The Dos and Don'ts of Solo Female Travel

Taking a solo trip as a female can be thrilling, yet extremely daunting. I consider myself to be a strong planner, and I'm writing this post to both encourage and support fellow females before they embark on solo female travel.

It's important to note that I have been to many cities on my own through work travel. I'm used to flying solo, sleeping in hotels solo, and exploring major US cities solo. A solo international trip in a country where I was not fluent in the language was completely new for me (at the time). As exciting and exhilerating as it felt, the trip was also a bit nerve racking and it required some extra planning beforehand.

After having embarked on many solo domestic trips and my first solo international trip, I gathered helpful knowledge along the way that I wanted to share with you. I rounded up some dos and don'ts as you contemplate whether you're ready to take the leap and adventure out on female solo travel.

(All pics are from my solo trip to Paris that I booked with just 4 days before takeoff!!!)

DO // FIGURE OUT HOW YOU WILL PAY FOR THINGS

Make sure you notify your credit card company prior to leaving the country. Most cards will flag and potentially block irregular purchases in new locations if you have not given them a heads up. Additionally, if you want currency, visit your local bank a few days in advance of your trip and they can order you the currency you need. I like to keep a day or two worth of cash on me at all times, just to be safe.

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DO // BOOK YOUR LODGING NEAR A LANDMARK

The best thing I got in the habit of doing was booking my lodging (hotels, airbnb, etc.) next to a popular landmark. I did it coincidentally in Rome, but quickly realized that if I got lost or needed directions back to my lodging, I always had the ability to get back by simply asking "where is the [insert landmark]?" That way, I never declared to a stranger I was trying to find my way home.

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DO // KEEP COPIES OF YOUR PASSPORT/PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION IN MULTIPLE PLACES

Should your luggage not arrive at your destination or you lose your purse or other belongings while traveling, having multiple copies of your passport in different places will help you navigate the worst. I even keep a copy of my passport in my coat or back pocket, physically on me at all times.

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DO // PACK A FEW NON-PERISHABLE SNACKS IN YOUR BAG

If you're like me, you get engulfed in the city and enjoy living like a local, taking public transportation, etc. While on the move in cities, I often find myself hungry. When I'm in the explore-mode and not yet ready for a meal, it's nice to have a few options in my bag that will temporarily hold me over.

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DO // LEARN A HANDFUL OF WORDS IN THE COUNTRY'S LANGUAGE

Not required, but definitely extremely helpful... learn ~10 words in the language of the country you will be visiting. Consider words/phrases like: hello, goodbye, please, thank you, yes, no, bathroom, how much...

Fun fact: the words taxi and coffee are fairly universal words, so you're already ahead of the game ;)

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DON'T // TAKE RIDES FROM NON-MARKED VEHICLES

While I have never had an issue with this personally, I have been extremely cautious of only taking rides from taxi cabs that are visibly marked and labeled as such. Human trafficking is a very real thing and being alone in a foreign country makes females extra succeptible to falling vicitim. Be aware of your surroundings and don't take a ride with just anyone.

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DON'T // WAIT TO BUY TICKETS UNTIL YOU'RE THERE

If there are certain tourist attractions that are must-sees for you, don't wait to buy your tickets. I have saved myself HOURS of waiting in lines by buying my tickets ahead of my travels... Online ticket purchases for the Louvre in Paris, the Colloseum in Rome, and the Uffizi in Florence helped me bypass lines and gain instant entry into some of the world's busiest (and BEST!) attractions.

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Whether near or far, have you ever ventured solo? Were you scared, nervous, excited, anxious, or all of the above?! Would love to hear about your experience!