Take a book

• Waiting for delayed trains, sitting down to meals, relaxing in a bar at the end of the day: all of these situations are improved with a book. • Reading can also be a useful way to put off any potential unwanted conversation. – Amy Lynch, solo traveller
I’ve cycled and hiked and taken trains all over the world by myself, and I never did any of it without a book on hand. Waiting for delayed trains, sitting down to meals, relaxing in a bar at the end of the day: all of these situations are improved with a book.

Make new friends … or don’t

• As a total introvert, I love spending time alone, but I’ve also found that it’s pretty easy to start a conversation if I’m tired of being by myself. • I can turn to the person next to me at a restaurant, at a museum, on transportation or anywhere else and just ask a question, like, what do they recommend on the menu? • Or I can open my book, pick up my phone or just leave, and I’m back to being on my own. – Caroline Trefler, solo traveller
I’m a total introvert, and I love spending time alone, but I’ve also found that it’s pretty easy to start a conversation if I’m tired of being by myself.

Download a killer playlist

• When I’m travelling solo, I like to listen to music to really set the scene while I’m exploring. • And, if you’re like me, you like to have headphones on so that no one approaches (hello, introverts) – even with no music playing. – Serina Patel, solo traveller
When I’m travelling solo, I like to listen to music to really set the scene while I’m exploring. Obviously, be careful – you don’t want the noise-cancelling to overtake your awareness of your surroundings – but oftentimes, it’s a great way to block out ambient noise and any anxiety you might feel.

Be present

• Travelling by yourself is a great opportunity to be mindful. • With no need to rush or please anyone else, I find myself doing a lot of thinking and reflecting. – AnneMarie McCarthy, solo traveller
Travelling by yourself is a great opportunity to be mindful. I try to limit interaction with my phone as well, to really enjoy the quiet. I find some of my most vivid travelling memories have come from solo trips.

Plan rest days

• For every seven to 10 days of travel, set aside a day to breathe. • Sleep in, treat yourself to a nice meal or just give your legs a break. – Ann Douglas Lott, solo traveller
For every seven to 10 days of travel, set aside a day to breathe. If you can resist the pressure to program every moment of your trip, you won’t feel like you’re “wasting” your time. This is especially true when you’re travelling solo and not on anyone else’s schedule.

Use apps to your advantage

• When navigating a new city on foot, plug your destination into a map app, then listen to the walking directions through headphones. • This allows you to avoid pulling out a map, which is equivalent to waving a flag printed with “tourist”. – Jessica Lockhart, solo traveller
When navigating a new city on foot, plug your destination into a map app, then listen to the walking directions through headphones. Most importantly, when you’re making your plans, try to resist fear. Language and cultural barriers can raise discomfort, which will make you hyper-aware of your surroundings. But that doesn’t mean those surroundings are unsafe.

Go on a food tour

• Joining a food tour is a great way to meet fellow travellers. • You’ll have dining companions for the evening and the opportunity to try out a bunch of new restaurants. – Alex Butler, solo traveller
One thing that makes many solo travellers apprehensive is the thought of eating alone. But if you join a food tour, you’ll have dining companions for the evening and the opportunity to try out a bunch of new restaurants – all while learning about the local culture. I joined a food tour of Trastevere while travelling solo in Rome: not only did I get to meet fellow travellers, but the tour included a mix of street-food spots (excellent for solo travellers) and restaurants.

Travel with a power bank

• Travelling alone, you’ll most likely be using your phone more than usual. • Even if your phone has a reliable battery, it’s always good to know you have a backup, especially if you’re on your own. – Zara Sekhavati, solo traveller
Travelling alone, you’ll most likely be using your phone more than usual. There are plenty of small and lightweight power banks that you can purchase to slot into your bag when on the road.

Share your location

• To ensure peace of mind, inform at least one person back home of your whereabouts. • Use the Find My Friend app, which allows you to track your location in real time. – Sasha Brady, solo traveller
To ensure peace of mind, I make it a habit to inform at least one person back home of my whereabouts using the Find My Friend app, which allows you to track your location in real time. While it can be reassuring for safety reasons, what I appreciate most about it is the tangible sense of connection it provides. My family, in particular, love that they can place me on a map and accompany me virtually on my explorations.

Travelling solo doesn’t mean travelling alone

• For me, travelling solo can be a great way to meet new, like-minded people. • Join a tour group, book a day tour, research meetups or find a bar showing your favourite team. – Melissa Yeager, solo traveller
For me, travelling solo can be a great way to meet new, like-minded people. There are many ways to forge new friendships on the road.

Don’t wait for a partner

• I’ve travelled solo to places like Hawaii, the Amalfi Coast and the Dominican Republic. • When I tell these stories, someone will occasionally say something to me like, “Oh, I want to go there on my honeymoon, so I’m waiting to take that trip”. – Laura Motta, solo traveller
I’ve travelled solo to places like Hawaii, the Amalfi Coast and the Dominican Republic. My advice? Don’t wait. If you would like to go somewhere – even a place with a reputation as a romantic destination – go anyway.

Don’t overshare

• The temptation to share your entire trip via social media can be overwhelming. • Avoid sharing every movement with every follower until you return home. – Alicia Johnson, solo traveller
The temptation to share your entire trip via social media can be overwhelming – especially if you’re having a fantastic time. But for safety concerns, it’s best to avoid sharing every movement with every follower until you return home. Not only do real-time posts alert people to where you are during every part of your trip, but they also let people know you’re not home.

Role-play at restaurants

• Dining alone can be the best kind of mini-adventure. • Chat with the bartender, other patrons or play at being an international woman of mystery. – Laura Motta, solo traveller
Dining alone can be the best kind of mini-adventure. You can chat with the bartender – often a wealth of local knowledge – or other patrons. You can play at being an international woman of mystery and hunker down with a book or a notebook and pen. And if you’ve had a long day of sightseeing, sometimes it feels good to just sit at a quiet table and fiddle with your phone.

Cry when you need to

• It’s normal to feel homesick, confused or out of place. • Don’t be afraid to shed a tear or two – it’s okay to feel vulnerable. – Deepa Lakshmin, solo traveller
Especially if you’re travelling alone for the first time. Especially if you’re far away from everything you’ve ever known. Especially if you feel confused or lonely or out of place. I’ve shed tears in more airports than I care to admit. You’re outside your comfort zone, and that’s scary. It’s normal to feel homesick and miss the people, places and routines that feel familiar to you.

Five more great reasons for women to travel solo

1. Empowering experience

• Travelling alone is the ultimate confidence boost and the rewards can be game-changing. • Lugging a heavy backpack from place to place, navigating new cities and learning to handle touts and hustlers – all, shock horror, without a male companion or safety in numbers – can reveal strengths you never knew you had. –

Travelling alone is the ultimate confidence boost and the rewards can be game-changing.

2. Freedom from social expectations

• Solo travel is often thought of as a pastime reserved for carefree singles, but mothers, grandmothers and partnered women also benefit from trips alone. • Forget that TV-ad-worthy bubble bath or fleeting moment of peace on the sofa with a slab of chocolate – a solo adventure is the epitome of modern-day “me time”. –

Solo travel is often thought of as a pastime reserved for carefree singles, but mothers, grandmothers and partnered women also benefit from trips alone. You’re never really alone

• Think solo travellers are lonely? Think again. As a solo woman, people are – rightly or wrongly – likely to perceive you as non-threatening and approachable. • This results in the occasional irritating encounter, but it can also work in your favour when it comes to finding travel buddies. –

Think solo travellers are lonely? Cultural immersion

• Experiencing cultural norms and attitudes towards women vary dramatically around the world. • From adopting local dress codes in India to immersing yourself in domestic life at a Guatemalan homestay, connecting with our counterparts abroad gives us the opportunity to learn more about the roles and rights of women around the globe. –

Experiencing cultural norms and attitudes towards women vary dramatically around the world.

5. Sisterhood

• Joining the sisterhood of solo female travellers can be a powerful experience. • Connect with others who understand the challenges and rewards of solo travel, and learn from their experiences. –

Joining the sisterhood of solo female travellers can be a powerful experience.

Travel writer and photographer Jessica Nabongo is the author of the book The Catch Me If You Can: One Woman’s Journey to Every Country in the World.

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