8 myths about SOLO female travel DEBUNKED

Last Updated: 10/12/20 | October 12th, 2020

Kristin Addis from Be My travel Muse writes our routine column on solo female travel. It’s an crucial topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an professional to share her recommendations for other women travelers to assist cover the topics crucial as well as certain to them! She’s fantastic as well as knowledgeable. This month, we are starting the year off with a few of the typical myths people have about solo female travel!

Your partner believes it would be selfish of you to travel without him/her. Your parents are anxious for your safety. Your good friends want to opt for you however they are all hectic working on their careers. The mainstream media tells you the world is a frightening location for women. The bit voice in your head whispers concerns about loneliness to you.

Does any type of of this noise familiar?

Just like you, I had a great deal of misconceptions about traveling alone before I went overseas. I believed it may be dangerous, lonely, as well much work, or make people believe that I didn’t have any type of friends.

Plus, who wishes to see all these fantastic locations totally alone? It sounded like a non-option, at least at first.

Then I realized nobody had the time to opt for me, as well as I couldn’t wait any type of longer. I just had to go, or else I may never go.

So I went alone as well as discovered out that all of my assumptions about traveling solo were dead wrong. I wasn’t lonely, I didn’t end up kidnapped, and, in a great deal of ways, it was really method much better to travel by myself. The flexibility it afforded me, the method it grew my confidence as well as all of the new good friends I made were significant benefits that wouldn’t have occurred it I went with a group of friends.

So for everybody who believes that solo travel is lonely, dangerous, or boring, I am right here to debunk a few typical solo female travel myths to assist provide you the guts to get over your fears as well as go on an legendary solo adventure
 

Myth #1: Solo traveling indicates being lonely often.

The scariest thing about traveling by yourself is the believed that you may be alone for your entire vacation, right? who wishes to travel to the other side of the world only to have to be by herself while checking out the majestic red sunrise over Angkor Wat?

I was truly anxious about this before I started traveling solo. Thankfully, I pertained to discover that I made a lot more good friends in one week on the road than I had in a whole year back at home.

The finest thing about traveling solo is that you’re not the only one doing it. a lot more as well as a lot more women are thinking about the idea of solo traveling to be sensible these days, as well as I couldn’t believe exactly how it’s motivating to see so lots of other solo female travelers available traveling by themselves!

Thanks to the power of social network as well as the sharing economy, you can quickly join on the internet neighborhoods that are produced particularly for solo female travelers, where you can get as well as provide support, share your travel plans, as well as link with other like-minded solo female travelers.

I likewise discover that it’s simple to speak to as well as satisfy other travelers — they’re friendly people! I seldom felt alone during my years of traveling thanks to this.
 

Myth #2: Solo traveling is only for those who are single.

Before I started traveling as well as satisfying people with all type of different stories as well as backgrounds, I figured that if you’re traveling by yourself, it need to be since you don’t have a considerable other. people who have commitments like a household or partner don’t just go traveling on their own.

It need to indicate there’s a issue in the connection or that they’re escaping their commitments, right?

Wrong.

I pertained to discover that lots of people who are in connections travel alone, as well as for all type of reasons.

It might just be that they have different interests, something lots of connection professionals state is absolutely healthy. perhaps their partner can’t get time off from work, or perhaps both celebrations made a mindful decision to do some soul-searching on a solo adventure, even just for a part of the trip, as well as satisfy back up again.

Many solo travelers are single, however there are lots of a lot more who are in connections too.

Just since you’re not single doesn’t indicate you can’t have an remarkable trip by yourself.
 

Myth #3: You need to be extraordinarily take on to travel on your own.

A great deal of my good friends believed I was ultra take on as well as independent since I was going to travel alone. The sincere reality is that I was exceptionally afraid as well as overwhelmed with the concept of traveling solo up until I lastly just got on the airplane as well as went.

To concern what you don’t understand is just to be human. It’s in our nature.

Despite being terrified, I went anyway. later I laughed at exactly how afraid I had been, after I realized that getting around, satisfying new people, as well as discovering things to eat was all method much easier than I had ever believed it might be.

You don’t have to be sure of whatever as well as exceptionally courageous to go traveling on your own. Those things may come as a great benefit of traveling solo, however they don’t have to be prerequisites. The hardest part is getting on the plane. After that, it’s surprisingly simple to get around language barriers, figure out timetables, as well as have an adventure.

Plentyof locals speak at least some English, as well as Google Maps, translation apps, as well as cellphone connectivity have all made traveling so much much easier than it utilized to be.
 

Myth #4: You can’t be an introvert.

I utilized to quietly enjoy the TV in bars or wear my headphones in public locations to ensure that I wouldn’t have to speak to anyone. I utilized to feel quite paralyzed in a space with somebody with a strong personality. Basically, I was type of awkward.

But an extraordinary benefit of traveling by myself is that it has made me outgoing. even if you have difficulty starting a conversation, in a hostel typical room, possibilities are truly great that ultimately somebody will reach out to you as well as bring you into a conversation.

I recall that in the Philippines, a woman tapped me as well as asked where I’m from, as well as after chatting for a while, we ended up being good friends as well as hung out all week.

You will most likely likewise discover that after a few times approaching new people — which will be exceptionally nerve-wracking at very first — they will be so much a lot more open than you feared that it will be an motivating surprise. It’s so simple to begin a conversation by just asking somebody where they’re from or where they just came from.

I understand those are cliché, however they likewise work, as well as before you understand it, you have something to talk about.

It’s simple to develop up confidence around travelers — they’re just truly friendly people!
 

Myth #5: It’s hazardous to travel solo, particularly as a woman.

You’ve seen the movie, Taken, right? The one where Liam Neeson’s child gets kidnapped in Europe as well as he kicks major butt as well as rescues her?

Or what about Brokedown Palace, where Claire Danes gets thrown in Thai jail when a handsome complete stranger plants medications on her?

This is our picture of women traveling the world (thanks, Hollywood!). It’s no surprises that time as well as again, women are told that they must never travel solo!

First of all, neither of the protagonists in those motion pictures really was traveling solo. perhaps if they had been, they would have paused as well as listened to their voices of reason as well as stayed out of trouble.

Staying risk-free on the road is all about trusting your intuition, behaving abroad like you would at home.

Would you get incredibly drunk alone at a bar at home?

Would you walk around alone at night?

Talk to the locals at your guesthouse about what you must enjoy out for, as well as method typical sense. What kept you to life at house as well as keeps you to life on the road, too.

For a lot more information, security advice, as well as proof women can travel alone be sure to inspect out these blogs:

Young Adventuress

Alex in Wanderland

The Blonde Abroad

Somto Seeks

Be My travel Muse (me!)

Every day millions of women travel the world alone. It’s safe and doable, as well as you won’t end up in a ditch!
 

Myth #6: You will regularly get unwanted attention.

It occurred from cars and truck windows when I was walking house from institution at age 14, it occurred when I was getting into my cars and truck at a random gas station in the middle of nowhere in Nevada, as well as it occurs when I walk down the streets of new York City. often a partner was only a few steps away — it didn’t matter. Catcalls occur abroad as well as at home. They’re annoying, yes, however don’t let them keep you from having the remarkable solo trip you deserve.

The finest method to offer keeping that type of interest is to make sure you comprehend the modesty demands in the countries that you see as well as gown accordingly. Some women suggest using a wedding event band, however I discover that being extremely confident, looking people in the eye, as well as being respectfully assertive are all great methods to stand my ground as well.

While just being a female does open you up for catcalls as well as unwanted advances in some parts of the world, in lots of cases, though, it’s rather the opposite, as well as I’m treated with respect as well as kindness, especially since I’m a lady traveling on her own.
 

Myth #7: It’s method a lot more work since you have to do whatever yourself.

If you travel on your own, you will be making all of the decisions.

This is likewise the greatest benefit of traveling solo. It indicates that you don’t have to plan ahead if you don’t want to, as well as have a lot more serendipitous fun, the novelty of which we are hardwired to crave. You don’t have to concern about whether the other person is having fun or not, or anxiety about doing whatever for two or a lot more people.

In fact, the a lot more I travel solo, the a lot more I discover that planning a trip for one is commonly much much easier than planning for a group. I get to do only precisely what I want to do, see locations that others may not be interested in, as well as even have a “day off” in my travels without the guilt!

The benefit of total flexibility while traveling solo absolutely outweighed the additional legwork that I had to do. I likewise discovered it simple to just ask a good friend which restaurant or activity they liked, or the person working at the hostel counter. It’s not that hard.
 

Myth #8: traveling solo is a huge, life-changing decision.

A great deal of people offer off whatever they have as well as take off to the other side of the world with a one-way ticket in hand (I’m speaking about myself here), however that doesn’t indicate that everybody who travels solo has turned her life upside down in buy to do it.

It can be as basic as a weekend trip alone to one more city, a two-week jaunt to a warm as well as tropical location you’ve never been, or a monthlong solo backpacking trip in Europe between semesters. It doesn’t have to be a significant deal, as well as you might come ideal back to life as you understand it before, with a few new adventures as well as a bit a lot more confidence.

***
It turned out that, in contrast to what everybody (including me) thought, solo traveling wasn’t dangerous, boring, or lonely at all. It really was one of the most social activities I’ve ever tried.

I ended up discovering that, instead of solo traveling being a downside in any type of way, it was really helpful to be complimentary when I traveled. It endeared me a lot more to locals, as well as I got to have special experiences since I might state indeed to everything, as well as that’s something that only solo travelers can say. It’s a huge benefit to be able to go where you want when you want, without having to response to any individual else.

There need to be a reason why it keeps growing in popularity year after year, right?

If traveling is about the benefits, the time spent in a new reality, as well as a departure from your normal, daily life, then to traveling solo is to put those benefits on steroids. provide it a try, as well as you as well may discover that your misconceptions about it are all wrong.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel professional who influences women to travel the world in an authentic as well as adventurous way. A former investment banker, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over eight years. You can discover a lot more of her musings at Be My travel Muse or on Instagram as well as Facebook.
 

Book Your Trip: Logistical ideas as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a affordable flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my preferred browse engine since it searches web sites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the least expensive rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will secure you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s detailed security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it lots of times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize when I travel. They are the very best in class as well as you can’t go wrong utilizing them on your trip.

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