Solo Travel for Women Over 50: A Practical and Honest Guide.
- Bronwyn White
- Dec 22, 2025
- 7 min read
For most women over 50, solo travel doesn’t begin with a dramatic declaration or a fearless leap, as many self-help gurus or healing social media influencers will have you believe.
It begins quietly.
With a thought that keeps returning. With a trip they didn’t take because no one else could. With the realisation that waiting has become heavier than going.
This guide brings together what women over 50 actually tell us about travelling solo - the fears, the relief, the practical decisions, and the moments they didn’t expect to change them as much as they did.
Summary: Solo Travel for Women Over 50 (What Our Research Shows)
Solo travel isn’t about being brave or reinventing yourself. For most women, it’s about choice, timing, and alignment.
Based on our research with women travelling solo later in life:
Solo travel rarely begins with confidence — confidence comes after the trip
“Solo” usually means booking as one, not being alone all the time
Safety is approached as preparation, not fear
Flexible connection matters more than a constant company
The right travel format depends on energy, destination, and life stage
Clear pricing and solo-friendly design dramatically increase booking confidence
Why solo travel after 50 feels different
In our qualitative research interviews and surveys, women rarely describe solo travel later in life as spontaneous or impulsive.
They describe it as ready.
After decades of looking after everyone else, working, coordinating schedules, preferences, budgets, and responsibilities, something shifts. Travel becomes personal again.
As Claire told us:
“It was the first time in years I did something just for me.”
Another woman put it even more plainly:
“I needed to go away to remember who I am again.” – Julie
It’s about clarity.
Women know what they enjoy. They know what drains them. They know what they’ll tolerate, and what they won’t.
Solo travel becomes less about getting away from life and more about travelling in a way that fits the life they’re in now.
What “solo travel” actually looks like today
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that solo travel means being alone all the time.
That’s not how women describe it.
In reality, solo travel is better understood as booking as one — and then choosing how much connection you want along the way.
Across our research, women move fluidly between three styles.
Independent solo travel
This is full autonomy. You choose the accommodation, the pace, the plan — or the lack of one.
It appeals to travellers who enjoy researching, feel comfortable navigating logistics, and like knowing they can change their mind without negotiating.
“When you’re solo, you stop putting everyone else first. It’s freeing.” – Diane
Small group travel for solo women
Here, women book alone but travel with a small group. There’s shared experience without enforced togetherness.
“I don’t want to be alone the whole time — I just don’t want to be locked in.” – Julie
This style works especially well for women who enjoy conversation, shared meals, and moments of connection — but still want space.
Hosted departures designed for solo travellers
These trips quietly remove the mental load. Logistics are handled. Single supplements are reduced or removed. There’s often a host who keeps things running smoothly in the background.
Our research shows many women choose this format for their first solo experience — not because they lack confidence, but because they want to enjoy the trip without carrying everything themselves.
There’s no hierarchy here. The “right” format depends on the destination, the timing, and how much emotional and logistical energy you want to spend on this particular trip.
Is solo travel safe for women over 50?
This is the question women ask most often, and the way they ask it matters.
They’re not asking to be wrapped in cotton wool. They’re asking to feel respected.
“I want to know I’m safe, but I don’t want a minder.” – Christine
Safety is framed as preparation, not fear.
Women talk about:
checking neighbourhoods and lighting
choosing accommodation thoughtfully
travelling at times that feel comfortable to them
trusting their instincts without being made to feel dramatic
“I check maps, lighting, everything before I go.” – Angela
And just as importantly:
“I don’t want to be treated like I’m fragile.”
The most successful solo-friendly experiences provide information and reassurance without being controlling.
That balance is critical — especially for women who have spent much of their lives being told what they “should” or “shouldn’t” do.
The single supplement issue (and why it stops trips before they start)
Cost can be one of the quiet deal-breakers in solo travel, particularly the assumption that travelling by yourself means paying double.
The single supplement is the extra amount a solo traveller pays when occupying a room or cabin alone. But here’s the catch — it’s not an added cost.
It’s the real cost of the space you’re using. Cost of goods sold, if you like.
If there is 1 of you, you pay the full cost of the room, say $500.
If there are 2 of you travelling, you go 'halvies' - $250 each, and if there are 4 of you, you split the cost four ways to $125 each.
So, a single supplement is not a penalty; it's just the cost of the inventory - the room or the cabin.
No one in the travel industry wants to gauge the solo traveller - in fact, we are seeing more companies not charging a single supplement, so they are, in fact, subsidising your room.
The bigger issue women raise in our research isn’t the price itself - it’s clarity and transparency in pricing and inclusions.
Travellers are far more likely to book when:
Pricing is upfront and easy to understand
Solo travellers are clearly welcomed
They feel safe
The experience feels designed with them in mind, not added on as an afterthought.
This is why curated solo-friendly options matter. They remove a layer of friction that keeps many women from even dreaming about what's possible with travel.
Why flexible connection matters so much
Again and again, women in my research describe wanting the option to connect with others, not the obligation.
“A shared table is perfect. I can choose when to join in.” – Diane“
It’s nice to feel part of something without giving up your own space.” – Maria
This is where small-group and solo-designed travel works particularly well. It allows women to move between connection and solitude without explanation.
No pressure to be “on”.No guilt for opting out. No awkwardness in choosing quiet.
For many, this balance is the difference between enjoying a trip and feeling drained by it.
The change women don’t always expect
Most don’t book a solo trip expecting it to change them.
They book because the timing feels right. Or because they’re tired of waiting for someone else to go with them. Or because something in them keeps nudging.
What they describe afterwards often surprises them.
“It wasn’t a holiday. It was healing.” – Angela“
I came home different. I found a version of me I’d forgotten.” – Claire
Confidence grows quickly — sometimes after just one trip.
Not because everything went perfectly, but because they navigated it themselves. They chose themselves. They returned home knowing they could.
“After that trip, I made changes. Big ones.” – Diane
How to know you are ready.
Readiness doesn’t usually show up as certainty.
It shows up as curiosity. As restlessness. As a thought that won’t quite go away.
Women tell us they know it’s time when:
They’re tired of waiting for the right companion
The idea keeps resurfacing
They want something to look forward to
They feel pulled, not pushed
You might start small. A short break. A supported experience. A destination that feels manageable.
Confidence comes from action, not from thinking it through perfectly.
Staying connected to solo-friendly travel ideas
If solo travel, whether fully independent or with light-touch support, is on your radar, I share curated solo-friendly ideas, no single supplement opportunities I negotiate with travel companies, and upcoming small-group departures by email.
No pressure. No hype. Just options that respect where you’re at.
As one woman told us:
“The moment I booked it, I felt powerful again.” – Julie
Frequently Asked Questions About Solo Travel
Is solo travel safe for women over 50?
Our research shows that women don’t frame safety in terms of fear — they frame it as preparation.
Women travelling solo typically focus on:
Choosing accommodation carefully
Understanding neighbourhoods and transport
Travelling at times that feel comfortable
Trusting their instincts without being treated as fragile
The most successful solo-friendly trips provide information and reassurance without being controlling.
What does “solo travel” actually mean?
For most women, solo travel means booking as one, not travelling alone all the time.
In our research, women move fluidly between:
Fully independent travel
Small-group travel booked solo
Hosted departures designed for solo travellers
Groups of friends travelling together but want their own rooms
Solo travel is about choice over connection, not isolation.
Do women travelling solo midlife usually travel completely alone?
Not always.
Many women choose:
shared experiences during the day on a tour, for example
optional group meals
solo accommodation with social opportunities
What matters most is flexibility — being able to connect when they want, and opt out when they don’t.
Why does solo travel feel different after 50?
Women consistently describe solo travel later in life as intentional, not impulsive.
After decades of prioritising others, travel becomes personal again. It’s less about escape and more about travelling in a way that fits who they are now.
As one woman told us:
“It wasn’t about getting away. It was about coming back to myself.”
What is a single supplement, and why does it matter?
A single supplement isn’t a penalty — it’s simply the cost of occupying a room or cabin alone.
However, our research shows women are more likely to book when:
Pricing is transparent
Solo travellers are clearly welcomed
The experience feels designed for them, not added on
This is why solo-friendly and curated options make such a difference — they remove friction before it stops the trip altogether.
Is group travel a good option for first-time solo travellers?
Yes — and not because women lack confidence.
Our research shows many women choose small-group or hosted departures for their first solo experience because:
Logistics are handled
Decision fatigue is reduced
Connection is available but not enforced
It allows women to enjoy the experience without having to make all the decisions themselves. Just sit back and relax!
How do you know when they’re ready to travel solo?
Readiness rarely feels like certainty.
Women tell us they know it’s time when:
The idea keeps returning
They’re tired of waiting for the “right” companion or life partner to be ready
They want something to look forward to
They feel pulled, not pushed
Confidence comes from action — not from thinking it through perfectly.
Where can I find solo-friendly travel ideas without pressure?
Many travellers prefer curated, low-pressure information rather than sales-driven messaging.
Solo-friendly travel options work best when they:
respect different comfort levels
offer clarity, not hype
allow women to move at their own pace
Staying informed without urgency often becomes the first step.
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