking for stillness and softness. I also find it helps to get outside, even if it’s just a short walk with a podcast or finding a local café to sit in. If I’m staying in a hostel or guesthouse, I’ll make a point to say hello to someone or ask if there are group plans that evening. Even just chatting to the guy who makes your smoothie can shift your energy. And if none of that works, give yourself permission to watch Netflix in bed and try again tomorrow. Solo travel gives you the space to meet yourself deeply, and loneliness is sometimes part of that. But it always passes. Always.

Trust yourself and have fun :)

At the end of the day, solo travel is about learning to trust yourself. Not just your gut instincts, but your ability to handle things when they don’t go to plan. And they won’t always. You’ll get lost, you’ll feel lonely, you might cry in a weird place or get terribly sick (mine was a roadside café in the Philippines). But you’ll also get to know a whole new version of yourself, you’ll get to fall in love with the world, get to meet amazing people. You’ll get to taste things you never thought you’d try, and find a version of yourself that feels freer, stronger, and a little bit wilder.

You’ll learn to be your own advocate. Your own safety net. Your own hype woman. And that’s a power you’ll carry long after your solo trip ends.

So if you needed a sign, here it is. Go book that trip, you SO got this!