Four MORE Reasons Every Woman Should Solo Travel

A few weeks ago, I wrote about traveling alone as a woman and gave four reasons why it is A MUST for all women. The mass response was amazing (thank you!). I felt I might have inspired some gals to test their boundaries and go for it. In case you’re still contemplating, perhaps this piece will give you that extra push.

I feel so passionately about this subject that I interviewed four other women who’ve taken the risk to travel solo, and who are equally as excited to promote this movement.

For this piece I interviewed Vanessa Ayala, a recent masters graduate and avid traveler, Tracy Serpanchy, an Australian national  currently thriving in Los Angeles, Katryna Howard, a curly hair enthusiast and diversity activist, and Jasmine Watson, an educator and experienced globe trotter.

Every woman’s solo travel experience is different but there are certainly key similarities that we share. One thing to keep in mind is that while these women are not “experts” in solo traveling, they all had taken a chance and returned home safely.

Below is a transcript of our conversations, slightly edited for brevity and clarity.

When and where was your first solo trip? How old were you? Why did you decide to take this trip alone? 

Vanessa Ayala: It was February of 2013, and I was 23 on my way to Taiwan. The purpose of the trip was to meet a friend who was studying in the country, but I spent points of my vacation completely on my own.

Tracy Serpanchy: It was 2010 and I was just 24 years old. I was flying into Berlin for a Germany and Eastern European study tour as part of my History major. After the tour concluded, I visited nine countries in four weeks.

Katryna Howard: My first solo trip was to Mexico City in January of 2019. On the heels of a really tough personal year, I wanted to do something special for my golden birthday (27).

Jasmine Watson: I took my first solo trip to Trinidad & Tobago in 2013. I was 26 at the time. While in graduate school I was looking to take advantage of a week long break, and came across a flight deal to Trinidad. After a few buddies turned down my invite, I said “Fine… I’m just gonna go solo.”

Did you tell your parents you were going to travel alone? What was their response?

Vanessa Ayala: When I told my parents, they were scared. They did not want me to go, but since I was living in another country (South Korea) they really had no control over the situation. They just told me to be careful and not to trust anyone.

Tracy Serpanchy: My dad worked in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka so he encouraged me to jump at any opportunity to add more stamps to my passport. Mum was cautious but she knew my itinerary and we always had a way to communicate so that reassured her.

Katryna Howard: My mom immediately asked why are you choosing to go alone? I reassured her this choice was intentional and that I wanted to experience something for me, by me, with…me. Overall, both my parents were concerned for my safety.

Jasmine Watson: My mom wasn’t thrilled. I’m the only girl among my siblings, so my family can get a little protective at times. I had to gently remind them that I’m feisty, I studied abroad in undergrad, and that I would be just fine.

In one word, how would you describe your first solo trip?

Vanessa Ayala: Confusing yet thrilling. I did not speak the language so it was hard to get around. I used Google translator and money converter to get around. It was a challenge, but rewarding to know that I could do it on my own.

Tracy Serpanchy: Symbolic. I accepted my first full time job over a bad phone line in Barcelona so this trip signified a transition to adulthood and sadly the last time I ever traveled consecutively for 6 weeks.

Katryna Howard: Reclaiming. Top of my mind for me in going into this trip was this theme of reclaiming my time and loving myself. The trip reminded me how important it is to hold onto my Spanish language my grandmother passed on to me. And to embrace the concept of meeting new people in a new city because even as a solo traveler you’re never truly alone.

Jasmine Watson: Encouraging. I think when you travel on your own terms everything is a lot more exciting. I was able to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. While on my trip I was able to meet so many different people who I could learn from and speak with about many different things. It was through many of these interactions I felt more encouraged to continue to travel the world and explore new experiences.

Were you ever in any uncomfortable/dangerous situations? How did you handle it?

Vanessa Ayala: At times, I ended up in places I did not know if they were dangerous or not because I wasn’t sure how to get to where I needed to go. Sometimes I felt uncomfortable with the way that people looked at me because I was a foreigner.

Tracy Serpanchy: Sometime in the middle of my four-week excursion, I arrived in a small town in Switzerland and collapsed at the hotel from travel fatigue and missed meals. Looking back, I would have paced myself better, as I definitely couldn’t maintain that level of energy now.

Katryna Howard: Fortunately, no. I probably felt most uncomfortable returning to the U.S. at Customs and Border Patrol. A CBP officer was making rude comments and causing a scene because American citizens and non-citizens were consolidated into one line (due to low staffing). I definitely felt some type of way about the racist and class-ist undertones of his language.

Jasmine Watson: Thankfully, no. On this particular trip, I was very blessed that the woman who managed the guest house I stayed at really looked out for me.  She connected me with a taxi driver who took me anywhere I wanted. My host knew the driver’s contact info, driver’s license and plate info, where he lived, etc. I didn’t feel unsafe and never felt anything strange would happen. As a strategic tactic, I make strangers aware that I let my people know where I am and who I’m with.

Other than being completely on your own, what is a key takeaway from this trip?

Vanessa Ayala: My key takeaway is more on the logistical side. Like always being equipped with a city map, rechargeable battery, currency converter, a translator, cash, a credit card, and a small backpack. This made the trip much smoother.

Tracy Serpanchy: One of the biggest takeaways from my trip to Europe is that I can jump on a plane to a country I have never been to and be able to navigate. I can’t rely on anyone else but at the same time there’s also no one around to witness me screw up either!

Katryna Howard: In Mexico City, I was paying close attention to how I felt, moved, and integrated myself in a new city. Taking leaps of faith in navigating, leaning on my hotel or Uber drivers for what they love most about their city. My favorite part of the trip was visiting La Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo’s house). It blew me the f*ck away!

Jasmine Watson: I’m so glad I didn’t buy into the fear of traveling alone as a woman because f*ck fear! Had I let fear take over, I would have never tried this and probably would’ve never appreciated solo travel the way I do now.

What advice would you give to your *future* daughter about solo travel?

Vanessa Ayala:  Do your research about the country, read reviews of “should and should nots” (especially culture related things), and stay at a hostel to meet others. Lastly and most importantly, watch your drinks and don’t hitchhike.

Katryna Howard: You don’t have to have your trip all figured out or planned A-Z, but if traveling alone, take moments to reflect in advance on what things you really want to do. Being mindful you may have to move differently being on your own and be diligent to take in your surroundings when you arrive. Make sure to send at least one person who you trust all your itinerary info in case of emergencies (thanks Mom!).

Jasmine Watson: Share all essential info: itinerary, lodging address, a working international number, everything. Pin drop your location if you ever feel unsafe, obviously don’t accept drinks from strangers, and don’t embarrass me by being THAT American.

Be sure to check out my previous post, “Four Reasons Every Woman Should Solo Travel (At Least Once)”