Solo Travel Tips for Women and Nonbinary People

In a different simulation, we all have the right to travel with fervor and frequency. We come and go as we please in a borderless and welcoming world, regardless of who we are and where we’re coming from. Also, perhaps airplane food is not garbage and Yelp reviews aren’t seemingly overwhelmingly written by middle-aged white women.

In this particular simulation (AKA “reality”), however, travel is reserved for a privileged few. It’s full of airport security and Americans acting ugly at sacred landmarks, but it’s also arguably one of the most beautiful opportunities to better contextualize yourself in this big, big world we live in.

As Ava DuVernay said in an interview with Conde Nast Traveler, “Traveling is a spiritual practice for me. It connects me to a higher power in that the very act of roaming the world deepens my sense of life and love and learning and laughter. To me, all of that is God. Traveling is like prayer. An act of gratitude and grace.”

Even the most privileged of circumstances comes many different experiences, of course. As a woman or nonbinary person, traveling solo anywhere—whether it’s the opposite coast or opposite side of the planet—can be transformative and nourishing, but also requires you to be very careful with yourself and hyper-aware of your surroundings.

Some experts weigh in on why safety concerns shouldn’t deter you from traveling alone, what to realistically expect and how to prepare for any solo travel experience.

1. Being overprepared is chef’s kiss.

Overpreparedness is a construct. When it comes to your safety, health, and potential for having the dopest trip of your life, going overboard can only have positive results. Before you depart, do all the things both your mother and Oprah would tell you to do.

“Email a copy of your itinerary to a parent or trusted friend. Take a picture of your ID (front and back) and email it to yourself. Do some research on the most common mishaps that have happened to visitors there,” says Rebecca Russell, co-founder of On She Goes, a travel platform for women of color. Make a list of all the wildly unfortunate but very possible scenarios that could happen and then build the infrastructure for yourself so that you’re ready if they do happen. Time to embrace your inner Type A.

2. Lean into the unknown.

It’s worth noting, screaming even, that the U.S. is one of the top 10 most dangerous countries in the world for women, according to a study from the Thomson Reuters Foundation which surveyed about 550 experts in women’s issues from around the world.

Narratives that pose all non-western countries as risky travel zones often neglect to look at the violence and systemic racism in their own backyards. There’s a massive difference between actual safety concerns and a fear of the unfamiliar. Research the political climate, cultural commonalities, and relationship between your own country and the place you’re visiting to better understand the difference.

“I’ve learned not to be scared of the unknown. Routine is comforting, but it’s equally limiting. Take the chance, and you may learn that you’re stronger, more resilient, and more adventurous than you think,” says Russell. Plus, what’s the point of traveling if you’re going to be policing your own fun and curiosity the entire time?

3. Research emergency services—and their alternatives.

“The biggest challenge someone who goes abroad faces if they call the police is when they don’t know the language and the authorities don’t speak English,” says Paula Lucas, the founder of Pathways To Safety, an organization that supports and empowers victims of gender-based violence abroad. “Pathways is really good at helping in emergency situations. We can get language translation on the phone immediately in any language to help navigate law enforcement response or medical response and to help talk through the different options you might have if you experience gender-based abuse of any kind.” If you’re in a tight situation and need help communicating ASAP, remember that Siri or Google assistant can quickly translate simple words and phrases for you (if you have wifi or cell service).

Pathways To Safety has an extensive database on the legal protocols and realities in each country for victims of gender-based violence, so save their number or bookmark their website just in case. Also keep emergency numbers you might need on hand, which you can access at travel.state.gov.

4. Research the dating and sex culture.

If you are open to potentially meeting people in a romantic context while traveling, Lucas encourages everyone to research the sexual societal norms—but also know that they do not dictate what you should or should not be comfortable with.

“Looking at what the LGBTQ laws are and researching the experiences of other people is vital. It’s also important to find out if there are discrimination issues in that country, even if the legal system includes gay rights,” Lucas says. “We often have cases where an LGBTQ traveler isn’t out to their family or friends and they go abroad and have the opportunity to explore and they might let their guard down a little bit. It’s important to think: ‘What does it look like in that foreign country to be publicly out?’ It can be a very real challenge and you can still be discriminated against, like in the United States. Traveling alone just presents more vulnerabilities.”

Lucas notes that in countries that same-sex activities and identities are illegal, you likely wouldn’t want to seek assistance from authorities in case of an emergency and could instead contact an organization like Pathways To Safety for resources.

As always, do your research and trust your intuition.

5. Take time to check in with yourself.

Traveling alone doesn’t mean isolating yourself—but easier said than done, especially if you struggle with anxiety or depression. “Staying in touch with your core group of people is important to give you perspective and remind you what’s good and what aspects of your journey should not be normalized,” says Bani Amor, a queer writer living between Brooklyn and Ecuador. ”Is some aspect of the culture or your travel experience affecting you negatively but you’re too close to it to realize? Talk to your people.”

They also urge you to keep a mental health routine of sorts, whether that means taking your medication as prescribed, journaling regularly, or whatever it is that helps when you’re at home.

6. Learn the basics of the language.

Tip: Not learning the language prevents you from communicating with the people who actually live wherever it is you’re visiting! Of course, becoming fluent in a new language every time you travel might be a little unrealistic for you—but picking up the basics is fun and doable.

“Notice what kind of language learner you are and do that before you go—there are tutors, apps, programs, and folks to talk to if you’re more of an immersive learner,” says Amor. “Once you go, stay away from people who speak your language, or you won’t adapt. Which means traveling alone is better.”

There are so many apps that can help do everything from teach you the basics to help you learn to sound like a local. Duolingo is a fan favorite because it’s 100% free, helps with grammar and vocab, and is actually pretty fun as far as language learning apps go. To improve your conversational skills, Busuu has native speakers provide comments on grammatical exercises to help with both corrections and by providing you with cultural context, colloquial terms, and more. You can also find an online language tutor using sites like Verbling and italki.

This thorough guide for women and/or LGBTQ solo travelers navigating language barriers, as recommended by Amor, tells you how to ask essential questions in multiple languages. Keep a screenshot on your phone or bookmark a list like this or do some research and create your own list to have on hand.

Related: 7 Tips for Booking Your First Airbnb