Blog 21: How to be a “Bad Ass” Solo Female Traveler

Taken from Pinterest

                          

Blog 21: How to be a “Bad Ass” Solo Female Traveler

“Traveling:  All you need is a destination, a backpack, enough clothes to not be mistaken as a hobo, an acceptance that you will most likely be broke after, and of course have an appetite for adventure!”- me

Inishmore

Had the Blackfort (Dún Duchathair) all to myself!

            There’s something that has been on my mind, and that’s traveling alone. When I compulsively bought my RyanAir ticket to Ireland, I had absolutely no plan and no friends joining. Rash…maybe. Adventurous…absolutely. I ignored the skeptics who had their reservations on women who traveled alone. Ladies, let’s just admit it. Not all but most of us have the tendency to need constant companionship (hell sometimes we even insist on traveling as a pack to the bathroom! ). From reading this blog you might get the idea that I’m fiercely independent. But I’ll be honest, I still feel insecure being in situations like eating in a noisy restaurant by myself. I still feel insecure when I see a couple cuddling along the cliffs of the Aran Islands. And it doesn’t help that I’m an introvert and making fast friends was never easy for me. So why did I decide to travel alone? Simple answer: I love challenging myself and I wanted to be more confident. Two weeks gallivanting around Ireland with no friends to latch onto seemed like the perfect prescription.

Taken from Pinterest

            There were certainly times when traveling alone where all I wanted was to pack my bag and call it quits. But more often there were those breathtaking moments where I felt life couldn’t get much better.  My all time favorite moment was going to a bar on Inishmore and talking with a young local guy and his two uncles for nearly two hours. I told them I was from Maui and we immediately began talking about island life. I love being among them, listening to them easily switch to Gaelic when it suited them. After they have me a ride home to my hostel. If I had been with a friend, this moment might have not happened. So here’s the punch line. More women need to feel confident enough to travel alone. Leave the boyfriend at home (just kidding!) and plan your next adventure. (It also doesn’t hurt that fellow travelers and people back at home will think you are pretty badass) To help you out here are my top five tip for first time solo travelers. Warning of caution, I’m not an expert on traveling alone but here’s some things I learned.

1) Choose an easy destination

Maybe ever since reading Eat, Pray, Love, you’ve been dreaming of exotic, balmy India. But remember to be realistic about you abilities as a first time traveler. Traveling alone is an art. Like any other skill, you're going to make mistakes your first time. I would recommend choosing a place a little less intimidating. Ireland was the perfect place for me. The people were so friendly and there was no language barrier.

2) Plan but don’t “Over Plan.” Be flexible!

            For me it was nice to have all my hostels booked before I arrived. I had an itinerary so I was never worried I’d be spending the night on a bird poop park bench (um no thank you!). But I also hadn’t expected Ireland to have a bus strike either. Luckily they postponed the strike but for a while I felt a little panicked I’d be stuck somewhere. I learned traveling doesn’t always run smoothly so you have to run with the tides. And don’t “over plan.” I hadn’t booked any tours or have a set schedule of activities when I arrived. This meant I was flexible if I met people who asked me if I wanted to join them on some activity. Which leads me to….

3) Hostels vs Hotels

I’m a poor college student, so there was no option but hostel. Personally I love hostels (bed bugs and all! Just kidding please do your research on websites like hostelworld) Hostels are always teeming with young backpackers and so it’s an easy place for solo travelers to make friends. So be outgoing and put yourself out there!

4) Better Safe than Sorry

            There are a few horror stories about traveling alone as a women. This should not make you afraid to leave your room at night and prevent you from having fun. However, do use common sense at all times. Most importantly, don’t overdrink! You will not be making smart choice after one too many pints of Guinness… and nobody will be looking out for you.

5) Embrace being alone

            Fact: You will get lonely traveling alone. But think about it this way, back home you have friends and family waiting for you. Relish the silence because it’s a rare gift nowadays. It gives you time to think and learn about yourself. In between the silence however, make new friends and memories! I had some of the best moments of my life while traveling alone. I learned that you are never really alone. Company is out there, you just have to go out and seek it. 

Words of inspiration