Why travel solo as a woman?

There are as many reasons as there are travelers out there. Today I want to share my personal story. I was 27, I moved from my home country to Poland 6 years before, and I didn’t go anywhere else in Europe even once during all that time. My excuses were common: lack of money, lack of company, lack of confidence. Plus I was recovering from a toxic relationship and felt miserable most of the time. I didn’t feel capable of organising a trip by myself. The task seemed to be too difficult. And anyway, what would I do there completely alone? Is it even safe to travel solo as a woman?

At some point, I found myself in the perspective of spending my birthday sad, lonely and bored, and I just decided not to. I booked the cheapest bus ticket to Vienna, I found the most affordable hostel on booking.com and I packed my backpack not with clothes, but with food, as I was sure that Austria is that expensive(I was right by the way). I decided that it was better to be sad and lonely while looking at Klimt’s “Kiss” in Belvedere, than slowly rot in my bed. At least, I thought, I wouldn’t be bored. And, damn, I was right. 

Yes, there were 7 more people and 0 windows in my hostel room. Yes, I was mostly eating instant noodles, and my most fabulous meal was vegan chicken burger in Mc’donalds. And yes, my feet hurt as hell, as I was saving money on subway tickets in order to buy museum tickets. 

Yes, it was not easy, but I saw Klimt, Picasso, Bruegel, Schiele, Monet, Gauguin, and many more. I visited 3 palaces, a dozen of Christmas markets and listened to opera in Vienna State Opera, and it was amazing. It was so much worth it, and I did it all myself.

I came back with the feeling that I can do anything and go anywhere. During next few years I visited several countries, went to a 7-day music festival and walked Camino de Santiago 3 times. And I did it solo.

Each of those trips made me feel powerful, independent, bright, hopeful, proud and loved. Yes, loved, because all of this I was doing as an act of self-love, as an act of self-care. There was nobody to please except me, nobody to compromise with. Only me and what I wanted, the way that I wanted. All wins were mine and all fails were mine too. Nobody to blame and nobody to thank but me. I felt amazing, I finally felt like myself. 

I am in my early 30s now, and I keep traveling solo. I believe that your age and gender cannot stop you from doing anything, only your fear can.

So, if you are considering doing a solo trip, stop wasting your time on doubts. Just do it and see what happens. And if you don’t know where to start, I am here for you.