Single out the problem

Dirty toilets, hidden cameras, creepy stares: For women tourists, even safe spaces conceal threats. Here's what the Reels don't show you

- Taranna Khetpal

It's an Insta subgenre that refuses to die: One woman driving solo - moisturised, unbothered - through a forest; another woman - selfie stick aloft - strolling solo as the crowds rush past in the Big City.

On Reels, women who vacation alone have #Empowered slogans, they put their Travel Essentials affiliate link in their bio. They cite Reese Witherspoon from Wild as an inspiration. They think Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love is cringe.

Of course they have their guard up at all times. Of course they have to deal with creepy men all through. But surely there's more to the solo-woman travel phenomenon than the Reels show? In 2025, even a safe journey is harder than the montages let on. Here are some of the challenges that solo women travellers didn't expect.

Quick checks

One thing few women account for before they embark on a solo trip: Covered, clean women's toilets are few and far between in India. Gargi (who uses her first name), 30, a singer and customer-success manager, has visited 28 states solo since 2015. She learnt quickly that Indian travel isn't designed with a woman's bladder in mind. So, she rations her water intake when she's on the road. "A couple of sips 10 to 15 minutes before I leave. Then, a couple of sips every few hours to stay hydrated."