FIVE GREAT REASONS FOR WOMEN TO TRAVEL ON THEIR OWN
Stepping out of your comfort zone, meeting new people, and discovering more about yourself are just some of the well-known reasons to try solo travel. But what are the unique benefits for women?
From challenging stereotypes to discovering a powerful sense of sisterhood, travelling alone can be a true balm for the soul.
Lonely Planet’s new book Women Travel Solo explores this transformative experience, with 30 women sharing inspiring stories of adventure, growth, and self-discovery.
Here are five reasons for women to travel on their own.
1. IT’S EMPOWERING
Travelling alone is the ultimate confidence boost, and the rewards can be game-changing for women. Lugging a heavy backpack from place to place, navigating new cities and learning to handle touts and hustlers, all – shock horror! -without a male companion or ‘safety in numbers can reveal strengths you never knew you had.
You’ll also defy stereotypical gender norms in the process. Through their very existence, solo female travellers give the metaphorical middle finger to archaic ideas that define what women can, can’t or shouldn’t do – which feels incredibly liberating.
2. YOU’RE THE BOSS, BUT NO ONE’S CALLING YOU BOSSY
If you’ve travelled alone or are considering your first solo trip, chances are you’re reasonably bold and assertive. These are characteristics of natural leaders which, when possessed by women, can bamboozle certain people. (Hint: the types who are quick to use labels such as ‘control freak’ and ‘bossy’.)
Even travelling with close friends and partners can be challenging when your travel styles clash. The joy of independent travel? You get to choose how to spend your day, guilt-free, without fear of judgment.
You’re free to stick to your own hour-by-hour action-packed itinerary or laze by the pool for two weeks.
You can eat, sleep, spend money and socialise however and whenever possible. You make the rules – and get to break them too.
3. YOU’RE NEVER REALLY ALONE
Do you think solo travellers are lonely? Think again. While loneliness is a reality of life on the road occasionally, it’s not as common as you might expect.
It’s easy to meet people in hostels, on local tours and guided trips, or even on public transport, and you may find that you’re hardly ever on your own. As a solo woman, people are – rightly or wrongly – likely to perceive you as non-threatening and approachable.
This results in the occasional irritating encounter, but it can also work in your favour when finding travel buddies.
If you’re still unsure about solitude, research social events and meetups in your destination ahead of time so that you can meet local women on the ground, or consider a female-only tour or group trip if you want to meet like-minded travellers.
Intrepid’s women-led, women-only trips celebrate and support women-owned businesses and communities in countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco.
Support exists online too: Facebook groups such as the Solo Female Traveler Network, the Blonde Abroad Female Travel Tribe and Solo Girls Travel Guide offer advice, tips and a friendly community at the swipe of a smartphone.
4. THERE IS FREEDOM FROM SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS
A solo female traveller is nurturing no one but herself. She’s at the top of her list of priorities, which is subversive even in today’s societies.
Solo travel is often considered a pastime reserved only for carefree singles, but mothers, grandmothers, loved-up ladies and wives also benefit from leisure trips alone.
Forget that TV-ad-worthy bubble bath or a fleeting moment of peace on the sofa with a slab of chocolate: a solo adventure is the epitome of modern-day ‘me time’, giving women a break from traditional caregiving roles.
And there’s more. Suppose you’re tired of oppressive beauty standards and considering a change. Long-term travel is an excellent opportunity to test out a different look: go low-maintenance and leave the razor, hair straightener and make-up at home, or get that sleeve tattoo you always wanted.
Opting out of the body-shaming, diet culture, fashion and fitness trends that tend to inhabit our everyday lives means there’s more room to be yourself – or find out who you are.
5. GET A SENSE OF SISTERHOOD
While many destinations are safe for solo travellers, some are more challenging than others, and women always have more to consider regarding personal safety.
Gender inequality, therefore, affects solo female travellers by default, at the planning stages and throughout their trips – but it’s not all negative.
Cultural norms and attitudes towards women vary dramatically worldwide, and experiencing these first-hand can be eye-opening.
From adopting local dress codes in India to immersing yourself in domestic life at a Guatemalan homestay, connecting with our counterparts abroad allows us to learn more about the roles and rights of women around the globe.
You can exchange smiles, share stories, and celebrate the things that connect and differentiate us.
Women Travel Solo by Lonely Planet, $35.99 RRP. Contact shop.lonelyplanet.com
