My guide to solo female travel: tips, advice and resources to help you travel safely, smartly, and well.
I’ve been travelling the world solo for years. Ever since 2016, when I ran off to Asia to mend my broken heart after a bad break-up! I’ve been to over 60 countries, many of them solo, including places many people told me were too dangerous to visit as a solo female traveller – like India, Nicaragua, and Egypt.
I honestly believe that every woman should travel solo at least once. There’s something wonderfully freeing about taking a trip by yourself – whether it’s a months-long backpacking trip or one-night glamping in a forest near your home.
The best thing about solo travel is what it can teach you about yourself. When you have no one to rely on but yourself, you start to learn exactly what you’re capable of. It often feels like women are always being told what we can’t do – because it’s not safe, because it’s not “lady-like”, or because it’s “a man’s job”.
Travelling solo has taught me just how much I can do. Especially those times I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone – from the extreme stuff like throwing myself off a cliff or biking down Bolivia’s infamous Death Road, to simpler adventures like learning a new skill or driving abroad for the first time.
This page is a collection of my best tips, blog posts, and resources for solo female travellers…
Best Posts About Solo Female Travel
- A Year On My Own: How Travel Got Me Over a Breakup
- A Shy Girl’s Guide to Solo Travel
- Interview: Meet the Woman Who Drove Solo from Pennsylvania to Uruguay
- The Exquisite Loneliness of Solo Travel
You’ll find all my solo female travel posts at the bottom of this page – along with a list of all my favourite resources for booking your trips, planning, and staying safe on your travels.
Is Solo Female Travel Safe?
I truly believe that solo female travel can be safe almost all over the world – BUT that comes with a big caveat! Common sense, risk avoidance, and careful planning are important.
Unfortunately, women are often at more risk than men and that means we should never take our safety for granted. But if you’re sensible, keep your wits about you, and don’t take unnecessary risks, things are usually OK.
In almost a decade of solo travel, I’ve only been robbed twice (both times because I got drunk and left my valuables unattended – do not do this!) and have only felt in particular danger from a man once (thankfully nothing happened). This isn’t because I’m particularly lucky or charmed – it’s because I’m careful, do my research, and try to avoid risky situations. Most safety advice for solo travellers is common sense (and often sounds like you’re being patronising!), but it’s worth reiterating…
Solo Travel Safety Tips
- Do your research: look up common scams and risks in the areas you’ll be travelling. Take note of any neighbourhoods to be avoided (hotel/hostel staff can usually help with this) and check reviews online before booking accommodation etc.
- Look up the local emergency numbers for your destination and make sure you remember them.
- Don’t walk around on your own late at night – especially in unlit areas.
- Find out about any health risks and get necessary vaccinations before travelling – the NHS Fit For Travel website is great for this.
- Consider downloading a Location Sharing app and/or a Panic Button app to your phone in case of emergency.
- Side note to the above – set up location sharing and an emergency contact on Uber, Grab, or any other taxi booking app).
- Don’t get too drunk! It’s important to keep your wits about you, especially in areas you don’t know or when you’re hanging out with people you just met.
- READ MORE: How to Protect Your Valuables while Travelling
- READ MORE: Tips to Avoid Being Robbed While Travelling
My biggest tip? Get insurance! A lot of people seem to skip travel insurance, but that’s SUCH a terrible idea. I’ve used mine countless times over the years – claiming for a stolen phone, cancelled trips, and even the time a missed connection left me stuck in New York for two days!
If you get into an accident or need medical attention, it could end up costing you a fortune in fees. Travel insurance really is a must-have, no matter where you’re going or for how long. I recommend Safety Wing for long-term travel and backpacking.
Travel Fashion & Beauty Tips
I’m not a fashionista – and I’m definitely not one of those skinny, pretty, twenty-something travellers you see making everything look so glamorous and easy on Instagram! But I do have some practical tips relating to fashion & beauty – things like helping you travel light with streamlined packing lists and helping you look after your hair while on the road.
- Simple Summer City Break Packing List
- How to Streamline your Travel Makeup Kit to Just 6 Items
- 5 Lightweight and Comfortable Flip Flops for Travelling
- Travel Girl’s Guide to Not Shaving Your Legs
- Haircare Tips for Beach Holidays
- CLICK HERE for all Fashion & Beauty posts
My Favourite Travel Resources
Booking Your Trip
Skyscanner – The best flight search engine. It’s easy to use, gives a range of results, and always provides a list of prices for the same flight when booked through different sites and agents.
Jack’s Flight Club – An email newsletter that drops amazing flight deals into your inbox. Read my review here.
Hostelworld – The best place to search for hostels & budget accommodation.
Booking.com – The best booking site for all types of accommodation. It usually has the lowest prices and the widest range. I highly recommend downloading the app to manage your bookings and search on-the-go (app prices are sometimes slightly cheaper, too).
Get Your Guide – My favourite website for booking tours. It has a fantastic range of options all over the world.
Discover Cars – Easily search for and book car hire around the world. Includes ratings/reviews for each car hire company.
Safety Wing Travel Insurance – The best insurance for long-term travellers, digital nomads, and backpackers.
UK Government’s Travel Advice – If you’re a British citizen, this is the place to find all the most up-to-date advice about entry requirements and visas for all destinations. It will also link to the official site to buy your visa from: beware of third-party visa sites that will charge an additional fee to source your visa for you.
Fit For Travel – The NHS travel advice site. Search by destination to see what vaccinations are needed and check for any issues you need to be aware of.
Airalo – Buy a pre-paid eSIM for your destination to get online without roaming fees. Use code EMILY9237 to get £2.50 off your first purchase.
Handy Apps to Travel With
XE Currency – A simple app that converts currency for you. Set up your list with all the countries you’ll be travelling to, and the app will sync whenever you’re online so it’s always the latest data. Apple | Android
Maps.Me – Similar to Google Maps, except it works offline. Before you travel, download the maps for all the countries you’ll be visiting. When you arrive you’ll be able to plan routes and search for places – without the internet. It’s a lifesaver! Apple | Android
Dropbox – My favourite app for backing up photos. You can set your phone to auto-backup your camera roll to Dropbox every time you’re on wifi.
All Solo Female Travel Posts
Is Marella Cruises Good for Solo Travellers?
Wondering what travelling with Marella Cruises is like for solo travellers? After spending a week cruising solo, here’s my honest review…
Interview – Meet the Woman Who Drove Solo from Pennsylvania to Uruguay
My interview with Cassey after her epic solo van trip through South America!
Read More… Interview – Meet the Woman Who Drove Solo from Pennsylvania to Uruguay
24 Useful Tips for Solo Female Travellers in India
My epic mega-guide with India travel tips for women travelling India solo. EVERYTHING you need to know – From safety to toilet etiquette!
Read More… 24 Useful Tips for Solo Female Travellers in India
Solo Cruising: 7 Reasons to Go on a Cruise Alone
Whether you want some me time or an easy holiday for meeting new people, a solo cruise is a fantastic option! These are my top seven reasons to consider one…
21 of the Best Destinations in India for Solo Female Travellers
A round up of the best solo female travel destinations in India – recommended by real women. Tips from REAL travellers to help you plan your solo trip to India.
Read More… 21 of the Best Destinations in India for Solo Female Travellers
The Exquisite Loneliness of Solo Travel
Just a few thoughts about loneliness when you travel – how it can be good, and bad, and how it’s been affecting me lately…
14 of the Best Travel Backpacks for Women
A list of the best travel backpacks for women, and a guide to choosing the right backpack. Genuine recommendations from real travellers!
Holi in India – A Guide for Female Travellers
A travel girl’s guide to Holi, the festival of colour. Survival tips, insider tricks, and advice on what to wear to Holi in India…
A Shy Girl’s Guide to Solo Travel
Tips, advice, and (hopefully) inspiration for the shy solo traveller. If you’d love to go backpacking but think you’re too shy to travel alone, this post is for you.