Mexico is an amazing country to visit but it has something of a bad reputation thanks to sensational news coverage. In this guest post, Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse shares her safety tips and advice to help solo female travelers navigate Mexico with confidence.

The tastes, smells, sights, and sounds of Mexico are irresistible. It’s the first place I traveled internationally, and whenever I want a warm, welcoming adventure that’s easy and accessible, I think of Mexico.

But sometimes people with little to no Mexico travel experience will try to talk you out of traveling there solo. They’ve seen nothing but negativity on the news, and so that’s their impression of the entire country. After all, Mexico has an international reputation for having high crime. So yes, this is something you have to be aware of when traveling there, especially by yourself.

But let’s be real: lots of fantastic destinations — including many in the US — have a similar reputation. It doesn’t mean the entire country is “bad” or that you can’t have a great, safe time there. You just need to take certain precautions, just like you would in much of the world. That starts with being well informed.

To help you stay safe, here are my top tips for traveling safely in Mexico as a solo female traveler:
 

1. Choose your destination wisely

I tend to base my travel destinations on suggestions from others or photos that I’ve seen and saved, usually from Instagram. That’s how I ended up road-tripping in Baja California, checking out the cenotes of Tulum, attending a women’s retreat in Sayulita, and falling in love with Isla Holbox.

But lately, crime has increased in parts of the Riviera Maya (largely fueled by tourists’ desire for drugs), and tourist cities that used to be popular destinations, like Acapulco, have since become more synonymous with cartels. Just because something was popular ten years ago doesn’t mean it is a good place to visit now.

How do you know? If you’ve got someplace in mind, do a quick Google search for the town along with “crime” or “tourist crime.” Keep in mind: the media can really overplay things. I like to look at as many specific statistics as I can, when available.

I also like posting on message boards (like TripAdvisor’s) when planning trips to get the most current information. Local expat Facebook groups can also be helpful. Here’s one specifically for Tulum, for example. You’ll be able to ask people who are living or on the ground there what their experience is. This works for almost any major area of Mexico (and the world).
 

2. Choose centrally located accommodations

Especially if it will be your first time visiting Mexico or a certain city or town, choose a place close to the zócalo, or main square. These areas are always well lit, and there are usually plenty of police officers around, making it less attractive for criminals. (One exception to this is Mexico City, as there are so many neighborhoods to choose from besides the zócalo downtown.)

Although I haven’t made this mistake in Mexico, from time to time I have gotten this wrong when in other countries. I remember a situation in the Philippines where I was so far away from all of the things to do and other tourists that I spent a very lonely few days on the tip of an island, cut off from everyone and everything.

Coincidentally, that’s exactly when someone tried to break into my bungalow at night. I learned my lesson the hard way on that one: always read the reviews completely and have a good understanding of what is near your accommodation.
 

3. Learn some basic Spanish

Particularly when you’re a woman traveling solo, knowing some key phrases can help you have a smoother experience. You’ll be able to make friends with locals, get home safely more easily if the taxi driver doesn’t speak English, and understand when somebody is crossing a line when they’re talking to you.

What if you don’t know much? Well, my Spanish isn’t great. I thought it would be cool to take French in high school, even having grown up in Southern California, where Spanish would have been very helpful! So everything I know it’s just what I have picked up since then.

That said, the basics are often enough, and Mexico is a great place to learn more. Mexicans are generally very kind and forgiving toward those who try to speak their language.

Even if you just learn basic greetings and key phrases, you’re off to a great start. Duolingo is helpful with that, and you can also download Google Translate for offline use.

Speaking the language (even poorly) is a sign of respect and can help break the ice with locals, so why not give it a try?
 

4. Find travel friends to feel less alone

I love everything having to do with the ocean, so when I was in Baja California, I signed up to swim with sharks. On the boat, I randomly ran into a friend of mine with whom I’d swum with whales in French Polynesia! But even if I didn’t already know someone on the boat, I tend to make friends every time I do an activity, and that gives me a built-in group to have dinner with that night, or even hang out with and do more things with in the coming days.

Sometimes signing up for a retreat is also a good way to go. I usually find these through influencers I follow. I did this toward the end of my trip in Sayulita a few years ago, which gave me a good balance of time with people and also solitude before and after.

As a solo female traveler, this is my absolute favorite way to make sure that I meet other people. Do you love food? Sign up for a cooking class or even a food tour with great ratings on Google or TripAdvisor.
 

5. Opt for rideshare apps when you can

Sometimes taxis can be sketchy depending on where you’re traveling to in Mexico. In Mexico City and Playa del Carmen, for example, riders have even been kidnapped and extorted. In other cities, however, taxis are totally safe. Mérida, Cancún, San Cristóbal de las Casas and San Miguel de Allende are all fine places to take taxis in.

Rideshare apps are generally a safer option, especially at night. These apps make it possible to hold drivers accountable for any misdeeds, making it far less likely that they would commit any crimes. Plus, no actual money is exchanged, and they’re less likely to add extra mileage to make the bill higher since you can see right on the app what the suggested route is.

Uber is available in some cities in Mexico, but not all. There is almost always some kind of taxi app (like DiDi, for example) or WhatsApp taxi service available in any significant city, but if you’re visiting a small town or village, these options likely won’t be available.
 

6. Avoid being flashy

Wearing flashy jewelry and designer clothes will draw attention to you, almost anywhere you go in Mexico. One exception is Mexico City, where people generally dress up more in specific neighborhoods. Almost anywhere else, wearing extravagant clothing could make you a potential target for theft.

Although I own them, you won’t catch me with designer purses abroad, because I just don’t want to make myself the most attractive target.

The same goes for having your nice smartphone in hand on the street. There are two reasons for this: one, it can be a big distraction for you, and two, it’s something very easy to quickly steal out of your hand.
 

7. Vet tour companies beforehand

There are hundreds of tour companies in Mexico, and not all of them are reputable or safe. I almost never book a tour directly from a seller or right off the street. I always want to look at reviews first.

If you want to go on a day trip with a particular tour company, see if you can look it up online and read actual reviews before you hand over your money. Next, I check if they have websites and social media, such as a Facebook page.

If you don’t have a specific company in mind, Google the activity you’re interested in and see which companies offer it and follow the same advice. Chances are there will be some Google reviews, and if someone has had a bad experience, they’ll probably leave one to warn other travelers. You can also check TripAdvisor.

Another great way to make sure a tour is legit before you book is to go through a third-party site, like GetYourGuide. On those platforms, you can see reviews from other customers and make a more informed decision on which tour is safest and worth your time and money.

Additionally, beware of a common scam in which sketchy tour companies rent equipment to customers and then blame them for extensive damages. This is most common with scooter rentals, segway tours, and even snorkeling equipment rentals. To avoid this, make sure to ask what the policy is for any damage to equipment to make sure you won’t be held liable. You should also take photos of anything you rent before using it. That way you can prove that you haven’t made any damages.
 

8. Tell a friend where you are

If you’re traveling alone, tell a friend or family member at home your itinerary and with whom you can check in regularly. Before I started traveling internationally, I added my mom to my bank account, so that if it were ever locked while l was overseas, she could easily call and approve the charges. She has saved me many times, including when my bank tried to block my card repeatedly during an overland trip in Africa. There was no way I would’ve been able to call, but she knew that those withdrawals were made by me by quickly checking in with me.

Personally, checking in with someone every day or sharing my location with them would drive me absolutely bonkers, but so many solo female travelers have recommended this in comments on posts I’ve written over the years that I know that, for some people, the peace of mind is worth it.
 

9. Don’t indulge cat-callers

I know from personal experience how difficult it is to not snap back at a cat-caller who has disrespected me, but it’s not a good idea to pay any attention to them in Mexico.

In typical machismo fashion, a man who will cat-call you on the street could become aggressive or even violent if shown any kind of resistance. It’s a sad truth and one that pains me to say. But letting a disrespectful person know they’ve crossed a line does not always have the desired effect of making them stop what they’re doing.
 

10. Be careful on dating apps

A lot of travelers use dating apps like Tinder and Bumble to meet people (even just as friends) while on the move. I’ve had friends rave about it in Europe and have run into people on the road who tell me that’s how they met. This could potentially be a cool way to see Mexico from a local’s perspective, but it also makes me nervous. What if they have expectations? What if you’re not on the same page?

There are a few ways you can vet someone before deciding to meet up. First, look at their social media for any red flags. Next, make your intentions clear from the get-go. If you just want to make a new friend and see the city, let them know. Then, agree to meet up in a public. You can also have a friend on standby to check in with you mid-date to make sure you’re alright.

There are also Facebook groups that you can use to meet up with others. I run one specifically for solo female travelers called BMTM Solo Female Traveler Connect. There’s also Meetup.com and Bumble Friend, which is specifically set up for platonic situations.
 

11. Trust your gut when it comes to food

Let’s be honest, nobody wants to spend their Mexican vacation in a hotel bathroom. Sometimes getting even just a little sick in a foreign country is unavoidable, but there are a few things to look out for to keep your tummy in working order in Mexico.

I’m not suggesting that you avoid street food and stick to only restaurants. The worst food poisoning I’ve ever had was from a fancy restaurant in Mexico! Plus, I absolutely love street tacos there, and I’m always on the lookout for them. But I have some rules.

First of all, trust your instincts with street food. If a stall looks unsanitary, it probably is. On the other hand, If you’re unsure of where to eat, pick the taco stand with the longest queue. If there’s a huge line for a particular place, it’s probably because the food is great. Locals really know best on this one.
 

12. Buy travel insurance

I never travel without insurance. You shouldn’t either. Not only can it save you a fortune, but it also provides peace of mind, which is worth every penny (especially if you have concerned friends or family).

If you’re on a budget, use SafetyWing. It’s super affordable. Insure My Trip is the best choice for travelers over 70.

You can use this widget to get a quote for SafetyWing:

For more information on travel insurance, check out these posts:

• What Does Travel Insurance ACTUALLY Cover?
• The Best Travel Insurance Companies
• How to Buy the Best Travel Insurance

There’s a reason why you’ll find so many women traveling through Mexico on their own. It’s a beautiful and culturally rich country that is full of surprises, making it perfect for the adventurous heart. I’ve met amazing people in Mexico, many of whom have become friends far beyond the time I spent in the country.

Each time I go back to discover a new area, I’m reminded of just how wrong the media has it when portraying Mexico. Just like any other country, it has its fair share of safety concerns, but by being prepared and following some simple guidelines like the ones above, I’ve had beautiful experiences swimming with sharks, dunking in crystal-clear cenotes, eating amazing food, and making connections that I would have missed out on had I listened solely to all the bad news.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world ever since. There’s almost nothing she won’t try and almost nowhere she won’t explore. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.

The post How to Stay Safe in Mexico as a Solo Female Traveler appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

In this guest post, solo travel expert Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse shares her tips and advice to help you pack for your next trip abroad.

I know that it can be daunting trying to figure out what to pack for a week, a month, or a year abroad without much — or any — prior experience in the place you aim to visit. I found myself in the same situation eight years ago, but with the benefit of hindsight and over a decade of travel experience, I may have finally figured this female packing list thing out.

I’ve learned that, thankfully, with a few staple items, you can travel just about anywhere without spending a fortune on gear.

The following are my tried-and-true methods and products that, even after years on the road, I still love and use, and make for the ultimate packing list. Feel free to mix and match and take just what you want. Enjoy!
 

Tip #1: What Bag to Bring

Should you go with a backpack or a suitcase? It depends on your travel destination(s) and length of trip.

I am a huge advocate of backpacks, as it gives me the advantage of mobility (trust me, dragging a wheeled suitcase on a staircase is not fun at all!). It’s also great to not have to wait for your luggage at the airport upon arrival!

Many people are afraid that carrying a backpack will take a toll on their backs, but if you have the right one that fits your body, the weight will be evenly distributed and you will be fine! I highly recommend testing out backpacks (with weights in them) in person (REI stores are perfect for that), as everyone’s body is different.

That being said, these are the tried-and-tested staples that I take with me around the world:

• I use this Pacsafe messenger bag as a day bag, especially for towns like Phnom Penh or Ho Chi Minh City, where drive-by motorbike theft and bag-snatching can occur, or in parts of Europe or South America, where people try to unzip your purse when you’re distracted. There is a wire running through the strap, the colors are not flashy, and it is equipped with hidden pockets that block RFID readers from scanning passport and credit card information. Plus, the zippers lock.
• Packing cubes are the single most important thing for organizing my clothing and compressing my belongings.
• If carrying large cameras and a computer, I bring an electronics backpack with locking zippers, which I wear in the front.

Tip #2: What Clothes to Bring

In places where clothing is cheap, such as Southeast Asia and India, don’t stress too much about having a complete wardrobe ready to go before you take off. Just about every girl I met in those regions wore clothing she’d bought on the road. It will suit the climate and, costing just a few dollars per garment, it won’t break the bank.

In Europe, Oceania, or anywhere remote, where you might not be able to find cheap clothing or buy it on the road, bring everything you think you’ll need. These suggested packing lists will help:

Hot Climates

• 5–7 thin and simple tank tops and T-shirts that can easily mix and match with different bottoms
• 2–3 pairs of shorts of varying lengths (avoid denim in humid countries, as it takes a long time to line dry)
• 2 long skirts or dresses
• 2–3 pairs of light cotton pants and/or leggings
• 1 set of sleepwear
• Sufficient underwear to last you at least a week; I suggest 7 pairs of panties, 2 bras, and 2 sports bras
• 2 sets of interchangeable swimwear
• 2 pairs of thin socks and 1 pair of normal socks for hiking
• 1 pair of hiking or running shoes (this post lists the best walking shoes for travel if you need ideas)
• 1 pair of flip-flops or sandals
• A hat with a brim that will shade your face and a pair of sunglasses
• 1 sarong or big scarf when modest dress is called for and cooler evenings

Temperate Climates

• 2–3 tank tops for layering
• 2–3 long-sleeved shirts for layering
• 2–3 T-shirts
• 2–3 tunic shirts or dresses (that will go well with leggings)
• 1 set of sleepwear
• 1 pair of jeans or thick pants
• 1–2 pairs of shorts of varying lengths
• 1–2 pairs of leggings
• Sufficient underwear to last you at least a week; I suggest 7 pairs of panties, 2 bras, and 2 sports bras
• 4 pairs of socks: some for sport shoes and some for boots
• 1 pair of boots or closed-toed shoes (wear in transit to save space)
• 1 pair of hiking or running shoes
• 1 pair of flip-flops (jandals, thongs) or sandals
• 1 jacket, preferably something waterproof, for all occasions

Cold Climates

• 3–4 long-sleeved shirts for layering
• 2 thermal shirts (and/or base leggings)
• 2–3 sweaters and/or sweater dresses
• 2 pair of jeans or thick pants
• 2–3 pairs of leggings for layering
• 1 set of sleepwear
• Sufficient underwear to last you at least a week; I suggest 7 pairs of panties, 2 bras, and 2 sports bras
• 7 pairs of thick socks
• 1 pair of snow boots
• 1 heavy coat
• 1 pair of gloves
• 1 scarf
• 1 beanie or winter hat

Tip #3: Toiletries to Bring

I’m happy to report that it’s both easy and straightforward to find shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and soap. Ladies abroad use these things, too!

Pantene and Dove products seem to be universal, and with the exception of a few really off-the-grid places, such as tiny islands and extremely poor areas where people mostly subsistence-farm, you’ll be able to find basic toiletries easily on the road.

My basic toiletry packing list includes the following:

• 1 hanging toiletry bag
• Refillable travel bottles (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face soap)
• Facial moisturizer
• Razor refills
• Extra contacts
• Birth control for the length of your trip (if you take it, or consider monitoring your cycle with a free app like Period and using condoms, which are available almost worldwide)
• Ibuprofen
• A travel first aid kit
• A toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss
• At least one deodorant
• Sunscreen
• Tweezers
• An eyeglasses repair kit
• Nail clippers
• Makeup
• 1 palette of eyeshadow (though I tend to go makeup-free in hot climates!)
• 1 light powder foundation and bronzer
• 1 eyeliner and mascara

For prescriptions, the ease of traveling with them will heavily depend on what you need and how much you can get up front, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The best way to handle it is to talk to your doctor and insurance regarding how much you can get before you leave and how to best take it across borders.
 

Tip #4: Practical Items

Though most items such as bedding and pillows are provided in hostels, you’ll need a few other things to make your travels easier and cheaper. The following are my must-haves:

• A travel line for drying clothing (in Europe, Oceania, and North America, it’s expensive to wash your clothes at a laundromat, so consider your budget)
• A Diva Cup (a reusable menstrual cup).
• A microfiber towel (plenty of hostels and camping sites will not have towels, regardless of where in the world they are, so bring your own quick-drying one to save money and hassle). Use code “nomadicmatt” for 15% off your purchase!
• A sleeping bag liner, in case you encounter a hostel that is less than clean.
• A sarong for easy covering up for temples or at the beach (you can also buy this on the road).
• A headlamp for camping and as a personal flashlight at night.

Tip #5: Products to Keep You (and Your Belongings) Safe

In my eight years of traveling, I’ve never had anything major stolen. I credit this to watching my belongings like a hawk, always carrying the most important stuff on my person, and using thief-safe travel products. These are the security-related items I swear by:

• The Pacsafe backpack and bag protector is a wire mesh bag that protects valuables if you’re in a place without lockers or a safe.
• A personal safety alarm is a good item to bring along instead of mace or pepper spray, which is illegal in many countries and sometimes not allowed even in checked baggage. It’s small and easy to walk around with, and it makes a very loud noise if you press it in an emergency.
• A lock for lockers, doors, and your belongings when needed.
• COVID considerations: Welcome to the new normal! Bring a mask (or several) to protect yourself and others. It’s also good to wear in polluted cities too.

After years spent traveling the world, these are the staples I pack with me. Even with all that, it’s still possible to pack light, travel with just one big bag, and keep your possessions safe and yourself comfortable. It’s all about having the right essentials and leaving home the stuff that doesn’t serve a purpose during your trip.

I suggest you write down what you think you need — and then cut it in half. You never need as much as you think. Doing this will help you travel light.

Kristin Addis is a solo-female-travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has traveled the world ever since. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and YouTube.
 

The post The Ultimate Packing List for Female Travelers appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

In this guest post, blogger and writer Annette Richmond shares her experiences and reflections as a plus-size black solo female traveler. I’ve known Annette for years and she an incredible person who has spoken at TravelCon on subjects relating to blogging and diversity. She’s one of my favorite humans and I’m stoked to have her writing for us today!

Every day, I learn more about intersectionality and how my identity as a fat Black woman impacts the way I travel. Intersectionality is a framework for conceptualizing a person, group of people, or social problem as affected by multiple forms of oppression. It takes into account people’s overlapping identities (age, race, sex, disability, religion, class, sexuality, appearance, etc.) and experiences in order to understand the complexity of prejudices they face.

We all have barriers to navigate and traveling the world solo has brought me face to face with many of mine. The discrimination I experience depends on where I am. When I’m in Asia, I’m discriminated against because of my size more than anything else while, in my home country of the United States, I’m discriminated against because of the color of my skin more than the size of my body.

I grew up in San Francisco as the oldest of three and only girl in a lower-middle-class, single-parent home. Family vacations weren’t a thing for us, but my best friend and her family would drive down to LA every year to go discount back-to-school shopping. In high school, I buckled up and went with them on the road trip — and I was hooked.

Senior year I was the only one in my group of friends that had saved enough money to go on a snowboarding trip to Bend, Oregon. I worked part-time in the shoe department of a major retailer, which meant commission. I saved up for months for that trip; to me, it was a celebration of my accomplishment as the first person in my family to graduate from high school.

That senior-year snowboarding trip was my first solo adventure. Since my friends decided not to go and it wasn’t planned by our school, I was one of the very few Black people there — it was mostly white teens from affluent families.

I was bunked in a two-bedroom apartment with three other girls. I remember having a great time. I also remember feeling different. Not only because I was Black but because I was bigger than the other girls.

And each of those things that make me me – gender, weight, and ethnicity – have all impacted how I travel.

Traveling alone as a woman can be risky (though not overwhelmingly more dangerous than being solo in San Francisco. Or any other big city for that matter). The reality is we need to be vigilant as we travel.

Once, I was walking with a friend one night in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and saw a group of men on mototaxis waiting for customers. I felt them staring at us and heard them joking and giggling. As we passed by, one of the men grabbed my right breast. As I went to grab his hand, he sped off on his motorbike, leaving his friends to stare and laugh. I felt both humiliated and violated.

Another time, a man exposed himself and followed me in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I heard someone making kissing noises behind me, and when I turned to look, an older Asian man was approaching me, asking “How much?” I shook my head no and quickened my pace. Soon I heard the kissy noises again; when I turned back to give him a disapproving look, I saw that he had unzipped his pants and was playing with himself in broad daylight. I was shocked and full of fear, but my first thought was to grab my pepper spray.

As he approached the stoplight, my pepper spray was in hand. I felt him approaching, then he stepped into the intersection and crossed on the red light. I was relieved that things didn’t escalate further and happy that I had brought my blinged-out pepper spray with me.

As a Black woman, there are the added issues that strangers will often come up to me and touch my hair or my skin, which I hate. A child even asked if I was made from chocolate! Some countries are more Black-friendly than others. But, in countries where citizens aren’t as exposed to black people, there’s a fascination that makes me feel like a prop.

For example, I had a group of Asian tourists line up to take photos with me at a pagoda in Myanmar. (Additionally, a European family took photos with me at the Louvre in Paris. They got my attention by yelling “Yo, yo, yo!”)

I generally agree to taking photos with people if I have time, feel cute, and am respected. However, I know it’s not my obligation to take photos with people who’ve never met a Black person before so it’s always interesting when they get upset with me for refusing to do so.

The intersecting lines quickly start to blur when it comes to being a Black woman, especially in Southeast Asia, where I’m thought of as either a celebrity or a prostitute. Walking through markets in Malaysia, Bali, and Bangkok, I’ve been called Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, and Oprah. (Do you think every old white man is called Trump or Biden while shopping in Asia?)

Then there’s my weight. I refused to wait to lose weight before I gave myself permission to see the world. This is me and I didn’t want to conform to any stereotypes of beauty. Although weight can be a barrier to travel, I’ve been able to come up with creative solutions and find tools to make it more accessible.

The first hurdle is the airplane. As a fat traveler, you have to determine if you’ll need to book one or more seats. If you do need more than one seat, have you budgeted for that? (Right now, the only US airline offering a free second seat for fat travelers is Southwest. Look into its Customer of Size Policy for details.)

I don’t generally need a second seat when flying, but depending on the airline, I might need a seat belt extender. On a flight to Bali, I was fighting to get my seat belt on, in the middle seat no less. The man in the window seat was watching me the entire time, growing more impatient by the second. Finally, he said, “That’s not going to fit,” to which I responded, “Can you please focus on yourself and let me focus on my seat belt?”

Two seconds later the seat belt clicked into place and the man next to me proceeded to take off his shoes and manspread.

Not many people know about the rules of the emergency exit row. One of them is that you’re not allowed to sit there if you’re using a seat belt extender. On a flight from Malaysia to Bangkok, I was given the window seat in an exit row.

As I was getting my headphones out and putting my gum away, I noticed the flight staff looking and pointing at me. Mind you, my seat belt was comfortably buckled without an extender, and my possessions were safely stowed above me. One of the flight attendants told me that it wasn’t safe for me to sit in the exit row and that I would have to move. I immediately knew that he had profiled me and assumed I was too fat to help in case of an emergency. Instead of getting into an argument or challenging his wrong assumption, I just moved to a window seat a few rows back.

As a fat traveler, there are so many more things to consider when planning a trip. If you’re doing water sports, is there a life vest that fits?

Planning on scuba diving? Is there a wetsuit in your size, or do you need to bring your own?

Did you know there’s a weight limit for horseback riding and zip-lining?

What’s the weight limit on the kayak you’re renting for the day?

All of these factors impact fat travelers, and not knowing the answers to these questions can lead to frustration and feelings of humiliation.

Something as simple as sitting down for dinner or eating in public can be anxiety-inducing for a fat traveler. Responses to fatness vary in different places; in Asia, it’s culturally acceptable to point, stare, and laugh at fat people. I don’t have to tell you how dehumanizing it feels to have strangers in a restaurant monitor everything you put in your mouth. It can sometimes be so overwhelming that it feels safer to order room service or get takeout.

On the other hand, one of my most memorable positive experiences was at a small stall-restaurant at Chatuchak Market in Bangkok. As I waited to be seated, the hostess made a hand gesture. She held her hands out wide, which I took as her saying that I was fat. I gave her a thumbs-up and waited to be seated. When she began seating people who had arrived after me, I got annoyed. I was on the verge of jumping ship when she walked over and grabbed a wooden chair that another customer had just gotten up from. She pulled it up to a table, called me over, and made the hand gesture again.

At that moment, I realized that she had waited to get me a more stable chair. She didn’t want me to risk the humiliation of sitting in one of the plastic chairs and breaking it. I will always be grateful for her kindness.

My intersecting identities as a fat Black woman impacts the way I view the world and how the world views me. Each day, I am challenging beliefs and smashing stereotypes, all while being as open and authentic as I can be. I have nothing to prove and no one to impress. Just more layers of my identity to be revealed.

Annette Richmond is an award-winning content creator, writer, advocate, and public speaker. She runs the blog From Annette With Love and is the creator of the body-positive travel community Fat Girls Traveling, the Editor-in-Chief of Fat Girls Guide, and the host of the annual fat positive Fat Camp. She’s also been featured in Conde Nast Traveler, Teen Vogue. NBC, Forbes. O Magazine, and more. You can follow her on Instagram as well.

The post What It’s Like Traveling as a Plus-Sized, Black Solo Female Traveler appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Today, we have a guest post from Senitra Horbrook. She’s a frequent solo traveler who uses miles and points to experience champagne travel on a budget. She has been to six continents and is working on her next goal of visiting 100 countries. In this post, she’s going to talk about Black American women and solo travel.

Sometimes when I travel outside of the United States, I take a look around at the faces of other people. I don’t often see any else who looks like me, a Black American woman. On the occasions when I do see another Black person, they’re frequently not an American but someone from an African country, usually residing in that location for work or school.

Closer to home, like in the US, Mexico, or the Caribbean, I may be more likely to see other Black American travelers at resorts or tourist attractions, but rarely do I come across another Black woman traveling solo like me.

Why is that?

It’s something I’ve always thought about. Now, I don’t proclaim to speak for all Black American women, but, after talking to others and reflecting on my own experience, I think it has to do with the following reasons:
 

We Probably Don’t Have Passports

According to data from the US Department of State, fewer than half of Americans have a passport. It’s unknown exactly how many Black American women have a passport, as the statistics do not break down passport issuance by race or gender. But, in my experience, the importance of having a passport was not something that was communicated to me growing up.

In my youth and even into early adulthood, getting a passport wasn’t something that I or my parents viewed as being essential to everyday life. Why would we spend almost $150 USD on something that we had no plans of using? And getting a passport for the first time requires applying in person, which may mean taking time off work to do so.

I got a passport for the first time at age 28 to go on a family vacation to Mexico. After my first visit out of the country, I wanted to fill that passport up with stamps and see every country I could, even if that meant I had to go solo. Why was I just now discovering the allure of international travel, I wondered?
 

We Think Travel is Too Expensive

This line of thinking is not necessarily limited to Black American women. However, it is definitely something that can hold us back.

There’s the idea that traveling costs even more if you’re alone because you have no one to split accommodation costs with. Or there’s the fact that single travelers on cruises or group tours are charged more.

But in reality, if you plan ahead you can end up spending less because you can better control the costs as a solo traveler.
 

We See a Lack of Representation and Role Models to Emulate

Think of the travel magazines, guidebooks, or destination advertisements you’ve seen. How often are Black travelers featured? How often is a Black woman’s solo travel experience highlighted?

When we don’t see others who look like us traveling to fantastic destinations, we start to wonder if maybe it can’t be done or that maybe it’s not for us. You all need role models that look like us.

This has been a historic problem in the travel space.

Thankfully, it’s changing.

In “Tweeting the Black Travel Experience,” a 2018 study published in the Journal of Travel Research, researchers analyzed the hashtag “#TravelingWhileBlack” and concluded that the lack of representation of Black travelers in the tourism industry helped Black travelers create communities on social media to share their travel experiences. Moreover, groups like the Black Travel Alliance are fighting for more representation in the industry.

Thanks to those social media communities, I’ve been able to read about the experiences of other Black American women solo travelers. They have inspired me – and I am sure they have inspired others.
 

We Think Black People Don’t Travel Internationally

A 2018 survey of African-American travelers found that more than half of the respondents said they traveled only between 100 and 500 miles from home on their most recent leisure trip. Top US destinations included Florida, New York City, and Atlanta.

When I think of my summers or family vacations while growing up, they didn’t involve leaving the country. Some years it was a trip to Disney or more local amusement parks. Other years a “vacation” was a road trip to visit family in other states. And I didn’t know anyone whose vacations encompassed a trip abroad. The only Black people I observed traveling to other countries — on television or in the news — were famous or in the military.
 

Our Families May Pressure Us Not to Travel Alone

Family pressure to avoid solo travel can be a common issue for all types of travelers. For Black American women, we may hear our families tell us the world is too scary for us to be out there alone. They warn us about all of the “what ifs?” They worry about us flying across oceans — despite the fact that car accidents are more common than plane crashes.

Historically, Black Americans have been more likely to travel in groups, say Gloria and Solomon Herbert, publishers of Black Meetings & Tourism magazine and one of the sponsors of the aforementioned 2018 travel study. Traveling in groups offers camaraderie and protection, they explain.

When I see Black travel — in Black-centric magazines, movies, or TV shows — it is most commonly girls’ getaways, family reunions, or cruise ship vacations with friends or family. So those of us who grab our passports and board that airplane alone seem to be trailblazers.
 

We’re Waiting on Friends

Movies like Girls Trip idealize fun times away with our girlfriends at big events. Unfortunately, flaky and noncommittal friends are a real impediment to having those types of travel experiences. I’ve been there!

Let’s say you’ve planned a wonderful getaway with a group of friends, but when it comes time to buy the flights, all of a sudden, they have umpteen excuses why they can’t go. Or they just keep putting you off, never saying they can’t go, but never committing to actually going.

Maybe they weren’t able to save up enough money. Maybe they’d just rather stay home. What helped me was the realization that if I was waiting for flaky friends to travel with me, I may be waiting for a long time.

While Black women aren’t the only types of people with flaky friends, this is something I’ve observed as keeping us from traveling solo. It’s time for us to embrace the unknown and travel solo, because, as the saying I’ve seen on social media goes: “They ain’t comin’, sis.”
 

We’re Concerned About Racism in the Destination

All travelers have some sort of safety concerns. For some, their biggest fears may be getting pickpocketed or walking down the wrong street in a bad neighborhood. Female solo travelers may fear sexual harassment or assault. For Black travelers, it goes even further: we’re often afraid of being physically targeted because of the color of our skin.

I typically do Google searches for trip reports, looking for experiences from Black women as tourists in countries I am thinking of visiting, since part of my decision-making process in determining where to travel is how the locals of that country view Black people and if that country has a history of racism. While some trip reports I find give me pause, more often than not, there’s no reason to be concerned because, in many countries, we’re just as warmly welcomed as our white counterparts.
 

We Want to Avoid Casual Racism

It’s not just racist-based physical assault we may fear, though. Casual racism and prolonged stares can be uncomfortable and unsettling, like being followed around in stores, being refused service in a restaurant, or being refused help from a stranger when you ask for directions.

People who stare may have never seen a Black person in real life before. A smile, nod, and “hello” can go a long way in showing friendliness and approachability. And generally, being an American with money to spend can positively influence a local’s perspective, even if their first instinct may have been to eye us suspiciously.

I’ve been approached by strangers wanting to take pictures of me because I’m “exotic.” Depending on how someone does this, I don’t necessarily view it as a bad thing. If I’m someone’s first or limited interaction with a Black American woman, I want it to be a positive experience.
 

We Don’t Want to Face the Stereotypes

Americans are often subject to the “ugly, loud, unruly” stereotype when traveling, especially young twentysomething travelers. But Black Americans can face additional stereotypes.

Some people’s only exposure to Black America is through television and other media, so they only know of the athletes, rappers, singers, or movie stars. So they may shout at us in passing, comparing us to people like Beyoncé, Serena Williams, or even Oprah. Annoying, yes. But no real hazard.

What’s worse are the people whose exposure to Blacks is through negative news and other media that portray us as criminals. Those people may display signs of overt or casual racism, like clutching their purse when you approach or crossing the street as you’re about to walk by.

Even when traveling in the United States, Black female travelers may be more likely to experience poor customer service due to stereotypes, one example being that Black people don’t tip. You could be a great tipper, but that stereotype can potentially set you up for defeat as soon as you enter an establishment.

We have to work to prove we’re different from the stereotypes others may have prejudged us by. My first instinct is to make eye contact and give someone a friendly smile and nod, even if they don’t smile back. It’s great to get a friendly smile in return, but if I feel I’m experiencing hostile behavior, I’ll leave and remove myself from that situation.
 

We Don’t Know How to Swim

Many of the best vacations involve water activities: going out on a boat, jet skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling, or a refreshing swim in a cool hotel pool on a hot day. But what if you don’t know how to swim?

According to a 2017 study from the USA Swimming Foundation, 64% of African-American children have no or low swimming ability. By comparison, 40% of Caucasian children are nonswimmers.

We may grow up in a city or neighborhood without access to a community pool. Our parents and family members don’t know how to swim, so they can’t teach us. Lessons are expensive. And there’s the not-so-distant history of racial discrimination and segregation at private pools and athletic clubs. Black people simply weren’t allowed in.

I grew up afraid of the water and did not know how to swim until I enrolled in lessons at age 26. Knowing how to swim has greatly enhanced the types of travel experiences I have.
 

We Worry About What to Do with Our Hair

For many Black women, our hair is not just “wash and go.” Styling our hair can be an extensive process. Sometimes we’ve paid a good sum of money to get our hair styled at the salon before a trip. We don’t want to get sweaty or get our hair wet (if straightened, wetting our hair can cause it to revert back to its natural texture). Or it can get tangled or matted.

And if trying to pack light and carry-on only, travel-size hair products just aren’t going to do the job, especially for more than a few days. We want to be cute when we’re “flexin’ for the ‘gram”, that is, posing for our Instagram pictures.

All of these can be reasons why Black women are hesitant to travel.

I have dealt with the “hair issue” in a variety of ways. Earlier in my travels, I’d get my hair weaved or have extensions added, so I could “wake up and go.” And since my real hair was protected underneath the weave, I could go swimming or get my hair wet without worrying about damaging my real hair.

More recently, I’ve worn my hair styled very simply, often in a bun or pulled back. And since I wear my natural texture instead of straightened, I don’t worry about getting it wet.

For Black American women who want to travel solo, there are obstacles and fears to overcome, but it can be done. Like many things worth doing, I find that the rewarding feeling of traveling solo outweighs the fears I may have.

Even though I may not often see other travelers, especially Americans, who look like me, I’m hopeful to see more ladies like myself having wonderful solo adventures as more Black travel experiences are highlighted.

Senitra Horbrook has spoken at numerous travel conferences in the US and enjoys sharing her tips on solo travel and strategies to earn many frequent flyer miles and hotel points through credit card rewards. A journalist, you can connect with her online on Instagram or Twitter.

The post Why Don’t More Black American Women Travel Solo? appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes our regular column on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice for other women travelers to help cover the topics important and specific to them! In this month’s article, she explores the double standards that come with solo female travel.

I rushed to the gate at Julius Nyerere Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As the agent checked my passport, he looked around me and, perplexed, asked if I was alone.

I’d just finished up four months of solo traveling up from South Africa, one of the best and most enriching solo trips of my life, and replied that yes, I was alone.

“Your husband lets you do that?” he asked incredulously.

I get it. In Tanzania, it’s unthinkable for a woman, especially in her late twenties like I was, to travel alone. I gently let him know that nobody “lets” me do anything, and that I’m unmarried.

While I take pleasure in shifting paradigms when possible, I still wonder what it would be like if I were a man. How would I be perceived when I solo travel or write about it? How would people treat me differently?

1. They wouldn’t ask me whether or not my husband “lets me” travel alone.

From Tanzania to the Philippines, I’ve been asked where my boyfriend or husband is. I bet almost nobody would ask me if my girlfriend lets me travel alone if I were a man.

I wouldn’t have to question whether or not I should lie about being single. I wouldn’t debate wearing a decoy wedding band. My safety wouldn’t be tied up in my singleness.

2. They wouldn’t question whether a boyfriend or daddy pays for my trips.

Is it so strange to believe that a woman can fund her own lifestyle? Why is there such a pervasive myth that women who travel solo are being bankrolled by someone?

When I travel, I pay for it, and when I travel with my partner, we split it 50/50.

I bet I wouldn’t have to state that if I were a man, though.

3. People might ask when I’m planning to settle down, but they wouldn’t do it with such frequency and entitlement to the answer

Maybe settling down with a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a dog named Spike used to be the norm, but we have more mobility these days, and the internet, and too many people anyway. So why is it so darn important to people that I eventually settle down?

I think in a way it’s saying, “Hey, this was the only option I gave myself, and now you have to follow suit.” For those who conform to expectations, it’s uncomfortable when others deviate from the norm, especially women.

But I’m not worried about it. If and when I choose, I’ll do it, and if I don’t, that’s OK too. I’m approaching this more like a man, OK?

Also, get out of my ovaries.

4. I’d be called adventurous and an explorer rather than irresponsible and stupid.

If I traveled solo as a man, even if something unfortunate happened to me, I’d be called an explorer and lover of life.

Yet as a woman, I’ve been called stupid, warned I’d be “found dead and cannibalized,” and accused of leading other women to their death (just look at the comments on this video, the worst of which I actually deleted).

5. I wouldn’t be warned I’d “get raped” if I traveled alone.

If I were a man, I’d only have a 6.6% chance of being told I’d “get raped” if I travel alone, versus nearly 70% as a woman.

This is problematic on so many levels, it deserves its own post.

6. I’d be able to wear what I want.

In some places, I can’t wear what I want. I understand that modesty is built into the culture in many places around the world, and I respect it and assimilate when in those countries.

But that doesn’t mean I have to pretend that I enjoy wearing long sleeves and pants in 90-degree weather with 90% humidity while the boys get to wear shorts and tank tops.

7. I wouldn’t have had to wonder what the hell to do when cornered in an elevator in Santiago by two big men, saying salacious things to me in Spanish.

When I traveled through Patagonia with a male friend, nobody harassed me, assuming I wasn’t available. Yet when we parted ways so that I could solo travel — something that was important to me to do — the catcalls started pouring in.

Sadly, I’ve been catcalled in almost every country that I’ve been to, even the ones you’d least expect (yet not at all in southern and eastern Africa — points for Africa!). It ranges from “ciao bella” to being chased down the sidewalk.

It is not a compliment, it’s an assertion of power, and it’s exhausting.

In Santiago, it crossed the line into terrifying when two huge guys got into an elevator with me, hovered over me, and harassed me. It was the perfect place, because who could help me in there?

Would that have happened to a man?

(On the positive side, if I were a man, locals might not be as concerned with taking care of me as many are. People might also not trust me outright the way they do. Right or wrong, women tend to be perceived as more peaceful and gentle and in need of protection.)

8. Nobody would have assaulted me in public in Nepal.

In Pokhara, Nepal, after a random power cut, the sun was setting and I realized I needed water to drink to get through the evening. Though I prefer not to walk alone when it gets dark, I had to do so in that instance.

I heard myself scream before realizing that a local male had grabbed my breast. I whirled around and saw nothing but the back of his head as he ran away like the coward he is.

Everyone nearby just pretended like they hadn’t seen anything, of course.

9. But maybe the police would have taken me more seriously.

I wonder, if I’d been a man demanding the police take notice, would they have listened to me? Would the officer still have rolled his eyes and acted like I was ruining his night by demanding an escort back to my guesthouse?

I can only wonder if it would have been different.

10. Insulting my ass would not be the topic of discussion on a post about road trips.

When women share about something like travel on social media, why is body shaming still a thing?

Why, on a post about road trips of all things, does someone feel the need to inform me that my ass is flat? Does that happen to guys too? I think not.

11. I wouldn’t have had an internet stalker demand a naked selfie from me for months on all of my social platforms.

If being a solo female traveler is tough at times, try writing about it. Have any of my male peers ever been harassed for months on end, on every platform, by a stalker demanding a naked selfie?

Unfortunately, women are targeted online way more than men. According to the BBC, one in three teenage girls have been sexually harassed online.

Why can’t we just share our travel pictures in peace?

12. I wouldn’t get a flood of comments from fragile males on posts like this.

It always happens, but I’m curious: Why should any egalitarian male, who has the ability to see things from someone else’s perspective, ever take this personally? Why does pointing out issues in our society automatically equate to blaming men?

Louder, for the ones in the back: it doesn’t.

Obviously, there are drawbacks for male solo travelers too — and benefits that only women who travel solo get to enjoy. There can be an implied trust factor between women that transcends cultures, and time and time again, people have been generous towards me in ways that I didn’t expect.

In the end, I still love and champion solo female travel and believe that every woman should do it. I’m just sick of all the double standards and think it’s high time to call them out.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over eight years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s almost nothing she won’t try and almost nowhere she won’t explore. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.
 

The post Let’s Talk About the Double Standard in Travel appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes our regular column on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice for other women travelers to help cover the topics important and specific to them! In this post, she dives into hiking solo!

I’ll always remember the way that the sun came up over Kawah Ijen volcano on Java, in Indonesia, illuminating the green lake in front of me. Smoke rose into the air from the volcano vents, while just Alex, another solo traveler I met halfway up the trail, and I watched as it came up. In the highlight reel of my life, that sunrise will make the cut.

This was at the end of ten months of solo traveling, and now that I think about it, this must have been my first-ever solo hike, which began in the dark, under the stars.

Since then I’ve done numerous trails solo, sometimes in the dark, and some at over 18,000 feet in altitude. I’ve hiked thousands of miles now, much of it as a solo traveler.

I’m often asked: can solo female travelers still enjoy hiking and backpacking? Let’s dive in to the factors that determine the answer.

Can hiking alone ever be considered safe?

For fans of the book Wild by Cheryl Strayed, the idea of striking out alone might sound intriguing but also totally crazy. She had no experience, had overpacked, and was tackling one of the longest through hikes in the world on her own.

Was she insane to do this? Can hiking alone ever really be safe?

Like solo traveling, some people will argue that hiking alone is never safe, no matter what. As someone who does it all the time, I have a different take on it. I find it empowering, incredibly peaceful, and one of the best ways to get closer to myself. I get to push out all the noise and clutter and just be one with nature. That said, you have to take precautions to make yourself safer.

Let’s start with those important steps before we move on:

• Carry a spot beacon or satellite phone. Both of these lightweight items allow you to call for help and to regularly message your family and friends with your location as well. Satellite phones don’t come cheap, but our lives are worth it, yes?
• Understand what the animal situation is. Educating yourself about your surroundings is imperative. In Glacier National Park, for example, I needed to carry bear spray, and in Alaska, I carry bear cans, and I made sure I understood how to use it.
• Stick to trails. Popular, well-marked trails in national parks are a much smarter choice than heading into the backcountry in Alaska solo, for example, where it’s too easy to get lost since there’s no trail, and where it’s unlikely that anyone else will be out. But on popular trails, you’ll never have to truly be alone.

Start small

The trail I referenced in the intro is only a couple of hours long, and I had a lifetime of experience hiking with my family prior to deciding to do it solo. Start small, and go for shorter hikes in the beginning.

You can gain knowledge and confidence quickly. Less than a year after that first solo hike, I went on the Annapurna Circuit and Sanctuary treks in Nepal, at a combined 14 days; a couple years later, I solo-backpacked the Santa Cruz Trek in Peru. Both are high-altitude hikes and required a lot of stamina. I worked up to these — and you can too. But first, start smaller, and go with other people while you learn the ropes.

Pick popular trails

I usually hike popular trails. You’re not going to see me heading off into the backcountry alone. I’m not good enough at navigation for that. However, I’m totally confident on a well-marked trail.

For me it’s a bonus if I can meet people along the way, which I always do. It’s so much fun! Even though I boarded the bus to the start of the Annapurna Circuit on my own, I made a friend on the way, an amazing woman from Belgium, and so had a hiking buddy before I even took the first step. The two of us did the entire 14 days together, and even hung out in Kathmandu afterward. We kept meeting people along the way as well, and that’s the beauty of longer hikes like this: you tend to see the same people again and again. The camaraderie is awesome, but if you want, you can also have moments to yourself.

Learn the skills from someone first

I may not know how to navigate very well with a map and compass, but I do know how to combat blisters and pick the right gear. I do have the skills necessary to cook my own food and pitch a tent on my own, and I know what to pack for a backpacking trip (here’s a checklist to help you out) so that I’m not overweighted. I don’t let myself get into a situation where I’m unprepared.

I only have these skills because I backpacked with someone who taught me everything before I ever set off on my own. I believe it’s imperative that you learn from someone who has the skills before backpacking solo. If nothing else, it will help with your confidence and knowledge of wilderness safety. You’ll get a better sense of how to pack and how to pace yourself, too.

Understand the trail conditions first

Before I went out on the Santa Cruz hike in Peru, I walked around the nearest town, Huaraz, and got advice from local outfitters. Had there been rangers to speak with, I would have asked them as well. By doing this, I got a good sense of the trail conditions and got reliable maps before I went.

You have to know what you’re getting into, so do your research first, but most importantly, talk to people on the ground and understand what the trail is like right now. Check the weather, and make sure that your gear will keep you warm enough. Other steps include the following:

• Search local official tourism sites
• Email your accommodation near the trail to ask them for advice
• Join Facebook groups and look for people who have recently completed the trek
• Search the name of the trail + blog and read recent posts
• Check weather patterns over the past few years

Be prepared and equipped

Having enough food, staying warm, staying dry, and being able to have constant access to water — whether you’re carrying it or finding it on the trail — are all imperative. Most of the time when people run into trouble, it’s because they’ve wandered from the trail, did not adequately prepare foodwise, got too cold, or ran out of water. You can make sure none of those things happen to you by being totally prepared.

Know your limits — never hike technical trails solo

To date, the Huemul Circuit in Patagonia is the hardest trail I’ve ever done. I had to pull myself across two rivers with a pulley and harness, and descend 700 meters over one kilometer — that’s almost vertical — without anything to hold on to but the errant stray tree branch.

On the first day, a solo hiker asked if he could join our group and we said of course. I understand why he didn’t want to do it solo: it’s a technical hike, and even though I’ve done hundreds of miles solo now, I would still not attempt that hike alone. I wouldn’t go into foggy conditions, heavy winds, or difficult-to-navigate trails solo either. Technical trails are best done in groups, or with a guide. Know your limits.

Know that it’s largely mental

Now that I’ve been a guide on for backpacking trips in Peru, the O Circuit in Patagonia, the Alaskan backcountry, and Iceland, I’ve learned that it’s not necessarily the oldest or least fit people who struggle on the trail — it’s those who don’t train and are not mentally prepared.

I’ve experienced rough weather on nearly every trail I’ve done, and there have been moments of heaven and moments of hell. It’s always worth it to be so close to nature and to see the things that only your feet can carry you to, but you have to be ready for the tough stuff. It’s going to be hard sometimes, and that’s kind of the point, right?

You have to stay positive. As soon as you start to doubt yourself, it’s going to get worlds harder.

Train for your trip

Even if you have hiked before, training for your trip is going to be a game-changer. In addition to being mentally prepared, get your body in shape for the challenge ahead.

If you can’t train by doing short hikes around where you live, put your backpack on with weight in it and get on the stair climber. I know you’re going to look weird in the gym, but the gym is for training, so who cares, right? Do endurance exercises like Pilates, and don’t wait until the last minute to get ready. The more prepared you feel, the easier it’s going to be.

Get gear that fits you

The biggest problem that people experience with long-term hikes is blisters. Make sure that your shoes are tight, your socks are thick, and that everything fits you right. On top of that, buy backpacks that you’ve tried on with weight, and make sure you understand how to evenly distribute the weight on your body before you walk out of the store.

If you are in the US, REI has stores across the country with experienced and helpful staff that will help you pick out the perfect equipment for your body. If you are ordering your gear online, I recommend ordering several, testing them out, and sending back the ones that don’t work for you. Make sure the return policy allows this!

Minimize your weight

If you’re hiking solo, that means you are carrying all of the gear. If you’re backpacking, that means you alone are carrying the tent, cooking equipment, and all of the food and water. You need to shave off every gram where possible. I’m always amazed when I see people hiking with jars and hydrated foods like jam and tuna. They must be crazy!

Only bring two pairs of clothes (one to sleep in and one to hike in); bring food that you can rehydrate, assuming that you have access to water each evening; and buy lightweight gear that is designed for backpacking.

Leave no trace

Finally, the most important thing about hiking in the wilderness, whether with other people or on your own, is to truly leave no trace. Most people know that means not to litter, but there are other important things to understand:

• Never veer from the trail. Erosion can be irreversible, and footprints in the California desert from 200 years ago are still there. Stay on the trail, for your safety and for the wildnerness’s sake.
• Do not wash anything in rivers. I see people washing dishes in rivers all the time. The water flows on, yes, but it has to end up somewhere, and this is how we pollute our water sources.
• Pack everything out. This includes food that you don’t finish. If you leave it in the wilderness, animals will get used to eating it, then they might get aggressive with humans, and then we’ve caused a big problem.
• Seriously consider where you use the bathroom. If the trail provides toilets, use them. Even if it’s not a nice toilet, we can have a serious impact on the environment if enough people choose not to use the toilet on a trail. If there is no toilet, walk at least 100 feet away from any water sources, bury it, and pack out the toilet paper. If that seems gross to you, put some duct tape around a Ziploc bag so that you don’t have to look at it, but seriously, do not leave it in the wilderness.

Finally, be open to hiking with others

Even though I start most of my trails solo, I meet so many cool people along the way that I almost always come out of it with new friends. You don’t have to be nice to and hang out with everyone, but you may find that there are people that you want to hike with. There’s a great community of people out there, so be open to that possibility.

While I agree that solo hiking is not for everyone, there are many women around the world who have hiked thousands of miles on their own, and for those of us who love it, it’s one of the best experiences in the world. Everyone has to decide for themselves what feels good, but for me, solo traveling is a beautiful high, and hiking solo can take me even higher.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over four years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s almost nothing she won’t try and almost nowhere she won’t explore. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.
 

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The post The Girl’s Guide to Hiking Solo appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes our semi-regular column on solo female travel. In this column, she goes deep into the shaming culture surrounding solo female travel and how women are often told it’s not safe to travel (while men are told no such thing). It’s not an easy topic but one that’s very pertinent and needs to be discussed.

Many of us solo travelers receive pushback. Depending on what other people think we should be doing with our lives instead, the pressure can range from mild guilting to quite disturbing warnings.

“You’ll never get another job, never find a partner, never have children (or settle down in time to have them), and never have financial security,” they say.

“You’ll be an easier victim, get robbed, or be killed.”

But one thing sticks out when we consider solo female vs. solo male travelers:

Women are told much more often than men that they will “get raped” if they travel alone.

Based on my own research conducted by polling large, travel-focused Facebook groups, out of nearly 1,000 responses, 69% of female respondents reported being told they’d get raped if they traveled solo vs. 6.6% of men*.

Certainly, if we consider the data on sexual assault of women vs. men, many more women are victims than men worldwide. In the US, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s 2010 report, nearly 1 in 5 women in the US have been raped at some point in their lives. The stats are similar in Canada, where over 600,000 sexual assaults are reported by women per year, which is estimated to only be 5% of cases while the rest go unreported. A 2014 report by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights shows similar numbers.

However, when we delve deeper into the numbers, we see that the overwhelming majority of this violence is inflicted by someone the victim knows. According to Statistics Canada, only 16% of violent assaults against women are carried out by a total stranger and in the US it’s estimated at around 22%.

What about when women travel abroad? I found that in countries with a lower socioeconomic status and even higher rates of sexual violence, the likelihood that the perpetrator was someone that the victim did not already know was also low, according to the World Health Organization’s global and regional estimates.

Further, the numbers show that getting sexually attacked abroad is rare. The number one crime is stolen passports. Unfortunately, the US does not report on sexual assault abroad, but the 2014 British Behaviour Abroad report does, and it shows that the government provided assistance to an average of 280 sexual assault victims abroad out of over 19,000 yearly consular assistance cases from 2009 to 2014.

Obviously, many sexual assaults go unreported abroad as well, and the world is generally not a safe place for women. Coercion still happens and the binge drinking culture in hostels doesn’t help keep women safe. However, based on all of the aforementioned research, it appears that most of the rapes that occur abroad take place between people who know each other and does not target tourists.

This suggests that, by traveling, a woman is potentially putting herself in a less threatening sexual-violence situation than when she’s at home.

This led me to wonder: Why is it that the warning to women that they’ll “get assaulted” if they travel alone is so pervasive, even when the data does not support this? Is it because whenever tragedy does befall a solo female traveler, it’s front-page news that also often suggests that it’s her fault?

Contrast this to when a solo male meets tragedy and is referred to as an adventurer and “lover of life.” Why is the opposite so often true for a woman — who, as many in the comment sections of these articles can’t help but point out, shouldn’t have been traveling alone?

Why are men allowed to travel alone and women aren’t?

Is it simply too threatening, whether consciously — or more likely unconsciously — to see a woman going against the typical status quo and having more self-agency? Is it too abnormal to see a woman deciding that she does not need a partner or a friend or any kind of chaperone on a journey to another country (which, for those from the US, is likely to be statistically safer)?

When a woman goes against the status quo, it triggers people’s fear of change and their discomfort over a life not fully lived. This is why even women caution other women about the dangers of solo travel. The warning almost always comes from someone who has not actually tried to travel alone and does not have any firsthand experience.

Moreover, even though the world population has exploded, women are still guilted about turning away from the traditional gender role of getting married and having babies. But this has only been “tradition” for a few hundred years. Whole villages, including men, used to be involved in child-rearing, but modern motherhood is often a solitary job. That sure does make it easy to take a woman’s — and indeed any human being’s — greatest power, which is giving life, and make it a burden. It takes away autonomy and takes one out of the workforce. It keeps women dependent and out of positions of power.

The results speak for themselves. Women are paid less, on average, than men the world over. There are fewer female CEOs and fewer women in government (except for in Rwanda, which also has the cleanest capital in the world), even though people do better under female leadership.

Thankfully, we’re seeing a worldwide shift and a discussion about the patriarchy coming to the forefront of mainstream media — something that’s been a long time coming, after centuries of female subjugation — but we have a long way to go.

Then there is the psychological effect of this pervasive warning given to solo female travelers to consider. Casting doubt on a woman’s sexual safety can powerfully affect her psyche, especially if she experienced sexual trauma at some point in her life already and has an altered emotional response to such threats.

That said, this warning about rape affects women whether they’ve experienced sexual trauma or not. A study conducted at a US university found that women who had not been victims of rape were still more likely to assume typical gender roles after being read a realistic description of a rape that had occurred on their own college campus, where the threat would feel more imminent to them.

Several similar studies referenced in the same book, Sex, Power, Conflict: Evolutionary and Feminist Perspectives, edited by David M. Buss and Neil M. Malamuth, found that just the threat of rape eroded trust of men by women and negatively affected women’s self-esteem and self-agency.

The threat of rape is a psychological weapon that is likely to discourage her not just from traveling but from trusting herself and her own abilities.

If a woman is mistrustful of men, and even worse, of her own self and abilities, then how in the world is she supposed to work up the courage to travel the world, especially solo? It’s much easier to keep a woman “in her place” if she doesn’t become independent, experience other cultures, and come to believe in herself and her abilities.

How, in light of this information, can we see telling a woman she’ll “get raped” as anything other than cruel and manipulative?

None of this is to lay blame on men, but rather lay out the facts: it’s false that a woman is more likely to get raped by traveling than she is by staying home.

We need to ask why female autonomy is such a scary concept in modern society. We need to recognize that by holding a woman back from her independence, even well-meaning friends and parents are killing her budding sense of self.

It’s up to all of us to support women who wish to grow and flourish in whatever ways they choose, including by traveling the world, especially solo. It’s the one thing in my life that built up more self-confidence and bravery than anything else I’ve done. I hope everyone gets to experience that at least once.

(Note: Unfortunately, there is a dearth of data on those who identify as nonbinary. Apart from the option I included in my own data collection — which still has too few responses to be statistically helpful — I didn’t see this group referenced in governmental research numbers. With that in mind, this post uses the data I do have access to, which focuses on those who identify as male or female.)

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over four years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s almost nothing she won’t try and almost nowhere she won’t explore. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.
 

The post We Need to Stop Telling Women They’ll Get Assaulted If They Travel Solo appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes our regular column on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice for other women travelers to help cover the topics important and specific to them! In this month’s article, she shows us how solo travelers can deal with traveling as an introvert!

Recently, I traveled to Oakland to attend a birthday brunch. I didn’t know anyone besides the birthday girl. As an introvert, situations where I don’t know anyone are hard for me.

Per usual, I was pretty uncomfortable at first, choosing to stick close to the one person I knew and to kill time by slowly pouring myself a coffee and eating a fruit plate at tortoise speed.

But, as time passed, I began conversing with one new person, then another, and then almost everyone who was there. I met truly interesting and friendly people, and by the end of it, I was so glad that I went and that I stayed.

When I’m at home, though, I tend to put off going out to do simple things that involve personal interactions, like grocery shopping, until the last minute. It can get pretty ridiculous, to be honest.

Yet on the road it’s so much easier to get out and explore and especially to meet new people. Why is that?

In a word: dopamine.

According to professors Daniel Z. Lieberman and Michael E. Long in The Molecule of More, dopamine, which plays a major role in reward-motivated behavior, is what pushes us to try new things. In addition, researchers Nico Bunzeck and Emrah Düzel found, through MRI scans, that the reward center of our brain is stimulated more by novelty than familiarity.

Therefore, we are hardwired to explore and crave newness. It’s the anticipation of the unknown — and how exciting it could be — that encourages us to go beyond our comfort zones.

So, while it can be difficult for introverts to approach people and venture outside to do routine things at home, where everything is familiar, when we’re on the road we have dopamine on our side.

This scientific explanation makes sense to me. When I’m traveling and experience a moment of true novelty, I feel like I’m riding a natural high, something more pleasurable than I could ever try to manufacture. Newness feels good, so traveling feels good, and being an extrovert in these moments comes naturally.

So just know that even if you tend to be shy and uninterested in going to random house parties or even the grocery store at home, you may find that you have renewed energy for meeting people (and feeding yourself) on the road. It helps tremendously that most other people are also feeling that dopamine rush from traveling, so they’re in a more approachable state, too.

I used to joke that at home in Southern California I had no idea how to make new friends. Do I just walk up to them at a café and ask what they like to do during their free time?

The truth is, on the road, the answer is “yes.” It’s often that simple. Travelers are by and large more receptive and friendlier than most of us are probably used to back home. Since we’re all getting dopamine rewards for meeting new people and exploring new places, it becomes easier for both parties to be more open on the road.

I used to worry that I’d fear approaching new people, but I rarely even have to start a conversation. If all else fails, “Where are you from?” is a perfectly acceptable way to break the ice, an easy question that everyone has an answer to. I’ve had random bus, hostel, and café conversations that have turned into lifelong friendships, and I’ve had others that only served to entertain me for the afternoon; both are of value, and I never know which I might get.

I love having no itinerary and no fixed plans. This is one of the gifts of solo traveling. That said, booking activities ahead of time and paying some kind of deposit can be of help to introverts who might otherwise find reasons why they should stay inside. I’m sure my fellow introverts recognize the scenario of waking up the day of a tour you’ve booked, wishing you could cancel, but since you’ve already paid, you end up going and having the best time. Having some skin in the game makes us way more likely to honor our commitments.

Personally, it’s tempting to cancel even if it’s something fun that I honestly want to do. If I didn’t prebook things in life, I’d never exercise, dive, or explore. It would be too easy to keep putting them off.

For example, I booked an island excursion on Nusa Penida and a cooking class in Chiang Mai, and led a group hiking tour of Torres del Paine in Patagonia that the women participants prepaid for. Many of them tended to be more introverted, but in a group activity like that, other solo travelers tend to show up, which helps everyone to be more social and open.

I’ve also found that staying in an accommodation that is social by nature, like a yoga or meditation retreat, or heading to places that are known for an activity I love, like scuba diving in Indonesia, can make my introversion easier to handle. Knowing that the others there will also be into the activity that I’m into gives us common ground, something to talk about, and the activity itself allows us to bond over a week or two. Some of my favorite people are those whom I met on a dive boat or week of deep spiritual practice.

Though all of these are tips for becoming a more extroverted traveler, we introverts tend to get our energy from time spent alone. At some point we need some “me” time — and this is why solo travel can be so wonderful. Part of the beauty of solo travel is the time that you get to spend with yourself. You won’t disappoint anyone by needing time alone, nor will you have to push anyone away or force yourself into an activity you’re not really feeling.

I used to get down on myself if I went a few days without meeting new people. I’d fret over moments that I felt I’d “wasted” by reading in bed or chilling out for the day. Now I realize how important those days are too. I get to recharge by taking it easy and practicing self-care. And that’s a big reason why we travel too, isn’t it? We want to treat ourselves.

So please don’t feel bad if you’re traveling and you just don’t feel like going out that day, don’t want to be social, or feel like getting room service. It’s okay to do those things if it’s what you feel you need.

Listening to yourself is the most important part of solo traveling, anyway. This is something I’ve learned as a solo traveler in my 30s, and it’s made me enjoy traveling even more.

Knowing that you’ll have dopamine on your side, that you will meet people more easily on the road, and that you’ll be able to make real-time decisions about what’s best for you, you’ll be better off making the leap and traveling solo.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over four years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s almost nothing she won’t try and almost nowhere she won’t explore. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.
 

The post Can Introverts Successfully Travel Solo? appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes our regular column on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice for other women travelers to help cover the topics important and specific to them! In this month’s article, she shows us how other solo female travelers get over their fears!

Over the years, a lot of women have admitted to me that they made travel plans — only to cancel the trip before they went.

Fear and anxiety got in the way.

There’s a little something about solo traveling that almost nobody talks about.

It’s more common than you think – especially for first time female travelers.

After all, there’s a lot we have to worry about when we go out.

For a lot of us, these worries can be crippling.

When the usual worries about loneliness, safety, and boredom creep in, I remind myself that getting to have this experience abroad will be worth it. I visualize success by picturing myself on the beach, laughing with new friends, and having a fantastic trip. Those good vibes are often enough to make it all come true.

Then I wondered, how do other women kick fear to the curb and live out their solo travel dreams?

So I posed the question to the women in my Facebook group. This is what they said:

“Realize that time with yourself is a luxury” – Alex, 29, Florida

I started traveling solo when I was about 20 years old. I booked my first solo trip because I became tired of waiting around for friends to join me. At the time, I was going to grad school in Barcelona, and I wanted to take the opportunity to travel as much as possible while I lived in Europe. I realized that if I didn’t go by myself, I wouldn’t get to go at all, and I’d miss a huge opportunity to see this part of the world simply out of fear. I weighed all the possible bad things that could happen and decided to face my fear and book my tickets.

I set off on a three-week trip to Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. It ended up being such an incredible trip, and I met so many people that ever since, I’ve become a solo traveler almost exclusively.

I’ve learned how to really enjoy time with myself and not be afraid of being alone. I have the freedom to meet new people and hang with them, but also the freedom to take time to myself when I need it. Through solo travel, I’ve become more confident and more aware of all the great qualities that I have. I’ve learned that I’m not as afraid as I thought and that I can be incredibly resourceful.

The more you research, the better prepared you’ll feel (Yana, 32, Boston, Massachusetts, of Beard and Curly)

I always wanted to travel but found it really hard to get others to commit to go with me. After a friend bailed on me last-minute, I realized that I shouldn’t depend on anyone to go experience the world. At first, it was scary to be on my own. My most debilitating fear was being lonely. Was I always going to be alone? Would it be weird to eat at a restaurant on my own? Also, would I be able to depend on myself for everything, from getting to my hostel safely to navigating a city?

To conquer my fears, I did a lot of research to familiarize myself with the places I was visiting. I also asked other travelers on forums and social media platforms about their experiences. Their words encouraged me. Taking the time to research and plan made me feel more comfortable about traveling alone. I have now visited over 120 countries, mostly on my own.

If I can survive at home, why should it be different elsewhere? (Sarah, 52, from the UK, living in Italy)

I started solo traveling only after I was widowed. I realized that it was a case of go alone or stay at home, and never going anywhere was a lot scarier than going by myself!

I built my confidence by starting slowly, adding on days in new places to trips to see family and friends. The first time, it was a stopover in Sydney on my way home from Christchurch. The next time, I did a few days in Auckland before catching up with family in Australia. My next trip will be two weeks completely solo in Thailand next month.

I research my destinations thoroughly so that I know what to expect and what I want to see and do. I book hotels and transport in advance, and sometimes tours too, which are a good way of meeting other people on the road. I use the street-view function on Google Maps to check the location of hotels or hostels and have a virtual “walk” around the area. This allows me to avoid booking anywhere too isolated, at the end of dark alleys, or just in neighborhoods I wouldn’t feel safe alone. My sense of direction is terrible, so getting an idea of where everything is in advance makes me feel a lot more confident. I also always try to make sure that my flights arrive during the daytime and find out how to get from the airport to my accommodation in advance so that I know exactly where I’m going upon arrival, when I’m likely to be tired.

I realized that people are mostly good (Isabella, 25, from Chicago, Illinois)

I think I got over that initial fear of traveling alone by realizing how exciting that level of independence was — I had some money and some time, and I could do absolutely anything that I wanted with it. Plus, my fears are always assuaged by the fact that everywhere I’ve been, there have been kind people there who are willing to help and teach me.

In Japan, a local offered help when I was lost, and instead of just directing me to my train stop/transfer, he came with me and walked me the whole way. In Myanmar, a group of locals rushed over to help me when I fell off my scooter; they didn’t speak a word of English but their action made me realize that kindness itself is a universal language. This helped me overcome my fears and become braver.

Do one small thing everyday (Michelle, 45, from Alaska, of Pursuing Seven)

I’m currently a couple months into a three-continent mission to complete my goal of visiting all seven continents. At the time of writing this, I am sitting in Christchurch, New Zealand, waiting for weather to clear in Antarctica so my flight can get there, where I will be working for four months. I wasn’t always this fearless and adventurous, but I am definitely proud of who I have become.

Setting realistic expectations — which probably means lowering them — helped me overcome my fear of solo traveling. It sounds counterintuitive at first, but being realistic truly ends up being a gift to myself (and my mental sanity). Not every day is going to be epic, and as a solo traveler you’ll be the making all the decisions and solving all the travel problems you encounter, which takes a lot of energy some days. Especially at the beginning, while you’re finding your solo-travel groove, cut yourself some slack; do one small thing every day that makes you happy, and when you have an epic day, soak it all in!

Utilize tours and apps to gain confidence (Peggy, 45, from San Francisco, California)

My first solo trip was the typical post-college European trip, and my friend had to leave early. It was only one week of solo travel, but I learned and gained self-confidence that I could do this and survive. Decades later, I decided to follow my passion for seeing the world. I’ve been traveling for over two years, the majority of it solo.

I typically start a new city with a free or nominally priced walking tour. They provide a great overview of the place and its history and culture, plus local tips. I have met people on these walking tours that range from going sightseeing together the rest of the day to friends that I still stay in touch with to this day.

I also check the Couchsurfing and Meetup apps for local events. Through these, I have great memories of going to the Notte Bianca festival in Malta, hiking to small towns outside of Frankfurt, and attending a weekly coffee meetup in Brno and social events in Budapest, Istanbul, and Bishkek. When traveling solo, I’m not in a bubble with my friends. I become more aware of my surroundings and find myself more open to local interaction, which has led to countless examples of people being incredibly kind and helpful.

Start from your own city (Kathleen, 33, from Boston, of My Lonesome Roads)

Once I realized I wanted to try traveling solo, I decided I needed to practice first. I started in my home city of Boston: going to a museum on my own, then a movie solo. After that, lunch alone at a nice place, and then dinner out by myself (I think eating alone can be the biggest thing to get used to!). Finally, I spent two days all by myself in Portland, where I had lived for a year, so it was familiar enough to be comfortable, but I was fully on my own. And I had a wonderful time! I chatted with people in bars, I had a romantic dinner alone while doing some top-notch people-watching, and walked everywhere.

I then fully set off: solo trips to Miami and LA, then a stopover in Iceland for two days by myself when coming back from a trip with a friend, and then six days alone in Copenhagen. I loved it so much that right now, I’m two months into a yearlong solo trip in Europe and Southeast Asia!

I’ve learned that politeness and a few words of the local language will get you everywhere. That people are overwhelmingly kind and generous. And that traveling solo gives my curiosity free rein in a way that’s incredibly freeing, whether it’s exploring operas in Paris or befriending an Icelandic girl in line for a bar bathroom. If I’m brave enough, you’re brave enough too. You just might need a little practice.

Take the risk (Caitlyn, 27 from Brisbane, Australia, of Girl Seeking Purpose)

Before departing on my six-month solo adventure through South America, I was plagued with doubt and fear about all of the possible outcomes of traveling alone. I was concerned about whether it was safe as a solo female to travel in developing countries and if I would be able to reach all of my intended destinations without confirmed travel partners ahead of time. Most of all, I was concerned that I might not meet anyone on the road to travel and share my experiences with. I was absolutely terrified by the idea of being alone.

After reading countless blog posts and forums, I began to realize that all of the fears I had about solo travel were the same fears we all have before we take that leap into anything new and unknown. It then became clear that if I lived my entire life afraid of all of the possible things that could go wrong in any given situation, then I would never leave my comfort zone, let alone my house or my country. That just didn’t sound like the life I wanted for myself.

Realizing this, I made the decision to face all of these fears head on by acknowledging their existence. I decided that I was going to push on to make my dreams a reality with or without them in the back of my mind. Identifying that it was normal to have these concerns and to realize it was possible to overcome them gave me the strength and confidence I needed to get on the plane.

During the final days before my flight, I reassured myself that once I arrived it would all just fall into place and work itself out. And that is exactly what happened. It was one of the most incredible, life-changing, and defining moments of my life, and I am so glad I didn’t let the fears stop me from taking that leap.

Start small and familiar (Shae, 41, from Melbourne, Australia, of The Bright Eyed Explorer)

I’d always traveled with other people, but at age 36, I just couldn’t rely on the comfort and security that traveling with friends brings if I wanted to fulfill my dreams of traveling the world. I am a relatively shy and somewhat introverted person, especially around strangers, so the thought of being in an unfamiliar country and having to talk to people I didn’t know and perhaps not understand made my stomach churn!

For me, starting my solo travels small scale and in a place that I was very familiar with helped ease those fears I had of traveling alone. I’d been to Bali five times prior to my first solo trip, so I was confident and comfortable with my surroundings, the people, and the lifestyle. This comfort then enabled me to push myself a little further — talking to strangers, asking for help when I needed it — but also learn to appreciate the time I had to myself in restaurants and bars.

I have since traveled solo extensively through Europe and Australia (which is home), but there are still times that I still get a little nervous and anxious about my upcoming trip. Generally, if this happens, I give myself a bit of a pep talk and remind myself that I am strong and brave. This will generally give me a little confidence boost, which gets then builds up my excitement levels and then I am so ready to travel.

I hope these stories help to show that there is no special gene, life experience, background, or age that makes someone a good solo traveler. It doesn’t even require bravery to travel alone — lots of us built that up along the way instead.

So please don’t let all of the things that could go wrong hold you back from your dreams. Most of what we worry about — not just related to travel but to life in general — never comes to pass anyway. Focus on the adventures, the good times, the sunsets with new friends, and the learning experiences. The biggest step is just to make the decision and stick with it. After that, the rest falls into place.

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over four years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s almost nothing she won’t try and almost nowhere she won’t explore. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.
 

The post Solo Female Travel: How to Get Over Your Fears appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

Kristin Addis from Be My Travel Muse writes our regular column on solo female travel. It’s an important topic I can’t adequately cover, so I brought in an expert to share her advice for other women travelers to help cover the topics important and specific to them! In this month’s article, she shows you how she researches and plans her trips!

What’s the best way to go about researching your next trip when all of the decisions will fall to you as a solo traveler? Where should you go, what should you do, how will you navigate in your new surroundings? Where do you even begin to get answers to these questions?

Over the past six years, I’ve been mostly nomadic, traveling solo for the bulk of that time. Since I’ve been chief decision-maker for all of those trips, there are tricks I’ve learned along the way to help me save time in the long run, avoid spending too much and getting scammed, and make sure I know my way around before I even touch down.

The following is a step-by-step system to help you research your travel destinations. Most of these tips only take a few minutes but could save you big-time in terms of money, headaches, and confusion.

Ready to plan the solo trip of a lifetime? Let’s jump in!

1. Initial online research

I get a lot of my ideas from Instagram. I mostly follow travel accounts, and when I see a place that looks particularly beautiful, I use Instagram’s bookmark feature and put it in an album. I have one for Japan, one for New Zealand, and so on. When decide to travel to one of those destinations, I look back through my albums and consider if my budget, the time of year, and the activities I want to do there are all in alignment. (I suggest taking a look at Pinterest boards for those destinations as well.)

Chances are you already have a few destinations in mind and you just want to make sure that they will work for you. Evaluate the cost of traveling, think about the season it will be there, and make a decision based on those factors.

If you’re really not sure where to start, I have a list of some of the best countries for solo female travelers.

(I also take to heart word-of-mouth suggestions. It’s what led me to Mozambique and Patagonia. If someone I know has really loved a place, then I add it to the top of my list.)

2. Is the destination good for solo travelers?

After six years of solo traveling, I’ve learned that the following criteria are almost guaranteed to produce a more social experience for solo travelers:

• A well-known activity/draw: Is there a reason why people come to this place? Is it famous for surfing, rock climbing, scuba diving, or something else? When this is the case, you are much more likely to find other solo travelers participating in that experience.
• A festival: If there’s some kind of cultural event or festival at the time you’re visiting, you can bet that a lot of other travelers will be coming through as well, so you are unlikely to be lonely.
• Popularity: While I love off-the-beaten-path travel, I also know that the farther away from tourist centers I head, the more likely it is that I will spend more time alone. If I know I want to have a more social trip, I will head to places that are popular, like Thailand or Iceland. If you’re not sure where to start, this list has the most visited places in 2018.

Next, I try to mitigate the possibility of being the only solo traveler there by researching whether I’m about to head to a honeymoon destination or hotel. That said, I had fantastic experiences in Maui and Bali, which are usually thought of as couples’ destinations. I believe that as long as you pick a social activity that attracts other solo travelers, like surfing or scuba diving, you won’t feel like the odd one out.

So if you want to go somewhere beachy, don’t rule it out automatically just because you’re afraid you’ll be the only single person there. Unless you’re going to a truly tiny place, chances are there are parts of whatever country or island you’re looking at that will be less “romantic” and more social.

The only place I can think of off the top of my head that might truly be primarily couples-only is the Maldives, and even then you can still head to other islands, or to surf resorts, or do a live-aboard dive experience, so that your trip will be less lounging on the beach and more about meeting people.

3. What is the visa situation?

Visas are the next thing I want to know about before I get too far into planning. Do I need a visa to visit this country? Is that something I need to apply for ahead of time? What does it cost?

Wouldn’t it be annoying to plan a trip to India or China only to realize you can’t get the visa in time? Wouldn’t it be better to get a longer visa ahead of time, like for Thailand or Indonesia, instead of having to do visa runs, which are required in many countries to extend a typical 30-day tourist visa, if you plan a longer trip?

I do visa research on Google and the US Department of State website and/or the foreign embassy website, and encourage you to do the same for your destination to see what the visa requirements are for you.

4. What is there to do there?

Now it’s time to figure out what I want to do there. In some cases, I already know, because I picked the place based on its good diving or great hiking. But in some cases, I really have no idea, other than it fits my budget, it’s the right time of year, or I just want to go somewhere warm.

For example, I recently wanted to know what the best things to do in Tokyo were. So I just typed that exact question into Google, found some appealing options, and saved places in Google Maps with “want to go” flags for later.

(In some cases, there’s not a lot of information online. That’s when you know you’ve found a true adventure, someplace there will not be that many other tourists. I love this kind of trip too, but you may have to make peace with the fact that you will be doing a lot of recon on the ground. This is the point at which I encourage you to ask yourself what your tolerance is for uncertainty and whether or not that’s what you desire out of your trip.)

5. Downloading offline maps

Now that I have put markers into Google Maps for the places I want to go, I make sure that I can access these without an Internet connection, just in case. I usually save Google maps offline; if I’m going to be hiking, I really like maps.me offline maps as well. It’s great to have both downloaded while you are still at home and have a strong internet connection, so that you know they’ll be accessible when you arrive.

6. Booking the hotel

When it comes to accommodation, I almost always use either booking.com or Airbnb. I type in my destination and then I go directly to the map function. Which place has the best reviews at the best price and is going to be closest to the things I’m interested in seeing or doing? Or if I know I will be there only for a short while and will fly or take the train thereafter, which lodging is going to be the most convenient to catch that flight or train?

Generally, hostels will be more social than hotels, followed by Airbnb, unless you stay with a host who wants to show you around, which I wouldn’t count on. That said, you can look to couchsurfing if you want to be able to hang with your host – just read the reviews thoroughly first and be in full communication to make sure it’s a comfortable situation.

It also depends what part of the world you’re in. Bed-and-breakfasts might be quite social in South America, but a lot less so in Europe. I almost always read reviews to help me make my final decision.

I also don’t pressure myself to book a place for my entire stay. I want to be able to change my mind. Unless it’s high season (you can Google this too, but generally high season is when the weather is best) or there’s a holiday that I know is going to make it hard for me to move, I will just book a few days and then decide to move on or stay.

7. Research the best way to get to the hotel

Next I weigh my transportation options. Does the country I’m going to have Uber? Is it better to take the train? Is there an airport hotel shuttle, or bus from the airport to my hotel? In many cases, the hotel will provide this information in their correspondence with you or on their website. If it’s not listed, feel free to contact them and ask.

I also find TripAdvisor, Lonely Planet Thorntree, and Nomadic Matt’s forums are helpful because people are always asking this exact same question.

8. Research scams and dangers

Unfortunately, airports are the epicenter of tourist scams in many countries. The Denpasar airport in Bali, Indonesia, is one of the worst. In order to get out without getting scammed, you would need to know that the SIM card they are selling is marked up about 10 times what it would be once you leave the airport. You would also need to know that they do the same thing with taxi prices. (As a general rule, get the names of reputable companies before you go, never get in an unmarked taxi, and always know what the price of your ride should be before you get in. Google will help you with all of this.) And you would need to be aware that you can book an Uber for much cheaper if you meet the car at the departures level and ignore everyone who tries to tell you Uber “isn’t allowed” there.

When I fly into Bali, I just walk right through the mayhem with my head held high, because I have already done my research.

To get this info, I Google the airport name along with the word “scam” to see what other travelers have experienced, and then I know to be prepared when I get there. This removes so much stress when arriving in a new country.

9. SIM cards

I also research what a SIM card should cost, whether the airport is a good place to get it or not, and which company is the best. Again, Google and online forums are usually pretty helpful with this information.

I always travel with an unlocked phone so that I can get local SIMs. They are the cheapest method for staying connected, sometimes just a few dollars per gigabyte, and it simplifies getting to the hotel by allowing me to book an Uber immediately. Most of the time, it makes sense to buy a SIM card at the airport if you can, although sometimes, like in the aforementioned case of Bali, it’s much better to wait until you get to town. If you research this beforehand, you’ll already know.

It’s worth mentioning that you cannot count on there being reliable airport Wi-Fi. So try not to leave your taxi or SIM card research until you’ve already landed, because then it could be too late.

10. Final step: See if you already know anyone there

Finally, I sometimes post on my personal Facebook page to see if I have any connections at my destination. In the case of South Africa a few years ago, I met up with a friend of a friend, which was the impetus for one of the most friendly and social traveling experiences I’ve had. You never know who you might know and where.

You can also look into Couchsurfing, even if it’s just for a social event rather than actually staying with the person. There are also plenty of Facebook groups these days for connecting with others. Some are regional, like Backpacking Africa, or you can join one specifically for solo female travelers, like the BMTM Solo Female Traveler Connect.

Though I didn’t always know to do all of this research prior to my trips, after a few blunders, I’m glad to have finally learned what’s important to know ahead of time. Though it might seem like a lot of research, these tips can help you avoid overspending and to have a more relaxed and easy trip.

What are some of your favorite ways to research before you travel solo?

Kristin Addis is a solo female travel expert who inspires women to travel the world in an authentic and adventurous way. A former investment banker who sold all of her belongings and left California in 2012, Kristin has solo traveled the world for over four years, covering every continent (except for Antarctica, but it’s on her list). There’s almost nothing she won’t try and almost nowhere she won’t explore. You can find more of her musings at Be My Travel Muse or on Instagram and Facebook.
 

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