Preparing for any solo trip can often bring on some fears, especially if it is your first solo trip, and for good reason, as there are a lot of things that can cause anxiety.

If there is one piece of advice that I can give, is that you can overcome these worries, and the fears that you obsess about before you travel will drift away once you arrive at your destination.

I firmly believe that solo travel for women is one of the best ways to learn about yourself and the world. Taking a solo trip is a fantastic way to grow. And when it comes to solo travel destinations, the options are endless!

Here are a few of the most common fears you face as a solo female traveler and how to overcome them!

Safety

Some of the biggest fears that a solo female traveler will have are concerns of safety, but it is something that can be mitigated. Criminals are generally opportunists that look for vulnerable travelers who have their attention diverted, or have bags or items out in the open.

While you may not be able to control everything in terms of safety, make sure that you are smart, keep your wallet and documents in an inside pocket and avoid wearing clothing or accessories that will make you stick out.

READ NEXT: Ten Solo Female Travel Safety Tips

Unwanted Attention from Men

Another concern that many women will have is that the men in certain countries will be pushy or aggressive. While dressing conservatively may reduce such attention, responding to such behavior by being firm and confident is typically enough to deter the men.

If the situation does start to develop and get worse, it’s best to move to a public area where you can ask for help, such as a restaurant, or a police station.

Table for One

On my first solo trip, this was one of my main fears because I realized I had never had a meal alone out in public before. Five years later, it has become a normal occurrence, and I don’t mind one second of it.

As I’ve said before, solo travel isn’t like the movie Castaway. You won’t be drawing a face on a volleyball to sit across the table from you!

Eating alone allows you to make friends with locals, waiters, and other travelers, and really enjoy the experience of dining in your destination.

Loneliness

Being lonely is something that can happen to anyone, but as you spend time away from friends and family, this can be something that a lot of solo female travelers experience. Knowing this ahead of time, you can plan to Skype home or to call friends at specific times.

You will also meet people along your trip, and if you are sociable in your hostel or accommodation, then you will rarely find yourself without anyone to talk to.

Out of Comfort Zone

This is a natural fear to have, but until you are actually on your trip, you won’t really understand how well you respond to the experience of traveling.

The biggest thing you will probably learn is how resilient you are, and even if you are terribly anxious about being out of your comfort zone, you will be astounded at how resourceful you can be once things start to happen.

Getting Stranded

A very valid fear, finding yourself stranded somewhere unfamiliar can be very scary, but in reality, it is something that happens to very few people as they travel.

The key thing here is to make sure that you have a backup plan and know what you will do in emergency situations. Having the contact number for your travel insurance company’s emergency line is a good place to start!

I highly recommend World Nomad’s travel insurance.

I always recommend making copies of your passport and travel documents and storing them digitally so you can access them if needed.