So you've written down your resolutions for 2015. And, high up near the top of the list, reads: “TRAVEL MORE.” Maybe you've even underlined it a few times — that's how much you want to see the world and have adventures.
It's a great goal, of course; travel teaches us so much more about human nature and the world that we could ever hope to learn from books or TV. But sometimes achieving that goal is tricky.
We want to travel, but we wait and wait (sometimes forever) for someone else to be able to travel with us. Finances, jobs, family commitments, and all manner of other things always seem to get in the way.
Well, NOT in 2015, ladies.
Make 2015 the year of solo travel!
I've been traveling the world pretty consistently for the past 4-5 years, and I do the majority of my travel solo. Is this because I'm anti-social and hate the company of others? Of course not! I'm just not willing to waste time waiting. I want to travel NOW, so I travel on my own.
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Solo travel can be awesome — you gain confidence, worldly know-how, and some seriously sweet stories to take home. So, when Expedia asked me to collaborate with them to share some of my suggestions on where to go in 2015, I was happy to oblige.
Here are my picks for great places to travel solo this year:
NEW ZEALAND
If you follow my blog regularly, you already know that I am in love (okay, a little obsessed with) New Zealand. The Land of the Long White Cloud is “The One” for me — the one country that I will keep returning to, time and time again, because I love it so much. I love the landscapes, the laid-back cultural vibe, and the wide range of adventure activities to enjoy.
Some of my favorite places in New Zealand: the Hobbiton movie set in Matamata; the capital city of Wellington; the coastal town of Kaikoura; Mount Cook and the surrounding lakes; the lakeside town of Wanaka; and Queenstown, New Zealand's “Adventure Capital.”
Why it's great for solo travel: New Zealand is BUILT for solo travel. It's safe, easy to get around, and filled with so many amazing landscapes and activities that you won't ever have to worry about getting bored. It's also filled with great hostels, which can be perfect places to stay if you're young and want to meet other travelers.
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SCOTLAND
Oh how I love Scotland! Yes, it can be quite wet and chilly (even in the summer), but it's gorgeous no matter what the weather is like. When I think of Scotland, I think of green hills and castles. And who doesn't like those two things?
Some of my favorite places in Scotland: Edinburgh (all of it!); the Highlands; and especially the Isle of Skye.
Why it's great for solo travel: Scotland is another very safe country — you don't really have to worry about going anywhere on your own. It's also a fairly small country, making it easy to explore. And, even though the accents might throw you, everyone speaks English here!
CANADA
Most people tend to lump Canada in with the U.S. when talking about travel destinations, but Canada is definitely unique in its own right, and has a LOT to offer any type of traveler.
Some of my favorite places in Canada: Toronto; Canada's capital city of Ottawa (go for the Tulip Festival!); Banff National Park (Alberta is awesome); the coastal parts, like in Nova Scotia; Vancouver; and the pretty city of Victoria.
Why it's great for solo travel: Again, it's safe and the people are friendly. It's also pretty easy to get around — consider taking the train across the entire country!
IRELAND
Very similar to Scotland, I also love Ireland a lot. The land of Guinness and leprechauns is a favorite for a lot of travelers, which definitely says something about the country as a whole. I've been to Ireland three times now, and will certainly be back again.
Some of my favorite places in Ireland: Dublin; the Dingle Peninsula; the Cliffs of Moher; the Aran Islands; and Glendalough in County Wicklow.
Why it's great for solo travel: Like the other countries on this list so far, Ireland is safe. You can go just about anywhere as a woman on your own and not have to worry about your safety. It's also easy to do day trips from Dublin if you're more comfortable exploring from a home base.
SLOVENIA
Before you go saying, “Wait, where's Slovenia?,” I'll tell you that it's a small country surrounded by Croatia, Hungary, Austria, and Italy. It's incredibly overlooked by most travelers to Europe, but that's part of the reason why I love it so much. It has a small population, and a small number of annual tourists — meaning it's pretty cities are rarely overcrowded.
Some of my favorite places in Slovenia: Lake Bled; the capital of Ljubljana; Postojna Cave; and Triglav National Park.
Why it's great for solo travel: As I mentioned before, Slovenia isn't super-touristy, making it a really laid-back place to visit on your own. It's also (can you guess?) quite safe, and well-connected to most major cities in Europe either by train or budget airline.
ICELAND
Oh, Iceland. This country halfway between North America and Europe is definitely in my top five favorite places on the planet. Its landscapes are almost other-worldly, it's in the perfect position to see some amazing Northern Lights in the winter, it has adorably fluffy horses, and people here legit believe in elves. Like, for real. It also has more waterfalls and volcanoes and glaciers than you can shake a stick at.
Some of my favorite places in Iceland: Reykjavik; the Snaefellsnes Peninsula; Jokulsarlon; and ALL the waterfalls along the South Shore.
Why it's great for solo travel: There's basically no crime in Iceland, so, again, a very safe place to visit. And, even though you pretty much have no hope of pronouncing any Icelandic words, the great news is that almost everyone here also speaks perfect English! It's also another country where taking day trips from the capital (Reykjavik) is very easy if you don't want to rent a car on your own.
THAILAND
Lastly, I felt like Asia deserved to be represented on this list. It's not always the first place people think of when they think solo travel, but believe it or not it IS a good option! Thailand would be my pick because it's firmly on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail (meaning tons of fellow travelers to meet) and the tourism infrastructure is quite good. It also has a good variety of places to visit, from the jungle to beaches.
Some of my favorite places in Thailand: Bangkok (though not for too long); Elephant Nature Park; Chiang Mai; the Railay beaches; and the island of Koh Lanta.
Why it's great for solo travel: There are SO many travelers in Thailand all the time. Meaning if you don't want to be on your own you probably don't have to be. Book some day tours, or stay in hostels so you can pick up travel buddies along the way. Thailand is also pretty cheap, which is helpful if you don't have someone to split costs with!
What are some other places YOU would suggest for solo travel this year?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
I am really smitten about New Zealand. Want to see the natural beauty and the wilderness of the place in this lifetime. Hope I get to do that soon!!
I hope you do, too, Arti! New Zealand is definitely a special place.
A great list. I’ve been to all the above places solo except for Iceland, Canada, New Zealand & Slovenia, and that’s only because I haven’t been to those countries at all yet!
Solo travel is an important journey for young women and I heartily recommend it for all. Where’s safe to travel solo? All of Europe, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, I’m not sure about certain parts of the US but definitely the East Coast and the West Coast, all the South East Asian countries, and if you keep your wits about you, North Africa and the Asian subcontinent.
Just stay calm, have some emergency money hidden away, and take normal precautions as you would in your own home-country, and you’d be fine. 🙂
All great tips, Victoria! I always say the same about solo travel – don’t do anything you wouldn’t do at home and stay aware of your surroundings, and you’ll be fine! (And I always have that emergency stash, too.)
Ushuaia in Argentina is amazing and very safe! Its a bit chilly (Southern most city in the world), but lots to see and do. Also a port from which to hit Antarctica!
Would definitely love to get there someday!
Love NZ such a beautiful place
I agree!
Awesome list! Planning on hitting Thailand and Iceland this year, and I’ve been to Canada before…all solo. I definitely think your list could use some South America love – I’ve been to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and they were all super solo female-friendly and extremely fun to travel to!
I unfortunately haven’t been to South America yet, which is why it’s not represented here! Thanks for adding some suggestions. 🙂
Yay, love this list! You’ve made me a firm believer in having New Zealand at the top of my list 🙂
I also did Southeast Asia as my first solo trip, starting in Thailand. It was a great place to go!
Oh yes, New Zealand should definitely be high on your list!!
Thanks for all the suggestions! Especially Thailand. I feel safe and confident traveling all over Europe by myself but have never been to Asia. I’m starting to think the first trip will be a solo one so this recommendation is particularly perfect for me!
Thailand is a pretty good place to start in Southeast Asia. It’s got pretty good tourism infrastructure, and there are always lots of other solo travelers there, too, which always makes me feel better.
I’m not a solo female traveller but a traveller with children (which presents it’s own challenges). We’re on country #7 of our RTW trip and have talked to many solo female travellers in the countries we’ve been to. I would recommend Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Ethiopia for friendly, safe countries with amazing culture and sights to see.
Great post!
Thanks for those suggestions, Michelle! I definitely give you credit for traveling with children – it’s not easy! But your kids will learn so much!
Really? Is Sri Lanka safe for women travelling alone? I really wanna go there but i’m a little afraid. Where have you been there? tks a lot for any tip!
Yes! I lived there for 6 months and never felt scared or threatened or even uncomfortable. Everyone is friendly and helpful
Nice destinations here, that’s great you included Ireland, where I’m from! New Zealand is so great, I’d love to go back, but those flights are so expensive! 🙁
Yeah it’s not cheap to get to the other side of the world! Luckily there are great countries on every continent. 🙂
hello thanks for sharing this…I’m thinking about a solo travel to Thailand next year …and I’m so glad to see that many bloggers/travelers are recommending Thailand- Bangkok etc. as a safe place for solo female travelers and as a great place for adventures as well!! So looking forward to discover it by myself next year!!
Thailand would probably be the most challenging destination on this list for a first solo trip, but that’s just because the culture is very different. The country itself is pretty safe and easy to get around – just be prepared for the chaos! 😉
Nice to know that Slovenia is safe for solo travel, as I am contemplating to make it there in 2015. All the best to me. 🙂
You should definitely go to Slovenia! It’s such a beautiful country, and yet so many people skip it!
YAY Canada, so great to see it on here 😉 I live pretty close to Banff, and can attest to its beauty and the friendly people!
I really enjoyed Germany from Munich to the Black Forest, and found it to be one of the easiest and safest countries to travel around with super friendly people as well.
Great list, cannot wait to visit some of these destinations in 2015.
I went to Banff for the first time last year, and it was amaaaaazing.
I was actually considering adding Germany to this list, but I’ve really only spent time in Berlin, so I can’t speak about the whole country. But I would imagine it would be another great solo spot!
Hear, hear on Ljubljana! 🙂 It’s a neat capital city to explore. And to see dragons on a bridge…
Yes, I love the dragon bridge there!
that’s a good list. I think China is a great place to travel as a woman, I actually think I get treated better then the dudes do when I travel, people are extremely protective of me. There are a lot of frustrating things that happen here, but its rarely unsafe.
That’s great to know, Rebekah! China came as a bit of culture shock to me, but you’re right – I felt pretty safe there as a woman!
All great suggests! I would also include Australia, USA (which is surprisingly diverse and interesting!) and other Southeast Asian hits like Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Bali.
Australia is great, too, but I figured it’s pretty similar to NZ – plus I feel like it’s much easier to get around NZ on your own!
As for other Southeast Asian countries… I feel like some could easily put you off if it was one of your first solo trips abroad! The culture shock in a country like, Cambodia, can hit pretty hard. BUT, SEA is definitely great for solo travel!