It is no secret that I love traveling solo. I have been traveling solo for a little over seven years now to varying degree and I truly believe that all women should try it at least once.
I could go on and on about all the reasons I personally think there are to travel, but everyone’s story is different. Sometimes it is a result of trauma, sometimes it is accidental, sometimes people just get sick and tired of waiting around for other people.
While the reasons may all be different, one thing is the same: no one ever regrets becoming a solo female traveler. I spoke to 18 women about what made them decide to travel alone the first time, and not a single one of them ever mentioned regret.
I know there are a bunch of you out there who think solo travel looks incredible, but that you could never do it. I can tell you until I’m blue in the face that you absolutely can do it, but maybe my story doesn’t resonate with you. And that’s okay! Hopefully one of these 18 stories will give you the extra motivation to get out there and start exploring the world on your own. (And besides, this pandemic clearly isn’t going anywhere anytime soon so it’s probably safer to travel solo anyway!)
1. Meredith from Bag Lady Meredith
The honest-to-goodness answer to why I traveled solo the first time is simple. Either I went now, or I never would.
A little backstory: I was duly packed for a year+ abroad having joined the US Peace Corps. My original country assignment backed out of the program (USPC only goes to countries where it’s wanted) the day before I was to board my flight, forcing me to wait an additional four months for my new country assignment. I had already quit my job, sold my car, sublet my apartment, and shoved what was left of my “can’t live withouts” into the back of my childhood closet at my Mother’s house. Either I go now, or I never will. The voice was small at first, timid as if peeking around the corner of the darkest hallways of my mind. After spending a month researching, planning and coordinating an entire pathway through two countries in SE Asia, I attempted to recruit friends/family to join me. The timing never lined up. Either I go now, or I never will. The voice was stronger by the start of the second month. So much that I up and booked the flight, forcing my own hand. Six years later and countless solo adventures later, I thrive on my serial expat existence. It would have never been possible without the courage to take that first solo trip those handful of years ago.
You can read more about Meredith’s journey on her blog Bag Lady Meredith.
2. Destiny S.
An engagement ended and I was trying to find myself.
3. Malgorzata
Because no one else could keep up with my travel plans 😄 The biggest fear I overcame was driving abroad solo.
4. Eden from Rock a Little Travel
I took my first solo international trip to Costa Rica back in 2014. I booked this trip to reward myself for going back to college and getting a second degree. This was also the summer just before I began graduate school, so I really wanted to take a break and have some fun.
More importantly, I wanted to travel solo in order to challenge myself and push my own boundaries. I’d never traveled internationally before but knew I was missing out on something that was meant to be a part of my life.
I also knew that if I didn’t just start traveling on my own, that I might not ever travel at all. I was done waiting.
I overcame my fear of solo travel by just doing it. After booking that first trip I was committed to going. There was no turning back. It remains the best travel decision I ever made.
As a result of that trip I got my first passport stamps, stayed in my first hostel, met new friends to travel with, and spent four amazing days on the beaches of Puerto Viejo. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
You can read Eden’s tips for things to do in Puerto Viejo on her blog, Rock a Little Travel.
5. Malain
I’m from New Orleans and I started traveling solo to really get to know myself, stretch myself and have the freedom to travel in the direction and way that I desired.
6. Alice from Alice in Wandererland
I currently live in San Francisco but grew up in Philadelphia… I started solo traveling because I wanted to see the world, experience new things, make my dreams come true and I got tired of waiting around for other people’s schedules to free up. Also didn’t want to wait around for a man so I took control of my life and my goals!
You can read more from Alice’s blog here.
7. Malia
The first time I traveled solo I happened to be going through a weird time, was confused about some things in life, just felt like I wanted to be completely alone somewhere for a bit. I did not anticipate the emotional experience it turned out to be. The landscapes and experience in nature was unlike any other experience I’ve had before and opened up a vault of suppressed emotion. I felt present, grounded, in tune with my mind, relief, comfort, like all my emotions were aligned (I don’t even know how to explain what I mean by that LOL), all the things. It opened up a whole new world to me and every solo trip after that has contributed to my emotional healing journey. Traveling solo (regardless of location) is one of my few truly happy “places”. ALSO everyone says “but you don’t get to experience it with anyone or talk about memories with anyone” but it means so much more to be by myself than it does to have someone there with me to remember memories.
8. Megan
Because I didn’t want to wait around forever for other people to go with.
9. Jenn L
I lost my job and decided to use my airline miles on an epic multi leg journey from Los Angeles to Cape Town, South Africa, Istanbul, Turkey, London, UK, and back. None of my friends and family were available, so I decided if I had the time and the miles, I should just go it alone.
After that trip I traveled solo to China 5x in one year to help rescue dogs from the dog meat trade.
My solo trips have morphed into modern day quests and I’m perfectly happy with that.
10. Meg S.
I moved abroad for the first time because I didn’t want to wait for a partner, now I’m married but regularly travel solo. (Before covid, ugh) My husband is a homebody, opposites attract I guess.
11. Sophie from Just Heading Out
In 2016, I was a college grad working in my first serious job and I felt I was missing out on something. There were so many places I wanted to go, so much I wanted to see. But none of my friends could or wanted to come with me. So I made a new year’s resolution: to stop letting other people determine my life. I started with short solo trips to European cities, a weekend here and there, instantly falling in love with the feeling of freedom and adventure. There is something so addictive about exploring new places, learning about new cultures and meeting new people. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and focused on the positive.
As with most things, solo travel seems a lot harder than it actually is. Sometimes you just have to figure “what’s the worst that could happen” and take the leap. All of my fears about traveling alone turned out to be unfounded. It wasn’t lonely, it wasn’t dangerous and it wasn’t difficult. By the end of the year, I was gearing up for a 4 month backpacking trip, which turned into 2.5 years traveling the world alone.
Through solo travel I learned that I am much stronger and more capable than I ever dared to imagine. It has made me someone I admire for her confidence, spontaneity and independence. Because if I can not only survive, but thrive by myself on the other side of the world, then I can do anything.
Check out one of my favorite posts she did about a decade of solo travel on her blog, Just Heading Out.
12. Pamela
I was 19 and all my friends wanted boyfriends and didn’t understand why. I left my boyfriend behind to go to Egypt (spoiler, we’re married now and have been for almost 8 years). I still travel solo.
13. Wendy
I had always dreamed of traveling the world ever since childhood. Shortly after graduating college I got a job in France. Left for what I thought would be a six-month contract and never came back. That was in 1999.
14. Rachel from Rachel Off Duty
So that I could experience more without waiting for someone else’s approval or participation 🙌🏼 Introducing solo travel into my life opened up so much more of the world.
You can read more from her incredible blog, Rachel Off Duty, here.
15. Brittany from Wellness Meets Wanderlust
I started traveling solo to gain all the confidence back that I had lost after a trauma.
You can read more about her story on her blog, Wellness Meets Wanderlust.
16. Emily from Rediscovering Emily
I’m Emily for the UK and I started solo travelling in 2019. 2019 was the darkest year of my life where I lost my Dad, got divorced and ended up being hospitalised due to a mental breakdown. Solo travel helped me to reconnect with myself and gave me hope at a time when I felt my life was pretty much over. I am now on a self discovery journey through solo travel and have started a blog to share my story to inspire and show that overcoming adversity is possible.
Emily’s just started her blog a few months ago, but already has a ton of incredible resources about solo travel and handling grief! You can check it out here.
17. Anonymous
Because why would I make my husband deal with my family when I don’t even want to!!!
18. Alyssa from Adventures of an Island Girl
Totally accidental! My travel buddy’s visa didn’t get approved in time, and that’s how I ended up on the other side of the world by myself. From Grenada to New Zealand!
I’ve learned so much about Caribbean travel, especially carnival, from Alyssa’s blog! You can check it out here.
Meredith San Diego says
So brilliantly awesome! Thanks for the feature! Hoping my story of courage inspires others to do the same!