Why Women Should Travel Solo

MaSovaida Morgan, Guidebook Author and Journalist (Countries: 46 )

Outgoing and open-minded, MaSovaida Morgan makes friends when she travels solo, which she does frequently as a former destination editor and current guidebook author for Lonely Planet (LP). But it’s not all roses and dream trips: As the first black editor at LP, she has been refreshingly frank about places where she doesn’t feel welcome.

“For me, the most visceral discomfort of travel surfaces in the form of experiencing racism,” she said. “From local men sexually fetishizing me because of my race and sticking out like a sore thumb in a homogenous culture — and the stares, unwanted photographs and hair-touching, without asking permission, that comes with that — to being blatantly ignored or denied service in restaurants and bars, I’ve had my share of travel traumas that could very well give people who look like me good reason to just stay home.”

By putting herself on the front line in countries such as Latvia, Morgan has been able to edit out racist establishments and issue warnings.

“It may seem extreme to some people that I would travel to places where racism is a known issue, but it’s important that the content people use to plan their travels reflects diverse perspectives and experiences,” she said.

Most Empowering Trip: Since becoming an author for LP a year ago, Morgan has contributed to 10 guidebooks, including one on Bali — an all-encompassing assignment that required her to manage chaotic logistics on the spot and learn new skills.

“I had never driven a motorbike before, but once I got the hang of it, I had the freedom to go where I needed to go — all on my own terms,” she said. “It was empowering and exhilarating to jump on that bike and go about my business and get stuff done, without having to account for anyone else’s needs.”

Sarah Reid, Australian Guidebook Author and Journalist (Countries: 111 )

With 111 countries under her belt, Sarah Reid could write the book on solo travel. In fact, she has. But even the author of Lonely Planet’s The Solo Travel Handbook admits that traveling frequently doesn’t make you impervious to fear.

Most Empowering Trip: “I was a bit nervous about traveling to Cairo independently for four days following a group tour,” she said. “I’d done my research and felt confident, but my family’s concern for my safety made me second-guess myself in the weeks leading up to my departure.”

Reid cautions that Cairo is best suited for street-smart women, and that unwarranted attention — mostly staring — is not uncommon. She booked excursions — one with Bellies En Route, a food tour run by two local women, and one with Urban Adventures that focuses on city sights. But Reid arranged her own travels, too, checking out the capital city’s Egyptian Museum, pyramids, emerging cafe culture and 20th-century architecture.

“Exploring the vibrant downtown area solo reminded me that I’ve got this,” she said. “By drawing on my street smarts and travel experience, no destination is off-limits to me (unless, of course, my government deems it too unsafe to travel). I feel empowered telling people: ‘I went to Cairo on my own and I loved it.’”

Nastasia Yakoub, Social Media Travel Influencer (Countries: 63 )

If anyone makes solo travel look easy and glamorous, it’s Nastasia Yakoub. The former labor and delivery nurse is the founder of Dame Traveler, a female-travel community on Instagram with more than 525,000 followers.

Through the artfully curated account, Yakoub hopes to inspire women “to travel more, do more and be more,” something she has exemplified in her own life. In 2015, she was invited to be one of the first 40 people to photograph and publish photos of the White House.

Most Empowering Trip: Yakoub’s first solo trip, to South Africa, remains her most special. The feel-good vibes began after buying her tickets, but were challenged on the plane, when she cried in fear and questioned her need to travel halfway around the world alone. Her nervous feelings quickly dissipated, however, thanks to her decision to join a volunteer group. There, she developed friendships and found satisfaction in making a positive impact and trusting her instincts.

“I came home to the U.S. as a new woman,” she said. “I felt incredibly empowered and eager to take braver actions in my life.”

Samantha Brown, Television Host (Countries: 62 )

Perhaps one of the best-known women in travel, Samantha Brown has created 160 hours of television programming dedicated to exploring the world. Since 1999, when she got her first break on the Travel Channel, Brown has starred in series such as “Passport to Latin America,” “Samantha Brown’s Asia” and now, “Places to Love,” her newest show for PBS.

Brown has traveled extensively, but it’s usually with an entourage — her television crew. She admits that traveling solo, even if just for dinner after shooting, can be an entirely different adventure.

“Without a partner, you open yourself up to others, and people take you under their wing,” she said. “You get to do whatever you want and gain confidence along the way.”

Most Empowering Trip: “At the end of the day, our crew disperses and we go our own way, so I’m often dining and heading back to my hotel alone,” she said. “I was in Mexico City and remembered hearing that you had to be careful to take a real taxi or you could be kidnapped. When I arrived, I went for long walks and fell in love with a city that, to this day, remains one of my favorites. I even got lost, but many people helped me find my way.”