Solo Female Travel Tips: What 10 Years of Travelling Alone Taught Me
The first time I travelled alone, I was twenty-three years old and terrified. I'd booked a solo trip to Bali on impulse after a particularly rough month, and I remember sitting at the gate in Dubai International Airport, genuinely wondering what I'd done. That was over a decade ago. Since then, I've travelled solo to more than thirty countries across five continents, and I can say with complete certainty that learning to travel alone is one of the most valuable things I've ever done for myself. Here's what ten years of solo female travel has taught me.
The Fear Never Fully Disappears — And That's Okay
I want to start here because I think the biggest myth about solo female travellers is that we're fearless adventurers who never worry. That's not true. I still feel a flutter of nerves before every solo trip. The difference between now and a decade ago isn't the absence of fear — it's my relationship with it. I've learned to distinguish between genuine safety concerns (which I take very seriously) and the general anxiety of stepping outside my comfort zone (which I've learned to breathe through). Fear is just your brain trying to protect you. Thank it, assess the situation rationally, and then decide whether to proceed. Nine times out of ten, the fear is unfounded, and the experience waiting on the other side is extraordinary.
Research Is Your Best Friend
Before every solo trip, I do thorough research on my destination. Not just the tourist highlights, but the practical details: which neighbourhoods are safe at night, what the local customs are regarding women, whether there are any dress code expectations, which transportation options are reliable, and what the emergency numbers are. I read recent blog posts from other solo female travellers and check forums for up-to-date safety information. Living in Dubai has made me particularly attuned to cultural nuances in different countries — what's perfectly normal here might be unusual elsewhere, and vice versa. Knowledge eliminates so much anxiety.
Share Your Itinerary, Always
This is non-negotiable for me. Before every trip, I share my complete itinerary — flights, hotels, planned activities — with at least two trusted people. I also share my live location with a close friend for the duration of the trip. It's not about paranoia; it's about practical safety. If something goes wrong, someone knows exactly where you're supposed to be. I use a shared Google doc that I update as plans change, and I check in via message at least once a day. It takes minimal effort and provides enormous peace of mind for both you and the people who love you.
Trust Your Instincts Without Apology
This might be the most important lesson solo travel has taught me, and it extends far beyond travel into every aspect of my life. If something feels wrong — a person, a situation, a neighbourhood, a taxi driver — leave. Don't worry about being polite. Don't worry about seeming rude or paranoid or overdramatic. Your instincts evolved over thousands of years to keep you alive, and they're remarkably accurate. I once got out of a taxi in Istanbul because something about the driver's route didn't feel right. Was I overreacting? Maybe. But I'd rather overreact and be safe than ignore a warning signal and regret it. Give yourself full permission to prioritise your safety over social norms.
The Loneliness Comes in Waves
Solo travel content on social media makes it look like a non-stop montage of freedom and empowerment. And it is those things. But it's also sometimes lonely, and I think it's important to be honest about that. There will be moments — a beautiful sunset, an incredible meal, a funny interaction — when you wish someone was there to share it with you. I've learned to sit with that feeling rather than fight it. It passes, and on the other side of it is a deeper appreciation for your own company. That said, solo doesn't have to mean isolated. I've met some of my closest friends on solo trips — at hostels, on walking tours, at restaurant communal tables. Being alone makes you infinitely more approachable and open to connection.
Accommodation Choices Matter
Where you stay as a solo female traveller deserves extra thought. I always choose accommodation in well-lit, central areas. I read reviews specifically from other solo women. I check that the hotel or hostel has 24-hour reception. For hostels, I look for ones with female-only dorm options and good common areas where you can meet people. For hotels, I request rooms on higher floors (not ground floor) and rooms that aren't at the end of isolated corridors. These are small choices that collectively create a much safer experience. When I'm booking from Dubai, I usually compare options on multiple platforms and then call the property directly — you learn a lot about a place from how they answer the phone.
Pack Smart, Not Heavy
I've covered packing in detail in another post, but for solo travel specifically: mobility is everything. When you're navigating airports, train stations, and cobblestone streets alone, the last thing you want is luggage you can't manage independently. I travel with one carry-on roller and a crossbody day bag, and I've managed trips of up to two weeks with this setup. A crossbody bag with a zip closure is essential for daily exploring — it keeps your hands free, sits across your body where it's harder to snatch, and lets you move quickly and confidently.
Learn a Few Local Phrases
Even just hello, thank you, and excuse me in the local language opens doors that English alone cannot. People respond differently when you've made the effort, however small. Living in Dubai, where I'm surrounded by dozens of languages daily, has taught me how much a few words in someone's mother tongue can transform an interaction. I keep a small note on my phone with essential phrases for wherever I'm visiting, and I practice pronunciation before I arrive. It's a tiny investment that pays enormous social dividends.
The Confidence Compounds
Here's what nobody told me before my first solo trip: the confidence you build doesn't stay contained within travel. Navigating a foreign city alone, solving problems without anyone to lean on, trusting yourself to make decisions — these skills bleed into every area of your life. After ten years of solo travel, I am fundamentally more decisive, more resourceful, more resilient, and more comfortable with uncertainty than I would have been otherwise. Every awkward hostel check-in, every wrong bus taken, every restaurant meal eaten alone with a book — they all added up to a version of myself I genuinely love.
Start Small, Start Now
If you've been thinking about solo travel but haven't taken the leap, here's my encouragement: start small. You don't need to book a three-week backpacking trip through Southeast Asia as your first solo adventure. Take a weekend trip to a nearby emirate. Book a staycation in a different part of Dubai. Do a day trip to Abu Dhabi or Al Ain by yourself. Get comfortable with your own company in a low-stakes environment, and gradually expand your radius as your confidence grows.
The world is not as dangerous as the headlines suggest, and you are far more capable than you give yourself credit for. Solo travel is, at its core, an act of faith in yourself — faith that you can figure it out, that you'll be okay, that your own company is enough. And every time you take that leap and land safely on the other side, that faith grows a little stronger. Ten years in, mine is unshakeable. I hope yours will be too.
