Solo traveling as a single woman can be a rewarding and empowering experience. I went on my first solo international trip to Thailand in 2017. It was such an amazing experience, I learned so much about myself and expanded my mind.
One of the reasons why I decided to travel alone was it was challenging to get my friends together to travel at the same time. Everyone having different responsibilities, a career, or a family we had a hard time coming together.
Also, when traveling with people I had to always adhere to their schedule. Sometimes I felt locked into doing activities that I wasn’t interested in.
So, the thought of traveling alone was a very exciting concept for me. I would have to rely solely on my instincts and intelligence to navigate through this adventure was very exhilarating.
This was going to push me out of my comfort zone, and I was ready for the challenge.
All and all my experience traveling alone to another country was such a life-changing experience. I gained so much confidence and trust in myself. I knew that I could keep myself safe, I could make wise decisions and I could adapt.
These qualities are very important to tackle any obstacles in your path and lead to a very successful life.
Before deciding to just pick up and travel solo here are some tips on how to prepare.
Intentional with location
It is important to be intentional with the location of where you are going. Going to a location to just soak up the sun is not enough. To get the best value from your trip it needs to align with your values. It starts with becoming aware of your wants and needs from this trip.
Ask yourself: Why are you traveling? Why do you want to visit a certain city or go to a particular country? What are you looking to achieve from the location you are visiting?
Your journey will become more inspiring, fulfilling, and potentially even life-changing if you are clear on your intentions.
Plan, Plan Plan
Now you can’t plan for everything, but the better prepared you are the better. Make sure you do a significant amount of research for the destination that you are choosing.
Here is a list of to–do:
- Money – Budget the amount of money you want to spend, don’t be too frugal, you want to have more than enough, so you don’t constantly have to go to the ATM and rack up fees.
- Location – what locations are you going to see when you visit.
- Tour Travel (optional) – I recommend this because they usually have an itinerary available for you and are much more knowledgeable about the destination you choose.
- Join a community – join a Facebook community of solo travelers that can give you knowledge and experience.
- Research weather and dressing attire – Make sure to bring proper clothes for the place you visit. While in Thailand there were areas where we had to be covered up with clothes, especially when going to temples
- Learn the culture – It is so important to learn the culture and the language of the people, this is showing courtesy and respect to the locals that live there. Remember being able to travel to another country is a privilege so respect is very important.
Prepare yourself mentally!
Traveling solo is a common practice, but it’s not seen as normal if it’s not a business trip. So many of your friends and family might discourage you. It’s not that they don’t want you to enjoy yourself and have fun, but they might worry about your safety.
It is important to not let their opinions sway you and change your mind, remember this trip is for you, this is your journey.
Another way to mentally prepare yourself is to become mindful, integrating meditation. Meditation will help you ground and find stillness when you are feeling stressed when things don’t go as planned.
As much planning as you try to do, some things will happen unexpectedly, and since you will travel alone and not have any of your friends and family around it’s important to keep a level head and a sense of calmness that you will be able to handle anything that comes your way.
Conclusion
Solo traveling as a single woman can be immensely rewarding, providing opportunities for personal growth, self-discovery, and new friendships. It is a chance to step outside of your comfort zone, learn new things, and make new friends.
Remember to prioritize your safety, trust your instincts, and make the most of this exciting adventure.
So go out there and explore the world!
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