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Solo Female Travel Tips in white writing on a pink opague box, on top of a photo showing solo female travel blogger Emily Luxton wearing a dark red dress facing sitting on a wall. She is looking away from the camera and has her long blonde hair down. The view behind is of a city skyline out of focus.

My guide to solo female travel: tips, advice and resources to help you travel safely, smartly, and well.

I’ve been travelling the world solo for years. Ever since 2016, when I ran off to Asia to mend my broken heart after a bad break-up! I’ve been to over 60 countries, many of them solo, including places many people told me were too dangerous to visit as a solo female traveller – like India, Nicaragua, and Egypt.

I honestly believe that every woman should travel solo at least once. There’s something wonderfully freeing about taking a trip by yourself – whether it’s a months-long backpacking trip or one-night glamping in a forest near your home.

The best thing about solo travel is what it can teach you about yourself. When you have no one to rely on but yourself, you start to learn exactly what you’re capable of. It often feels like women are always being told what we can’t do – because it’s not safe, because it’s not “lady-like”, or because it’s “a man’s job”.

Travelling solo has taught me just how much I can do. Especially those times I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone – from the extreme stuff like throwing myself off a cliff or biking down Bolivia’s infamous Death Road, to simpler adventures like learning a new skill or driving abroad for the first time.

This page is a collection of my best tips, blog posts, and resources for solo female travellers…

Best Posts About Solo Female Travel

You’ll find all my solo female travel posts at the bottom of this page – along with a list of all my favourite resources for booking your trips, planning, and staying safe on your travels.

Destination-Specific Guides

Is Solo Female Travel Safe?

landscape at Palenque with ruins of a grey stone Mayan temple on a grassy hill surrounded by lush green trees. In the foreground is solo female travel blogger Emily Luxton wearing dark blue denim shorts and a white t-shirt standing on the edge of a hill looking out towards the ruins.

I truly believe that solo female travel can be safe almost all over the world – BUT that comes with a big caveat! Common sense, risk avoidance, and careful planning are important.

Unfortunately, women are often at more risk than men and that means we should never take our safety for granted. But if you’re sensible, keep your wits about you, and don’t take unnecessary risks, things are usually OK.

In almost a decade of solo travel, I’ve only been robbed twice (both times because I got drunk and left my valuables unattended – do not do this!) and have only felt in particular danger from a man once (thankfully nothing happened). This isn’t because I’m particularly lucky or charmed – it’s because I’m careful, do my research, and try to avoid risky situations. Most safety advice for solo travellers is common sense (and often sounds like you’re being patronising!), but it’s worth reiterating…

Solo Travel Safety Tips

  • Do your research: look up common scams and risks in the areas you’ll be travelling. Take note of any neighbourhoods to be avoided (hotel/hostel staff can usually help with this) and check reviews online before booking accommodation etc.
  • Look up the local emergency numbers for your destination and make sure you remember them.
  • Don’t walk around on your own late at night – especially in unlit areas.
  • Find out about any health risks and get necessary vaccinations before travelling – the NHS Fit For Travel website is great for this.
  • Consider downloading a Location Sharing app and/or a Panic Button app to your phone in case of emergency.
    • Side note to the above – set up location sharing and an emergency contact on Uber, Grab, or any other taxi booking app).
  • Don’t get too drunk! It’s important to keep your wits about you, especially in areas you don’t know or when you’re hanging out with people you just met.
  • READ MORE: How to Protect Your Valuables while Travelling
  • READ MORE: Tips to Avoid Being Robbed While Travelling

My biggest tip? Get insurance! A lot of people seem to skip travel insurance, but that’s SUCH a terrible idea. I’ve used mine countless times over the years – claiming for a stolen phone, cancelled trips, and even the time a missed connection left me stuck in New York for two days!

If you get into an accident or need medical attention, it could end up costing you a fortune in fees. Travel insurance really is a must-have, no matter where you’re going or for how long. I recommend Safety Wing for long-term travel and backpacking.

General Solo Female Travel Tips

Travel Fashion & Beauty Tips

I’m not a fashionista – and I’m definitely not one of those skinny, pretty, twenty-something travellers you see making everything look so glamorous and easy on Instagram! But I do have some practical tips relating to fashion & beauty – things like helping you travel light with streamlined packing lists and helping you look after your hair while on the road.

My Favourite Travel Resources

Booking Your Trip

Jack’s Flight Club – An email newsletter that drops amazing flight deals into your inbox. Read my review here.

Skyscanner – Hands down the best flight search tool. Results show prices for the same flight booked thorugh a variety of travel agents and sites.

Hostelworld – The best place to search for hostels & budget accommodation.

Booking.com – The best booking site for all types of accommodation. It usually has the lowest prices and the widest range. I highly recommend downloading the app to manage your bookings and search on-the-go (app prices are sometimes slightly cheaper, too).

Get Your Guide – My favourite website for booking tours. It has a fantastic range of options all over the world.

Discover Cars – Easily search for and book car hire around the world. Includes ratings/reviews for each car hire company.

Safety Wing Travel Insurance – The best insurance for long-term travellers, digital nomads, and backpackers.

UK Government’s Travel Advice – If you’re a British citizen, this is the place to find all the most up-to-date advice about entry requirements and visas for all destinations. It will also link to the official site to buy your visa from: beware of third-party visa sites that will charge an additional fee to source your visa for you.

Fit For Travel – The NHS travel advice site. Search by destination to see what vaccinations are needed and check for any issues you need to be aware of.

Airalo – Buy a pre-paid eSIM for your destination to get online without roaming fees. Use code EMILY9237 to get £2.50 off your first purchase.

Handy Apps to Travel With

XE Currency – A simple app that converts currency for you. Set up your list with all the countries you’ll be travelling to, and the app will sync whenever you’re online so it’s always the latest data. Apple | Android

Maps.Me – Similar to Google Maps, except it works offline. Before you travel, download the maps for all the countries you’ll be visiting. When you arrive you’ll be able to plan routes and search for places – without the internet. It’s a lifesaver! Apple | Android

Dropbox – My favourite app for backing up photos. You can set your phone to auto-backup your camera roll to Dropbox every time you’re on wifi.

All Solo Female Travel Posts