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TRAVEL TIPS

12 Solo Female Travel Tips

Solo travel is a subject close to my heart! More than 10 years ago I took a year out in Australia and since then independent travel has been a huge part of my life. I’ve seen much of the world solo and on my terms, from choosing where to stay, what to see (and when) and best of all meeting like minded people. It’s a liberating feeling and let’s be honest – a thrilling way to get out of your comfort zone!

Over the years I have learnt a few lessons both good and bad, which I’ve pulled together to create this thoughtful SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL POST highlighting the very best travel hacks for any budding solo female traveller looking for advice… or maybe just a bit of encouragement!

THE ULTIMATE SOLO FEMALE TRAVEL GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. THINGS TO RESEARCH
  2. CURRENCY TIPS
  3. THINGS TO ENJOY SOLO
  4. *BONUS PERSONAL SAFETY CHECKLIST
  5. JUST HAVE FUN
  6. READ MORE
  7. PIN IT FOR LATER

1. RESEARCH YOUR DESTINATION

Properly researching your chosen destination is one of the FIRST EXCITING STEPS in planning a solo adventure – anywhere. It saves you valuable time in the long run, lessens the chances of disappointment and allows you to prepare a worry-free check list. NOT a full schedule, just picking out a few ideas here and there of things to see and do – ultimately to have a better experience!

Ultimately to have a better experience!

There are plenty of places to get up-to-the-minute information, personally, I always look at helpful online resources such as this one – Travel Blogs, Pinterest and occasionally Instagram to get an overall gist of the important things like; areas to stay, landmarks to visit and even where to grab amazing coffee!

THINGS TO RESEARCH:

  • Best locations to stay.
  • Vibey cafes for breakfast.
  • Restaurants with a view.
  • Good wine bars.
  • Activities and day trips.
  • Landmark attractions.
  • The weather.
  • Dress codes.
  • The exchange rates.
  • Apartments and boutique hotels.
  • Roof top bars and terraces.

2. ARRIVE IN THE DAY TIME

This is the tip that I treasure the most! If you have the option of arriving in day light, I strongly recommend choosing it! Not only will you be able to watch the entire journey unfold from the airport, but also see exactly where you’re going from the shuttle bus/taxi window! On the whole DAYLIGHT simplifies your arrival experience when alone and isn’t everything just way less daunting in the light?

Another important thing – there’s likely to be frequent local transport, more people around and the opportunity to ask locals for directions! If there are any accommodation issues you can sort them out easier too, especially if it involves a phone call! In general, it’s the SAFEST option and as a bonus you will get your bearings much more quickly (providing you have booked somewhere in a good location – see below).

3. CHOOSE ACCOMMODATION WISELY

Speaking from experience I believe you can never spend enough time scrolling through accommodation options. I spend an insane amount of hours in this part of the research process! Some of the things I like to know before I book is the centrality (i.e. lots of cafes and restaurants around) where exactly it’s situated (i.e. main road/above a shop?) and if the window or balcony has a view! More than anything I always splash out on a balcony with a view, as it’s somewhere to retreat to if you need a bit of ‘me time’ but don’t want to be stuck in your room sitting on your bed.

The other thing I LOVE is a terrace particularly within boutique hotels – which are generally smaller and more sociable places. If I’m staying in an Airbnb my preference is always OWN APARTMENT- and I triple check the location on google maps, scan the reviews etc. I go to lengths to make sure it’s not just a room made into an apartment in some random person’s house. This has happened before and it’s less than ideal. 

GOOD TO KNOW

At least 90% of the time I’ll book with BOOKING.COM – particularly for boutique hotels and use the filters for preferences such as balconies, location, type and cost – it really saves you time. Plus you can gain extra rewards through loyalty! I also use Airbnb to book unique whole apartments or studio’s.

4. WALK WITH CONFIDENCE

Booking independently, researching and prepping are a few of the major milestones to being a professional SOLO FEMALE TRAVELLER and you should have confidence in your decision making, if done thoroughly. But, as we all know in reality, the best way to see anything for yourself is by wandering and taking the time to find the little streets, cute cafés and terraces.

You’ll be amazed by what you might discover – also be open to switching around your day’s itinerary if it’s for the better! Make a plan to visit the landmarks, (just the ones that really spark your interest). Look up the route beforehand and create your day out around that. If you get lost – ASK A LOCAL, they will know best.

5. PLAN YOUR ROUTE IN ADVANCE

If your trip involves multiple destinations (like mine often do) then you might want to look up the details and options well in advance – and adapt accordingly. For example, on one trip I had planned to travel from Malaga to Ronda via the scenic train, taking two hours. However, all the trains were cancelled on the day because of a festival and I ended up with a four hour bus journey and wasted the most of the day!

Also check for things like bank holidays, festivals, different schedules for weekends. Were possible, book in advance for a better price and guaranteed seat – particularly if it’s for something special or unchangeable. As much as I love rail journeys, it is often the train that causes the most travel disruption – worldwide!

Heading abroad soon? Here’s what to take on a long haul flight to have the best experience possible! THE ULITIMATE CARRY ON CHECKLIST

6. BE FAMILIAR WITH THE LOCAL CURRENCY

Familiarise yourself with the local currency as this will help you understand just how much you are really paying for things (ouch!) – and of course lessen the chances of being ripped off by an opportunist. I usually keep a list of the current exchange rate until I know it off by heart and take around £100 of the local currency in my hand luggage, so I have it at the airport ready.

After that I draw out £150-£200 at a time from the cash point – in my experience the rates are very similar to currency exchange places and without commission! I very rarely use a visa for small transactions, particularly in restaurants (this also helps with fraud issues) and I always take two cards. To be honest no matter how well you plan ISSUES STILL OCCUR, I for one, have previously misplaced bankcards (probably more than the average person) and would have been stuck if I didn’t have another way to access money!

CURRENCY TIPS:

  • Take two cards.
  • Check your bank fees – if any.
  • Only carry what you need for the day.
  • Keep the two cards separate.
  • Keep a note of the exchange rate.

7. JOIN SOMETHING SOCIAL

Travelling alone doesn’t mean you have to be alone or be lonely! Find things you are genuinely interested in, maybe it’s wine tasting, live music bars, walking to viewpoints or a sailing trip? These are all things you can research, look up the reviews and book on to in advance.

Find things you are genuinely interested in.

I have previously enjoyed activities like a bike and wine tasting afternoon in Korcula, Croatia and mountain hiking in Kotor, Montenegro. Picking the right destination helps to start with and knowing in advance the type of trip you want. Ask yourself: Would I happier on an island with sailing options or in the bustle of a charming old town like Florence?

8. HAVE GOOD JUDGEMENT

Travelling alone means you are fully responsible for all the decision making and may often find yourself in situations that wouldn’t normally occur if there were two of you! ALWAYS listen to your instinct, if something makes you worry don’t do it. Even walking to a viewpoint can leave you vulnerable if there are few people around or the sun goes down before you make it back!

On another (amusing) note, well wishers have asked me to join them in restaurants (even couples), accompany them on yachts, be chaperoned to (enter attraction name here) and I’ve said a firm NO around 95% of the time (travel pro). AND to the hugely awkward, am I single/travelling alone question, I frequently tell white lies! Especially while being driven in a taxi, I’m not overly comfortable with sharing my solo status with just anyone!

9. ASK THE LOCALS

You will learn a lot more about your new destination by asking the locals. They are the experts for directions/advice/tips – even for things like lunch/coffee and you may strike lucky and find out about some secret hidden gem that was not on your radar. It pays to be confident and curious.

In Spain for example, I ended up in Marbella for an extra couple of days and asked the apartment owner for a healthily café recommendation and all of her suggestions were spot on such as the Marbella Organic Café – check it out! Another time I was asking for directions to a particular viewpoint in Hvar, Croatia and was told an even better one and made a friend in the process! So, you never know what might happen, just by asking!

10. ENJOY YOUR OWN COMPANY

Make the most of your solo adventure by doing everything you had planned, don’t be shy! The worst thing you can do is worry about what others think. If you want to have lunch with a view on a nice terrace – do it! If you want a drink at the cool beach bar – go!

Things like waiting to photograph the perfect sunset is not a problem when you are on your own or grabbing a front row sunbed. Over the years I have learned that yes you can do all of these things alone! However, my preference is always lunch with a view and pretty terraces, whether it’s at the beach or charming old town- I draw the line with candlelit dinners though. 

ENJOY THESE THINGS SOLO:

  • Lunch with a view.
  • Wine tasting in the old town.
  • Taking pictures with your tripod.
  • Visit an attraction for as long as you want.
  • Find a sunset view point.
  • Wander the old town.
  • Breakfast whenever you like.

11. TAKE A TRIPOD

A tripod is an important item for photography lovers and for those who want to capture the moment without the stress of time restraints. Let’s face it even your best friend would eventually run out of patience taking multiple pictures of your slightly different poses! AND how many times have you built up the courage to ask a total stranger only for them to take a quick snap with disappointing results?

With a tripod you can get creative and click until your hearts content! But, as a pro solo traveller, I would plan to arrive in the early mornings, particularly for popular attractions, because sometimes you will have your back to the tripod (be careful with that) and there’s less chance of others walking across your picture!

TIP! Use a sturdy tripod that has multiple angles and height, I recommend Babacom Phone Tripod and it’s cost effective!

12. BRING SOME ENTERTAINMENT

Yes, sometimes you might just want to relax for the day on a sun lounger, there’s definitely nothing wrong with that! For those occasions and also for extra-long brunches, I always bring along some form of entertainment, so that I am not completely glued to my phone.

Usually I don’t leave the UK without packing at least two or three good books plus a couple of magazines and put relaxing music on my IPod (the advanced planner)! With these little extra’s I can happily enjoy the moment and relax for hours at a time. Let’s be honest you even see couples and friends with books – everybody wants to switch off at some point.

READ POST: 5 MUST READ SUMMER HOLIDAY BOOKS

PERSONAL SAFETY CHECKLIST

So often we forget about simple personal safety measures while relaxing and sunning ourselves abroad. Here is a quick reminder of the things you should be aware of on a daily basis, that will eventually be so ingrained it will become commonplace on each and every trip!

SAFETY CHECKLIST:

  • Keep expensive things locked away.
  • Only take out the money you need.
  • Use a cross-over bag.
  • Walk where there are people.
  • Remember your address.
  • Keep your passport safe.
  • Don’t be stranded at night.
  • Use registered taxi’s.

JUST HAVE FUN

Above all RELAX AND ENJOY YOURSELF and all the freedom that solo travel brings – you’re going to love it! Don’t be too overwhelmed, remember that not everything can be completely perfect. But with a bit of planning and proactive research you can make any trip truly your own unique experience – I absolutely encourage it!

READ MORE FEMALE TRAVEL TIPS

I hope you found something of value in this solo female travel post, do you have any questions? Please leave a comment below.

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