The idea of exploring foreign lands, or even North America, on your own can be intimidating. This can ring especially true for women, who may feel particularly vulnerable where the local culture is unfamiliar.

But, when travel and learning are something you value, you shouldn’t have to wait for a friend or relative to join you – just go! Solo female travelers love exploring the world with Road Scholar. Journeying with us can provide an extremely enriching adventure that leaves you with new experiences, new friends and lifelong memories.

Women today are venturing outside of their comfort zone and are seeking challenging and rewarding experiences as opportunities for learning and growth. Once you know how to travel alone, traveling solo is a great way to learn about yourself, in addition to the place you’re exploring.

To ensure that you’re going to have the best solo adventure, we’ve compiled a few tips that will help female travelers maximize their experience and minimize their worry. Visit the special resource page for solo travelers to help you navigate the world of solo travel.

1. Research Your Destination

Where’s the best place for local cuisine? What is the public transit situation? Are men more forward in this area? The best way to ensure a stress-free adventure is to do the research.

You don’t have to have every detail hammered out, but the more you know ahead of time, the more relaxed you can be in the moment and make the most of your experience.

Try to anticipate any problems you may have and learn how to avoid them as well as research the best local hotspots and historic finds.

2. Be Sure Someone Knows Where You’re Headed

Prepare an itinerary, however rough, with contact information for your cell phone and the hotels where you’ll be staying.

Share this itinerary with a friend or family member at home so they know where you are and when you plan to be back, and check in with them throughout your trip. It’s always good to have someone who knows where you are when you’re traveling on your own.

3. Meet the Locals or Other Travelers

Spark up a conversation with a local at a coffee shop or another traveler in line for the Louvre. Chances are, if they’re on their own, they’re looking to make friends, too. Ask a local for the best places to explore and perhaps they’ll even show you around.

Technology has been a great help to solo female travelers, so check out websites and apps like mealsharing.com and EatWith to connect you with a local to share a home-cooked meal.

4. Set up an International Phone Plan

If you’ll be going out of the country, contact your mobile phone provider and find out what kind of international plans they offer.

Having a working phone with you on your travels can give you peace of mind in case of emergency and also makes it easier to navigate and look up information like museum hours if you have a smart phone.

Being able to talk to friends and family can also make you feel more connected to home and gives you the opportunity to share your daily adventures with the ones you love.

5. Try Organized Group Travel

Traveling solo doesn’t mean you have to travel alone. Explore a destination with a group of likeminded peers and immediately bond over the shared experience of discovering new cultures and new places.

You’ll most likely meet more solo travelers who are looking to make friends. Road Scholar even sets up roommate matching on most programs or has plenty of options to enjoy a single room at no extra cost. Have the planning done for you and the worry taken out of the equation so you can make the most of your new adventure.

Traveling solo is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. Don’t let fear stop you from immersing yourself in new cultures, learning history and knocking off one more place on your bucket list.

Want to learn more?

Check out our list of women-only programs here or our list of learning adventures perfect for solo travel here.