5 Fears You May Have As A Solo Traveler

1. Not Meeting People/Feeling Alone 

If you are traveling solo, you might think that you will be alone. After all, it’s not called traveling with a group, it’s traveling solo. If you’re open, you will meet tons of people along your journey. You will meet people from all over the world doing the same thing, traveling solo.

When you meet these people you can explore destinations together, get ideas of where to go and eat, and learn about where the hidden gems are.

Check out this post for how to meet people abroad.

2. It’s Not Safe To Travel, Especially For Single Women 

Whenever I tell people that I travel and work overseas, I get this a lot. They ask me why, and then proceed to tell me it’s not safe. I get it. There are some parts of the world that are unsafe. But there are also parts of the United States that are not the safest.

When you turn on the news, you see nothing but death and destruction. But I find that what’s presented on the news only represents a small depiction of reality. I have traveled to quite a few places, and I’ve felt safe, for the most part. Of course, I make a point to avoid some areas.

Do your research ahead of time, and make wise common-sense choices. 

If you want to know whether or not it’s recommended to travel to a specific country, I would check out the State Department’s Travel Advisories list for country-specific information. 

To read more about staying safe overseas, check out 11 Solo Travel Tips That Could Save Your Life

3. Don’t Know Where To Start/Plan 

The world is a big place…an overwhelming place. When you are traveling solo for the first time, my recommendation is to start small. Start with places that seem easy to navigate and branch out slowly. Be sure to check out the article, How to Get Used to the Idea of Traveling to get more information if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

I also want to point out that once you land at your destination, you just need to put one step in front of the other. Things will work out. If you are lost, there will be people that will point you in the right direction. You don’t stay lost permanently.

If you want more information on How to Plan Your First Trip Overseas, be sure to click this link.

4. Family/Friends May Judge You 

Less than half of Americans hold passports. There are even fewer in the black community. When you tell people you’re going to travel…by yourself…of course, they might consider it strange. It’s because they haven’t done it themselves or know many people who have done it as well.

Most of what people hear about the world comes from T.V. and the internet. And most of the time, it’s negative.

Don’t let other people’s opinions hold you back from living your dreams. You never know, once you go, you might inspire them to travel as well.

5. You Might Hate It

What if you hate it? What if you’re homesick? What if it’s the worst experience of your life? These are all real possibilities that could be true. And if they are, you can always get on a plane and come back home. You can say you’ve tried traveling and it wasn’t for you.

But what if…you don’t hate it? What if you actually like it and want to see the rest of the world? You never know until you try.

In Case You’ve Missed It, Check Out 

9 Experiences You May Have As A Black Woman Traveling Overseas
How To Talk To Worried Family And Friends About Travel
11 Solo Travel Tips That Could Save Your Life
How To Pick Destinations For International Travel