I love traveling solo! I think traveling solo can be one of the most empowering experiences of your life. It can also be exhausting, lonely, and — let me be honest — more expensive than you might think.
I’ve been traveling solo for decades now, and while the cute and polished social media feeds make it look carefree and glamorous, the reality is a bit more complex. Especially if you’re a woman.
So, I want to pull back the curtain on what solo female travel is really like. From safety considerations to the hidden costs, and the confidence you need to make it all work — here’s what I’ve learned from my decades of experience.
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Yes, It’s More Expensive to Travel Solo (and Here’s Why)
One of the biggest myths I hear is that solo travel is cheap. It’s not!
When you’re traveling solo, you’re covering the full cost of everything yourself — accommodations, transportation, meals, tours, etc. It might feel counterintuitive, but that can make solo trips significantly more expensive than traveling with even just one other person. There’s no one to split the bill with!
Let’s say you’re planning a trip with a budget of $5,000. If you have a travel buddy, you might only spend $7,500 total for both of you, thanks to shared hotel rooms, meals, taxis, and rental cars. But if you go solo, you’re definitely looking at the full $5,000 all by yourself.
And when you’re traveling solo as a female, you may not feel as safe staying in budget accommodations. Hotels with a 24/7 front desk located in active areas are safer but tend to be more expensive.
While some hotels and tour operators have started waiving “single supplement” fees, many still charge a premium for solo travelers. Plus, when you’re on your own, you don’t have the luxury of splitting that giant appetizer or bottle of wine at dinner.
Does that mean you shouldn’t do it?
Absolutely not! But it’s important to go into solo female travel with eyes wide open about the financial side.
Safety Is Always Top of Mind — Especially for Women
Let’s talk about safety. The number one thing I get asked is, “Is solo female travel safe?”
The truth is, the world looks different for solo female travelers. Even in relatively safe destinations, my “sixth sense” is always on high alert. I am always aware of my surroundings, no matter where I am.
That’s not about paranoia. It’s about awareness. It’s about knowing that as a woman traveling alone, I need to make choices that prioritize my safety above all else.
That might mean:
- Choosing accommodations in safer neighborhoods — even if they cost more.
- Booking a taxi from the airport instead of navigating public transportation on my own when I’m jet-lagged.
- Adjusting the types of activities I do solo, like avoiding late-night walks or skipping that sketchy bar down a side alley.
- Staying in a hotel instead of an Airbnb for short stays, because I know I have someone at the front desk to ask for help if needed.
And let’s be clear: it’s not about being scared. It’s about being aware and prepared!
Traveling solo as a woman means having your intuition dialed up 24/7. You become more aware of your surroundings, you trust your gut more, and you make different decisions than you might if you had a companion by your side. Soon, it all becomes very natural to you.
Solo Female Travel Takes More Effort (But That’s Part of the Reward)
Another truth that doesn’t get talked about enough? Solo travel is physically and emotionally more work, especially for women.
When you’re on your own, you’re the one making all the decisions, handling all the logistics, and navigating every little hiccup along the way. There’s no one to help with the bags, figure out directions, or take over when you hit a wall.
You have to be “on” all the time.
That means:
- Planning more thoroughly.
- Being your own advocate.
- Staying connected to people back home for emotional support.
When planning your trip, try searching for things like “best place for solo female travel,” “safest countries for solo female travelers,” and “safest city for solo female travelers.”
And yes, loneliness can creep in. There are definitely moments where you wish someone were there to share the view, the meal, or just the quiet.
But here’s the thing — those challenges are also what make solo travel so transformative. When you navigate a new city by yourself, handle a missed train, or make friends with strangers over dinner, you build a sense of self-confidence that’s hard to replicate any other way.
You feel so accomplished in the end, and you just get better and better, and it gets easier and easier!
Confidence Comes With Experience (But You Can Start Small)
The good news? You will get better at it! The more you travel solo, the more confident and capable you become.
In my early days of solo travel, I’d land in a country with no plan, no hotel, and just $300 in my pocket. I wouldn’t recommend that now — especially not for first-time travelers. But it taught me how to hustle, adapt, and problem-solve on the fly.
These days, I travel very differently. I book the first few nights in advance. I splurge on a nicer hotel the first night to give myself a soft landing. And, one of my top travel tips, I always book a food tour on the first evening to connect with others and settle in.
If you’re new to solo travel, you don’t have to start with a one-way ticket and no itinerary.
You can start small:
- A weekend getaway to a nearby city.
- A solo retreat in a country you feel comfortable in.
- A group tour where you show up solo but have built-in support. I recommend small, organized group options, like G Adventures. (Even better if you can find a solo female travel group!)
The key is to start somewhere — and then build from there.
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Solo Female Travel Is Both Empowering and Humbling
Here’s the bottom line: Solo female travel isn’t always glamorous. It’s not always easy. And it’s certainly not always cheap.
But it is deeply, deeply rewarding. You learn to trust yourself. You learn to navigate discomfort. You learn that you are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for!
It’s not about proving anything to anyone else. It’s about proving it to yourself. It’s never off the table to me… you can if you believe you can. And once you’ve done it? You’ll find that the world opens up to you in ways you never imagined.
So yes — the realities of solo female travel are complex. It requires more planning, more caution, and more spending than you might expect.
But the trade-off?
An unparalleled sense of freedom, confidence, and joy! Are you ready for it?
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