More Women Traveling Solo

I’ve traveled to a few Western European countries alone. Not much of a concern. Just important not to do anything that you wouldn’t do at home. Avoid certain places after dark. Don’t drink too much alcohol. Using common sense usually worked in most places.

Hi Gennaro,

I have done the solo traveling bit before I was married. I think it depends on the location. For example, I would not travel by myself to India. Gender relations there tend to be very traditional and men can grab women that they think are easy. Unfortunately, Western women are viewed as being easy.

Besides very traditional countries, I never had any problem anywhere in the world when I used to travel solo. Kind of cool that more women are traveling solo.

I’ve traveled solo in Paris and Amsterdam. The museums in Paris were a bit tough because you want to share your experience. I commented on a painting at the Orsay to a man next to me and his wife shot me a look and dragged him off. Unfortunately women traveling solo are still suspect, even to other women. That said, the waiters couldn’t have been kinder to me. Dining alone in Paris is tough, but they made me feel welcome.

Hey, Gennaro! I used to travel solo a good bit before marriage and kids… I can’t remember the last time I did ANYthing solo right now! I will say that I agree with Nadia, it kind of depends on location, and also how thick the woman’s skin is (to safely ignore the sometimes ridiculous attention.)

One of the things I encountered, since I was often flying MYSELF to Latin American countries, was that I was not taken seriously. I once landed in a small town in Mexico, where gun-toting, military-looking guys ran out to the plane as soon as I stopped the engines. They asked, “Who is the Captain?” and, when I replied that I was, the laughed and said, “No, really.” They thought I was joking! It was incomprehensible to them that I was the pilot in command… which says a lot about how they view women in general.

I have to say, I prefer traveling with my husband or a good friend, just to be on the safe side.
=-)

B.C. – Before child, I used to travel solo. But now, my husband and child want to string along as much as they can! I am actually considering some “me” time or solo travel once a year (there might be some opposition from the family here). but it’s something I just need to stay sane! Just me, my camera, and my laptop.

Dude, I thought at first I share this blog with my wife. After this post I think i’d better not. LOL!!! 😉
I sent once my precious to a trip to Greece with her friend, a female too. That was interesting experience. 😉
Interesting observation.

Pretty informative post, looks like you did some homework to put this together. I might be constrained to share this with my wife though!!

I travel solo all the time and have not had any problems. It’s nice not having to negotiate with anyone else about where to go or what to do all day every day. I like to take a lot of pictures when I travel, and I think there’s only so much of that other people are willing to take. 🙂 Dining alone is not usually a problem–I either eat at a bar so I can chat with others, or I record my experiences in a journal while waiting for food to arrive. If I get lonely, I strike up a conversation with whoever happens to be around.

I haven’t traveled, though, to a region that is very culturally different in terms of the way women are treated here in the US. If I were to do so, I would probably join a tour group. “Safety in numbers” and all that.

I’m glad women are traveling more and are doing things on their own. I’ve really only traveled around the US but most of it has been by myself.

That’s great news. I was afraid that it should be the opposite, considering the danger increasing all the time. Common sense will do a long way of course, avoiding the dark places and not have any valuable stuff on you. Looking like an local as much as possible is great too.

I travel solo 90% of the time. I’m a married woman and people look at me funny when they ask if my husband is going and I say no. Travel photography is hard work best done alone. You get up early and pound the pavement for many hours while others are relaxing. It’s not fun to follow a travel photographer around.

Its about time that women equal men in the way of travelling too. It a shame on us men that they fell they can’t if they want too!

I’m from Norway and here it’s very common. My daughter made a backpacker trip 10 years ago to the Far East and Australia and it was no issue that they where only girl travelling together.

I’ve traveled alone throughout Europe and the Americas, and I have to say that I have met few women backpacking and hosteling alone. Flying alone to visit friends and family doesn’t count and traveling with another woman is not traveling alone.

When women travel alone, they go to the safer places, don’t fully participate in all activities, and are forced to modify their dress and other habits. It appears that world travel is simply one more of many life activities, just like chess, math, science, engineering, computer programming, haute cuisine and haute couture, where women are unfortunately under-represented, especially at the higher levels of achievement.

If I had waited for a traveling companion to join me, I’d never have gone anywhere, or had the wonderful cultural experiences I’ve had in my life. My first solo trip was across the US on a Greyhound bus, from Pittsburgh PA to San Luis Obispo CA when I was 21 years old. That was thirty years ago! Besides car camping in CA, my solo travels have taken me across the US, to a few countries in Europe, and Mexico (so far).

The cool thing about being a woman and traveling alone is that you never really are completely alone. It’s easier to meet people, pick up conversations with strangers and find folks to share small experiences with if you start alone. You also don’t have to travel on someone else’s time schedule or worry about whether or not they are having fun.

I have taken a couple of trips with friends, and I have to say that the ones I take alone are much more enjoyable.

For anyone considering it, I’d say go for it!

Love the article and comments. I too have travelled the world solo and find it incredibly rewarding. I must say though that the only thing I do find a little intimidating is eating in a good restaurant. Yes, I do try to take something to read…but still I feel as though every one is wondering where the partner is. This is the only downside.

@Rebecca

I’m a first time solo traveler leaving on a 6-months trip through Asia in 3 weeks. So far my list includes Istanbul, Sri Lanka, Thailand (south to north), Laos and Vietnam. I have a feeling that buddhist and hindu countries are more psychologically comfortable, if not safer for a single female backpacker. At least the first time around.

Still, I think that going alone is the best way to travel. I enjoyed traveling as a part of a couple, but we missed out on a lot of experiences and acquaintances, as we were always consumed with each other.