How to Afford Solo Travel (Even During the Holidays): Smart Budget Tips for Women Who Want to Explore More

With the holidays approaching, it’s easy to feel like your bank account is being pulled in ten different directions. Gift-giving, travel to see family, and fun but expensive holiday parties—it all adds up. And for many women, this time of year can make solo travel feel more like a luxury than a possibility.

But here’s the truth: you don’t need to be rich to travel solo. You just need the right strategies.

I’m Joy Huber, solo travel coach and professional speaker, and I’ve helped countless women discover how to add more solo travel into their lives—even when money feels tight. This season, I want to help you reframe how you think about travel budgeting and give you practical tools to plan your next adventure with confidence.

Here’s how to finance solo travel—yes, even during the holidays!

1. Reallocate Holiday Spending Into “Joy Funds”

Before you swipe your card for another gift or RSVP for another pricey holiday dinner, ask yourself: Would I rather invest in another sweater for someone else—or a soul-refreshing solo trip for myself?

Instead of overspending on others, set boundaries and redirect some of that holiday budget toward your own joy. One simple way? Start a "Joy Jar" or a dedicated savings account just for travel. Set a goal and name it something fun, like "Wine Country 2026" or "Solo Spa Spectacular."

Communicate your goals with loved ones—many will understand and even support you. You may be surprised how many people respect the boundaries and even cheer you on. Set up time with me; I'll cheer you on! 

2. Get Creative with Travel Funding Sources

Let’s be honest—waiting for "extra money" to show up doesn’t usually work. Sure, if you get a holiday bonus you can decide to use that to kick-start your 26' solo travels. But if not, let’s get proactive.

• Sell unused items: Pre-holiday is the perfect time to declutter and resell clothing, accessories, or tech you don’t use. Use Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, or Mercari.
• Cash-back & rewards cards: Use a travel rewards card for your everyday spending and apply those points to flights or hotels. Look for a card without an annual fee, and some even have bonuses if you meet a spending requirement in the first few months (easy to do during this expensive time of year). An option to check out might be the CapitalOne VentureOne Rewards Credits Card.
• Freelance or side-gigs: A few hours of tutoring, writing, pet-sitting, or remote work per week can fund an entire trip in just a few months.
• Holiday bonuses or cash gifts: Ask loved ones for “experience gifts” or travel fund contributions in lieu of traditional presents.

Every dollar counts—and your future self, soaking in a solo sunrise that brings a huge smile to your face, will thank you.

3. Reframe What “Solo Travel” Has to Look Like

Solo travel doesn’t have to mean a luxury hotel in Paris or three weeks in Bali. It can be:

• A weekend road trip to a nearby city
• A solo cabin getaway for reflection
• A midweek flight deal to a new U.S. destination

Start small. What matters most isn’t distance—it’s presence. You’re creating space for yourself, by yourself.

4. Use Tools and Timing to Your Advantage

You can stretch your dollar further with these smart travel habits:

• Track flights with tools like Google Flights, Hopper, or Skyscanner
• Be flexible with your travel dates to catch off-peak deals - this is much easier when it's "just you" traveling and you don't have everyone's else's schedules to consider
• Travel mid-week, not weekends
• Use loyalty programs for airlines and hotels
• Book stays with kitchens so you can cook instead of dining out - at least a fridge and microwave helps you stretch big meals into leftovers you can keep cold and reheating to utilize all food vs. wasting

And yes, subscribe to deal newsletters like Thrifty Traveler to stay in-the-know. (And while you’re at it—join my free newsletter here)

5. Invest in Yourself—Not Just the Trip

When you set money aside for solo travel, you’re not being selfish—you’re building confidence, resilience, joy, and new memories. Solo travel is a mindset shift. It reminds you that you’re worthy of investment, rest, and freedom.

Don’t wait until the calendar looks perfect. Don’t wait until you have double your savings. As I've found out very painfully, our health can change in an instant. You don't want to feel regret for what you wanted to do "someday" that you now can't. Take the first small step today. Even just beginning to research and budget your next trip can shift your outlook this season. Remember I'm here to help you through the entire process. Set up a private coaching session fully devoted to you here. Talk about a great gift to yourself!

Final Thought: Gift Yourself an Experience, Not Just a Holiday

This year, give yourself the gift of growth, adventure, and possibility. Solo travel isn’t out of reach—it’s a decision to start planning differently. Let your next journey begin now.

➡️ Want more valuable tips and mindset boosts for women traveling solo? Download my affordable Solo Travel Secrets here

🎤 And if you’re planning or attending an upcoming work or church event or women's conference and want to inspire your audience with practical strategies and powerful transformation—book me to speak: TravelWithJoyTV.com/speaking

The world is waiting. Let’s go get it—one smart, joyful step at a time.

© 2025 Joy Huber. All rights reserved.

This blog and all content herein is the intellectual property of Joy Huber and Travel With Joy TV. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact: joy@TravelWithJoyTV.com.

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