A Female Guide to Solo Travel: Discover Your Eat Pray Love

By Lisa Imogen Eldridge

Are you ready to travel solo? 

There has never been a better time to travel solo and whether you are planning your very first trip, are a seasoned solo or a solo pro, A Female Guide To Solo Travel is the travel companion you shouldn’t leave home without. 

Empowering and inspiring, this book will dispel any travel

• Language: English
• Publisher: Girl about the Globe
• Release date: Oct 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9780993329005

Lisa Imogen Eldridge

Lisa Imogen Eldridge is a travel journalist specialising in solo travel. Her background in the travel industry fuelled her passion to see the world and for the last seventeen years, she has travelled extensively as a solo traveller, living and working in numerous countries and has now been to 100 countries. Lisa's mission is to empower women to travel solo with her website, Girl about the Globe, a travel resource for women travelling solo. 

Book preview

A FEMALE GUIDE TO SOLO TRAVEL

Discover your Eat Pray Love

Lisa Imogen Eldridge

A Female Guide to Solo Travel:

Discover Your Eat Pray Love

by Lisa Imogen Eldridge

© Copyright 2014 by Girl about the Globe

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or part, without written permission from the copyright owner.

Disclaimer

This book has been researched to the best of my knowledge and whilst each recommendation comes from personal experiences, each person is different. Some women may find places suitable, whilst others may not find them so. Therefore this book serves as a guide only and further research should be undertaken to make the most of your journey. Situations can and do change, so always check foreign office advice before embarking upon your trip.

Travelling responsibly enables you to give something back as you travel. Each cultural experience shows that deep down we all the same, no matter what our upbringing or beliefs. I only recommend companies who share the same ethos and practice sustainability towards local communities and our planet. Although this book includes some affiliate links, these are of no extra charge to you and 10% of all profits will go towards helping disadvantaged communities and sustainable projects across the globe.

Thank you for helping.

Safe travels.

Lisa Eldridge

Girl about the Globe

It’s time to open your eyes to the world and see it as you’ve never seen it before

"This book expresses everything I have been feeling and experiencing when planning my own trip: from my own fears and excuses, to the lack of support from friends and family that don’t think I should do it. It felt wonderfully reassuring to read your words and feel that someone else has been through the same thing and has conquered it.

As someone that’s never really travelled, let alone solo, I feel much better equipped to plan my journey and probably to deal with tricky situations that may arise when I’m away. It feels like the reader has someone right alongside them, holding their hand giving advice."

Sam Abdoollah, a virgin solo

It’s brilliant! The continents guides are great.

I wish I’d had something like this when I did it!

Hayley Statter, a seasoned solo

This book hits the nail on the head with why we travel. Whether you are a complete newbie or have travelled solo before, A Female Guide to Solo Travel has something for everyone.

Jane Clements, a solo pro

Introduction

The windows rattled as the train made its way along the dusty tracks to the foothills of the Himalayas. The sounds of chai chai," flowed through the carriages as I sat wide-eyed taking in the scenes around me. The stench of urine was almost overpowering and I held my breath, trying not to step on figures who lay in stained rags asleep on the dirty floor.

I felt something brush my trousers and looked down expecting to see a stray dog sat before me. Instead I stood in shock at the sight of a torso on a make-shift skateboard staring back up at me. A sign asking for money hung around his neck and he looked at me with a sadness in his eyes.I can’t do this, my mind screamed as I covered my face in my scarf, longing for the comfort of home, but there was no going back…"

When the book Eat Pray Love arrived at my door, I had no idea how much it would change me. The tale of a married woman who left everything behind to travel and find herself resonated with me and was the catalyst to me walking away from my marriage. It had been a hard decision to make but as I left my marital home and flew to India on the very same day, it was about to be a journey that would change my life forever.

Travelling solo shapes you, defines you and leaves a trail of inspiration behind you. And the strength is in every one of us. Seventeen years ago I took my first solo journey and since then, I have pushed boundaries, faced my fears and overcome challenges that I now realise are meant to make us grow. And although I don’t profess to getting it right, I am determined to not let others make the same mistakes I did and help them on their solo journey.

Facing your fears, your insecurities and coping with moments of loneliness aren’t easy but you can do it and you CAN travel solo. Whether it’s your first time, you’re a seasoned solo or a complete solo pro, this book will teach you how to plan your trip in three easy parts and give you inspiration for your next trip. It’ll show you how to overcome any obstacle, find the right destination for you and support you when you’re on the road all whilst having as much adventure as you can and travelling responsibly as you do it. By the end, you’ll be ready to take on the world.

Travel changed my life. Are you ready for it to change yours?

If you’ve never travelled solo before, I definitely recommend reading this book from the beginning to the end. You may want to re-read chapters or just dip into sections that are more relevant for you when you’re on the road.

ContentsPart A - Why Travel Solo?

1. Why Travel Solo?

2. If I Can Do It, Anyone Can

3. Roadblocks

4. Don’t Let Fear Stop You

5. Travel Myths

6. Pros of Travelling Solo

7. Cons of Travelling Solo

Part B - Plan Your Trip

1. Should You Stay Solo Or Join A Tour?

2. Researching Your Trip

3. Best Countries For Solo Travellers

4. Continents Guide

5. How Long Should You Go For?

6. When To Go

7. Money & Budgets

8. Flights

9. What to Pack

10. The Legal Things

11. Vaccinations

12. How to Save Money Travelling Alone

13. Where to Stay

14. How to Get Around

15. Volunteering

Part C - On The Road

1. Solo Doesn’t Have To Mean Alone

2. What To Do In The Evenings As a Solo

3. Staying Safe

4. Travel Scams

5. What To Do if Something Goes Wrong

6. How To Stay Healthy On The Road

7. Keeping Fit

8. Avoiding Travel Fatigue

9. Keeping Loneliness at Bay

10. How to Travel Consciously

11. How to Get Cultural

12. How to Barter

13. What NOT To Do When Travelling Solo

14. And Finally….

15. Special Offers

Part D - Coming Home

1. Dealing With The Post Travel Blues

2. Further Inspiration

1. Why Travel Solo?

In each of us dwells a wanderer, a gypsy, a pilgrim. The purpose here is to call forth the spirit. What matters most on your journey is how deeply you see, how attentively you hear, how richly the encounters are felt in your heart and soul.

– Phil Cousineau, The Art of Pilgrimage

Why not?

You want to travel but your friends don’t have the time, the money or simply just don’t share your fascination with the world. So what are you meant to do? Stay at home, wait until one of them changes their mind or just go anyway?

It may seem like a scary concept but travelling solo is actually on the rise for women, and there’s never been a better time to just get up and do it. If your friends are all coupled up and your partner hates flying then there’s absolutely nothing to stop you from travelling alone.

Travelling solo really does broaden the mind and allow you to live your life day by day, enjoying each moment without having to worry about the next. It allows you those moments of solitude to just be, and those feelings of anticipation and excitement as you enter a country for the first time, never cease to amaze.

So, why go solo?

One of the biggest reasons that women travel is because they enjoy time by themselves, others are because they have decided to be brave, want to follow their own schedule and want to meet new people as they do it.

Travelling solo isn’t just about the external journey, getting from A to B; it’s also a voyage of personal discovery, and you really get to know yourself inside out when you’re alone in the middle of nowhere with no one else except you to figure things out. You’ll find out what really makes you tick, you’ll overcome your fears and you’ll find out what truly makes you happy as you spend hours contemplating life on the road.

Travelling is food for the soul and allows you to get back in touch with who you are no matter what stage of life you are in. It puts everything into perspective and makes you appreciate the smaller things in life (like hot water), and you’ll soon realise what you can live without, and how many pairs of shoes you really need. It’ll teach you to be self-sufficient and to look after number one. You’ll become so resourceful that you will even amaze yourself. You’ll soon realise what is important and what isn’t and you’ll come back with a new perspective on the world with more meaningful relationships and possibly even a few romantic ones.

Travel is ageless, no matter how old you think you are, and gives you an education about the world that you would never discover from text books. You’ll learn about the country’s history and traditions and immerse yourself within the local culture, and the more you learn, the more you’ll start to see the world in a completely different way to the image that’s portrayed.

You’ll soon break down any barriers you ever had about talking to random strangers. Travellers are one big community and you’ll be surprised how easy it is to make new friends. Even if you’re an introvert, travel brings you out of your comfort zone and you’ll find yourself relating to people from all different backgrounds, cultures and ages, building up your own couchsurfing network of people around the world.

Do you need to be the most confident person in the world? Absolutely not. Travellers come in a variety of shapes and sizes; shy, funny, loud or just odd. The best thing about travelling alone is that you get the chance to start over; you can define yourself, be who you want to be and no one is any the wiser. If you leave a shy wallflower, you are guaranteed to come back with more self-confidence than you ever thought you had, and be ready to take on the world - literally!

You’ll discover the beauty of being comfortable in your own skin and that alone is priceless. You’ll soon be pushing those boundaries, trying new activities, and staying in places that you never thought you would. And the best part? You’ll be so flexible travelling solo that you can change your plans at the last minute, stay longer if you want to or go on a mini-adventure with the group of girls you met the previous night. You’ve got the freedom to do whatever you want!.

In fact, travelling solo is just so awesome that once you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder why you never did it sooner!

What if you’ve never travelled before?

Travelling alone to a country for the first time may seem a little daunting, but the reality is that it really isn’t as frightening as you may think. Many people choose to travel solo for a variety of reasons but the biggest one has to be for the freedom of being able to go wherever they want and meet whoever they want.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about it for a while and just need that extra push to do it. Well, here’s a few reasons to take that plunge:

You feel like you’re stuck in a rut.

You have a friend abroad who keeps telling you to come and visit them.

You’ve just been made redundant.

You want to see the Seven Wonders of the World.

You want to follow the sun around the world.

You received a windfall and prefer to spend it on creating new memories.

You’ve just split from your partner.

There are so many different reasons so grab that opportunity and seize the day. The hardest thing about solo travel...is making the decision to do it!

How this book can help.

Going solo can take a bit of planning but there’s where this book comes in. Whether you’re looking at going away for a short break or a longer trip, it will answer all those questions you have about travelling and help you on your way to the trip of your life.

Once you’ve done it, I can guarantee that you’ll soon be planning your next solo trip!

2. If I Can Do It, Anyone Can

Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.

– Rikki Rogers

Not sure if you can do it? Neither was I, so at the age of 25, I persuaded a friend to come with me (not that she needed much persuasion). We spent eight months planning our year-long trip whilst I patiently waited for her to save up the funds to come with me. After what seemed like a lifetime (but surely it was better to put my dreams on hold for eight months rather than go it alone?) we left the UK and spent nine weeks together travelling through Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Bali before our ultimate destination: Australia. It was when we arrived in Oz that I realised I couldn’t do it anymore.

I knew I had to spend a night on my own to see how I would feel so for one night we parted company and after nine weeks of being so tied to someone else and not being able to breath - I finally felt free. I made my decision. After a painful conversation, I was finally travelling solo.

"You won’t survive by yourself," I was told as I called home, and I nearly believed them; Who was I really kidding? Stuck the other side of the world from everything I knew with just myself for company - could I really do it?

I spent the next three days crying, wondering what on earth I had done before a ginger Mancunian and a hippy called Star invited me on a road trip with them. From that point on I had so many different adventures that I couldn’t begin to relay all the stories. I grew as a person and I’ve never looked back.

But for me, travelling solo doesn’t always come easy. In my twenties I used to suffer from panic attacks, and even now in my thirties I get occasional bouts of agoraphobia where I want to hide from the outside world. The thought of even going outside terrifies me but I force myself to get out, to eat in restaurants alone and get that next night bus knowing that I won’t let this beat me and stop me from my biggest passion - travelling. But sometimes it’s not easy.

I’ve spent the last seventeen years living, working and travelling all over the world. I’ve volunteered, taught English, worked as a chamber maid in the Alps and on a cruise ship, and had the most amazing time, and all it takes is that first step and the belief that you can do it.

I’ve now been lucky enough to have travelled to eighty-four countries and forty-four of these as a solo female. Yet with every trip, I still get that mix of anticipation, excitement and fear before embarking on another journey by myself. Before I went to Central Asia I was petrified for weeks. I couldn’t speak Chinese, Mongolian or Nepalese. What if something went wrong and I was stranded with no money, no way of communicating? How would I cope?

It’s natural to have anxiety and when it hits you, it can make you doubt your abilities as a traveller but it does get easier. The thought of travelling solo can be daunting but once you overcome that fear, it is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do.

Remember my Australia trip? Well, after travelling around Australia for nine months, I plucked up the confidence to travel back to the UK through Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. And it was on my last night before flying home after a year of being away that I still recall those feelings as I sat outside a bar in Vientiane. That sense of achievement that I, little ole me from a small town in England - had done it. I had proved to everyone that I could travel alone across the world and survive, but most importantly I had proved it to myself. I knew then that if I could achieve that, I could achieve anything.

I travel solo because I have the freedom to go where I want, to meet amazing people and spend hours on buses just reflecting on life. Travel has allowed me to grow, realise things about myself and become comfortable in my own company. The biggest lesson for me was finding out that I’m actually a tough cookie (even if I may not look it). I know that I have the inner strength and the resourcefulness to get myself out of any tricky situation, and if I’m still doing it at nearly forty - then anyone can!

3. Roadblocks

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.

– Andre Gide

Still not convinced?

It all sounds great but it’s really not the right time.

Really, why not? Believe it or not there is probably never going to be a perfect time to go; there will always be something to stop you if you let it. Do you know how many people decide to do it then change their mind because something comes up? Don’t let that be you. Of course there may be real legitimate reasons but for every one of them, there’s a solution.

This is going to be one of the best things (if not THE best thing) that you will ever do, so whatever excuse you think you have, it’s time to overcome those roadblocks and clear the path to your dream trip…

Are any of these stopping you?

I don’t have enough money.

This has got to be the biggest hurdle but not all travel has to be expensive. Consider countries which are cheaper like South East Asia, Bolivia, or the Baltics in Europe. Spending a week in these countries can work out even cheaper than spending a week in your home country. Your biggest cost is going to be airfare so the more flexible you are with dates the better. Travelling short-haul will help keep your budget lower, but look at other options such as travelling overland or cargo boats instead.

Shouldn’t I be studying instead?

Choosing to travel before you enter the job market is no longer frowned upon by future employers and can actually be beneficial for your CV. Where else can you get an education of life experiences, cultures, and learn invaluable skills such as budgeting, than by travelling by yourself? Travelling solo will not only prepare you to enter the job market but it will give you a life perspective that other students may not have.

Not only will you encounter so many others on their gap years, but you may even come back with the desire to do something completely different. If you’re thinking of taking a career break before going back into education at a later age, travelling will give you a break from life and the clarity that you’re on the right path.

What about my job?

Travelling by yourself doesn’t have to mean leaving everything behind for months. Even a trip for a week, or a fortnight, is enough to give you that taste of travelling and re-energise you so that you’re ready to throw yourself back into home life again. If you want to go for longer, then see if you can take an extended break or unpaid leave from your job. You never know, they may even hold it open for you.

You may be worried about the ease of finding another job when you return home but is there such a thing as job security nowadays? Just because you stay in your job doesn’t mean that it’s guaranteed for the next few years. Leaving a job isn’t for everyone but going away will give you the time and space to really think about what you want to do and you could even come back with a complete change of heart, wanting to start your own business, or just eager to start saving to do it all over again.

What about my flat?

If you’re planning a six month trip or longer consider renting it out through an agent or check with friends who may need a place to rent temporarily. Many people feel tied because of property commitments but getting the mortgage payments covered can be easy if you rent it out, and you may even have some left over towards your trip each month. That way you know you have somewhere to come back to when (or if) you decide to come back home.

I’m going through a hard time.

If you’re going through a hard time in your life, making plans to travel can help guide you through a bleak period. Maybe you’re suffering from stress, a break up or a bereavement. Whatever life event is happening in your life right now, a change can be the best thing to get you back on that road to recovery and give you a new perspective on life. Don’t allow others or even society to pass their judgement onto you either about what you should be doing at this point in your life. No one knows what’s around the corner, but giving yourself a change of scenery can only improve your happiness factor and prepare you for a new phase of your life. Who knows, you may even fall in love on the road and decide to take a new path in your life.

I can’t speak any languages.

Unless you’re travelling to Latin America, you really don’t have to be fluent in another language as English is spoken in so many places. Don’t take this as an excuse to not learn some of the language for your chosen country, but if you’re travelling through five different countries there’s no way you can learn every single language. But just knowing the key phrases can really help you get by. Not only will the locals appreciate it and be more helpful towards you, it will also increase your confidence and reduce your chances of getting charged tourist prices.

I don’t know if I can do it alone.

You can, but if you’re really not sure then test drive your solo trip by going away by yourself for a weekend first. It could be something as simple as a camping trip or just booking yourself into a hostel or hotel in your home town. You’ll soon get the confidence to want to do it for longer.

If the thought of travelling solo really is too much then why not consider a group tour for the first part of your trip. Not only will this help you get your bearings in a country (especially if you’ve not travelled before), but it will give you that little nudge of confidence to want to go it alone afterwards. It’s not cheating as a solo, especially if you want to go to countries that you may feel nervous about travelling to alone.

I don’t know where to go.

That’s why you’ve brought this book! With so many countries in the world to choose from, it can be overwhelming deciding where to go. Do you fancy the sensory overload of India, the culinary flair of Italy or the deserts of the Middle East? You can even combine your bucket list of places with a round-the-world ticket to get more out of your trip and save the other countries for a later date. By the end of this book, you’ll know exactly where you want to go and why.

See, there really are no obstacles that you can’t get past. Each one is just there to test your desire and determination to travel. Don’t be one of those people that just keep dreaming about it, take some action on your roadblocks today and blast them to smithereens…

4. Don’t Let Fear Stop You

Don’t let the fear of striking out hold you back.

– Babe Ruth.

The biggest reason that people don’t travel alone is - FEAR. Fear of not meeting anyone, fear of something bad happening, and fear of just not being able to handle it alone. But the reality of solo travel is that it really isn’t as scary as you think. It’s natural to feel the fear before travelling alone but don’t let that fear stop you. The beauty of travelling solo is that if you are open enough