Are you lacking in confidence, but eager to hit the road alone. We’ve lined up some honest feedback from women (and one honorary male solo traveller) who like to stay single on their travels, so you can go solo with a smile and banish any fears that might have been holding you back.
You can also join us this Friday 08 March for International Women’s Day on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram and be inspired to take on the challenge of solo female travel with 14 expert bloggers as part of our #WomenGoSolo initiative.
Deirdre Mullins, award-winning broadcast, print and online travel writer, “Solo travel is one of the greatest gifts I’ve given myself. It’s strengthened my intuition, I’ve made friends… connected locally at a deep level… Pack a sense of curiosity and openness and soon you won’t want to roll any other way.”
Portia Jones, Editor of Pip & The City “To travel solo is to tread the line between fear and liberation. You are the master of your own destiny on unknown shores, which is equally thrilling and daunting. Every step, every chance encounter, every wrong turn is the chance to have a new adventure and to change your perception of the world.”
Victoria Alao, Editor of The Stylish Trotter “Solo travel changed my life. It challenged everything I thought I knew about myself and taught me valuable life lessons. I encourage every woman to travel solo because it moulded me into the brave, fearless and open-minded woman that I never knew I could be.”
Kaye Holland, Travel Journalist & Presenter at Women’s Radio Station, UK “Some people, when they’re broken, dig into a huge tub of Haagen-Dazs. Other, when they’re feeling sad, go shopping…Me? Whenever I feel tired, stale or simply need a little better balance and perspective in my life, I turn to travel. Knowing that I can just leave and go exploring gives me a wonderful sense of freedom.”
Catherine Bodry, Head of Travel Support at Loco2 “Travelling solo in my early 20s was the best thing I’ve ever done for my personal growth. That first solo journey was marked by epic lows and amazing highs, and a new thread of confidence ran through it all. I felt competent and even magnetic; my face physically changed in the mirror. Overcoming the challenges presented by travelling alone changed my view of myself that was permanent, and now I welcome the delight that comes with all the experiences and possibilities that open up to me when I’m solo”.
Nicola Brady, experienced and internationally published travel writer, “When you’re on your own, you want to make life as simple as possible. Little things like knowing how to get from the airport into the city can make all the difference (and prevent you getting ripped off)”
Victoria Philpott, Editor of Vicky Flip Flop “Thousands of women go travelling every day and come back having achieved their dreams and enriched their lives. Sending the message to women that it’s too dangerous to travel, limits their horizons and prospects…I urge you to travel with empowerment and stay curious and strong…”
Rebecca Kroegel, Editor & Founder of solo female traveller community, She Roams Solo, “I started travelling solo because I wanted to learn who I was and I wanted to know how I could handle situations on my own, with only me to rely on. Best thing I ever did!”
Samantha Wragg Editor of Coco Travels, “If you’re travelling alone, you’ll have lots of time to spend with yourself! You’ll learn things about yourself you never knew and you might return home slightly different to when you left. It’s also a great way to clear your head if you’ve recently had a setback in life as you’ll be able to take a break and reassess your life and your future.”
Wambui Gichobi, Film producer and Editor of Adventure 197, “The thrill of travel starts with wondering and imagining. It is furthered by reviews, maps, books, pictures and videos. It finally climaxes when you arrive at your destination, and realise that the essence of everything you experience cannot be captured by words, pictures or film…So go!”
Lauren Detweiller, Digital Marketer & Editor of Latitudes of Lauren, “I am living my dream of exploring full-time and have met some truly inspirational people from all walks of life. I’m learning more about myself and the world than I ever could have imagined, and I become more independent every day.”
Isabel Conway, award-winning Irish travel writer, roving reporter and feature writer, “The internet has made solo travel as an older woman much easier. I can quickly get updates on everything from personal safety to contacts for city greeters and a wealth of tours and group activities.”
Inma Gregorio, Editor of A World to Travel, “If your goal is to feel brave enough to book that dream solo holiday, that’s one hell of a motivation. Devote some time to yourself and think about what makes you take the safe option and why that is. Then, try something new. Stop worrying about what could go wrong and feel excited about what could go right, and you’ll be on your way to making achieving happiness and confidence a new habit.”
Julia Buckley, Editor of Julia Buckley Fitness, “I’ve done the eating-out-alone thing on work trips before and I just don’t enjoy it, which is one of the reasons I booked an Airbnb apartment. Having a place that felt like a home where I could eat and chill in the evenings really helped make my trip something close to perfect.”
Katie McIntosh, Editor of The Katie Show Blog – “Solo travel is great for single people but people in relationships can enjoy it too. Having independence and a strong sense of identity is one of the most important things for a relationship, in my opinion, maybe second to communication…I absolutely think that solo travel being only for single people is a myth because it’s such a good way to keep a sense of independence, develop your character, and bring something to the table in your relationship.”
Catherine Mack, Content Creator at Loco2, ”Even if we travelled solo in our teens or twenties, many of us stop doing so when we have a family. We then get out of the habit of relishing some travel time alone. Truly alone. My new approach as my kids get older is to celebrate the joys of solo travel again. Even if only for a weekend of hiking, exploring a new hostel, seeking out a new summit, or jumping on a train with a pop-up tent for some coastal camping for the night. It was a little scary going there again, but empowering in the most fun way possible. The world is still your oyster, no matter how old you are.”
Jacki Ueng, Editor of Bohemian Vagabond, ”It has become addictive to travel alone, the same as dining alone. You get to truly enjoy the moment with no direct noise around you. You get to internalize everything you see and take the time to process and soak in the new information and experiences. And if I ever get lonely, I easily meet other travelers at hostels or wherever I am in the world. But there are no commitments or ties, you go your separate ways after some fun together. Traveling solo has empowered me in so many ways where I feel that sky is the limit. It’s not just the confidence to go anywhere, it’s also the independence and drive to earn money here in the US, invest it into Real Estate, earn a passive income while maintaining my Travel Blog & Instagram to empower other women to travel.”
Rachel Taylor, Editor of Taylor Made Travels “There are so many hurdles to stop you travelling, and for women, their gender is another huge one. In today’s world, that shouldn’t be the case. Don’t let the gift of travel pass you by. Take the opportunity. Women can travel solo and if you do the experience will enrich your life.”
And by no means last but least, and our honorary male solo traveller, Mark Ellwood, Contributing Editor to ‘Condé Nast Traveler US’ has finally given us the answer to conquering the fear of eating alone – possibly the only lingering downside to solo travel…“Breakfast is a wonderful meal to linger over when you’re by yourself. Read a book, plan for the day, chat with the staff – that’s when they’re likely to be their least busy, and the fact there’s no alcohol involved makes the conversation less chat-uppish than it would be at an evening meal. Make lunch lighter, as you’re on the go, and make dinner, where you can feel most self-conscious, a snack at the bar with a glass of wine. It’s quick, casual, and very much lets you merge into the crowd in ways that sitting alone at a table in a dining room might make harder.”
Don’t forget, join us this Friday 08 March for International Women’s Day and be inspired to take on the challenge of solo female travel with 14 expert bloggers as part of our #WomenGoSolo initiative.