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How to Make Meaningful Connections While Traveling Solo as a Woman
- Jessica Seiders
- Nov 30, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 20
Solo travel means taking a bold step into a world that is both familiar and new.
It’s a chance to rediscover who you are while navigating new places and meeting people who may just change your life.
For women travelers over 40, whether you’re an empty nester embracing a new chapter in your life, reexamining your career path, or wanting to go on a meaningful escape, solo travel can create the ideal mix of connection and independence.
While setting off on your own and navigating by yourself can feel daunting, it doesn’t mean you’ll be alone.
The truth is, solo travel as a woman opens a lot of doors and can create the most genuine connections and friendships along the way.
If you’re craving to travel alone but also want the option to meet like-minded people, here’s how you can find your community along the way.
Join Purpose-Driven Travel Groups
Whether you want this to be the highlight of your travel or just want to join for a short period, seeking out travel groups made especially for women can be a great way to connect with others.
These groups focus on creating a welcoming environment meant for sharing experiences and life transitions.
Women-Centered Travel Groups
Traveling Women Official is a great place to start. It connects female travelers from all over the world, offering an inclusive, welcoming space to meet others who are on similar journeys.
Whether you're looking for a fun group tour in a specific location or a more laid-back experience where you can reflect and relax, these groups organize trips that cater to women, fostering a sense of community wherever you go.
Transformational Retreats
Consider joining retreats that focus on personal growth or healing. These retreats are ideal for women who want to do more than just sightseeing. They are looking for opportunities to form deeper connections or a personal transformation.
From yoga to mindfulness, these experiences allow you to meet women who share similar passions and goals as you.
Stay or Book Accommodations That Encourages Connections
Not all accommodations are made the same. Most solo female travelers sometimes find it difficult to meet other people because their accommodations don’t even have a common space that fosters interactions among travelers.
If this is something you want then opt for places that emphasize community-building or social interaction. Of course, make sure to also keep your safety in mind while making your choice.
Women-Only Retreats & Lodging
Pick places that cater to women. For example, Casa Fuzetta in Portugal is known for hosting women-only events that create a cozy, welcoming environment. The beauty of these accommodations is they give you a chance to bond with others through shared meals, activities, and common spaces.
Boutique Hotels or Small Inns
These small, intimate spaces often have a homey feel where hosts engage with their guests, making it easy to strike up conversations. Whether it’s a coffee bar, cozy lounge, or shared kitchen, these places encourage interactions and friendships to blossom naturally.
Co-Living Spaces
If you prefer a more laid-back, flexible atmosphere, co-living spaces are fantastic options. These spots are ideal for solo travelers because they have communal spaces for yoga, workshops, or casual gatherings, making it easy to meet fellow travelers without feeling any pressure.
Sign Up For Local Workshops and Activities
Even if your chosen accommodations don't have any area for interaction, it doesn’t mean you can’t immerse yourself in the culture and meet new people.
You can get involved in local activities by participating in local workshops or classes. These experiences let you meet fellow travelers or locals who share the same skills and interests as you do.
Join Creative Classes
These can be classes in jewelry, pottery making, or painting workshops. Local activities like this offer a relaxed environment to meet others. And, you don't even need to have experience in these areas, you can join in to learn something new.
Culinary Experiences
Food is one of the best ways to bring people together. This is true for travelers far and wide. Signing up for a local cooking class, food tour, and other similar experiences is great for sharing stories, laughter, and trying out delicious new food.
Outdoor Tours and Activities
If you’re the outdoorsy type, going for a cycling tour, group hikes, or guided nature walks is also a fun way to meet new people. Group adventures can lead to great conversations and help you meet people who love adventure and outdoor activities as much as you do.
Using Digital Platforms to Meet Like-Minded Women
There are now apps and social media platforms to help you meet with locals as well as find travel buddies. You can join Facebook groups and find other fellow women travelers who are eager to also meet others. You can even do all of this even before you arrive at your destination. These platforms let you easily arrange meetups or find companions who share your travel interests.
Connect Through Traveling Women Official
Our community is a fantastic place to start. It’s a space where women travelers can connect with other women who have a passion for travel and its power to transform. Through meetups, group travels, and discussions, you can find travel buddies and create lasting friendships.
Using Travel Apps
There are travel apps made to help solo travelers meet other people. Tourlina is one example. You can connect with fellow female travelers to create friendships, go on excursions, or just a casual coffee meetup. They’re a great lifeline for anyone who loves to explore and meet others without needing to constantly plan.
Try Volunteering to Build New Connections
If you love the idea of helping others, you can volunteer abroad and get a chance to mingle with both locals and fellow travelers.
Join Short-Term Volunteering Work
There are dedicated websites like WWOOF or Workaway that let you volunteer on local projects, organic farming, eco-tourism, or community building.
Participate in Animal Welfare or Environmental Projects
If you have a strong passion for protecting animals and nature, then joining environmental cleanup drives or volunteering for animal rescue programs can be extremely rewarding. These are great causes where you can meet people who have the same passion for the planet and its creatures as you.
Embrace Slow Travel When Traveling Solo as a Woman
Traveling at a slower pace instead of zipping from one location to the next every few days can help you get to know the location and culture better. It also increases the chances of getting to know people better.
Stay Longer in One Area
The longer you stay in one place, the likelier you are to meet other travelers and locals. Meeting familiar faces daily like the barista at your favorite cafe or the vendor at the local market can help with forming friendships and make the location feel like home.
Work Remotely at Co-Working Spaces
For those who embrace the digital nomad lifestyle, working in co-working spaces can let you meet fellow remote workers and travelers. Social working spaces like these sometimes host social events and workshops to encourage interaction.
Join Neighborhood Events
From farmers markets, local celebrations, fairs, or community gatherings where they welcome new faces, joining these events are fantastic ways to socialize.
Finding Connection Through Reflection and Healing
Travel can be a transformative experience and there are plenty of women who travel for personal healing and self-reflection.
Sign Up for Mindfulness Gatherings or Women’s Circles
Wellness centers and yoga studios can offer a peaceful space to connect with others. You can bond with others and possibly form deeper friendships.
Attend Local Nature-Based or Spiritual Retreats
Sunrise meditations or forest bathing walks along with other types of retreats can give you a quiet environment to reflect on your journey and form natural connections.
Conclusion - Forming Friendships and Connections That Lasts
Solo travel is rewarding on its own. But, it’s even more special when you embrace the opportunity to meet new people, forge meaningful friendships, and create connections that last.
Whether you’re joining a women’s group, exploring a new city, volunteering, or simply slowing down to enjoy the journey, there are endless opportunities to connect with others who share your passions, dreams, and desires for personal growth and real friendships.
So, remember, solo travel doesn’t have to mean being alone.
The world is full of welcoming communities and open-hearted people ready to share their stories, their experiences, and their warmth.
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Find your travel tribe with Traveling Women Official! Join Jessica and like-minded women on a journey that fosters friendship and unforgettable experiences around the globe.
Wanna know where we're heading next? We're heading to Guatemala! Jump in and join the tour here!
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About Jessica Seiders (Founder of Traveling Women Official)
After her daughter left for college, Jessica Seiders sold everything and set off on a journey of self-discovery, leading her to create Traveling Women Official—a community empowering women to explore, embrace new adventures, and reinvent themselves.
Through relocation coaching and her book, she helps women confidently start fresh and build a life of adventure.
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