The Underrated Truths of Travelling Alone as a Woman

It might seem daunting. But you'll realise you're capable of so much more than you thought.

- Karen Tee

I have been travelling solo for as long as I can remember. Back when I was a university student on an overseas scholarship, my annual routine involved flying halfway across the world – alone – to my college in the United States.

What started as a necessity soon became second nature and now I hardly think twice when setting off on my own, whether for work or play.

I've noticed that over the years, there's been a shift in the way people react when I tell them I travel alone.

When I was first starting out in the noughties, the idea of a young woman navigating airports and foreign cities alone drew surprise and sometimes even concern.

These days, the response is more likely to be curiosity, with women often asking for recommendations or musing about taking a solo trip themselves.

It seems that what was once seen as unconventional is now increasingly aspirational.

In fact, luxury travel network Virtuoso reports that 71 per cent of its solo clients are women, while tourism research firm Future Partners found that 40 per cent of female travellers are considering a solo trip this year – up 8 percentage points from last year, according to a report by NBC News.

It reflects a broader shift in how women view travel, not as something to wait for the right companion to embark on but as an experience worth pursuing on their own terms.

After all these years of going at it alone, I could not agree more.

In recent times, the travel industry has responded by offering female-focused trips and itineraries catering to female interests. From wellness retreats focused on women's health to safaris and cruises waiving single supplements, brands are catering to the rise of the "wander woman".

But even without such marketing initiatives, there are already perks to travelling alone.