20 Things No One Tells You About Traveling Solo as a Woman

The first-ever solo trip I went on was a train wreck by the end of the trip. I hopped on a plane and embarked on a two-week solo trip to Italy in March 2022. And boy, was I unprepared. There were so many things no one told me about traveling solo as a woman.

Everything was going swimmingly in the first half of my trip. I enjoyed the Florence Cathedral, the incredible statue of David, and eating amazing risotto alla Milanese. However, I was pushing myself to do it all—I was walking almost 30,000 steps a day! Then, I decided to go out for a cocktail or two by myself, and the next morning I woke up with a huge headache and a cold. Uh-oh.

I slept for a day and felt much better, but mentally I was so tired. And honestly, I was doing too little, too late. I learned the hard way that traveling solo is a muscle that needs to be trained. And hopefully, through this article, you’ll be more aware of some of these hard-learned lessons so that your solo trip goes better than mine! Honestly, the challenges and growth are part of what makes solo travel special. But I’m a huge believer in why make things harder than they need to be.

And everyone who solo travels wants to share how amazing their trips are, which is true! Solo travel is an amazing and life-changing experience. However, that means the less-than-great sides of solo travel are often unspoken and shared. So, here are 20 things no one tells you about traveling solo as a woman.

No One Tells You That…

1. You won’t be in any of the photos.

Imagine getting to an amazing tourist attraction, like the Rome Colosseum, snapping a couple of pics, only to realize that there’s no one to take a picture of you with it! You might think, oh, it’s fine, a selfie will do. Then, you rinse and repeat on your whole trip, then wish you had some nice photos of yourself at the places you visited that aren’t in selfie format. I only realized this after my first couple of solo trips when scrolling through my photo albums and finding maybe one or two photos of myself!

The thing is, unless you travel with someone, you’ll have to ask people to help you. It isn’t the end of the world, but constantly asking people over and over to help take a picture gets tiring fast. It’s also not the safest move, as you never know if someone will take your phone and run away with it. You could also prop your camera or phone down somewhere and use a self-timer, but sometimes the angles aren’t quite right.

Andrea’s Tips:

It’s ironic, but asking other people is the best way to get photos of yourself! However, I’d be strategic in who to ask. I usually only ask other tourists or working staff to help me take a photo. They’re immediately trustworthy (in my eyes) and the most convenient people to ask. I also will use the self-timer on my phone camera, but only in areas that have little foot traffic. I’m wary of someone taking and running away with my phone. I also like to use the back camera of my phone for better quality photos, but the downside is that you don’t get to see what they look like until you take the photos.

One of my favorite ways to get photos on a solo trip is by hiring a photographer! You’ll get extremely high-quality photos and a personal session with an experienced photographer. You can find photographers through Instagram, Airbnb Experiences, or by doing a quick Google search. Hiring a photographer can cost anywhere from 20 USD to 150 USD depending on the photographer’s experience and quality. I suggest knowing what kind of photography style you like and perusing the photographer’s portfolio.

It’s one thing to hire a photographer, and another to hire a photographer that will capture your vision. I hired a photographer on my solo trip to Paris and it was the best decision! I bonded with my photographer and she got some incredible shots of me. Now, I always look back on the photos she took of me; it was the best money I spent in Paris!

2. You might get sick.

We all think we are invincible traveling until we aren’t. No one plans a trip thinking that they’ll get sick. We are all preoccupied with planning the best, most fun trip ever. We assume that we will be healthy and have abundant energy to explore our destinations. While most of the time that is true, you are bound to get sick on a trip. Whether that be a slight cold, or catching a stomach bug, illness is inevitable during travel. Especially if you have a sensitive stomach or are sensitive to weather changes.

Travel often takes a huge mental and physical toll on our bodies. When you’re on an airplane, your body expands and contracts with the changing pressure and altitude. You become hydrated and are (often) exposed to people’s germs. When you travel from city to city, you’re using a lot of mental energy to make sure you’re on the right route. You’re also making sure that all of your belongings are on you and double-checking you still have your passport.

Once you get to your destination, you walk everywhere. You’ll walk from your accommodation to the bus stop, from the bus stop to your destination, around your destination, and rinse and repeat. Your body also has to adjust to different weather, temperature, allergens, and air. It’s more impressive that we don’t get sick when we travel. The body undergoes so much stress and change; it’s incredibly resilient. But sometimes we aren’t so lucky, and that’s okay.

Andrea’s Tips:

If you get sick while traveling, it’s important to rest. I know it seems cruel to have to stay inside while you’re in a new and exciting place, but it’s for your own good. Without a healthy body, you won’t get to explore anything! I always make sure to plan a rest day or two on all my travels now, just to give my body some time to rest and adjust. When recovering, surround yourself with support. Reach out to friends, family, or even your accommodation hosts. Try to get some fresh air and medicine to make your recovery speedy.

Whenever I get sick traveling, I tend to have a weak mental fortitude. I tend to isolate myself, feel lonely, and be less resilient to negative thoughts. To combat this, I reach out to friends and focus my energy on taking care of my daily needs. It takes a lot of energy to feed and bathe myself when sick, but it’s necessary and better for your recovery. I also try and practice kindness for myself. It’s not my fault that I got sick, and the best thing I can do for myself is be patient and kind. Even if it is frustrating!

3. People aren’t always nice.

We’ve all heard people tell us to be careful when traveling. But it doesn’t really register until you encounter less-than-ideal situations. I was in Florence, Italy, walking to a church I wanted to visit when a middle-aged Italian man shouted at me across the street. I had my AirPods in, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out when someone is angry. The man shouted in Italian, and I could make out the word “Asiatico”, so obviously this man wasn’t happy about me, an Asian person, being there. Luckily, he was across the street and also seemingly drunk, so I didn’t pay him too much attention. I just sped up my walking pace and checked to make sure he wasn’t following me.

I wasn’t fazed by this interaction, while rude and discriminatory, the man wasn’t violent or creepy. However, it’s enough to make me heighten my awareness temporarily before moving on with my day. Not everyone is accepting or kind, and that’s just reality. What’s important is that you are safe and aware of your surroundings.

Andrea’s Tips:

If someone is harassing you verbally, distance yourself from the harasser and make sure they aren’t following you. Walk to a more crowded area or where there is more foot traffic. If someone is trying to scam you for money, like offering you a service or pushing you to take something from them, walk away. Tourists are vulnerable since they are in a new environment which makes us targets for exploitation. To protect yourself, read up on the tourist scams in an area so you know what to avoid and how to get away. It’s a shame some people don’t have our best interests in mind, but we can’t control that.

4. You cannot do it all.

No matter what you think, you cannot do it all. As much as we would love to explore and experience everything on a trip, it is impossible. And trying to do so will run you into the ground. We all have limitations, whether that be financial, emotional, physical, and/or energy. Thinking that you can see and do everything is an unrealistic expectation to have of yourself. Think about it, you wouldn’t have that expectation if you were visiting a place near your home base, would you?

I know it seems like the more money and effort we spend planning, the more value we want to get out of it. But this mentality is toxic and will only make you unhappy. The sooner you accept that we can’t do it all, the more happy you’ll be with your experiences.

I made the mistake of trying to do it all on my first solo trip in Italy and it bit me in the butt. I was walking almost 30,000 steps a day for 3-4 consecutive days without taking a break. Of course, I was exhausted at the end of day 2 but thought I’d be fine. However, the body can only take so much. I ended up getting sick halfway through my trip and missing out on some of the attractions I really wanted to see! As I lay in bed recovering, I wished I had listened to my body earlier and relaxed a bit more between cities. Never again! I learned my lesson.

Andrea’s Tips:

Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. Since we can’t do it all, we have to prioritize what we want to see. It helps to gather all the places that interest you and determine how many you can see realistically on your trip. Then, you can plan around the things you really want to see and feel fulfilled that you did the best you could! This is how I plan all my trips, and it’s the best way to make an itinerary. Additionally, it’s important to plan “do-nothing” days when you can relax and give yourself a break. Traveling is lots of work, and it’s essential to rest when you can. You wouldn’t work all day without a break, would you?

5. People might look at you.

In good and bad ways… On a purely psychological basis, people tend to notice when something is different. Like a red apple in a basket of oranges, or a pink crayon in line with a bunch of black crayons. If you’re a person of color, and you go to a destination that is very homogenous and you don’t look similar, chances are people will look at you.

It might be a glance or a stare, and most of the time it’s harmless. Most people don’t give it a second thought, they’re just looking where they are most intrigued. However, if someone stares at you, it might be uncomfortable (and sometimes, rude). I’d like to think most of the time, there’s no ill intent behind a stare or glance. But it’s definitely something to be aware of.

For example, when I studied abroad in Taiwan in 2019, two of my friends and I went to visit the Beitou Hot Springs near Taipei. We woke up at the crack of dawn to enjoy the hot springs at sunrise. When we entered the hot springs, we quickly realized that we were the only people under 60 there. Just imagine, three young women and an army of older Taiwanese people enjoying the hot springs. Obviously, we stuck out. As a result, a lot of the elder patrons stared at us, which was slightly uncomfortable, but they were just curious. Some of them talked to us and asked us if we liked the hot springs and where we were traveling from. It was an interesting experience, to say the least.

Andrea’s Tips:

If you feel like you stick out, honestly, the best way to handle that is to just embrace it. You’re going to look different, so why not play into it? There are also millions of tourists visiting places around the world, and they all probably also have experienced a feeling of being different. But this is easier said than done.

Heck, this is something I’m also working on, as I would much rather blend in and not be bothered by any wandering eyes or questions. However, there’s a difference between someone looking out of curiosity vs. someone looking with ill intent. In any case, it’s best to have situational awareness, which unfortunately means sometimes you won’t get to be completely relaxed.

6. Google Maps will be your best friend.

If you’re not best friends with Google Maps before your trip, you definitely will be by the end of it. Nowadays, everyone uses a navigation app to get around, especially in foreign countries. I find that Google Maps has the best navigation and use it constantly when I travel. If you’re not a good navigator, don’t worry, you will be by the end of your trip.

You’ll get good at directions since you’ll be navigating to your destination. And you will be using it constantly, to get to and from your accommodation, to tourist attractions Because you are going solo, you are, literally, the navigator of your ship. Without Google Maps, you’ll have a hard time knowing where to go. You could use a map and public transit systems, but why make life harder?

I wasn’t aware that I’d be using Google Maps so often on my travels, but I love it! It’s made me better at navigation, directions, and the general time it takes to get from one place to another. Being good at navigating also makes you incredibly self-sufficient, you’ll be able to rely on yourself and feel independent. You’ll inevitably take the wrong bus or two, but that’s a part of the journey! Being an expert at Google Maps is an essential skill of solo travel, so get comfortable!

Andrea’s Tips:

If you’re not familiar with Google Maps or navigating, before your trip, start easy and local. It’s better to practice in a familiar vs. foreign environment. If you make a mistake, it’s easy to fix and also lower stakes. Try routing to a nearby coffee shop, library, or attraction and get there on your own, without the help of someone else. It will be uncomfortable and stressful, but if you keep practicing you will eventually build your navigating confidence.

7. Hostels don’t guarantee friends.

Before I stayed in hostels, I’d hear all about how fun they are and how you end up with friends from all over the world. People always say that it’s a guaranteed way to make friends and let me tell you, it’s not. Sure, it increases your chances of making friends, but just because stay at a hostel doesn’t mean you will make friends. It sounds obvious, but you have to put yourself out there in a hostel to make friends. It also depends on who is staying at the hostel.

If you happen to stay with a lot of introverted people, chances are you won’t make that many friends. You’ll also stay with friends who have hosteled together, who may or may not be open to meeting new people. Making friends at hostels requires a little bit of luck and effort to put yourself out there, and also to be rejected.

It’s also hard if your plans aren’t flexible or don’t line up with someone else’s in the hostels, which is okay! I just want to eliminate the expectation that you’ll meet a ton of new people in hostels because it may or may not be that way.

Andrea’s Tips:

If you’re staying at a hostel and want to make friends, the easiest way is to hang around in the lounge or community area. Hang out in the common area, make some tea or have a snack, and casually strike up conversations with anyone else there. It’s the easiest way to meet someone new! You can also talk to your bunkmates, but that tends to be a hit or a miss. Some hostels will have bars connected to them or host social events, which is a great opportunity to meet people. But meeting people isn’t limited to just hostels, here are some of my favorite ways to make friends while traveling solo!

8. You’ll feel lonely.

This is something I wish someone had told me before I went on my first solo trip. Then, it wouldn’t have hit me as hard or scared me as much. All I heard from solo travelers was how amazing solo travel was going to be. I never expected to feel lonely during my travels, and I felt like I was doing something wrong. So, I immediately ran to the internet to validate my feelings. And lo and behold, loneliness while traveling solo is a common phenomenon. What!!!

Everyone has different comfort levels with being alone, but chances are you’ll feel lonely on your trip. It might be a fleeting feeling or one that lingers for a little bit, but it’s very normal. We tend to feel lonely when we feel like we don’t relate to the people around us or can’t share an experience with family or friends. And that tends to happen a lot when we travel alone. Everyone experiences loneliness on trips, so don’t be afraid of it or traveling alone. It’s the way we deal with loneliness that matters.

Andrea’s Tips:

First, check that all your basic needs are met. Hungry? Go eat. Tired? Take a nap. Thirsty? Drink water. Our physical needs often influence our emotional needs, so taking care of your physical needs will often make you feel better. Then, take the time to acknowledge that you feel lonely. Sit with your emotions and look at them in a neutral light. Be kind and patient with yourself, you’re only human!

At the end of the day, what makes me feel better is connecting to another human. Whether that be your accommodation host, the owner of your hostel, random people you meet out and about, or online friends, the solution for combating loneliness is to make friends! This is easier said than done.

So, now, when I go on trips, I always book a tour of some kind at my destination, which increases my chances of meeting someone new. I also try and stay in a local accommodation with a host, so that I come back to a familiar face. These are just some of the ways I learned to protect my mental health which have worked out great for me!

9. You’ll feel anxious.

It’s challenging navigating a new country or city, especially one that’s different from your own. You’ll encounter a lot of scenarios that might make you uncomfortable. Like experiencing different cultural norms, a language barrier, and miscommunication. You might get lost trying to get somewhere or get on the wrong bus.

Especially when we are alone and in a foreign place, it can be anxiety-inducing and stressful. Back home, if you run into a problem, it’s easy to depend on someone for help. But when the comforts of home are gone, how you handle new situations becomes important. You’re truly figuring it all out on your own, which is exciting yet nerve-wracking.

I feel the most anxious when I’m in a place where I don’t speak the language at all or well. I’d love for all my communication to be easy and smooth, but there’s no challenge in that, is there (haha)? When you fumble trying to order at a restaurant, ask for directions, or communicate with locals it can be stressful. However, most people are willing to try and communicate. It also gives you a different perspective of the world.

Andrea’s Tips:

What matters is that you try and put your best foot forward. No trip is perfect, and you’ll most likely encounter situations that put you out of your comfort zone. I like to think change comes from being comfortable outside your comfort zone. Anxiety is not a bad thing in small doses, and it can help propel your growth. Anxiety also looks different between people, so introspecting and knowing how you best deal with it is important.

10. You only have yourself to depend on.

This is one of my favorite parts of solo travel. You challenge yourself to take on the world with you and only you. You’ll push the boundaries of what you think you know and can handle. I’m certain you’ll surprise yourself, at least, that’s what I felt! From booking accommodations, and flights, and figuring out public transportation, there’s a lot to learn.

Mistakes will happen, but you get better at moving on. From all the trials and tribulations you’ll face solo traveling, the independence, and resilience you gain are priceless. Nothing can teach you better about life than experience itself.

Sometimes, when things get hard, I wish I could go back to being a kid. It’s so nice having parents take care of everything and I can be carefree. No worrying about where the bus stop is, which bus to take, where to eat, where to stay, etc. But it’s incredibly rewarding knowing that you can rely on yourself to go through life. More importantly, it makes you grateful for all the work that other people in your life do for your comfort.

Andrea’s Tips:

If something stumps you while on your own, don’t be ashamed to Google it! There are probably hundreds of people with the same question or situation. Also, ask for help when you need it. I’m a firm believer in working smarter, not harder, so don’t make life harder than it needs to be.

11. You’re going to cry at some point.

I mean, hopefully, you never get to this point… but trust me, there will be times when you just need a good cry. We all want our trips to go well, but we can’t control what happens. Things go off the rails and sh*t may hit the fan. You might lose your passport (like I did once), book the wrong flight, lose money, get caught in bad weather, etc. The list is never-ending.

The point is, is that things never truly go to plan and sometimes it’s hard. Everyone deals with stress differently, and some may get angry, sad, and frustrated. But I guarantee you’ll want to cry at some point, and it (hopefully) makes us feel better. Nothing feels better than a cry session to let it all out.

It’s nothing to be ashamed about, either. Crying is stress-relieving and doesn’t make you a weak person. Everyone needs a healthy outlet for emotions.

12. Eating alone is… nice.

I used to never like eating alone. In university, I always preferred going to the dining hall with friends and dreaded eating by myself. I’d sit at the table, thinking about how sad it looked that I was eating by myself. And wow, that mentality has changed drastically. Now, I love eating solo! It’s a part of my life that I look forward to, whether I’m back home in California or a new place.

Sharing meals with friends and family is great, but quality alone time is necessary and healthy. It gives me a space to exist with my thoughts and feelings and also is an opportunity for mindfulness. Paying attention to what I’m eating, where I am, and what is around me. Especially if you’re a foodie, you’ll get to eat whatever you want without restraint.

It’s also an amazing perk when you want to try a busy restaurant. Most eateries will have bar seating, which is perfect for one! Additionally, it’s a nice opportunity to make small talk (if that’s your thing) with waiters or other patrons. I’ve made friends just by going to a restaurant and eating alone! When I was in Geneva, I went to a famous fondue place, and the waiter sat all the solo travelers together. As a result of a fondue craving, I left with a new friend.

Andrea’s Tips:

When you solo travel, you inevitably will eat alone. The reality is that you’ll be spending most of your meals with yourself. So, you better get used to it! You don’t have to love it if it’s not something you care about, but at least being okay or neutral with it is enough. If you’re not comfortable with eating alone just yet, here are some tried and tested tips that will help!

13. Your relationships back home might change.

I’ve often heard that traveling is often a lonely thing. I didn’t really understand it at first, but after going on several solo trips, I see where the saying comes from. It’s not that you’ll feel lonely on your trips (which you will from time to time), but rather it’s hard for people to understand unless they were there.

As you have new experiences, it’s hard for people to relate unless they’ve done it themselves. It won’t make your friendship or relationship with another less strong by any means, especially if you’re close. However, there will be a small disconnect as you and a friend catch up on your travels. Especially if you’re gone for a long time, you also might feel like you’re missing out on events back home.

Perhaps that’s another reason why I started this blog, to hopefully have my words resonate with someone out there. I love my friends and family, but it gets tiring describing recent travels and seeing people slowly lose or feign interest.

Andrea’s Tips:

No matter how much you solo travel, I think your true relationships will be and stay resilient. Especially in the U.S., once you graduate from university, people move all over the place. You might see a friend once a year, or every couple of months. And in between the times you catch up, each of you will experience different things. People get busy with their own lives, and you’ll have less and less opportunity to hang out in person.

It might be a little shocking to see someone a couple of times a week to once every few months. But I believe that you’ll stay in touch with people you care about, and they’ll be excited to hear all about what you’ve done, even if they don’t fully understand. Because a good friend will care about what you did, why, and if it made you happy.

14. You will get bored.

This might be a shocking statement. Bored?! On an amazing solo trip?! What kind of person would you have to be to feel that way? Shouldn’t you be excited all the time? And the answer is no, you won’t and honestly shouldn’t be excited 24/7. It’s very unhealthy to expect to be happy your entire trip—we’re human!

You’re going to be tired sometimes, even cranky, low energy, and bored. Not everything is going to be exciting, and that’s normal. You’ll be bored taking public transportation. You might find a museum or tourist attraction boring. And you most definitely will find the cities you travel to boring as well.

That’s what makes us human. Finding things that we are interested in, but also the things that we don’t necessarily enjoy. Over time, you’ll develop your tastes and travel preferences. Maybe you like history museums more than art museums, or that you prefer the countryside over city life. Being bored is an incredible feeling because it helps you figure out what you like and don’t like. Then next time, you’ll allocate more time to things that bring you joy.

Andrea’s Tips:

Honestly, if you’re feeling bored, find another thing or place to experience. Note why you’re feeling bored with something so in the future you can reference this information when planning other trips. I am also a big fan of just sitting with the feeling as well, especially in an age of excessive distraction. Maybe sit at a park or public area, and people-watch. You can also practice mindfulness and be present in the moment. Whatever you think you need most at the moment.

15. Solo travel is more expensive than group travel.

THIS is something I also wish I had known before my first couple of solo trips. It’s really, really nice when you get to split costs with other people. For example, sharing a dish at a restaurant, splitting accommodation costs, splitting Uber rides, etc. Splitting costs is cost-effective! But when you are by yourself, you are paying 100% of the cost. An Uber ride is a lot more expensive with one person than it is with four—and the total is the same price! If you book a hotel, the room price is also the same regardless of whether it sleeps one or two.

Obviously, the finances depend on your style of travel. If you enjoy luxury travel, no matter what it is going to be expensive. But especially if you’re on a budget, having someone to share some of the costs is helpful.

Andrea’s Tips:

Budget, budget, budget. Know how much money you want to spend, or how much you want to allocate for a trip. Book things, like airplane tickets or accommodations, in advance for a cheaper price. Instead of taking private transportation, use public transportation and invest in the local transport card. Everyone has different financial situations and relationships, so know your spending style and how you want to organize it.

16. Takes a lot of planning.

I love planning trips, especially the anticipation and excitement I feel when building itineraries. Because I’m passionate about it, I often start planning trips months in advance. I’ll work on it little by little, a couple of times a week. At the moment, it doesn’t seem like much work since it’s done in half-an-hour or one-hour sprints. But if I were to add up the total amount of time spent on researching and planning, it’d be hours of work. If you leave it all to the last minute, then you’ll definitely feel the stress of planning.

And I would say I’m a big-things planner. So, all the large items like flights, accommodations, and tickets for specific attractions are all booked ahead of time. Then, I’ll build my itinerary around the things I really want to see and experience. As long as I have a point A and B, whatever happens in between is left to spontaneity. This alone takes quite a bit of time. Not only are you booking things, but you also are researching everything. You want to make sure you enjoy yourself and have a good time!

Andrea’s Tips:

Start early. Especially if you haven’t really planned trips before, there will be a steep learning curve. Pick a medium to organize all the information in, whether it’s Google Docs, Notion, Word, Excel, etc. Having all the information in one place is essential. Know what your budget is and your preferred style of travel. A lot of planning, honestly, is introspection. It also requires a lot of patience. If you want more in-depth information on itinerary building, check out my how to plan a trip to Japan guide which has a dedicated itinerary section.

17. Would be life-changing.

Solo travel is truly life-changing. It’s cliche, but it’s true. I studied abroad in Taiwan in 2019, not knowing how much I would change afterward. I was a completely different person after I returned, and it honestly set me on the course of travel forever. I’m a lot more independent, resilient, and risk-taking than I used to be.

I used to not know how to take public transportation in Los Angeles when I started university. But after a summer of using Taiwan’s public transportation, LA’s public transit was really easy to figure out. I used to wait for people to go and explore outside of campus. But after studying abroad, I decided that life was too short to wait on other people and explore by myself. Without that experience of being on my own, I would still be stuck in my old ways.

Travel forces you out of your comfort zone, which leads to a lot of personal growth and self-discovery. Maybe you’ll challenge yourself to try a new food that you’re not sure you’ll like. Or attempt to communicate in a language you’re not fluent in. You’ll be in new situations that will test your patience and knowledge. You’ll test how reliable and independent you are.

At the end of the day, you’re spending a LOT of time with yourself. Maybe the most amount of alone time you’ll spend in your life. But, hopefully, that helps you develop a strong sense of self and healthy confidence that you’ll be fine no matter where you end up in the world.

18. Create unexpected bonds.

You hear this all the time: you’ll meet the most incredible people on your trips. And while I think that is true, I think that what’s more accurate is that you’ll bond with people unexpectedly. You can meet amazing people at home, too! But it’s when you’re in a new environment and least expect to meet someone that is truly thrilling.

You meet a lot of people you wouldn’t cross paths with otherwise. I met a middle-aged architect from the UAE on my wine tour in Auckland, New Zealand and we ended up bonding! My Airbnb host in Paris picked me up from the train station and offered me food and wine the night I arrived. She made me feel at home and is now like my French relative. I made a small community in the Japanese countryside after visiting a close friend who moved there for work.

This is my favorite part of traveling in general. Putting yourself in different environments and cultures and seeing what happens. While I’m not sure when I’ll see these people next, the bond we made is unique and special. Strong bonds and connections to people are really, really important to our well-being. You’ll be surprised who and how you connect with someone, which will enrich both your lives.

19. Leaving will be hard.

If I could describe the pain of leaving in a sentence, it’s: “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” – A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh). Often, it’s the people that make leaving a city or country so hard. In a perfect world, we’d be able to see the people we care about all the time. But that’s not reality. Of course, if you really love a city, that will be hard to leave, too. And if you really, really find it hard to leave, then maybe that motivates you to move there.

Spending time and creating good memories away from home is so bittersweet. Because at the end of the day, you know your time is limited. But perhaps that makes you grateful for every day that you spend here. And, even more grateful for the time you spend with the people you visit or meet. Because it’s incredibly hard to align your realities with other people, it’s very special when it does.

Andrea’s Tips:

The solution for alleviating the pain of missing someone or somewhere is to visit again! Way easier said than done. But you can use these feelings to motivate you to save for the next trip. It gives you something to look forward to, as well.

20. You’ll get addicted.

I am 1000% addicted to traveling. I literally spend all my money solely on travel, because I love it so much. I’m passionate about having new experiences and learning about different cultures. And more recently, I’ve loved experiencing what local life is like around the world. It truly broadens your horizons and world perspective. Like, life could be like this?!

The first formative travel experience that gave me a taste of the travel bug was when I studied abroad. It truly showed me what it was like to live in a different country and fueled my obsession for more. For me, travel is not an escape from reality, it’s an extension of it. In a way, it’s being able to morph into a different lifestyle and learn more about the world, and myself. The world isn’t as small as we think!

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No one or thing can tell you everything there is to know about traveling solo as a woman (or anyone, really). There is only so much preparation you can do until you do it yourself. However, hopefully, some of these ideas help make your solo travel journey smoother. Never expect perfection from any trip, it’s unattainable. But how you handle unexpected situations, fleeting feelings, and being uncomfortable is what matters. Aside from the galavanting and exploring you’ll do wherever you go. You’ll know that you can handle it, especially if you go solo. Happy travels!