Why every woman should try solo travel

I still get apprehensive whenever I book a solo trip. A million different questions go through my head. Have I thought this through? Will I be safe? Is the hostel safe? Will I enjoy myself? Will I make friends? 

But it ends up being worth it every single time. I feel so proud and blessed that I have learnt to trust myself more. There are so many reasons why every woman should take a solo trip at least once. However, one particular reason stands out most of all…

WHY NOT?

What sparked the beginning of my solo female travels?

Five years ago, the idea of a solo trip felt completely out of reach.  It was the beginning of the pandemic; I was terrified, and so was the rest of the world. I felt comfortable in my little flat, and stepping out into the world did not seem enticing at all, especially alone. 

But every morning and night, as I doom-scrolled through social media, I kept seeing videos of women stuck at home yet eagerly planning their next solo adventure. Something about their excitement sparked something in me.

 In 2022, when circumstances changed, I decided to take the plunge. My mental health had hit a post-pandemic low. I was in therapy, and after one particularly demotivating session, I just thought, “Why not?” and booked my first solo trip. 

Starting big or small for your first solo trip

Some people prefer to dip their toes in the water and get a taste of solo travelling before diving straight in. Others believe if you’re going to do it, why not go all in? 

There’s no right or wrong way to do it. The only thing that matters is that you actually do it!

A solo trip is yours and yours alone — that’s the beauty of it. It starts with you, ends with you, and you’ll be reaping its benefits for years to come.

If you're not quite ready to tackle a foreign place completely alone, join a group trip.

That way you'll have everything planned for you, an immediate group of friends and a local guide to show you the best of that country.

Where was my first solo trip?

I decided to start small. I had always wanted to go to Dublin, so I planned a short three-day trip, followed by four days in London to visit a friend. Those days in Dublin were the best I had experienced in two years. I didn’t take a single bus and walked everywhere, determined to take it all in (even the slightly tipsy walk back to my hostel from the Guinness Storehouse was worth it). 

It took a while to sink in that I was here, in Ireland, having the time of my life, and I had done it all alone. Seven days later, I was back in my little flat, booking my next trip — not three days, but three weeks in Italy. 

That first trip, and all subsequent solo trips, have changed me in countless ways. They’ve made me into the person I am today and given me the courage to move to Australia alone. I wholeheartedly believe that every woman should solo-travel at least once in her life. 

Now, I get it. This is all coming across as very much the Eat, Pray, Love solution to all of life’s problems. But sometimes, that can be the best way to deal with things. 

Still not convinced? Here are my top reasons every woman should try solo travelling at least once.

5 reasons why every woman should solo travel

You're  reading this post which tells me you're already thinking about solo travelling. I'm confident that it will take no more than these five reasons to convince you to take your first solo trip or join one of Stay Wild's amazing group trips for women.

Let's see...

Build confidence and step outside of your comfort zone

Solo travel forces you to try new things, embrace change, and face your fears. Everything around you is unfamiliar, and every decision is entirely your own. In those moments, you realise how capable you really are (spoiler alert: very capable!). 

Stepping out of your comfort zone and taking on unbelievable adventures inevitably leads to a feeling of accomplishment and self-empowerment that can take years to achieve back home. Travelling is a catalyst for building your confidence and self-belief. 

Get better at problem solving

Following on from the point above — solo travelling can make you an expert problem-solver. You must be the luckiest person alive if you complete your travels without anything going wrong, because unfortunately that’s not how travelling works. 

Solo travel hones your ability to think on your feet. Only you can solve that missed flight, lost luggage drama, or situation that’s starting to make you uncomfortable. You can do it, and you’ll have to, as you don’t have anyone else there to do it for you. 

The more you practise this skill and trust yourself, the faster you get at solving problems while travelling and in your daily life. 

Do anything you want, whenever you want

You’re in a foreign country; the world is at your feet. You can do whatever you want — five-hour long perusing in museums, croissants in the park, a nap at the beach. 

You can follow your every whim; let me tell you, it is liberating. When I went to Italy, I decided not to book anything in advance. Since it was the first proper year after the pandemic, people could travel knowing that things wouldn’t be sold out, but I made this decision based on the longing for freedom and flexibility. 

So, I  booked only my hostels, and then every day I would set off on whatever adventure I felt like for that day. This allowed me to plan (or not plan) my days the way I saw fit, but I could also spontaneously agree to plans with other people in my hostel, and I made some amazing memories and friends.

Realise you can make friends as an adult

I’m such an introvert at home, but the moment I step foot into a hostel, making friends just feels natural. 

Hostels are incredible incubators for budding new friendships. Imagine it: a bunch of strangers, most travelling alone just like you, put in a small space together — it’s almost impossible NOT to have a conversation. 

But I think it’s more than that. Without the everyday stress hanging over my head, I feel freer and far more capable of making personal connections and being vulnerable.

With no preconceptions of who you are, you can be whoever you want to be, and knowing that you can travel to a different country solo makes going up to a stranger a far less daunting task. Amazingly, this mentality translates into other aspects of your everyday life. 

Bonus: It’s not uncommon for those like-minded individuals you met along the way to become lifelong friends and an important part of your life.

Do the things you’ve been dreaming of 

At one point in her life, almost every woman will probably find herself thinking, “I’d love to go there, but I have no one to go with”. 

This should never stop you from nourishing your love for travel or ticking that dream off your bucket list! 

It’s very normal that your friends or family won’t have the same travel goals or budgets. It should be second nature for women to consider solo travel the moment it is an option. 

Think about it: most men would never hesitate to set off alone. However, we always doubt ourselves and think that, as women, we shouldn’t go. 

Naturally, safety is not a concern we should ignore, but we are stronger than we think, can gauge which countries are safer than others, and can trust that we can tackle any obstacles that arise. 

Not quite ready for a full-on solo travel adventure?

That’s where group trips come in. They offer the perfect balance between solo adventure and community, letting you travel without knowing anyone beforehand, but once you arrive, you’ll be surrounded by awesome like-minded people. 

Stay Wild Travel organises group trips for women beyond your typical destinations.

How does island hopping in the Philippines sound? Or hiking mountains in Pakistan? Maybe cruising the River Nile in Egypt is more your style? 

Our itineraries are designed to create stress-free, safe travel centred around local experiences and empowering women.