The freedom years: the women travelling solo and their advice on how to have fun and stay safe.
At 59 and after a disastrous date, Sheila Fitzgerald (now 65) vowed to stay single. She turned to Google to find something new to do and it told her to travel. So, that’s exactly what she did.
Fitzgerald joined the 20% of Saga customers who plan to travel solo this year. And the 25% of women aged 65 and above who say they want to travel alone.
So if you among them, then why not be inspired by International Women's Day on 8 March to try something new and book your first solo adventure?
We've spoken to women who took the plunge and started travelling alone in later life, and they've shared their tips if you fancy following in their footsteps.
“I was not at all adventurous, with my furthest destinations being a week in Turkey or a weekend in Paris”, says Fitzgerald.
“Seven years on I can still recall how unsure and anxious I was. I wasn’t the kind of person who went to Thailand, never mind travelling solo. But I girded my loins, booked the ticket and in October 2018 I travelled alone to Bangkok.”
But you don't need to go as far as Bangkok for a solo adventure.
Pritpal Kaur, 74, had just been told she was in remission from multiple mylenomas (a rare form of blood cancer) and went on her first solo trip to Wales.
“I had never travelled solo before, always with my daughter. I have always wanted to do a solo trip but because of the cancer I didn't want to go too far," Kaur told Saga Magazine.
“I was there for four days and went walking, shopping, relaxed and had a spa day. I felt on top of the world. Being in nature, outdoors and alone really helped me to reconnect with myself."
According to research on solo female travellers, women primarily travel solo to enjoy freedom and flexibility (87%), escape routine and responsibilities (81%), focus on relaxation and self-care (78%), and challenge themselves (78%).
“All my life I have done things for others and in my community, women are always putting everyone and everything before themselves. It's about time I put myself first,” says Kaur.
Gina Cambridge, a travel coach who also runs female only tours at Wanderlust Solo Women Tours says, “Getting older can be a major period of change, beyond just menopause. I personally have been one of these women and have first hand connections with women choosing to travel later in life.”
“Some are at a major transition period when they’re rediscovering who they are outside of being mothers, carers, wives and partners, and quite often it's a time to re-assess careers and life's priorities."
"There are many online travel groups for women that share personal experiences, tips for solo travel and offer a supportive community," says Cambridge.
"Use a travel agent, advisor or travel coach if you are not confident booking your trip yourself, they have knowledge that can help you have a smoother travel experience but are also great when you need assistance."
Richard Newsome Product Manager at Saga Holidays said: "If you’re nervous about holidaying solo for the first time, our dedicated solo departures are a great option.
"On our hosted hotel holidays, you’ll be picked up from the airport in resort and driven to your hotel, where you’ll be welcomed by both a solo host and a Saga host – on hand to organise socials and for any support you need.
"There are lots of opportunities to get to know other solo guests, with a welcome drink, guided group excursions and a farewell dinner.
"Alternatively, you can join a like-minded group of solos on one of our escorted tours, with a tour manager leading the way and VIP door-to-door transfers in the UK. Both are a fantastic way to meet new people and make travelling independently a little less daunting!"
Working out what to do on your travels can be overwhelming. You could just book the trip and go, like Kaur. Or, like Fitzgerald, travel alone and meet with a group when you get there.
“I joined a small group tour and had the most amazing, awe-inspiring and fulfilling time of my life,” says Fitzgerald. “I celebrated my 59th birthday in a jungle on the Thai/Myanmar border with my five travel companions and a Serbian mercenary who drank most of our rum.”
Go for a travel experience that aligns with your passions. You could book onto a yoga retreat, a hiking adventure, or a language-immersion stay and you’ll have the joy of travelling alone, but some people to greet you when you arrive.
Fitzgerald said: “My own preference has always been for give back travel - a way to understand and engage with a community. In 2019 I went to India and worked with sloth bears and elephants.
"In 2022 I was able to go on a give back project to Costa Rica to engage with beach cleaning and turtle management."
“Things like pet sitting, home exchanges and volunteer options are a great way to enable you to explore the world, while also connecting more directly with local communities and their people."
"This period of our lives can be a turmoil", says Cambridge.
"This is a great time to “pause” in many ways and reassess who you are, as many women find they have lost their own identity or feel invisible.
"But, you are still vibrant and able to rekindle that spark and travel is an amazing tool for this. It shows us again what we are capable of, builds confidence and can nurture beautiful new relationships, not only with people and cultures but also yourself.”
54% of Saga travellers said that their first trip alone made them feel proud of themselves.
Kaur says she felt “refreshed, rejuvenated and much happier and stress free” when she returned. “I was sad that I didn't stay longer but it made me think about what I want to do next. I am planning a solo trip abroad now!”
If you're on the fence about the benefits of solo travel, and doing so with a purpose, take note of Cambridge's advice.
"Just do it!" she urges. "Yes it will be scary, but it's also an exciting time of life. You have the wisdom of years, and an appreciation of the world around you which can lean towards a deeper travel experience than what you might have had when you were young."
Fitzgerald has five tips for budding solo women travellers that she's learned from her travels.
It's ok, we're all afraid to take the first step. But there's a whole world out there waiting for you to enjoy and explore, so just do it!
Your family, friends and random strangers will give you any number of reasons not to travel.
Figure out what fascinates you, do your research by looking at groups who specialise in solo travel – ask questions and you'll find the confidence to take that trip.
Research your destination, make sure you have your first night booked and transport arranged. Read a packing list and make sure you consider it carefully including visas, vaccinations and electrical/communication needs.
Check official sites for official information. Let your family or a key contact know where you are going to be, check in regularly and be sure to have adequate phone or data coverage to do so.
Sign up with the foreign affairs department of your home county so that you can be notified of any emerging situations in the world affecting you.
It's not home. The language, the food, the money, the toilets are all going to be different.
Embrace it and know that you will bring home a better understanding of the world we live in. Consider a give back holiday so that you can travel with purpose.
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