Do you want to travel but need help and encouragement?

Well, let's get you on your journey!

Solo travel has become more common recently because of the rise of remote work, and we women have been seizing our opportunity to explore other countries.

If you absolutely can't stop thinking about:

Biting into a delicious empanada in Spain.
Staring up in awe at the Pyramids of Egypt.
Walking barefoot around the pagodas in Vietnam and other parts of Asia.
And other experiences abroad that you want to do.

Being a solo female traveler might be for you.

Sailing on Lake Skadar in Montenegro; Photo Credit: Malia

Are You Inspired to Travel? You'll Need Income

If you're beginning your journey as a solo female traveler, you might not know how to fund your travels.

At least not yet.

It can be stressful if you're exploring abroad and don't have steady sources of income. But if you are committed to traveling, you will find ways to support your travels financially, even if you must overcome challenges to figure it out.

For instance, I went to Iceland for my first solo trip abroad in 2017 and was utterly amazed by the beautiful countryside.

Exploring around Iceland, I saw landmarks like:

Hallgrimskirkja, the picturesque church in Reykjavik.
Seljalandsfoss, the breathtaking waterfall that you can walk around in a complete loop.
Þingvallavatn, the crystal-clear lake with some of the freshest water on Earth.
And many others!

Snorkeling in Þingvallavatn; Photo credit: Malia

After Iceland, I knew I needed to see more of the world, so I searched high and low for a remote job.

Luckily, an opportunity presented itself in late 2017. By some miracle, I snagged a remote engineering job that I sustained while traveling around Europe in 2018 and 2019.

I had found a job that would make my traveling dreams come true.

And if you want to travel, you will find a way too.

Want to find ways to make money while traveling? Check out my Medium post for ideas or Ann Davis's blog post about convincing your boss to let you work abroad.

You're Funding Your Travels; Now You Need Community

“I was excited to see Tallinn because I had heard about Tallinn's startup culture over the past few years and the stunning architecture of Tallinn's Old Town! When I got to Tallinn, my Greeter, Yumna, was excited to go around and do a deep dive into everything I had read about Tallinn and more - from the startup culture to the Old Town, to Tallinna Linnahall which is a fantastic place to see the view of Tallinn Bay. I highly recommend booking Greether if you want to know the places you travel to as safely as possible - there's nothing like getting local knowledge from a local!”

— Malia

Not only is finding work essential for your travel journey, but you also need community.

Traveling can sometimes feel lonely and challenging. When constantly researching for your itinerary and sometimes not knowing anyone when you travel to a new place, you may occasionally feel overwhelmed.

That's why you should have a support system in place.

As a solo female traveler, joining fun and reliable communities of fellow female travelers is a great way to share knowledge and resources about traveling.

If you are looking for a community supportive of female travelers, look no further than the Greether community.

I discovered Greether last year in 2022 when I worked for a non-profit called Nomads Giving Back. Greether was one of our partner organizations, and I was ecstatic to learn how Greether helps solo female travelers by pairing them up with a female host when they travel.

My initial thought was, "Wow, Greether is an organization that makes women feel safer when they travel and helps them make the most out of their destinations? Say no more!"

So, after you set up your steady sources of income, feel free to join Greether when you need a supportive community of female travelers and hosts.

Siem Reap, Cambodia; Photo credit: Malia

Conclusion

Once you know traveling is for you, keep searching for ways to get started, whether remote work, volunteer opportunities, or becoming a content creator or freelancer. And I invite you to lean on the incredible women in the Greether community to make sure that you are safe and prepared for every destination!

All in all, if you can't stop envisioning yourself stepping off a plane in another country, ready to learn about a new culture, it might be time to start your journey as a solo female traveler.