Thanks for taking the time to read this week’s blog.  It is about a type of travel that I have become very fond of – Women Solo Traveling.  Most people think having gone to over 40 countries, that I have traveled solo to most of them.  The truth is, I have been very blessed to have found friends/family to join me on most of my trips.  Last year I took my first solo trip to Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama).  I was nervous about it, but planned my trip to have guided daily excursions, and it was AMAZING!  I made friends from all over the world and really enjoyed staying in a hotel room alone for the first time.  I grew, learned more about life and myself, and was most definitely transformed.  Because I enjoyed it so much, 2 months later, I went on another solo trip to Spain (Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Granada, and Toledo) and Portugal (Lisbon, Fatima, Sintra, Cascais, Nazare, and Obidos).  I had meticulously planned both male and female solo trips for clients, but hadn’t taken one myself.  This isn’t only liberating for singles, but for parents and spouses to get time away and recharge.  I highly recommend trying it (or contacting me to help you plan another one if you already have felt this exhilaration)

There’s a sparkling facial expression reserved for women who decide to solo travel. It’s made up of widened eyes and an impish glee; the kind that sets a trail of gunpowder in your veins, ignites a fire in your chest and hits you with inspiration to travel somewhere new! C’mon darling, be adventurous! Listen to your inner self; let it spark and bring your soul out to play! You don’t have to have your whole life figured out to be able to travel alone. Once you get out there, you will learn that it isn’t such a scary idea; In fact, growing old without experiencing everything you want from life is much scarier. Life is too short not to chase your dreams; as Helen Keller points out, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

Solo female travel is no longer as uncommon as it once was. Once you get on the road, you will meet plenty of other solo travelers just like you. You can experience the vehemence you never imagined! Traveling alone can be so social, so liberating and you will gain so much confidence once you fulfill this. Oh girl, just take the leap, stick to your plan and I promise it’s all going to be so worth it! So ready to try it yourself? Here’s a comprehensive guide for all you brave ladies. We have highlighted a few safe places to start with to make your travel easy and help you navigate your fears, dreams, plans, and everything in-between.

Chicago:

One of the best places to visit in Illinois for music, theatre and art is Barack Obama’s hometown! Chicago is a fantastic place to plan a solo travel adventure. To begin with, you can take a river architecture tour. This 90 minutes tour departing from Navy Pier will give you an insight into the history of the city and orient you with many of the downtown landmarks, sights of which you are most likely to lose when walking around. The next best thing you can do is get a seat facing the riverfront at the Signature Room which is like a lounge on the 95th floor of John Hancock Building, one of the city’s tallest buildings. Here, you will get a classic Chicago experience seeing the skyline from above and watching the amazing fireworks show at Navy Pier. You can also time your Chicago travel with the blues festival because this is the one American city where the world’s best blues musicians play cheap, regular shows all over the city. You can’t visit the city without eating a filling, delicious and totally unique deep dish pizza. Pizza rivalries run deep in the city and everybody has their favorite place but you simply can’t go wrong with Lou Malnati’s; I can’t recommend it more. Also, Chicago has some of the best world-class museums and no visit here can be complete without checking out at least a few of them. This can be a great solo travel activity as you get to contemplate the amazing artwork. The Art Institute of Chicago is the top museum in the entire United States with its rivals the Met in New York; you can spend days here but barely scratch the surface! Alternatively, you can also check out the largest collection of Latin American Artwork in the country at the Mexican Art Museum. There is also this gorgeous building of the Chicago Cultural Center which displays rotating exhibitions from local artists. So do not hesitate to travel solo and get absorbed in this iconic city!

Barcelona: 

If you are considering solo travel in Spain, Barcelona is one of those unique cities you just don’t want to miss! I was just there for a second time last October and felt incredibly safe. The people are very welcoming and friendly. Every neighborhood in the city has its own distinct charm! Barceloneta, a fishing village surrounded on two sides by water should be your top choice if you want to stay close to the city’s beautiful beaches. Next, Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) is your best bet if you want to be in the midst of action. This place in the heart of old town Barcelona is close to a medieval cathedral, former royal palaces and ancient roman towers. Eixample is ideal if you want to see some of the city’s most enchanting architectures. The center of this district is home to some of Anton Gaudi’s renowned buildings like Casa Batllo and Casa Mila as well as the city’s most superior shopping street, Passeig de Gracia. In the north-east part of the district you have the distinguished Sagrada Familia Church. El Born is another neighborhood for boho, artsy and creative travelers. It is widely recognized for its contemporary art and designs. This district is home to the ornate Palau de la Musica Catalana and the Museu Picasso and several Gothic Churches, markets and the sprawling Parc de la Ciutadella. Then you also have attractions along El Raval’s border with La Rambla such as Mercat de la Boqueria and MACBA contemporary art museum. This place will help you enjoy a higher end experience at a lower price!

San Francisco:

 A hilly city in the Golden State, this is one of the California’s richest, biggest and most diverse places. It is a melting pot of heritage, history and culture. An incredible mix of places, people, culture, and adventures, the tourist attractions and sites in San Francisco range from views of sweeping bays, spectacular beaches, stunning landscapes (the Pyramids, houses of old famous artists, old salt Cathedrals and of course the world famous prisons!) to magnificent national and state parks; not to forget are the iconic architectural wonders like the famous Golden Gate Bridge and Heart Castle or the remarkable Hollywood sign and the gorgeous hills. Besides these must-see’s, the Painted Ladies is one of the most photographed spots in San Fran; a place which provides stunning contrast between the Victorian houses (SF history) and downtown skyscrapers (modern day SF). Going further north you will reach the ‘Ant-Man’ movie set tour; area famous for its hilly and winding 8 hairpin turns where scenes of the movie Ant-Man were filmed! As you make your way more on the northern side, you walk to the Union Square which is the heart of SF. It’s your city center full of stores, cars, restaurants, shopping and plazas. From here you can take a walk or even better get lost in one of the coolest Chinatowns in the country (there is even a fortune cookie factory that you can check out)! I was there for the third time last September. For something a bit different, head on to the Fisherman’s Wharf. It literally has everything you could think about- celebrity wax figures, 3D interactive films, shark feedings, dancing, music, theater, comedy, clubs, aquariums and yes, the famous sea lions! If you are into anything that has an engrossing history tied to it, you should definitely take the Alcatraz tour; it comes with a super interesting and well-detailed audio guide to takes you through the background of the famous prison. You can also hike up Kirby Cove and Lands End Trail or hikes such as Slacker Hill to get alluring views of Golden Gate. Oh boy! There’s so much more to do and see in this quirky, natural city! Indeed, solo travel in San Francisco is safe, easy, will suit your needs and make you feel empowered.

Let me be honest with you: solo travel might not always be all cozy and pretty. There might be moments where you won’t be comfortable alone. Sometimes it may hurt, you might even have an emotional break down, but that’s perfectly okay. Because the journey will transform you and it will change you in a good way. It will leave marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart and on your body. You will be able to take something with you and leave something good behind. “I think it’s very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person”, notes Oscar Wilde. “Ten years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do and the choices that you didn’t make than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain