Are you tired of constantly waiting for friends and family to become available to make travel plans? Why not consider traveling solo? Nothing says “fun, fearless, female” than having the freedom to choose what activities you want to do, enjoying a meal all to yourself, and going at your own pace whenever you travel.
In case you haven’t tried it yet, traveling solo can help build self-confidence, give you much-needed time to unwind, and allow you to meet new people and expand your social circle than if you were traveling with a group.
If you’re eager to break out of your comfort zone and are considering traveling solo for the first time, here are a few tips that might help you out.
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10 Tips For First-Time Solo Female Travelers
1. Start small
If you’re new to solo travel, you might want to ease into it first by traveling to other cities near the metro just on day trips or weekend trips to local destinations before traveling solo internationally.
Be comfortable eating alone, going on staycations, and joining tours in the city even in familiar places. Try doing DIY microadventures within the city like visiting museums on your own. You could also sign up for tours in Binondo, Intramuros, or Poblacion just to get a feel of how it is to fly solo when you travel to other places. Starting small can help ease your anxieties and give you practice navigating, making decisions, and budgeting for one.
READ: Table For One, Please: How Dining Out Alone Taught Me How To Enjoy My Own Company
2. Only bring the essentials
You’ll be more mobile if you pack light. Bring versatile outfits that can be mixed and matched for different activities. You also need to bring enough cash (in the local currency), especially if you’re traveling locally to smaller island provinces. While major credit cards and online payments are accepted in hotels in cities, you’ll want to have cash on hand for smaller transactions like convenience stores, restaurants, transportation, and tips.
Women traveling alone might also want to invest in basic safety gear like a whistle, pepper spray, or anti-theft devices for bags just in case of emergencies.
ORIA Noise Alarm Keychain 130db, P284
3. Pick solo-friendly local spots
There are many destinations that solo travelers can enjoy within the Philippines. Tourist-friendly hotspots like Baguio, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, and Siargao are enjoyable whether you’re traveling with a group or going the lone wolf route. These places have a vibrant social scene that gives you a chance to connect with other like-minded travelers.
In case you’re not a people person, and want to enjoy some peace and solitude, you could opt for quieter destinations like Batanes, Camiguin, Romblon, and Sagada. These places have very low crime rates and are great if you just want to unwind and experience the beauty of nature - whether you prefer the mountains or the beach.
ALSO READ: I Went On A Solo Trip To Boracay Because I Was Tired Of Being Single
4. Explore on two wheels
If you’re after quality solo travel, it helps when you know how to ride a bicycle or can drive a motorcycle, as this makes going around for sightseeing easier than hiring a driver for the day. Many islands in the Philippines are ideal for two-wheeled travel.
Some of my best solo trips to offbeat destinations around the country—including Batanes, Siquijor, Samar Island, Biliran, Romblon, and Dinagat Islands were done through either bike or motorcycle exploration.
PHOTO DIARY: All The Beautiful Places I've Been To, Thanks To My Bike
5. Explore “easy” Asian destinations first
If you’re ready to embark on your first solo international trip, you might want to start with the popular Asian destinations along the backpacking route. It helps to travel to a country that isn’t too far from home, that has an established tourism infrastructure, or where a majority can understand English.
Thailand is friendly, affordable, easy to travel around, and has lots of great food options. It’s also easy to meet other travelers here via group tours. Bali, Indonesia, which is popular with digital nomads, is also great for solo travelers. You can easily make friends in spots where there are a lot of remote workers.
If you’re a history buff, destinations like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos can also be great places to travel alone. You could spend the days alone visiting cafes, going on food trips, or visiting temples and tourist sites.
6. Opt for safe destinations with good infrastructure
Some countries have better public transport and infrastructure suited for solo travelers than others. Progressive nations like Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea have extensive and efficient train systems that make it affordable and easy to get around on your own, even while traveling long distances.
Most public transport signs and infrastructure like ticket vending machines provide English-language options for tourists. GoogleTranslate and GoogleMaps are essential tools for navigation and understanding signs, so make sure you have a local sim whenever you travel abroad.
7. Relish the joys of dining and doing activities alone
I admit it can feel a bit awkward dining alone in the Philippines, as eating out is considered a social activity (as evidenced by the family-style meals that are usually good for sharing). When you're eating alone, it’s hard not to notice everyone dining in big groups. But dining alone isn’t social suicide. Get used to it by taking yourself out on solo dining dates once in a while.
Luckily, in places like Japan and South Korea, locals like to do things on their own, so you won’t feel out of place. Many restaurants have single-person booths or counter seats to accommodate solo diners, so you can enjoy your ramen, sushi, yakitori, and beer in peace. The best thing about solo dining is not having to share your food. But in case you’re not in the mood to eat out, it’s very easy to grab delicious single-serve meals from convenience stores.
You can also sample street food, go to bars, enjoy solo karaoke, visit museums, or try watching movies alone.
8. Plan your budget accordingly
Safety and affordability are factors solo female travelers need to consider while planning trips. One of the downsides of traveling solo is that it can be more expensive since you won’t be splitting the costs for rooms, transportation, and meals with friends, family members, or partners.
For instance, booking a rideshare or taxi, hiring a van for a private tour, or renting a boat for island-hopping trips can be very expensive if you’re alone. To keep your costs low, it’s best to make use of public transport options or use booking apps to join group tours. Apps like Klook, KKDay, and sites like GetYourGuide make it easy to join group tours.
Instead of booking a room at a hotel, you could opt to stay in hostels, homestays, or dorm rooms to save some cash. If you have friends or relatives who live in an area you’re traveling to, consider staying with them. But if you’re after privacy, be prepared to shell out a bit more for your accommodations.
9. Let someone know your general travel plans
While you don’t have to give everyone your day-by-day itinerary, it helps to let a trusted relative or friend who won’t be traveling know your general plans. You may be traveling somewhere with no network accessibility, so having someone who has an idea of where you’ll be on a particular day is important. You can also ask them to check in on you once in a while or just in case your travel plans change unexpectedly.
It’s also not the best idea to be uploading photos on social media and geo-tagging your exact location in real-time if you’re traveling solo. Consider posting from destinations after you have left already or delaying your social media posts just for added safety.
10. Trust your instincts
Use your common sense when you travel and stay aware while still having fun. Don’t pick incredibly remote places for your overnight accommodations. Be sure to keep an eye on your belongings if you’re shopping in crowded areas and avoid drinking too much in places that are far from your accommodations. Always travel along well-lit routes at night.
Trust your instincts and leave if something is making you uncomfortable. Don’t let politeness and courtesy be your guiding principle when traveling alone. It’s perfectly acceptable to say no, refuse offers for help, or be a bit rude if the situation calls for it.
Need more travel inspiration and tips? Visit the author’s blog at www.traveling-up.com/.
