I never thought I’d count myself among solo female travelers, but there were places I wanted to go and often nobody to go with. Relationships come and go; friends have other responsibilities, lack funding, or aren’t interested in the same places. I could wait indefinitely and hope for the right circumstances to appear or find my courage and go alone. I chose the latter and it’s a decision I’ve come to love. 

If I hadn’t found the courage to travel solo about 15 years ago, the list of places I’ve seen would be much, much smaller – like nonexistent. Today, I’ve been to dozens of places alone, and my life is so richer because of it. It’s no longer something to fear but rather something I cherish.

There are pros and cons to solo travel, some specific to women and a few we never talk about.

A survey by Statista titled “Leading obstacles for female travelers to go on a solo trip worldwide in 2021” found that some of the top reasons were safety, higher costs of solo travel, dining alone and being discriminated against. I can vouch for all of these. 

Planning to Travel Alone is More Work but Worth it

They often say two heads are better than one, but I say that depends on the heads. When I was coupled, I had to do all the planning, but it came with a side of anxiety over pleasing another person with my decisions. It’s easier to just plan for your own enjoyment.  

Knowing where to go, what to see and do and how much time to spend takes a lot of planning and thought. Because I travel alone, I like to be overly prepared and do as much research about the place as possible before arriving. I look up: 

• Transportation (metro, busses, taxi services, trains, etc.) 
• Language (practice well in advance, if needed) 
• Currency (get familiar) 
• How to use the phone and contact emergency services 
• Major tourist areas (extra awareness required) 
• Local spots 
• Places and things to eat 
• Things to do 
• Local culture and customs 

Most of the information I research sits in my brain, bringing me knowledge, confidence and, thus, comfort and security. I create an agenda listing each day with ideas of things to do. I don’t always stick to it, but I like having a plan to make the most of my time. This is sometimes where another person comes in handy.  

On the downside, I’ll often learn about things I’d have liked to have done or seen after it’s too late. Another person will usually find things you won’t. Algorithms are different for each of us and the people and things we follow online will yield different results and ideas.  

On the upside, when it’s just you, you never have to worry about getting stuck spending an entire afternoon doing something you don’t want to do.  

Paying for Solo Travel is a Big Downside

One of the biggest downsides with solo travel is that there isn’t anyone to split the cost of car rental or accommodations, which are usually the most significant expenses and those that could be easily halved with a partner. 

There aren’t many ways around this, except when traveling solo, you can cut costs with smaller rooms or rentals than you might if you have more people. Single women traveling alone can sometimes find short-term rentals for rooms unavailable for couples or men. I found a few when I traveled as a nomad for almost two years.  

You could rent a motor scooter or bike instead of a car in some locations for small savings and to increase the fun while at it.  

No Co-Pilot to Manage Planes, Trains and Automobiles 

I barely remember what it’s like to be the passenger on a road trip, but I bet it sure would be nice. My friends call themselves “passenger princesses,” which sounds luxurious, but I prefer being king of my own road.  

Passengers can see the views without distraction while I must pull over. I’m always pulling over. But this led me to the best photos and lucky finds, like the turquoise bracelet I bought from a Navajo woman in Monument Valley when I stopped near her stand to take in the view.  

When you’re alone, you are responsible for figuring out the arrival and departure times of any planes, trains, boats, bikes, scooters, cabs, and other modes of transportation you might take. This can be tricky when the information is not in your native language.  

You’re the only one in charge of mapping the route when driving. I’ve messed this up more times than I care to admit, which is how I ended up in Monument Valley in the first place. I go where the road takes me, and sometimes, when I lose my GPS, it takes me to places unknown. You’ll learn to screenshot your route in advance.  

Even with GPS, having a passenger to help you navigate is a comfort. That is unless they’re like my teenage daughter used to be, never putting their phone down and causing us to miss our exits or eat the last Twizzler.  

It’s Empowering to Manage Your Safety  

This is one for the ladies because, let’s face it, it’s a female problem. Traveling alone as a woman can be scary. It’s the #1 reason why more women won’t travel alone. We’re afraid.  

I’ve traveled by myself on more than 50 trips, and I’ve never had a safety issue. Not to say it couldn’t happen. However, my hometown’s crime rate is higher than most places I visit.   

I’ve written about solo female travel safety in detail in Tips for Solo Female Travel. In summary, confidence, preparation (which gives you confidence) and staying alert and aware are your most powerful tools as you embark on solo female travel.  

Almost every travel mishap I’ve heard happened because the person wasn’t paying attention or was too trusting of strangers. Having someone with you isn’t necessarily a benefit to keep you safe. Most travel horror stories I’ve heard are from couples or women together. When we’re with others, we get sloppy and too trusting and that’s when the bad guys target us. That’s not to say it can’t happen to a woman alone; of course, it can, but being alone doesn’t make you an easier target for the most common crime: theft.  

Solo Female Discrimination Exists

I’m going to jump on a soapbox with this topic because if you’ve never traveled as a solo female before, you may not be aware of it. In an online solo traveler group, one woman sought advice about requesting a different table in a restaurant after receiving the worst one. So many women commiserated.  

“This happens to me all the time.” “Me too.” “Yep, me too.” It seems there’s a pandemic of solo female travelers regulated to the worst table in the restaurant.  

I once walked into a restaurant in Utah on a Sunday afternoon to find several empty tables. When the hostess realized it was just me, she suggested I sit at the empty bar. As a solo female traveler, I don’t like sitting at the bar. I’m too short for those tall stools; it enables men to target me for conversation, and I’m more visible than I like to be.  

“I’d prefer a table if you don’t mind,” I said. 

“Well, it will be 30 to 40 minutes,” she said. I looked around at about two dozen empty tables. This was a casual, walk-in-off-the-street, three-star type of place. I don’t think they even accepted reservations.  

“I can wait,” I said, standing in the waiting area facing the hostess. After about five minutes, when no other customers had arrived, she sighed loudly and pretended to study her iPad for a long minute.  

“Actually, I can just seat you now,” she said, waving me over. I smiled and followed her to a two-seat table in the back corner next to the kitchen. The restaurant stayed half empty the entire time, and I had my meal without causing anyone hardship.  

I’ve dined alone in restaurants worldwide, and this treatment from restaurant staffers in the US is the rule, not the exception. It happens all the time. 

Costs for Solo Females on Travel Excursions 

In the travel industry, many things cost more for a solo person. “Just you?” or “Just one?” is the typical response I get when I show up anywhere. The “just” implies a lack. In the travel industry, it also often means I’m about to pay a lot more than everyone else.  

The extra cost of travel excursions or group trips often comes from “minimum requirements.” The quoted price for an excursion is often “per person with a minimum of two people.” Because of this, when I solo female travel, I’m frequently told  I must pay for a minimum of two people to join.  

When I tried to book a bike tour in the Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan’s upper peninsula, the guide said they don’t accept single reservations. But, “…if you’d be open to paying the two-person minimum, we could look at getting you on the next tour.”  

I scoffed at being unable to join because I was single; the guide countered, “You absolutely can join; you just need to pay for two people.” As if I were the unreasonable one.  

Tour operators have told me some versions of this for rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and various group trips. Single joiners must pay for two to join the group, and there is no accommodation for less than two people.  

Charging a rate “based on double occupancy” or “two-person minimum required” is so common that most people overlook it entirely until you’re solo. The last trip I considered was from a company that said it specialized in “women’s travel,” but when I tried to book a trip, they let me know that if I didn’t pay the double occupancy fee, they reserve the right to partner me with another person (They say this keeps costs “low”). Can you imagine men agreeing to this? 

The Economic Value of Solo Travel 

It’s easy to see why businesses and society have become accustomed to treating single women with less consideration. Historically, as individuals were less economically valuable without “traditional” high-margin assets like husbands, children and homes, but that’s not true anymore.  

For the first time since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking in 1976, single people outnumber married people: More than half of the adult population in the US is single. Even married people sometimes travel solo more often. Newsflash: Single women make a lot of money now and have it to spend.

As solo female travel grows, so does the economic incentive for earning our consideration. Some businesses already recognize our value and are rephrasing their terms. I’ve recently seen travel businesses offer discounts for two or more, which is a lot more palatable, if not equitable.  

The future of solo female travelers 

Maybe years ago, solo female travelers weren’t as prevalent as today, but now, solo travelers everywhere are increasing. It’s time for travel industry providers to revisit their policies. When businesses see the value of solo female travel, society will, too.  

Still, the joys of travel outweigh these minor struggles by a million miles and nothing will stop me from exploring our world; it shouldn’t stop you, either. The more we travel and talk about solo travel, the more impact we will have on the world. Let’s go.  

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