Women's Solo Travel:
Tips & Inspiration

I faced a recent awful threat to my health this Fall, when a "routine" mammogram turned into repeated callbacks for additional screenings with ultrasound and even biopsies. Everything turned out ok thankfully, but the pure panic I felt for weeks reminded me of how quickly our health can change. And how it should not be assumed. We're all a heart attack, car accident, or diagnosis away from a very different life as I know all too well.

Microadventures are especially powerful for solo women travelers, because they give you the chance to build confidence in small steps, get experience being alone going on your own, and reconnect with your sense of freedom — all without having to explain your itinerary to anyone.

As a stage 4 cancer survivor myself, I know firsthand that life after cancer is not the same. Your priorities change. Your definition of “someday” changes. You become deeply aware that time is a gift — and you stop waiting for permission to enjoy it now. That’s why many more women cancer survivors are turning to solo travel as a powerful way to reclaim their lives, heal on their own terms, and write their next chapter with boldness and joy.

The beautiful thing about solo travel is that there’s not only one right way to do it. But for many women, the hardest part is knowing where to begin. That’s where I come in. As a solo travel coach and speaker, I help women just like you — busy, caring, accomplished women — find their way back to themselves through safe, fulfilling solo travel experiences.

One of the most freeing aspects of traveling solo is: you don’t have to coordinate your schedule around anyone else. No one else’s calendar dictates your adventure. When you travel with friends or family, there’s always the juggling of everyone’s commitments, moods, budgets, and desires. Solo means you schedule based on you.

Here’s what I want you to know: you don’t have to start with what you’ll do. You can begin by asking, what do I not want to do? Uncovering the “don’t wants” helps you rule out, narrow in, and eventually gravitate toward what you will do — and it sets you free from comparison, decision paralysis, and fear of “wasting time.”

Re-entry after solo travel can feel overwhelming — even deflating. You go from being the main character in your own story to suddenly juggling everyone else’s needs again. But it doesn’t have to feel like crashing back to Earth. Here are a few practical ways to make your return smoother, gentler, and more joyful.

The deeper message of Last Holiday isn’t about a mistake in a medical report. It’s about a truth we all know but often avoid: why do we wait until we think we’re dying to finally start living?

Whether it’s a heartbreak-healing road trip, a quick budget escape, a train ride, a river cruise, a passion pursuit, or a spa retreat, every solo trip adds a new layer of freedom and confidence. Women need to experience all of these types of trips solo at least once in their lives—not just for the adventure, but for the joy, peace, and personal growth that follows.

I know from personal experience whether you're facing the weight of grief with the loss of a loved one, loss of your marriage in a divorce, or a life suddenly turned upside down, solo travel offers more than escape. It truly offers healing.

When your partner is focused on meeting clients, closing deals, or making tee times, you don’t need to “kill time.” That’s your chance to rediscover yourself. Solo exploration not only fills up the day but can also be one of the most fulfilling parts of your trip.

Solo travel is often about discovering your own rhythm—all the ease, clarity, and empowerment that comes from calling your own shots. But for many women, there's also comfort and joy in connection. Especially if you’re just starting to solo travel, you might love the idea of not doing everything on your own just yet. That’s where the “hybrid solo trip”—solo travel with a friend meet-up—shines.