How to travel abroad as a solo traveler? Solo woman travel.

Alright! Let’s get to the nitty-gritty. There are a lot of times when you have to travel somewhere for your own sake, work or interest, but none of your friends’ schedules match, or they aren’t merely interested. Sometimes you just have to pack a bag and go. Whether it’s for leisure, bucket list, or work, solo travel empowers you. 

I have to be honest; I was initially scared to travel alone.

When I studied in Madrid on a student residential visa, there was a time when I wanted to visit all the neighboring countries that shared borders with Spain and even places like Barcelona and Ibiza. After a fantastic trip to Portugal with a group of friends, I remember asking some of them if they would like to plan a trip to Barcelona before our visa duration ends. Every single person had a different plan when it came to visiting Barcelona and sadly, none of it matched mine. 

Some wanted to spend a week there, which I felt wasn’t necessary, whereas others wanted to add more to the itinerary, which simply didn’t match my schedule.

I had to decide what to do, should I spend thousands of dollars again to take a visa, come from India or States, convince friends or family and then visit these places or pack a bag and visit these places when I have the time and the resources right now? I was already living alone, why couldn’t I muster up the courage to travel? Of course, I chose the latter option. And boy, am I glad I did because, after that, I traveled alone to so many more cities and countries. 

The biggest question for a solo woman or a solo traveler is of safety, and I have got this question a lot of times. I will try to highlight some points that I follow to ensure that my travel plans go without a hitch.

1. Before you travel: Research, research, and research! Research the areas that you want to stay in, are they tourist or female-friendly? The tours that you want to take; are they at crowded tourist attractions or obscure locations? You can find opinions and reviews from a lot of people online, many of them are on this blog. Read them and make a rough itinerary for yourself. Also, please do not listen to “savvy” travel blogs that tell you “solo women should visit such and such country...” If you know that the particular Country holds a reputation when it comes to women or solo travelers, do not go alone. Protect yourself first. A lot of online material for the sake of content tries to write these blogs that are simply not true. There are great people everywhere but it takes one bad seed to ruin your entire vibe.
   
   
2. Place of stay: If you are staying with a friend, make sure you know them and the neighborhood well. If you know someone from that Country or city, ask them for recommendations for hotels. I would highly suggest staying at a reputed hotel. A lot of budget travelers stay at hostels, make sure you read the reviews before booking. If the difference is just a few dollars, choose your safety first. You can also stay at Airbnb’s that has excellent ratings.
   
   
3. Forward all your bookings or itineraries to your family or friends. And follow them so that people have an idea of where you are at all times. If you take an Uber or taxi, especially at night, it’s always a good idea to share your trip with your loved ones or at least the cars’ information.
   
   
4. Keep a pepper spray or a keychain pepper spray handy at all times. Know some basic self-defense moves.
   
   
5. I wouldn’t suggest staying outside beyond 10 pm, anywhere new. Most of the restaurants start closing, and the crowd starts thinning. If you want to experience the nightlife, I feel that the aspect of a city is best experienced with friends who you know and trust. Partying with people or tourists you just met is only a good idea in books or movies. It can go south very fast as they will know that you are entirely alone. Skip the clubbing, dim lights, drinks, and loud music; you can probably do that back home with friends.
   
   
6. Take group tours; this will help you be safe and get some great clicks, plus you can get to know people in a better setting.
   
   
7. Be alert and cautious at all times. Have a local sim with enough data. Follow the dress code and keep the essential apps and numbers handy at all times.