My name is Emily and I’m a 27 year old health researcher, born and raised in Massachusetts. Growing up, my family always made travel a priority. I went on my first trip abroad in 2012 and was hooked. After traveling abroad several times, I decided to start an Instagram (@emilyeatsandexplores) and blog (emilyeatsandexplores.com) to inspire solo female travel.
So far I have traveled to 21 countries and 43 US states. My favorite countries so far have been Italy and Ireland, but I would love to visit Southeast Asia and slow travel through countries like Thailand. If you are planning on going on a solo female travel trip to Thailand, make sure you check out this blog “Solo Female Traveler’s Guide to Phuket”.
I love traveling solo because it gives you complete freedom and autonomy. It allows you to find your personal travel style and pace, without the influence of others. There is a certain confidence that comes with solo travel, since you are dependent on yourself for everything. Everyday is a new adventure and it pushes you outside of your comfort zone. You won’t experience anything else like it! However, relying on yourself can sometimes lead to stress.
It’s important to take the time to step back, rest and breathe. Solo female travel, especially in the long term, can also cause burnout. It’s so important to take care of yourself and allow others to help you along the way.
Top 5 Countries for Solo Female Travel
A few countries that I highly recommend for solo female travel (if this is your first time going abroad) would be: Australia, Denmark, Iceland, Japan and Thailand. This comes down to their low crime rates, easy to navigate public transport, friendly and helpful locals, and friendly accommodations.
But I fully believe that solo female travel can be done anywhere, as long as you take the necessary safety precautions. These can include things like not wandering around late at night, being smart around alcohol, communicating safely, and researching about accommodation and scams.
Budgeting & Saving Tips for Travelers
If you want to travel, you have to make it a priority. Putting aside money every month (money you won’t touch no matter what) can help turn your dreams into a reality. Travel credit cards and rewards programs can help pay for a chunk of your trip, so invest in the right card as soon as possible.
And always think about purchases in terms of travel. A three dollar coffee could be a hostel stay or two meals in some parts of the world – especially if you travel to places where currencies convert well like Southeast Asia.
Picking the Right Mix of Accommodation
When it comes to accommodation, I enjoy staying in hostels when I travel solo since they are great places to meet other travelers and save money while you go. I will usually find hostels through word of mouth or I will look for ones with great reviews from solo female travelers. I tend to chose hostels with female only rooms and single sex or single use bathrooms.
If I am traveling for a while, I like to treat myself to a hotel for a night or two. This has become a tradition for me and it’s a great way to balance my love for meeting new people and my need to be alone to recharge.
How to Pack for Solo Female Travel
I always travel with either a carry-on sized suitcase (if I’m staying in one place) or carry on a backpack (if I’m moving from place to place). Packing takes practice, but the less you bring the less weighed down you are. I will always use packing cubes to stay organized and my essential items include flip flops, an eye mask, toiletries bag, a book and comfy lounge clothes.
Final Thoughts on Solo Female Travel
If you have a desire to travel, just do it! You can start small with staycations or weekend trips. Know that not every part of your solo trip is going to be sunshine and rainbows, but that is where the growth and magic happens. Follow my tips to have a wonderful solo female travel experience in 2022!
