Never before have more women been traveling solo! Solo travel is for everyone, singles of all ages and stages in life: never-been-married, divorced, widowed… all kinds of women are deciding not to wait to be paired up or until a friend can be a travel companion to embark on dream journeys.
They’re making plans to travel now. Does that sound like you? If so, you’re part of one of the top travel trends, and the great news is that the world has never been more accessible to solo travelers, especially solo women travelers. Read on to learn the top advice every solo woman traveler should know today.
The three questions women most often ask before committing to travel on their own, and my tips for solo travel:
1. Is it safe to solo travel?
Let’s face it – risk is a daily part of our lives. From driving the car to using a ladder. But the idea of traveling alone in an unfamiliar location makes many otherwise confident women unusually thoughtful about their personal safety.
To help you decide where you might want to try solo travel, here are the results of a recent study that ranked three dozen popular tourist countries for their safety for solo women travelers.
The ranking was based on seven measurements about things like the percentage of women in a country who report experiencing violence, who feel safe walking home or at night, how society feels about domestic violence or violence against women, and the strength of local laws protecting women. The data came from organizations like the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the World Bank.
Only one of the countries that made the top ten list of the safest destinations for solo women travelers was outside of Europe.
Ireland topped the safe list with a score of 7.88/10, with Austria, Norway, Slovenia and Switzerland rounding out the top five.
The only non-European nation that made the top 10 was Canada, which ranked 8th, with Spain and Portugal ranked slightly higher and the Netherlands and Poland complete the top 10. One other non-European nation, Japan, barely missed the top 10, coming in at 11th in the rankings.
Tip for Staying Safe:
Also, don’t forget the old mantra “There’s safety in numbers.” Traveling solo doesn’t mean you have to travel alone – group travel is a great way to travel solo – and stay safe. And there are a lot of options in group travel including, all budgets, adventure, affinity groups, like-aged groups, etc.… Looking for an educational or cultural experience? There are many to choose from. Want to travel with other women your age to explore an exotic region of the world? It’s available to you.
2. Is it more expensive?
Trips are often priced for ‘double occupancy.’ That is: two people to a room. And if you’re traveling alone sometimes that means you pay the same price as two people. That puts solo travelers at a financial disadvantage. If you don’t want or don’t have anyone to share with, it can leave you on the hook for double the price.
Well, the good news is that more and more travel companies are catering to the solo travel crowd. I see new offers almost daily that are favorable to solo travelers. Some serve only singles or even single women, with no ‘single surcharge’ at all; they’ve negotiated prices for accommodations that don’t penalize solo travelers. Others specialize in singles and pair-up solos who are willing to share a room to save.
Other tour companies and cruise lines offer occasional solo travel specials, where they waive the single traveler surcharge. These are terrific deals that give you the full experience without having to share!
Tip for Maximizing your Solo Travel Budget:
Luxury Travel Authority can help you take advantage of solo travel specials whether it’s an ocean or river cruise or a small- or full-sized group land tour that interests you. Dreaming of Egypt, Thailand or Greece? There’s no reason not to make those dreams a reality.
More and more travel companies are catering to solo travelers, especially women. There are some companies that serve only women solo travelers! And many, many others who make special accommodations, packages, and pricing arrangements for women seizing the day and hitting the road on their own.
3. Is it worth it?
Solo travel can seem like a lot of effort, yet it isn’t anymore. If you’re craving travel, learning the optimal way for you to travel solo is truly your dream come true.
Also, keep in mind that just because you’re solo doesn’t mean you have to travel alone.
Get the Most Out of Solo Travel
I mentioned group travel already, yet it should be seriously considered. Groups provide not just extra safety and an expert local tour guide who knows the lay of the land to make you feel completely secure. Often, the local group tour leader can give you the best local knowledge for you to spend your free time, so you have a built-in support system and source of information.
Groups are also people to socialize with, and if you’re a bit intimidated by the idea of a large group, take heart! Tour groups can range from a full coach of 40 people to an intimate group of only half a dozen people. You have a wide range of options for the number of people you’ll be sharing your journey with. I often see these solo groups turn into lifelong friendships and travel companions.
So there’s my top advice that every solo woman traveler should know today. Oh, one last piece of advice. Working with a qualified travel advisor means there’s always someone with the full details of your travel plans at home who’s in your corner – I advocate for you always – and able to help sort out any glitch that may happen while you’re on your solo travel journey. A piece of mind is priceless!
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