Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse is back with her regular column on traveling alone as a woman. It's a subject I can't fully address, so I've brought in an expert to offer guidance specifically for female travelers. She's incredibly talented and knowledgeable. This time around, Kristin highlights perspectives from solo female adventurers who are beyond their millennial years!
From time to time, I find myself thinking about Julie, a 77-year-old woman who was staying in the beach bungalow next to mine on the Indonesian island of Gili Air.
She shared tales of being invited by locals to seaside cookouts, her escapades, and the sheer joy she experienced while exploring the globe. Our chats left me feeling deeply inspired. She was so relaxed and content. Here was a woman who had lived a full life and shattered the notion that solo female travel is reserved for the young. The confident role model before me demonstrated that women of any age can relish and grow from travel.
Over the years of writing this column, I've noticed more women asking, "What about those of us who aren't in our twenties? Where can we find stories and connect with narratives that mirror our own?"
The internet is overflowing with young, often Western, women traveling the world. They blog, post on Instagram, and have their tales featured in major media. There's a clear bias toward youth.
But solo female travelers span all ages, come from diverse backgrounds, and hail from every corner of the globe.
Today, I want to share the journeys of older women travelers and amplify their voices in the conversation. So I sat down (virtually, at least) with seven women and asked for their travel advice.
Wisdom from 6 Solo Female Travelers (Beyond the Millennial Generation)
Anne
From: United Kingdom Age: 59 Professional background: Civil servant
Anne had a solid job, a cozy home, a nice car, and plenty of friends and family, but for as long as she could recall, she'd felt an urge to leave it all behind and explore the world:
"I was pretty bored with my life. I'd always had a longing to travel. Several things lined up to push me to 'just go.' My workplace introduced new criteria for career breaks, so I applied for a year of unpaid leave."
For Anne, the decision to go solo was straightforward: no one could join her, and she'd spent too long waiting for the perfect moment or companion, so she simply went alone.
"Go for it! Don't wait for someone else to make it happen. If you truly want to travel, find a way and don't let anyone hold you back. I'm very lucky to have taken partial early retirement, so I have a small pension, and I budgeted from selling my house. But I also funded some trips through Workaway. The beauty for me wasn't just the money savings but living with hosts, becoming part of their family, and learning the local culture."
Anita
From: Chicago, IL Age: 53 Professional background: Customer account executive
Anita was initially hesitant about traveling alone, her mind racing through all the negatives and what-ifs:
"I thought solo travel would be lonely, depressing, and no fun. Those assumptions turned out to be completely wrong. I always end up meeting fascinating people when I travel solo. And I have an amazing time doing my own thing, exploring by myself."
"I'd love to say my choice to travel alone was about making a statement, being a brave trendsetter for my generation, all about girl power. But honestly, I went into it kicking and screaming, resentful. Yet my need to travel was stronger than my objection to going it alone."
And like others, she refused to wait any longer for the ideal companion or perfect timing. As she told me, "I didn't want to postpone it until the perfect travel soul mate appeared so we could share life-changing adventures. As I got older, I realized time is precious. I might never meet that travel soul mate… and that's okay. I've grown to love traveling by myself."
When it comes to naysayers, she says, "I show them my travel photos. But in my head, I'm thinking, 'While you're sitting around getting old and judging me, I'm traveling and having the time of my life.'"
You can follow Anita and her adventures on her blog, The Social Tourist.
Helen
From: Toronto, Canada Age: 44 Professional background: Marketing and operations
Helen lived a semi-nomadic life for a year and a half before returning home to work. She has traveled solo to the Galápagos Islands, Kenya, Tanzania, India, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia, and South Korea.
On traveling solo, she says she did it "to gain fresh perspectives on both the world and myself. My travel pursuits haven't always (and still don't always) match those of my friends and family, but I'm fiercely independent, so I don't let that stop me from reaching my travel goals."
Her advice to aspiring solo travelers: "Go for it! You'll likely discover you're stronger and more independent than you thought. You'll learn to be more comfortable with your own company. At the same time, solo travel is a great chance to build social skills, as you'll find yourself in situations where you have to interact with complete strangers. Don't be paranoid, but trust your instincts—if a place or person seems off, steer clear. For a first solo trip, I suggest dipping your toe in the water by choosing a destination that fits your comfort level, perhaps within your own country or a city where people speak the same language as you."
You can read more about Helen's travels on her blog, Not Without My Passport.
Cate
From: Arizona, USA Age: 72 Professional background: Retired occupational therapist
Cate decided to travel alone because her friends didn't have the time or money.
"I went to Hawaii, then mostly focused on Europe. So far, Rome was way too intimidating. I loved Florence (I've been back several times), and I adore Paris."
She doesn't worry much about safety, as she follows common-sense safety rules from the past:
"I avoid trouble by not going out much at night or to really crowded places. I eat my big meal at noon, have an aperitif in the late afternoon, and a light dinner in my room. I like Airbnb because someone will know if I don't come home or will help if I run into trouble."
She likes to immerse herself, adding, "I try to go for a month at a time so I don't feel rushed. I need time to absorb things, rest, meditate, etc., so I may spend a day doing nothing and not feel guilty at all. Using Airbnb makes staying longer an option. Fifty dollars a night for a room is about average, which beats $100/night in a hotel. And I try to take tours or classes so I have some contact with people. I spent a week in the Dordogne painting, took a week of French language classes in Tours, then a three-day tour of Andalusia. It was a joy to have someone else handle the luggage!"
Her advice: "Take your time. Don't rush. Travel light. Don't try to cram too much into too little time. Follow your passions. And you can go back to places you really like."
Julie
From: Manchester, United Kingdom Age: 57 Professional background: Personal and professional development coach
Travel had been Julie's dream for over 30 years. And when the stars finally aligned, she didn't think of waiting for anyone else to join her: she set off on a solo backpacking trip.
"It wasn't daunting, but exciting, to go alone. Doing my own thing, relying solely on myself wasn't new, and I loved the freedom to find myself again at a point in my life when I was ready for change. I also relished the challenge of finding my own way around. I had a reputation in the family for always getting lost—and I did! But really, that set me up for this trip—knowing I would get lost and also that I always found my way back home safely!"
When it comes to dealing with naysayers, she says, "You just have to want it enough, like I did—I yearned to go 'one day' and ached at the thought of missing out on seeing with my own eyes what's 'out there'—and that you will find a way somehow, someday."
Julie also came home with many beautiful new realizations about the world, including "that you can and will overcome problems you meet along the way, that people are there to help too, and you will grow and learn and develop new skills you would never expect or plan for! Now, for example, I can find my way around and create maps in my head. I just never could do that before."
Julie currently runs her own business coaching personal and professional development at clearmindco.co.uk. She also maintains a travel blog at Clear Mind Thinking.
Maia
From: Montreal, Canada Age: 40 Professional background: ESL teacher
Maia first went to Europe in her early twenties with a group of girlfriends. She loved the experience and kept planning trips, and when people couldn't come with her, she went anyway.
"Why wait for someone else, the 'right' time, more money, a better plan? Tomorrow isn't guaranteed to any of us, and if you don't go and see the world, that's on nobody but you."
On her favorite solo travel spot, she says, "Africa is probably my favorite place to travel, period. I've been four times to six countries, Tanzania being my favorite for sure. I've gone solo each time, but you never really stay that way. The people I've encountered have always been so welcoming that I've always felt like I was leaving my family and friends even as I returned to Canada."
And like the others, she didn't let negativity or people's opinions get in the way:
"I had someone in my family once say they were against me traveling to Africa alone, so I kind of turned it around: I profusely apologized, said I completely understood their position and would definitely not burden them with any of my planning, promised no Africa talk whatsoever and no news while I was there. It didn't take long for this person to realize I was going anyway and what a long six weeks that would be with no info from me. Let's just say he came around fairly quickly and got on board with my trip. I think that's what people have to do more of. I say do your thing, and if they come around, great, but if not, that's on them, not you."
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As I corresponded with these women, I couldn't help noticing some central themes: the determination not to let negativity stand in their way, the mix of fear and excitement about traveling alone, and the realization that those fears were unfounded. It's something I dealt with when I traveled. There's a certain universality to these fears that knows no age limit. Maybe our preferences and tastes change over time, but wanderlust never fades for those of us who are adventurers at heart.
And, I think in this online age with so many young bloggers (myself included), it's easy to forget that every day women of all ages set out to travel the world and, like Julie did for me, help inspire more women to hit the road too.
Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to explore the world authentically and adventurously. A former investment banker who sold all her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over four years, covering every continent (except Antarctica, but it's on her list). You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.
Conquering Mountains: The Ultimate Guide to Solo Female Travel
For a complete A-to-Z guide on solo female travel, check out Kristin's new book, Conquering Mountains. Besides covering many practical tips for preparing and planning your trip, the book addresses the fears, safety, and emotional concerns women have about traveling alone. It features over 20 interviews with other female travel writers and travelers. Click here to learn more about the book and start reading it today!
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