Solo Travel for Women Over 50: Stop Waiting and Just Go

Solo Travel ProTip

Solo travel for women over 50 doesn’t have to mean going entirely alone. If you have been thinking about taking a trip alone and telling yourself “someday,” this post is for you – especially if you’re over 50! Maybe the kids are grown, your partner is busy, your friends can never agree on dates, and the trip you have dreamed about keeps sliding to the bottom of the list. I know that feeling, because I lived it.

Egypt was my first international solo trip. My husband works a lot and didn’t want to commit to a trip, so I booked myself on a Girls Love Travel women-only trip through Bucket List Travel. I was 49 years old and had never done anything like that alone – always giving myself an excuse as why I couldn’t do it. I was absolutely terrified. But I ended up doing it, and now I tell every woman I meet that she needs to do at least one solo trip (even if it’s meeting up with a group) in her lifetime to remember how capable and strong she really is.

Jump to:

• Why waiting doesn’t work
• The fears are real (go anyway)
• Solo group travel: the easy first step
• Tour operators with no single supplement
• Start closer to home: solo city trips
• My top 3 solo travel rules
• More solo travel ProTips
• FAQ

Why waiting doesn’t work

Here is the truth I keep coming back to: we’ll never be as young as we are today. Waiting for retirement is not pointless – who knows if we’ll even get there. Waiting for the perfect travel partner, the perfect year, or the perfect moment usually means waiting indefinitely.

I have traveled with my daughters, my husband, my friends, and occasionally all by myself. Every one of those trips mattered. But the trips I took on my own taught me something the others couldn’t: I don’t need anyone’s permission or anyone’s schedule to see the world.

If the people in your life can’t or won’t go right now, that is not a reason to stay home. It’s an invitation to go anyway.

The fears are real (go anyway)

Let’s be honest about what holds most of us back. When I booked Egypt, I was scared. Here’s what I posted on Facebook from Dulles the day I left:

I’ve never traveled anywhere as a solo or embarked on a journey with a group of strangers. Those who know me well, know exactly how far outside my comfort zone this is… Wish me luck. I’ve only had about a dozen mini meltdowns the past few days.

If any of that sounds like you, you’re in good company. Common fears for women traveling alone include:

• Safety: Will I be okay on my own in a place I don’t know?
• Loneliness: Who will I talk to? Who will I eat dinner with?
• Getting lost or overwhelmed: What if something goes wrong and I have to handle it myself?
• The unknown: What if I just don’t like it?

Those fears don’t mean you shouldn’t go. They mean you care about doing it well. You don’t have to make the fear disappear first. You just have to plan smart and take the first step while you’re still a little nervous. Lean into your fears and tell them who is boss!

Solo group travel: the easy first step

This is the secret I wish someone had told me sooner: “solo travel” doesn’t have to mean being alone the whole time. I went to Egypt and Cuba alone, but met up with a group for each. Cuba was another Girls Love Travel trip, this one operated by Heart of Travel.

Booking yourself on a small group tour as a solo traveler gives you the best of both worlds. You make the decision, you go on your own terms, and you arrive to a group of people who are there for the same reason you are. The logistics are handled, and you are never truly on your own unless you want to be. (There is usually plenty of alone time baked into the itineraries.)

On my Egypt trip, our group had amazing synergy and I met some fantastic women who had similar travel values. That is exactly why I’m such a fan of women-only trips for a first solo adventure.

Strangers become friends

The part that surprised me most? The people. In each case these strangers all became Facebook friends, and we’ve continued to stay in touch over the years through social media and occasionally meeting up on other group trips.

On my Cuba trip, with almost no cell service or WiFi, the group really got to know each other. As I wrote on Facebook then:

It’s actually so incredibly refreshing to sit and talk and visit and meet all these people, without everyone having their noses in the phone.

So if you’re worried about being lonely, a group trip may be the cure. You might come home with a whole new set of travel sisters.

Small talk tips for introverts

If walking into a room alone and figuring out small talk makes you nervous, you’re not alone. A few simple habits make it so much easier:

• Lead with the trip, not yourself. “What made you pick this trip?” is an easy opener, and everyone has an answer.
• Have two or three go-to questions ready. Try “What are you most excited to see?” or “Have you done a group trip before?” (And everyone loves to talk about their kids or their pets.)
• Use what’s around you. A beautiful view, a strange dish, or a late bus gives you something to talk about right away.
• Sit next to someone new. Switch seats at meals and on the bus. Sitting side by side feels less intense than sitting face to face.
• Ask a follow-up, then let the silence breathe. Quiet moments are normal, and you don’t have to fill every one of them.
• Plan time to recharge. It’s perfectly fine to skip one optional evening and rest.
• Swap contact info at the end. That’s how my travel strangers became Facebook friends I still meet up with on other trips.

How to pick a group tour as a solo traveler

A few things to look at before you book:

• Group size: Smaller groups tend to feel more personal and easier to connect with. I recommend a group of 8-14 to start.
• Pace and activity level: Read the daily itinerary and be honest with yourself about how much walking and how many early mornings you want.
• Single supplement: Many tours charge extra for a private room. Check whether there is a roommate-matching option or solo-friendly pricing. (See the operators with no single supplement below.)
• Women-only or solo-focused departures: These can be a wonderful fit for your first trip.
• Reviews: Look for reviews from other women who traveled solo with the company.

Tour operators with no single supplement

A single supplement is the extra fee many tour companies charge when you travel alone, because hotel prices assume two people per room. These six companies either include a private room or match you with a roommate so you don’t have to pay it.

Women-only trips

• Solos Women-Only Tours: Small groups of solo women led by a female tour leader. Your own room is included at no extra cost, with no single supplement and no roommate matching.
• Her Wild Life: Small-group adventure and nature trips for women. A private room is standard on every departure, whatever the group size, and there is no single supplement.
• Girls Love Travel: Mostly women only, but some trips offer co-ed options. GLT offers a wide range of destinations and providers to bring you once in a lifetime adventures.

Co-ed trips

• Intrepid Travel: Rooms are shared, and solo travelers are paired with a roommate of the same gender at no extra cost. A private room costs extra on most trips. On some itineraries a few nights are in mixed shared spaces, such as overnight trains or homestays.
• Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.): Small-group trips popular with travelers over 50. Many single rooms come with no supplement, though they are limited. If you ask to share and they can’t find you a roommate, you still don’t pay a single supplement.
• Road Scholar: Learning-focused trips for older adults. Most programs will match you with a roommate of the same gender, and if no match is found, you get the room to yourself at no extra cost. Select dates also offer private rooms at no extra cost.

Policies change, so check each company’s current rooming policy before you book.

Start closer to home: solo city trips

Not ready to fly across the world on your own? Start in your own country. I have done Los Angeles, Portland, Washington DC and NYC completely alone.

A city trip is a great way to practice. You can set your own pace, see exactly what you want to see, and build the confidence that makes the bigger trips feel possible.

My top 3 solo travel rules

These are the rules I follow every single time I travel on my own:

1. Share your location with trusted friends/family 24/7.
2. Keep your passport, phone, & cards/cash securely on you at all times.
3. Never tell strangers in a cafe that you’re traveling alone.

As in all situations and every destination, be aware of your surroundings and the people in your immediate vicinity. Trust your instincts. If it feels off, it probably is.

More solo travel ProTips

A few more simple habits that help you feel prepared:

• Get your passport sorted early. If you don’t have one yet, or yours is close to expiring, start now. Here’s my step-by-step guide on how to get a US passport.
• Leave your itinerary with someone at home. Flights, hotel addresses and tour company contacts.
• Enroll in STEP for international trips. The U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program lets the nearest embassy reach you in an emergency.
• Consider travel insurance. When you’re on your own, you’re the one covering the unexpected. SafetyWing (affiliate link) is one option to look at.
• Arrive in daylight when you can, especially on the first day in a new place.
• Wait to post on social media until after you’ve left a location.
• Pack smart. See my Travel Gear page for the things I actually use.

FAQ

Is solo travel safe for women over 50?

YES, with smart planning. Choose reputable tour companies and accommodations, share your location with people you trust, keep your important items on you, and trust your instincts. If it feels off, it probably is.

What is the best first solo trip for a woman?

For many women, a small group tour is the easiest first step. You travel on your own terms but have a group and a guide waiting for you. A solo city trip in your own country is another great way to start. A weekend trip away or even dinner alone in a new restaurant can help you get comfortable with being solo.

How do I meet people when I travel alone?

Group trips make it easy. On my trips to Egypt and Cuba, the strangers in my group became friends I still keep in touch with on social media and we’ve even met up with on other group trips.

Solo travel for women over 50: your turn.

We’ll never be as young as we are today. If there is a trip you’ve been waiting on someone else to take with you, maybe this is your sign to book it yourself. You are more capable and stronger than you think.

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