Last Updated on September 18, 2025 by Christine Kaaloa

Not everyone’s first solo trip is smooth. Mine certainly wasn’t. That time, I learned first time solo lessons the hard way – but the next time, I planned ahead. No more crash-course learning on the fly. I wanted my second solo trip to go better, with confidence and enjoyment from start to finish.

For women traveling alone for the first time, there are three roadblock fears that often hold you back. Until you address them, your travel dreams may feel stuck!

This guide is designed to give you practical step-by-step tips to hurdle your fears and build your confidence so your first solo adventure is empowering!

This post contains affiliate links. I never leave home without travel insurance– I like to buy insurance that covers theft and adventure but here’s a trip insurance finder tool  to find a plan that matches your budget.

OG Solo Traveling as a Woman: When I started solo female travel…

When I started my journey as a solo female traveler over two decades ago (wow, it’s been that long!), there weren’t travel blogs, social media or YouTube, booking apps were few. You clutched your out-dated guidebook, and arriving at a destination felt like opening a Cracker Jack box– you never knew exactly what you would get.

When your hotel turned out to look dingy and dirty, I’d crack open my guidebook, look at the listings and set out on foot to see the hotel rooms for myself. Hiring a guide meant asking recommendations from a local and haggling. Read 8 types of tours to book

Solo travel was not easy or convenient and took fumbling around, making bad bookings, haggling for taxis or knowing to ask them to turn on their meters. There was a huge element of unknown and self-doubt you’d be able to handle it. You were forced to troubleshoot and find your own solutions and by the end of the trip, you had learned the lesson that you could survive anywhere. Today solo travel is very different.

Planning Your First Solo Trip- A Step-by-Step Guide for Women

Myth 1: I Cannot Travel Alone as a Woman

“If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone” …” If you can’t stand your own company, how will others stand yours?” are popular quotes that come to mind whenever I hear a woman say, she cannot be alone with themself. 

Firstly,  we should all learn to enjoy our own company. Being alone often helps us find ourselves. Self-reflection, listening to our intuition is great for healing and harnessing our psychic abilities, and alone time allows us to pamper one’s self without fear of judgement. 

1. Get used to being alone

Some folks have difficulty being or doing activities alone. If you are in this category, then start with doing things on your own like taking yourself to the movies or dining in a restaurant alone. Read benefits of solitude in solo travel

2. Start with a solo weekender nearby

Not sure if you’re ready to go all in on a full-fledged solo seven day trip? Start with a solo weekender instead. Even a short trip can build confidence for longer adventures. When I was living in Manhattan, I’d take weekend trips upstate to a meditation retreat for women.  It was a simple and relaxing way to travel away to enjoy studying meditation while learning how to pamper and empower my solo self.

Tip: Search engines like Expedia and Orbitz sells all-inclusive weekend packages. You can get some great deals. Also, check out Booking Yoga training to enjoy your yoga practice in an exotic setting.

Myth 2: Traveling Alone as a Woman is Unsafe

A while back, I did a video called Is Solo Travel Safe for Women?  Many people assume foreign equals unsafe, especially in international waters. The truth is, danger doesn’t come from difference or a foreign language – it comes from ignorance and lack of preparation. So here’s some ways to nip your solo female safety in the bud:

Solo travelers these days are empowered with mobile travel apps, competitive booking and day tour search engines, ride share apps with some travel content creator like myself sharing their blueprint to a destination.

There are a wealth of travel resources and tools with first hand knowledge to help you feel safe, informed, so that your arrival is not a mysterious unboxing! This makes solo female travel accessible, convenient and much more informed.

Read my 31 Solo Travel Safety Tips for Women

1. Choose a Safe Starter Country

Confidence starts with comfort. Your first solo trip should be a country where you feel reasonably safe navigating alone. Make your dream list and then filter it down by safety and accessibility.

• Thailand, Costa Rica, and Portugal are excellent starter countries in developing regions.
• Japan, South Korea, Ireland, and Denmark are beginner-friendly first-world options.
• Canada ( Vancouver is the English side) is easy to navigate if you’re a U.S. citizen as there is no language difference and both are western cultures.

Finally, if international travel still feels too stressful for you, why not start closer to home and travel in your own country… or even state!

2. Check official travel warnings

The U.S. Department of State website is up-to-date on local crime, political unrest, and safety alerts. Guatemala, for example, was too risky for my first trip due to violent crime and community tension toward women travelers.

4. Seek advice from friends or fellow travelers

Personal accounts often provide the most practical insights. While an article may list Thailand as dangerous, feedback from women who have traveled solo there gave me reassurance that it’s safe with common-sense precautions.

5. Build confidence with structured experiences

Combine locally-guided tours and cultural workshops with solo exploration for balance. For a first-time solo trip, incorporating structured elements gives you a safety net of still letting you explore freely within safe boundaries and local guidance.

Community homestays and local initiatives: Getting involved with sustainable local program like reputable NGOs and community initiatives offer cultural experiences with guidance, community support, and a purpose-driven itinerary.

Day tours and walking tours: Even if you’re not a “tour group person”, guided activity and walking trips provide “safe formula” experiences. In Thailand, I booked several budget-friendly day tours which allowed me to see key sights, meet other travelers, and build confidence navigating on my own.

Tip: I like to check out Get Your Guide to research day and activity tours to fill my itinerary. Book Yoga Retreats offers wellness, culinary and yoga retreat workshops!

Read planning your first solo trip itinerary

6. Research transportation options

Transportation can make or break your confidence in a new country. Ideally, your starter country has multiple reliable transport options, so you won’t feel stranded or unsafe.

Thailand is one of my favorite transportation destinations because it offers a myriad of ways to get around. This emboldened me to know that there was no way I could ever get lost navigating this country.  offered trains, buses, and domestic flights—multiple options meant I could adjust plans quickly if something went wrong.

Meanwhile, Guatemala’s public buses a decade ago felt risky due to high-profile hijackings- something that would have made me anxious as a solo female traveler.

7. Research cultural norms

Before you leave, invest time into understanding your destination. What are the rules for women? How do locals expect women to dress or interact socially? Are there specific safety tips traveler recommend for the destination?  Knowledge isn’t restrictive – it’s empowering.

Before traveling to Morocco with a friend, I researched women’s safety extensively. Morocco is conservative; even small things like showing bare arms or legs can send the wrong message. In Pakistan, a man scolded me because I had my kurta accidentally tucked into my pants and it revealed my butt. My butt was in pants, but apparently it was improper by societal standards.  By understanding these cultural nuances, I am able to travel confidently while respecting local customs.

Read responsible travel tips for ethical travelers

8.Research tourist scams and safety advice

Popular tourist scams are another thing I like to research because it gives me a heads up of what to be alert to.

The first time I traveled to Bangkok, it was my second solo trip in a developing country. I read about popular tourist scams where fake guides near the palace redirect by saying the palace burned down, tuk tuk drivers who wouldn’t turn on the meter and ping pong show scams. It was a lot to digest, but it empowered me to know what to look for.  Lo and behold, when I arrived in Bangkok I met those exact situations. Had I not learned about them in advance, I might have put myself in a compromised situation of letting my naivete be taught a harsh lesson.

Read travel scams to avoid

Download my free solo travel survival checklist and toolkit

Myth #3: I’m Not Ready to Buy My First Ticket

Buying your first solo flight is often the biggest hurdle of solo travel. Until you book, your travel dreams remain hypothetical. The “what ifs” can paralyze even the most enthusiastic traveler.

1. Decide trip length

Balance your comfort level and confidence. For example, when booking tickets, I alway have difficulty deciding upon how long I want to stay in that destination. I don’t want to overshoot my tolerance level or come up short and wish I booked for longer.

When booking first trip to Japan, I considered a two week trip of city hopping from Tokyo, but wasn’t certain I could afford it or even fill it with purposeful budget activities to make it feel worthwhile.  So shortened it to 7 days. It was a full trip and by the end, I knew I wanted to return for a longer stay in the cities I visited. And when I did, I was familiar with navigating Japan enough to feel less intimidated by costs and getting around.

If your confidence feels shaky, don’t go all in on a long trip. Create short spurts in the case you find solo travel overwhelming. I know there’s a tendency for many to think your first trip to a place is your last, but we need to normalize return trips to places we love for deeper enrichment.

Tip: Start a solo date, graduate to a relaxing weekend trip and then go for week long trips. Measure your comfort level and inch your way there.

2. Trust Yourself

“Just do it” may sound cliche, but it’s true. Problems will arise- lost luggage, illness, delayed flights – but you’ve faced challenges before. Your daily instincts, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills are stronger than you think.

Real-life skills that show you are more capable than you think:

• Meeting a last-minute work deadline and improvising solutions.
• Handling unexpected situations like accidents, medical issues, or emergencies instinctively.
• Navigating social challenges or conflicts efficiently in real-time.

Trust yourself- solo travel does not require a Master’s degree. It leans on your ability to survive and problem solve. And you’ve got the skills and are more capable than you know!

Tip: I never leave home without travel insurance– I like to buy insurance that covers theft and adventure. Then what do I do? Set and forget. Check out my post on affordable travel insurance recommendations for U.S. Citizens. Also, here’s a trip insurance finder tool  to find a plan that matches your budget.

3. Prep your independence

Confidence is built before you even leave:

• Learn basic language phrases using Google Translate or Duolingo.
• Pack strategically and create a capsule wardrobe. Tip: Here a customizable and printable packing list tool
• Download core travel apps like Waze or Google Maps, a currency converter, Booking.com, and Uber rideshare app
• Have backup accommodations or emergency contacts ready.
• Get an Airalo E-SIM so you always have internet access.

The goal is not to eliminate every risk – which is impossible- but to feel prepared, resilient, and capable in the face of challenges.

4. Worry about logistics after you book

You’ll be flagged with many What If scenarios the moment you open your flight search tab. What if I am stranded or encounter theft? …What if I get sick and no one is around?… What if there aren’t any western toilets?… 

The longer you entertain them, the further away from reality they’ll take you. My male friends are good at confidence in this realm so I like to use their example:

“Should a problem arise,  I will find a way to deal with it!“

In life, the worst scenarios don’t often happen and if it does, we find a way to deal with it. That comes with troubleshooting life and situations- a work colleague pulls the rug out from under you, you get into a car accident, the water pipe in your house sprung a leak… you find ways to deal with it to survive.  You’ve already got that innate ability to survive.

Don’t try to predict What Ifs, because you’ll go crazy.

Instead, learn to trust your ability to troubleshoot and survive. Recognize that you can deal with problems when and if they arise. Trust yourself, close your eyes and take the LEAP!

Extra Confidence-Boosting Tips for First-Time Female Solo Travelers

Blend structured and unstructured activities: Combine guided tours, volunteer work, or workshops with solo exploration for balance.

Connect with other travelers before you go: Social platforms like Instagram, travel forums, or Meetup can help you network.

Practice problem-solving in everyday life: The more you handle minor emergencies at home, the more prepared you feel abroad.

Document your progress: Journaling or vlogging your solo travel journey reinforces your growth and highlights your accomplishments.

Conclusion

Solo travel for women is about empowerment, self-discovery, and resilience. By addressing fears, researching cultural norms, selecting safe starter countries, and trusting yourself, your first solo adventure can be transformative.

Stop overthinking. Book that ticket. Plan intentionally. Trust your instincts. You’re capable of handling challenges and ready to experience the freedom and confidence that solo travel brings.

Okay, so now let’s book that flight!

Read planning your first solo trip itinerary

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