5 Reasons Why Every Woman Needs To Solo Travel At Least Once In Their Life

When I told a colleague back in 2017 that I was quitting my job to travel the world, the response I got was, “You’ll be back in 2 weeks.”

I’m not going to lie, the comment disheartened me. It was frustrating that this was what she believed. And it was annoying that a part of me agreed with her.

But there was no way I was going to let someone else’s belief hold me back from my dreams.

Those estimated 2 weeks turned into 5 months in Southeast Asia and another 12 months in South America.

I’ve since built myself a digital nomad lifestyle and have been travelling full-time since October 2021.

Although I now travel with my partner, my love and confidence for travel all started with that solo trip I took when I was 27.

The trip I left my toxic job and lifestyle in London for. The trip that changed my life for the better and turned me into someone I’m proud of.

Here are all the reasons why you need to solo travel at least once in your life.

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The Benefits of Solo Female Travel

1 | Grow your confidence

All of the reasons on this list are internal because that is where solo travel has the biggest impact.

Sure you see breathtaking views, meet awesome people and make amazing memories, but none of these reasons are more important than how solo travel changes you on the inside.

And boy, does it change you.

The biggest change for me was the amount of confidence I gained while solo travelling. 

We often connect confidence with feeling comfortable in a bikini, being chatty at an event or asking for a pay rise.

But over the past few years, I’ve learnt that real confidence is about feeling secure in your ability to take risks and go after exactly what you want.

If I hadn’t gone solo travelling in my late twenties, there’s no way I’d be the confident 33-year-old I am today. 

2 | Step out of your comfort zone

I know, I love my comfort zone too, but trust me when I say this… I feel a heck of a lot more fulfilled if I do stuff that scares me.

Let’s face it, how can you grow as a person if you always stay in the same spot?

Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone encourages you to adapt quickly, learn new skills and embrace the unfamiliar.

And solo travelling helps you build these strengths.

Strengths that you can continue to use long after you’ve returned home.

3 | Build self-worth

Being stuck in a soul-sucking job and unhealthy lifestyle for 6 years was mentally beating me up to the point where I didn’t trust or respect myself anymore.

But getting out of that toxic situation and travelling solo showed me that I was worth more.

I was worth more than getting yelled at by my boss and going on the coffee run.

I was worth more than getting blackout drunk on the weekends to escape my reality.

Solo travelling allows you to make decisions, trust your intuition and believe in your own abilities again.

To travel solo is also an intentional choice.

You’re standing up for yourself and showing the people around you that you are capable.

Instead of keeping your dreams on hold out of fear, you’re prioritising your own needs and happiness.

To me, that’s the greatest act of self-worth you can give yourself.

4 | Become your own best friend

Out of all the things solo travelling gave me, learning to love myself was by far my greatest achievement.

Solo travel teaches you to get comfortable in your own company and enjoy time with yourself. It’s about learning to appreciate your own thoughts, feelings, and likes and dislikes without the influence of others.

As you travel solo, you begin to understand yourself better. You start to discover new passions, rediscover old hobbies and gain a better sense of who you are as a person. Which all lead to a deeper connection with your mind, body and soul.

Becoming your own best friend means accepting yourself just as you are and loving the person you’re becoming. Embrace it.

5 | Learn about what you truly value and want in life

From the moment we’re born, we’re funnelled down the same path.

Go to school. Go to uni. Find a job and keep it for 40 years. Buy a house. Get married. Have children. Retire. And die.

We live life on autopilot because of these expectations placed on us and never question whether it’s something we truly want. But… if you’re proactive enough to go on that solo trip, you’ll have the space to figure out if that life is for you.

Solo travelling showed me that achieving those things wouldn’t make me happy. But travelling the world and following my own path would. So I went out and designed a life that aligned with my values and vision.

So, if you use your solo trip for one thing, make sure you do some soul-searching.I don’t want to go all cliché and say, “Find yourself”, but at least dive into your core values and map out what you actually want out of life.

The cons of solo female travel

Unfortunately, like with anything good in life, there’s always going to be a downside.

And I can confirm solo travel as a female isn’t as glamorous as social media makes it seem.

There will be a lot of obstacles you may need to face, including:

• Safety concerns
• Loneliness
• No shared experiences or memories
• Having no one to share the planning with
• Not having an “Insta boyfriend” and getting strangers to take your picture

The reason why I choose not to focus on these factors is because, for me, the positives of solo travel far outweigh the negatives. Despite the downsides, solo travelling is the best thing you’ll ever do. Fact.

But if you are planning on travelling solo, either for remote work or vacation, I encourage you to do the inner work.

I’ve heard a lot of stories from women saying how much they hated solo travel. That they spent their entire trip crying because they couldn’t handle being alone.

And I get it. Solo travelling can be daunting, overwhelming and exhausting. It also isn’t right for everyone.

That’s why it’s essential to cultivate a healthy mindset first.

Without the support of a positive and resilient mental space, you will simply crumble under the pressure of the challenges that come with solo travelling.

Journal, repeat affirmations, get comfortable with being by yourself, work with a coach, lean into your strengths and practice gratitude, etc.

Do what you need to do to mentally prepare for your trip of a lifetime.

Future travelling, you will thank you for the work you put in now.

Essential tips for the best solo travel experience

1 | Do the inner mindset work

No matter how tempting it is to suddenly quit your 9 to 5 and travel the world solo, you need to do the inner mindset work first. Because let me tell you, going against the norm is not as easy as it looks.

You need to have the clarity and confidence it takes to stop questioning whether you’re on the right path or not.

You need to have the courage and resilience it takes to tackle any obstacles or setbacks that come your way.

You need to have the belief in yourself to make it happen.

So do not skip this step!

2 | Reframe “I’m travelling by myself” to “I’m travelling with myself”

Because there is a big difference!

If you’ve done the inner mindset work and love the thought of your own company, then you’re basically travelling with your BFF — You.

So why not start calling it that? It’s a simple shift that will work wonders on your self-esteem.

I’m travelling with myself, not by myself ?.

3 | Never leave your hostel without a book

Books were my go-to companion when I was travelling solo.

Not only did reading help ease my anxious thoughts and help me find comfort but it also boosted my confidence during solo dinners.

I always feel that scrolling on your phone makes it look like you’ve been stood up or that you’re forever waiting on someone.

But reading a physical book shows that your eating alone is an intentional choice.

4 | Keep a gratitude journal

Practising gratitude has been an essential part of my journey and was one of the biggest factors that allowed me to truly embrace solo travel.

It has since become my go-to self-care ritual while living abroad.

As I mentioned earlier, there can be plenty of setbacks to solo travelling.

The best way to stay strong and resilient in the face of these challenges is by reminding yourself of all the good things going on in your life.

P.S. Journaling is also another great hack for when you find yourself eating alone!

5 | Dedicate time to self-care

As we’ve covered, travel, like any other aspect of life, has its challenges and uncertainties.

I still get overwhelmed from time to time, and I have moments when I want to scream into a pillow due to a lack of understanding.

But I’ve managed to establish a set of habits that help keep me sane.

It is these rituals that allow me to mindfully navigate a new environment, create balance amidst a demanding schedule and find calm while dealing with stressful situations.

And I encourage you to do the same.

Self-care allows you to take care of your physical, mental and emotional well-being.

It’s dedicated time for you to slow down, regroup and recharge so you can keep showing up as your best, most confident solo self.

Final thoughts

Quitting my toxic 9 to 5 and going on that solo trip remains the best thing I ever did.

Because it changed my life.

If I hadn’t ignored all the naysayers and gone with my gut, then I’d most likely still be living a life I wasn’t happy with.

Solo travelling showed me what I truly valued (freedom, adventure and discovery). It supported my ethos of doing things on my own terms, and it paved the way for me to become a digital nomad.

I’ve since designed a life that allows me to wake up to my wildest dreams every single day. And I couldn’t be happier.

If you’ve been wanting to travel for a while but keep holding yourself back out of fear or judgment, this is your sign to just do it.

Stop waiting around for others to join you and start taking control of your dreams.

Until next time,

Thalia xx