Ladies, so you think you can't travel the world alone? Have family and friends discouraged you with talk of the dangers and difficulties? Can't find anyone to travel with you? Or maybe it's fear of the unknown or a belief that you can't do it that's stopping you? Don't allow yourself to be deterred; it's safer and easier than you might think to travel solo and the benefits far outweigh any concerns you or others can muster. The myths about the potential problems of solo female travel can be debunked here and now:
1. It's too hard
Sure, if you've never travelled before you might find it challenging to get to grips with all that you need to do to ensure you're fully informed and prepared for your journey. Visit any reputable travel store and they can advise you about what you need to pack for your specific location. Guidebooks (Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Frommers etc) contain all the relevant details about visas, money, vaccinations and other issues. There are so many travel blogs on the web now that you can easily find a current report on your chosen destination to inform your preparation. A lot of female solo and partnered travellers blog about their trials and tribulations so you can draw inspiration and glean practical advice from them before you leave home. Some picks of the blogs are:
www.neverendingfootsteps.com.
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www.adventurouskate.com
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2. It's dangerous
Any travel comes with some element of risk, but there is no need for women to fear that travelling alone is too dangerous for them particularly. Just stick to a few sensible rules, that are similar to those you would follow at home anyway, and you'll be fine:
- Dress modestly and in accordance with what's worn by local women. You are an exotic entity as it is and will attract attention anyway without revealing too much skin.
- Don't walk anywhere alone after dark, especially late at night.
- Keep an eye on your drink; never leave it unattended.
- Avoid being left alone in a room or on a deserted street with any man.
- Be discriminating about who you speak to. Trust your instincts!
Some of my best friends from the road are guys, though, so please don't dodge all of them. Just do be wary of men who offer to buy you drinks or show you around or give you a lift home. Many times I have had sincere offers, such as the individual gents who offered to walk me to wherever I needed to go in Guatemala City and shook hands when I arrived at my destination and took their leave, but I would not have accepted these offers of chivalrous escort if I wasn't quite sure of the intent behind them.
3. It's lonely
If you travel inexpensively there is absolutely no way that you will spend any significant amount of time alone on your trip. The natural tendency for hostel based travellers is to group together to join tours or enjoy other activities and on many occasions I've struck up friendships and continued to travel with people for days at a time. Meeting people is one of the best parts of travelling and you don't need to be outgoing to meet others; travellers of a like mind are naturally drawn to one another and there is always someone who is looking for another person to spend time with. In fact, I sometimes check into a hotel purely so I can ensure that I can have some alone time! And being alone sometimes isn't a bad thing anyway, ladies. There is something so freeing about sitting down to a meal, being alone with your thoughts and reading a book at your leisure and taking time deciding what you want to do the next day.
Why you should do it
1. It's empowering
You already know you're intelligent and capable and you've probably achieved a great many things in 'real life'. But in 'travel life' you'll have to call upon your knowledge and skills in a completely new environment and you'll find yourself picking up a whole lot more through meeting people and engaging with new cultures. You might start using a new language, take up scuba diving or finally pick up that guitar. The time I finally had a full conversation in Spanish with an old man on a bus for 5 hours in rural Bolivia is one of my proudest memories.There's something sweet about achieving even a small goal that you've set for yourself while travelling independently well out of your comfort zone.
2. It's incredible
After years of solo travelling I still feel excited and, yes, quite nervous before a new adventure. The exertions and expense are always worth it; just one peek at my travel photos transports me to another time filled with amazing experiences and wonderful people and I know how regretful I would feel now if I'd let doubts and fears stop me from pursuing my solo travel goals.
Travelling freely alone shouldn't be denied to anyone because of their gender. If you have the resources, ladies, you should definitely take the chance to get out there and enrich your life. You GO, girlfriends!
