{"id":119766,"date":"2018-02-08T10:28:08","date_gmt":"2018-02-08T15:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=119766"},"modified":"2024-09-09T14:10:56","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T18:10:56","slug":"things-every-solo-female-traveler-learns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/things-every-solo-female-traveler-learns\/","title":{"rendered":"24 Things Every Solo Female Traveler Learns on the Road"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Kristin<\/p>\n

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse<\/a> writes our regular column on solo female travel. It\u2019s a topic I can\u2019t cover so I brought her on to cover topics and specific issues important other women travelers! In this month’s column, Kristin reminisces on the lessons learned from traveling solo.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going across the world by yourself?! Are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve heard it before, right? Someone who means well and tries to talk you out of traveling solo<\/a>, mentioning all kinds of things that could go wrong.<\/p>\n

They can be pretty convincing, focusing heavily on the negative \u2014 but completely forgetting that there are so many more positives that come from travel. <\/p>\n

What about all of the things that could go right?<\/a><\/p>\n

There are things that only solo female travelers get to experience (things that just don\u2019t happen when you\u2019re traveling with someone else). It\u2019s like a club that almost anyone can get into but few know about. But for those of us who have done it, we know that it\u2019s not as scary as we thought<\/a>, and much more rewarding than we ever imagined possible.<\/p>\n

Traveling the world solo<\/a> has taught me many lessons and made me realized there are some truths you only learn when you travel the world solo:<\/p>\n

1. It\u2019s way more exciting to try new food on the other side of the world \u2014 and find that we absolutely love it – than it is to go to a swanky restaurant back home.<\/p>\n

2. An exotic dish somehow tastes better when we eat it with our hands. With our shoes off, while sitting on the floor.<\/p>\n

3. Being in a hammock on a tropical beach, watching the waves roll in, whether all on our own or surrounded by new friends, is worth the mosquito bites.<\/p>\n

4. We can say \u201chello\u201d and \u201cthank you\u201d in more languages than your fancy car has gears.<\/p>\n

5. Playing with a child in another language is more warming than all the designer sweaters in the world.<\/p>\n

6. People are beautiful everywhere, in every shade, shape, and size, and there is absolutely no singular beauty standard.<\/p>\n

7. There is no greater rush than buying a plane ticket to a place that we alone want to see and that we alone picked out.<\/p>\n

8. It is sexier to have more stamps in a passport than watches and fancy purses.<\/p>\n

9. A sugar rush is somehow sweeter when we\u2019re sitting in Europe<\/a> eating a chocolate croissant with a whole day of adventures ahead of us.<\/p>\n

10. It doesn\u2019t matter what someone is wearing, where they’re from, or what their savings account looks like. If they can carry an intelligent conversation halfway across the world, we\u2019re more than happy to hang onto their every word.<\/p>\n

11. Espresso really does taste better in Italy<\/a>, and Panang curry really does taste better in Thailand<\/a>.<\/p>\n

12. Knowing what it looks like when the sun sets over the ocean on the other side of the globe is worth more than all the Instagram likes in the world.<\/p>\n

13. The Facebook news feed is a lot less interesting when we have an entire day of adventures ahead of us, with no plans, no obligations, and no strings attached.<\/p>\n

14. Maybe makeup and hair products and straighteners and Spanx aren\u2019t all that necessary, and we look fantastic just the way we are.<\/p>\n

15. The heartbreak later is worth the fling right here and now with this beautiful stranger with an accent from far away and the promise of an adventure.<\/p>\n

16. Being able to say \u201cyes\u201d without having to check in with anyone first feels so damn freeing and satisfying.<\/p>\n

17. Being able to say \u201cno\u201d without worrying about offending anyone or feeling obligated feels even more powerful than saying \u201cyes\u201d sometimes.<\/p>\n

18. We\u2019re braver than we thought.<\/p>\n

19. We\u2019re capable of doing things that a year ago would have terrified us.<\/p>\n

20. No classroom anywhere will ever be a better learning environment than going it alone on the road.<\/p>\n

21. No boardroom, job interview, or house party where we don\u2019t know anyone will ever intimidate us again because we know what it\u2019s like to go solo to a country where absolutely nothing is familiar and everything is new. And we handled it like a boss.<\/p>\n

22. There were a few blunders and \u201clearning experiences\u201d here and there<\/a>, but we\u2019re better off for them.<\/p>\n

23. Out of all of the things we learned, most of all we\u2019ll remember that we are capable individuals with a better understanding of how we fit into the world now, and that\u2019s something that will be beneficial for the rest of our lives.<\/p>\n

24. When the trip is over, we\u2019ll remember these things that only we know, and what we\u2019re capable of \u2014 and probably start researching plane flights again.<\/p>\n

***<\/center><\/p>\n

We solo female travelers know that traveling alone is an amazing gift. It gives us a chance to develop our confidence, make all of the decisions about where we want to go and what we want to do, and be the CEO of our own lives and adventures. <\/p>\n

This confidence and ability carries over into our daily lives<\/a> long after the trip is over.<\/p>\n

Our loved ones\u2019 fear and misunderstanding of it will probably always exist. Rebuffing a few well-meaning but uninformed remarks just comes with the territory. You can often show those naysayers by example how wonderful it can be.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t yet traveled solo but really want to find out who you are and what you\u2019re made of, go to the other side of the world by yourself and prepare to be amazed. Don\u2019t let anything hold you back \u2014 you deserve to see the world on your own terms.<\/p>\n

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings in 2012, Kristin has roamed the world for more than eight years. You can find more of her writings at Be My Travel Muse<\/a> or on Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/em>
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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong>
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n