Hi Reader,
This week I am sending my usual Tuesday email a bit later, after our 200 Reviews celebratory offer ended yesterday :)
And I am coming to you with insights into the solo travel experience and a favor to ask you.
βPlease help us fill in the Solo Female Travel Survey.β
We really need your help to make this a representative reflection of what women want, need and worry about. ALL WOMEN.
There are 100,000 of you reading my weekly newsletter which is incredible to think about, but every year, it is a bit of a struggle to get 5,000 of you to share your thoughtsπ₯Ή
Especially 5,000 diverse women, from all walks of life and backgrounds.
I would LOVE to particularly hear from you if you are from any traditionally underrepresented group be it because of your beliefs, your ethnicity, you age, your background, your sexual orientation, your needs, etc.
All opinions matter to us, and all perspectives add to a more holistic and inclusive travel industry.
Most travel brands and destinations make sweeping generalisations about solo female travelers, although we are all very different.
Yes, we share a lot of common wants and needs, but also have many different lived experiences when traveling solo.
And all of them are valid and important and need to be told.
So, PLEASE, take the survey, get your voice heard loud and clear, speak up, take up space, be a part of this annual effort that we have been carrying out for the LAST SIX YEARS!
And...stand a chance to win up to $1,000 in hard cash in 4 giveaways of $250 each starting today.
We are drawing the first winner today, 3 more chances to win $250 USD!
Go fill the survey now so you increase your chances!
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π© On this week's email
- 10 thoughts every solo female traveler has (and that we collected from last year's Solo Female Travel Survey)
- The winner of our first $250 USD cash prize is.....
- The Thai bar where you can fight other tourists, and other interesting travel news
10 thoughts every solo female traveler has
Every year, we collect feedback on the solo female travel experience from women who have traveled solo and those who have not.
From the first year, in 2020, we have been quite impressed with the many suggestions and ideas shared, and also felt identified with your answers.
Here are 10 of the most common thoughts solo female travelers have, as reported in the survey (Don't forget to fill it in yourself and share your thoughts!) and in the Facebook community.
"Will I be ok?"
Anxiety, butterflies in your stomach, questioning your life's choices and whether you have forgotten to research something important, and freaking out in general is normal. There is at least one post a day in the group from a member looking for reassurance and confirmation that everything will be ok. So here you go, EVERYTHING WILL BE OK! π
"Where do I even start?"
One of the most commonly asked question in the group, especially for new solo travelers, is where to start. The unanimous response is "in your own country". This is where most of the issues and challenges with solo travel are minimised - you speak the language, understand the culture, and are close to home. If you want to venture internationally, then Western Europe is the answer (54% of you thinks so), particularly Italy, Spain and the UK.
"What if something happens to me?"
Unfortunately, 65-75% of women traveling solo worry about safety, and this is something we have all thought about at some point or another during our solo travels. What if my bag gets stolen? Or my credit cards are pickpocketed? What if I get sick, who will take care of me? What if I fall or hurt myself? What if I get hassled in the street?
Our survey tells us that 25% of you were in danger on a solo trip and 1% did not manage to keep herself safe. So 3 in 4 worry about safety, 1 in 4 were in an unsafe situation and 1 in 100 had something bad happen to them on a solo trip.
"Is a solo trip what I need"
38% of women travel solo to heal from a life transition so many wonder, is this what I now need? Am I ready to finally take the plunge?
Becoming an Empty nester, getting divorced or widowed, healing from a breakup, beating cancer, retiring, etc. are some of the final pushes needed for women to finally take the plunge.
"Will I miss having someone to share the magical moments with?"
I won't lie, after 70+ countries solo, even I leave certain destinations for occasions when I can have someone special joining me. I wouldn't stop going because I don't have someone to accompany me (and 55% of the respondents said they traveled solo because they had nobody to go with, so GO YOU for not staying home!), but I do organize my travels based on trips that I prefer to do alone, with friends, with Meg, with colleagues or with my partner. There are places I want to show and share with him, others I much enjoy exploring solo, and many that I do for work, on my own, with our network of local partners.
Many of you said the same: You ain't waiting for someone to travel, but also, you travel sometimes solo and other times with others. Only 20% of the women who filled the survey were traveling exclusively solo.
"It's amazing to do what I want, when I want, how I want"
87% of women travel on their own for the freedom and flexibility it affords. It is the no1 reason for traveling solo. Women carry enough of the workload across the board and when on a family or couple's vacation, women take care of 80% of the bookings anyway. Everyone is on holidays but us. It's nice to go on a trip where it's all about you.
"How can I save on the single supplement?"
Every year, this is mentioned over and over as one of the main complains and laments of solo female travelers. Cruise companies set the tone on this by charging up to twice as much solo travelers for not having someone to share with, since they were losing the revenue from having 2 people book the cabin, and this has become the main painpoint of solo travelers (male and female). Hotels charge for the room, but if you don't have someone to share with, they can be pricey. Tour companies are finally starting to offer the option to pair you with another travel to avoid having to pay the upgrade to have your own room. We have done this since we started offering tours. Some cruise companies are offering last minute packages with smaller or no single supplements and, as solo travel becomes more common, they will hopefully continue decreasing.
"Pinch me, am I dreaming?"
Yes! Most of you feel like your solo travel took you places you felt were a dream, perhaps one you had for a really long time, and the experience is overwhelmingly positive.
You only need to spend a few minutes in the our online community to read at least one post in that direction.
Solo travel can be one of the most rewarding experiences, one filled with "pinch me" moments of wonder, awe and magic.
"I did it!"
The sense of accomplishment, empowerment and self realisation that comes with going on your first or next solo travel is the most commonly talked about and celebrated thought every solo female traveler has.
74% of solo female travelers did so to challenge themselves and it pad off!
Photo of the week
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Last week's photo
This incredible sandbank that connects two islets is in Madagascar, in the Nosy Be Archipelago. We are about to announce our Madagascar tour for 2027, so stay tuned or join the waitlist here to not miss out.
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This week's photo
Can you guess this week's photo? Hint: We have a group of guests there in 2 days!
In case you missed it
Travel news, community discussions and other important things to know:
- Ladies only beaches in the UAE. Read here.
- Europe's worst airports for delays. List here.
- Did you notice that European cities have much milder winters than their US counterparts on the same latitude? There is an explanation for that. Read here.
- The Thai bar where you can fight other tourists. Read here.
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Don't remember to fill the survey πͺπͺ
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Have a fab rest of the week!
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Solo Female Travelers Co-Founders
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