The importance of solo female travel
A recent trend among tour companies is catering to female travellers, offering tailored itineraries and all-women trips across the globe. We will try to give some tips on the importance of solo female travel.
In recent years, more women have sought out solo adventures than ever before: In January 2022, only Google registered 216 million searches for the phrase “solo female travel”, The term ‘female solo travel’ increased in search volume by 62% across all search engines over the past few years. And solo female travel companies increased by 230% in recent years. If you are a statistics junky like us, follow the link for more detailed statistics. There is no doubt that women face unique risks when travelling alone. Even though most women are taking solo trips today due to shifting societal expectations and increased financial freedom, there is no doubt that women face unique risks when travelling alone. The followings are some of the best destinations for women travelling alone and tips on staying safe while travelling alone.
What are the best solo female travel destinations?
Global trends in women’s equality are revealed every year by the Women, Peace, and Security Index based on three “basic dimensions”:
- Inclusion (economic, social, political)
- Justice (formal laws and discriminatory norms)
- Security (against violence at familial, community, and societal levels)
Georgetown University’s Institute produces this annual ranking for Women, Peace, and Security in partnership with the Peace Research Institute of Oslo, using reputable data from national statistical offices, United Nations organizations, and international surveys such as Gallup. Based on this information, the report ranks countries worldwide according to how their governments and people treat women-both residents and travellers.
Women’s equality in the top countries
In early February, the 2021/22 Women, Peace, and Security Index was published, ranking 167 countries worldwide based on their women’s equality. The study found that Norway ranked highest in financial inclusion and physical safety for women.
Finland came in second, with similar findings regarding women’s safety and economic opportunity.
Switzerland fell in 6th place compared to the same study done for yeRS 2019/2020 when it held the second place.
Here are the top 10 countries for women’s equality, according to the 2021/22 Women, Peace, and Security Index:
- Norway
- Finlands
- Iceland
- Denmark
- Luxemburg
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Austria
- United Kingdome
- Netherlands
What are the best cities for solo female travellers?
According to InsureMyTrip, which city will provide the best solo female travel experience research was published in September 2022. Sixty-six global cities were ranked based on the World Economic Forum’s gender gap research and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security’s research on women’s inclusion, justice, and security.
The best city for solo female travellers is Madrid, Spain. In terms of equality, it has a 9.68/10 rating, and in terms of safety, it has a 7.88/10 rating. In addition, Spain ranks among the countries with the highest rates of gender equality, according to the World Economic Forum.
Munich, Germany, is the second-best city for solo female travellers. In addition, Munich has a higher safety score than Madrid (8.69). The quality of tourism, however, is lower than the city and only appears in 0.066% of the Instagram posts analyzed.
As the third-best solo female travel city, Lisbon, Portugal, takes third place. Portugal, Denmark, France, and Belgium, is one of the least likely countries to discriminate against female travellers. Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security reports that these counties have the lowest level of legal discrimination.
In 2022, InsureMyTrip recommended the following ten cities for solo female travellers:
- Madrid, Spain
- Munich, Germany
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Vancouver, Canada
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Krakow, Poland
- Barcelona, Spain
- Dubai, UAE
- Vienna, Austria
- Singapore
Solo travel allows you to rely solely on your instincts and pursue your own interests.
How to travel solo as a woman
Consider a female-only tour company
An increasing number of tour companies cater to solo female travellers with all-women trips and tailored itineraries, as solo women travellers are one of the fastest-growing demographics in the travel market. Women-owned and operated companies organize everything from mother-daughter treks in Costa Rica to all-female safaris in Botswana; others organize trips to the Galapagos and Mongolia that only women can do, such as canoeing, cycling, hiking, and surfing.
Female travellers will also find itineraries designed by non-gender-specific companies. Again, make sure you do your research before making up your mind.
Take advantage of social media
Even if you want to avoid travelling with a tour operator, you can contact online resources like the Solo Female Traveler Network for assistance. This Facebook group has more than half a million members. Those interested in joining the private Facebook group must complete a questionnaire to guarantee they have read the rules.
You can find many more groups advocating for single female travellers, but the one mentioned earlier is the one we participate.
Why solo female travel is significant
Travelling alone teaches you to trust your instincts and lets you pursue your interests to the fullest extent possible. When travelling with others, you spend a lot of time discussing what to do next.) You will be challenged to push yourself beyond your comfort zone when you independently venture out into the world. Every woman deserves and can have such an experience, which is why we think leaving is a good idea.
Ladies, start planning.
Share with us in the comments if you have done it by now. Where was your adventure? Would you do it again?
Read more inspiring and exciting articles! Then, you may get inspired for your next solo trip.
Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash
