Five Myths About Women Traveling Solo

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Any woman embarking on a solo trip will get plenty of advice, much of it unsolicited, about the perceived merits and the dangers of solo travel. For every woman who wants to emulate the heroine ofWild, there are others who can think only of the difficulties of going it alone. So we asked the experts to weigh in on these five classic myths about solo travel.

1. Traveling solo sounds like a recipe for loneliness.

“On the contrary, traveling alone is one of the best ways to make a lot of new friends,” says Janice Holly Booth, author of Only Pack What You Can Carry (National Geographic), a guide to achieving personal growth through solo adventure travel. “Think about it, when you’re traveling with a partner, your attention is wrapped up in them. Alone, you are free to interact with as many people as you like, for as long as you like. I’ve found that often when I meet a group of people and there’s chemistry, they’ll ask me to join them on an excursion or even out to dinner.”

Spontaneity can be a vital part of solo travel, as can a sense of freedom and the ability to make choices that suit you, not a companion. These are the prime reasons solo travelers give when asked why they go it alone.

“Traveling solo gives you the freedom to choose your schedule, go where you want and with who you want,” says Lisa Eldridge, who writes the Girl about the Globe blog. “And with freedom comes flexibility. If you arrive somewhere and really don’t like it then you can just move on. Arrive somewhere and absolutely love it? Stay longer and revise your plans.”

With that kind of freedom can come added benefits, some of them life changing, says Eldridge.

“Traveling solo empowers you and gives you a feeling of accomplishment that you just don’t get traveling with others,” she says. “You’ll return home a more defined person with a sense of who you really are. You may have not noticed the change but others definitely will.”

2. Traveling solo is not safe, especially for women.

“Traveling solo is as safe as traveling with others as long as you plan for safety and follow your instincts,” says Janice Waugh, author of The Solo Traveler's Handbookand the Solo Traveler Blog. “The four fundamentals are: Stay in a public place with people you've just met, be proactive and choose who to approach should you want assistance, don't be rushed into a decision and be rude if necessary.”

Regardless of where they are going, there are some common sense rules that every solo female traveler should follow.

“Traveling solo calls for the same daily safety considerations you employ now,” says Booth. “Lock your car, hide your valuables, stay out of sketchy neighborhoods, let people know your itinerary, don’t flash expensive jewelry and be aware of your surroundings.”

3. I would go with a group but the single supplements can be very expensive.

Single supplements can be hefty, but some companies offer lower cost supplements and others give you the option of sharing with other solos on the tour.AdventureWomen is one such company, leading women traveling on their own on active group tours all around the world. It offers a way for women to experience traveling alone yet also provides them with camaraderie, safety and even access to activities they might never do on their own.

The woman on these trips have “left the comforts of home -- and friends and family -- to explore the world, learn new skills and escape from the daily grind,” says Susan Eckert, founder and president of AdventureWomen. “By grouping them with other like-minded women also traveling solo, they have a safety net with which to get out of their comfort zone, but they can still leave the cares, worries -- and makeup -- at home to be entirely themselves.”

AdventureWomen does not charge single supplements. They do pair each traveler with a roommate but they usually allow them to change roommates on those nights when they move to new lodging on a trip.

4. It’s limiting to travel solo.

Imagination is a funny thing, says Booth. “It’s both limiting and limitless. Before I took my first solo trip, I couldn’t imagine how inspiring, exciting, and even spiritual a solo trip could be, simply because I’d never put myself in the position of taking one. Given a choice of traveling by myself or traveling with a companion, I’ll go solo. It’s way more fun.”

Janice Waugh adds that going solo puts you in a much better position to meet locals and fellow travelers.

“I meet more people traveling alone than I do when traveling with a companion,“ she says. “Think about it. When you're with someone else, you're focused on that person and people don't want to interrupt. Alone, I'm open to the world and I find that, when I want it, the world steps in. I meet lots of locals and other travelers by traveling alone. I consider being alone a bonus.”

5. It’s boring to travel alone.

“Traveling solo is only boring if you stay stuck in your usual routine,” says Booth. She advises that solo travelers try activities that they never considered, from a cooking class in Paris to ice climbing in Alberta.

“They can make you feel alive and vibrant and let’s face it, they make your stories a lot more interesting,” she says. “Drive through the Canyonlands in a convertible. Get a bird’s-eye view of the landscape in an ultra-light. Go on an archaeological dig. Solo traveling is the perfect antidote to boredom, because you are not shackled by the wants, needs and demands of another person who may keep you stuck inside your comfort zone. Alone, you can break out of your cage and there’s nothing boring about that.”

From Everett Potter, Special for USA TODAY

Travelore Tips: 5 Safety Tips For Women Traveling Alone

A Few Precautions Help Reduce Risks So You
Can Focus On Fun, Globetrotting Author Says

Perhaps more than ever, women are willing to ditch their traveling companions and go solo when it comes time to hit the road and see the world.

A survey by Small Luxury Hotels of the World, for example, revealed that between 2011 and 2012 there was a 53 percent increase in the demand for rooms by women traveling alone.

The London Daily Mail also reports that some hotels have taken steps to make their accommodations more appealing to women traveling on their own, with such features as women-only floors. 

Still, despite the trend, many women may worry that such solitary excursions carry too many risks, making them a target for thieves, kidnappers and other criminals.

But one woman who has logged endless miles exploring the world and finding romance says it doesn’t have to be that way.

“There is no reason to let your fears keep you from the adventures you can experience,” says Barbara Foster, a veteran globetrotter and author of the book “The Confessions of a Librarian: A Memoir of Loves.” (www.threelovestory.com)

“Sure, there are risky places and bad types out there. But with the right precautions, women can travel solo with confidence, visiting the places and meeting the people they always dreamed of and returning home with wonderful stories and memories.”

Foster speaks from experience. Her travels have taken her across the country and around the world, with stops in Istanbul, Bombay, Buenos Aires, Jerusalem and other locales.

As an adventurer, Foster is something of a contradiction. She describes herself as a librarian who has difficulty reading flight schedules, and suspects a haggling merchant in an Arab bazaar would view her as easy pickings.

He would be mistaken.

While Foster has spent a professional lifetime in academia, and co-authored books on such esoteric subjects as Tibetan Buddhism, she also is steeped in real-life experience.

Foster, who says solo trips can be deeply rewarding for women, offers five tips for traveling boldly while staying safe.

•  Steer clear of the most dangerous locales. Simply put, some places just aren't worth the risk, so avoid “no go” neighborhoods, cities and countries. For example, if you feel compelled to go to the Middle East, visit Israel, which is the safest Middle Eastern country. Still, if the destination is truly important to you, go ahead and take the risk. India can be dangerous and Foster says she was nearly kidnapped there, saved only by the intervention of a librarian friend. At the same time, she says, the country offers a once in a lifetime experience.

•  Connect with friendly contacts. Make yourself known not only to the U.S. embassy or consul, but also to people in your field, Foster says. During her travels, Foster wrote articles about libraries she visited. Her fellow librarians were a protective group.

•  Learn the language or at least useful phrases. Even if it’s just a few key words, speaking the language can come in handy if you need to seek assistance. Understanding what others are saying also can alert you to potential dangers.

•  Dress wisely, pay attention to manners and spend money in moderation. Essentially, don’t draw unnecessary attention to yourself. In her book, Foster recounts a visit to Istanbul where she watched horror-struck as two Turkish men slapped a young British woman for wearing a miniskirt on the street. For added protection against thieves, Foster recommends carrying money and identification in a pouch under your shirt.

•  Travel in the USA. You will miss many of the world’s must-see places, but if the thought of traveling abroad holds too much stress for you, it might be better to stick closer to home. Foster says two of her favorite U.S. cities are New York and New Orleans, both great places to explore.

About Barbara Foster

Barbara Foster has worked as a college librarian and as an associate professor specializing in Women’s Studies at the City University of New York. She has published numerous articles on education and travel, as well as more than 200 poems in literary journals under the name Belladonna. Her latest book is “The Confessions of a Librarian: A Memoir of Loves.” (www.threelovestory.com)