Around the world, senior women travel on their own, exploring and discovering the world. They do so for many reasons: curiosity, desire, getting away, healing from pain, wanderlust – and one of the most common concerns is this one: am I too old to travel solo?
Here are their
questions – with comments and insights that explore their fears, hopes and
worries and provide some answers.
These women’s stories and questions were submitted to our Blog by readers from all corners of the world and all have a single thing in common: the issue of traveling solo as one gets older. Where they were phrased as questions, I tried to answer them and invited comments. The stories I let speak for themselves. I hope you’ll find something to inspire you here!
Single travel over 50 – Am I too old to travel solo?
I have been alone for
more than four years after leaving an abusive marriage of 13 years. I was an
at-home mother and only worked part-time most of my married life. I came out of
a divorce with not much due to a prenup. I retrained and currently work in the
travel industry.
My kids are all grown
up. I don’t own anything and I don’t owe a single cent, no mortgage or hire
purchase that could tie me back. I am no longer happy with my job and I’m
getting older! I have spent the last three years visiting places I could not
while I was married. I wanted to see the rest of the world; he wouldn’t let me
travel without him.
I can travel now but
all my travels are quite limited due to limited annual leave. I would like to
be able to go away for a considerable length of time. It’s a dream that has
stayed dormant in my heart all my life!
Before I start using a
walking stick to get me from A to B, I thought I should just give up my job,
pack my bag and go! I have a little bit of money but I would prefer to earn
enough to finance my trip while I am away. I would rather keep my savings to
fall back on when I return. I am not a degree holder but I know a few trades, I
was a hairdresser and did some training as a massage therapist. I thought about
travel writing but I have not written anything before. Is there any hope for
me?
My second greatest
concern is my age. Am I too old to go solo on the road? Are there options
available for women my age? I would be most grateful if you can help me.
Jessy from Ohio : I
did exactly what you’re describing at the age of 43. A bit younger than you,
perhaps, but not much. As I traveled, I met plenty of women who were far older
than I was, and many of them were traveling solo – they were on their own, kids
grown up… Many of them were younger in spirit than the 20-year-olds in the same
hostel! And if you’re a bit nervous about tackling the world on your own, you
could try to find a travel buddy for at least part of your trip (this page on
female travel companions might help).
Money is definitely a
concern. When I decided to quit everything and leave, I spent an entire year
downsizing and counting every penny. Even so, I left with very little and was
on a tight budget as I traveled, especially during the first year. You might find a
few ideas here about working and earning to travel more.
As for writing, you’d be surprised at the number of writers who become saleable yet had never written before… it’s hard work and it’s not for everyone – but it is definitely worth a try, and I think you’ll have fun learning. Have a look at my free travel writing course to give you an idea.
Comment from Gwen:
First of all, congratulations on having the courage and tenacity to create a
new life for yourself! I’m a career transition coach as well as a women’s
retreat provider and writer so I know very well just what it takes to begin
life anew at any age. And, while I wasn’t in an abusive relationship, I’ve just
left my 30-year marriage as I approach 63 and am discovering the joys and challenges
of living solo first-hand.
But much more
importantly, I encourage you to travel solo. I do and thoroughly enjoy it. I
know women in their 70s who still travel on their own. And while she doesn’t
travel, one of my favorite women is Catherine, who is now 95 and was teaching
Tai Chi when she was 94!! She is definitely my inspiration for the future.
If you haven’t
traveled much and if you haven’t traveled solo before, you may want to start
small and build your travel ‘muscles’. By that, I mean perhaps taking some
short weekend trips by yourself to nearby towns or events. Given that I think
you are still quite young, you may want to take a year to try out different
things before making a major commitment. You may even want to take a two-week
trip by yourself before you head off for an extended trip all alone.
Not that I think
anything awful awaits you. But there are times when plans don’t work out and it
can be very lonely returning to a hotel room all by yourself. Learning how to
bounce back from those experiences, I think, can be easier when you know home
is only another night or two away.
You’ll also discover
just what kind of pace and rhythm of travel experience really works best for
you. Are you someone who likes to be up and out walking around at the crack of
dawn? Do you like to be around other people or by yourself? Are you a ‘grab a
sandwich for lunch’ kinda girl or do you like to luxuriate in a cafe as you
watch the world go by? This discovery process is delightful and it can help you
make really good decisions about the places and types of experiences you want
to invest your hard-earned money into on longer trips.
My big travel joy at
the moment, in addition to regular trips to Portugal, is to camp by myself. I
bought I little pop-up tent trailer this fall and have begun spending nights
under the stars. My friends think I’m crazy, but I can’t tell you how much
pleasure I get from making my own little campfire in the evening, sitting under
the stars and sipping a glass of wine while I contemplate all the great
adventures I’m going to create for myself.
So young
whippersnapper, travel away is my advice. Enjoy.
Comment from Karina in upstate New York: I used to think travel was for young people but I don’t think so anymore. I was backpacking for six months and I was in a guest house in Cape Town and met this wonderful lady from Canada, she was probably 80 and a great-grandmother and had all the pics to prove it! She was sleeping in a quad with everyone else and even stayed up to party a couple of times! The most awesome bit is she came overland from London on her own, not with Kontiki or a tour bus or anything. She just figured it out! She said she always wanted to travel far away but she had kids and then grandchildren and a husband and responsibilities but when her husband died she decided this was IT and others could be responsible and she was going to see the world. From Cape Town, I think she was going to Madagascar and then to India where she wanted to stay at an ashram. Awesome!
Comment from Sandy: I went to Paris totally alone for my 70th birthday gift to myself. I only knew a few phrases of French but found people are very helpful and kind. I stayed in a fairly nice small hotel in the 7th arrondissement in the Rue Cler area near the Eiffel Tower. I stayed 9 days…had a ball! I took buses everywhere because I don’t like the idea of the underground…it was so exciting!! GO!!
Comment from Bodil: I
am now 76 and have traveled alone since I was 65. I mean alone…. no tours or
other people involved. I have been to Australia twice…1.5 to 2 months at a
time. Thailand. Vietnam twice. Laos, Cambodia and I absolutely loved it. There
has been no trouble whatsoever. People are very helpful and friendly. In
Australia, I lived in hostels and got along well with the young people. I
looked up where I want to go on the web and went for it. I don’t have much
money either, so I am very careful.
Comment from Shirl:
I’m 61, female and made the decision this is what I really want to do. Don’t be
afraid of something that can add something wonderful to your life. Just take
natural precautions as you would anywhere. Set your soul to enjoy the journey!
I know I am!! Best to you!
Comment from Sunny
Sky: Most of the comments on here are from women that have money to travel
anywhere. I am traveling the USA in a small Sun Lite pop-up camper on $500 a
month. So, I am a frugal traveler. I am female, 66 years old and in great shape
and can use any advice for my adventure. I am currently living in Arizona and
cannot wait to hit the road!
Comment from Shelisa
Burke: I started traveling with plenty of money. I sold my house and took off
for South America at 60. Now I’m in Dubai, no money left. I’m 62 I’m going to
go to the Maldives with a guy I met in India and then do the Camino and Lourdes
and see what’s next. I’m a hairstylist and know life is short and I want to see
the world and write about it. Hope we all live our dreams now no matter how
much money we have. The universe will provide!!
Comment from Dorothy: I left a loveless marriage three years ago after 32 years of being together. I wanted to travel and to a large degree we did as a couple but it was always to the same places and never abroad, which was my desire for many years. Since I’ve been on my own I’ve been to France, Italy, Spain, Gibraltar and Morroco. I had a fabulous time and can’t wait for my next trip to Ireland. I will be turning 69 in August. It is liberating to see all of these fascinating places, even on my own. I’d rather travel alone than sit at home wishing I had. Happy travels.
Comment from Sandy: I
am sitting at home this afternoon planning out the next few years of my life. I
am 62 next week and have done a fair amount of traveling over the last 42 years and
yes, some of it alone. I have done most of my traveling in India and Southeast
Asia and Australia. I live in New Zealand. Am now planning to go to Sri Lanka
next year and then after that, I want to go to England, Spain, France,
Portugal… I will be doing this alone on a limited budget… I know it seems a
long way of for this trip to the Northern Hemisphere but I am not free
work-wise, mortgage-wise, or time-wise until then…
Comment from “an older
woman”: I am so glad that I googled this and found this site. I am now 55 and
just booked a three-week trip to Barcelona, Spain. I too am finally emerging
from being out of a 26-year relationship for the last four years where I have
pretty much become a hermit. I did the backpacking thing when I was 19
back in 1979 and I have had the greatest desire to go back but never have. I
surprised myself when I hit the purchase button for the tickets. I am scared
and excited. Scared because I felt like maybe I was too old and now I feel more
empowered and have more of a devil-may-care attitude to not worry about what other
people think and to just go for it. I like to do the hostel thing too and have
three weeks booked at three different hostels. It is more fun to do it on the
frugal side for me but if I really want something I will not hesitate to get
it. Thank you ladies for the inspiration and I hope to meet any of you someday
on my journeys. Happy trails.
Comment from Anna: My
big trip around the world at age 50. I was lucky with my earned vacation from
working as a nurse plus a few weeks without pay I decided to see the world. My
husband was not interested. I left Northern Ontario. My first stop was New Orleans,
then the Hawaiian Islands then a visit to my girlfriend in Sydney. Later on, I
concentrated on Asia: Japan, China, plus Hong Kong, Bali, Thailand. India was
not easy to navigate being a woman. Next stop London, then Warsaw, Istanbul and
Jerusalem with a side trip to Petra. Last was New York and back to Canada.
Before my trip, I
decided what I wanted to see in each country. It was a rush to see things in 13
weeks! I should not try to mix too many cultures in so short time but I was
greedy I wanted to see as much as I could. I’m older now but I hope to see New
Zealand and Alaska one day. I cheer people who like adventure are curious about
other cultures and are not afraid to challenge themselves. Good luck my female
friends.
Comment from Donna Starr: I’ve been traveling alone for years – took off at 53 and lived in Europe for two years and learned the language(s) as I needed. I volunteered, taught English, you name it and have a cornucopia of buddies in nearly every country that I can visit whenever I want. I just traveled to Cuba – alone, as a teacher. Try it! The inquisitive nature of women makes friendship, connection and compassion a natural way of being. Look for my own travel story on Amazon (Cuba for Mama) and hit the road yourself! I enjoy this site so much, very inspiring. Saludos.
Comment from Mimi: I am 63 and heading to Thailand in a few days. I have traveled all over South America for months alone and I have never had any problems, knock on wood. It wasn’t until my girls were grown and I was older (48) that I was able to travel abroad. I could never afford it as a single working mom, but I discovered ways of financing travel by buying and selling some nice products, but never more than enough to cover my costs. My point is to let go of your fears and just do it. One will never know what is waiting when walking through a new door. The path is there. One turn and who knows what beauty, what life-altering experience lies ahead.
Can women over 70 be independent travelers?
How about women over
70 – is there a place for us as independent travelers?
There is no such thing as being too old for independent travel! Some years
ago, I woke up in a dorm room in Durban to find a man getting ready and
slipping on his backpack – he must have been well over 80 and going strong.
Often, in Africa or Asia or Latin America, I ran into older women solo or in
pairs. On they trudged, cutting a swathe through the backpacker trail with a
gusto that beat that of women half their age. They stayed in hostels like the
rest of us, clambered onto pickup trucks – albeit a bit more slowly, doing
everything we did.
Remember Dervla
Murphy? As of this writing, she’s still going strong. She has traveled solo
well into her 80s – and written bestsellers after each trip.
These days, women in
their 70s can be fitter than women half their age – age on the road is often
relative, more a state of mind than a state of the body.
If I’m still around, I
have every intention of traveling into my 60s, my 70s, my 80s, and onward from
there. I really believe that the only thing ever holding you back is yourself.
I think that what’s
most important in all areas of our lives as we get older is that we don’t
simply do things the way our friends, family and culture define them. That we
become very proactive about checking in with ourselves, taking the time to
define what our needs are, becoming aware of what fears are limiting us and
addressing all of that in the choices we make about travel.
Comments from Sil : A
friend and I walked El Camino de Santiago in Spain in 2002. She was 74 at the
time. She walked it again in 2007 at the age of 80. Another friend will be
trekking the Annapurna circuit in October at age 77. I am not 70 yet but hope
that I will still be bumming around Europe with my backpack and staying in
Youth Hostels when I am 80! I’m looking forward to a whole raft of blogs
starting to be written by us old gals who are redefining what life is like
after 70 and how we are creating ways of living our lives that are re-writing
expectations.
Comment from Evelyn Hannon : Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I am in the enviable position of hearing from traveling women all over the world. Their ages range from 18-80. (Ed. Note: since this comment, Evelyn sadly passed away but her soul stays with us, as does her indomitable spirit of exploration. We miss you, Evelyn!) All are passionate about travel and I feel most don’t consider age a factor in following that passion. What I do think happens to a 70-year-old woman is that she travels differently than she did at 25. And for every woman that difference is unique. Now, they may share a hotel room with a pal but go off and do their own thing during the day. This ensures that they have a security blanket should one of them need help in a foreign destination. I at 70 find that I no longer need to rush about every day to see EVERYTHING. I have absolutely no problem with sitting in a cafe in Paris reading for a couple of hours or people-watching. In other words, I saw the Eiffel Tower 40 years ago. Now I’m happy exploring little neighborhoods and chatting with the locals.
Comment from Birgit:
Two years ago I spent six weeks backpacking through Tanzania together with my
mother, who at the time was 64. I would also describe her as less active (guess
Leyla and I may have different definitions for that), but that didn’t stop her
from climbing Kilimanjaro. And loving every minute of it! When I was
researching our trip I also discovered that people in their 70s and 80s
regularly make the summit. Not only that, they also have better success rates
than younger people.
It is a pervasive idea
in our society that younger equals better, but nothing could be further from
the truth. It is a shame that in the process of growing up most people are
pretty much brainwashed into believing that the older you get the less useful
you are, and the less able, and the less you should be doing and living.
I live to travel and I have been saying all my life that I have no intentions of slowing down until I reach my eighties. At 42 I am only a spring chicken, but from all I have seen so far, life only gets better and better with age. I fully expect this trend to continue and see absolutely no reason why it shouldn’t. I very much look forward to the next 42 years of travel and adventure! Never, ever let anyone make you feel like you’re “too old” for anything.
It is safe for a 74-year-old woman to travel halfway around the world?
I have travelled many
times before but this time I seem to have lost my confidence and have fearful
nerves. I’m planning to travel Sydney/Singapore/Sicily/London/Chiang
Mai/Sydney. I guess it’s the logistics of it all. Two medium suitcases, then
London to Italy only allows one – just a bit fearful, but have spent the money!
I feel a little frightened now that it’s near.
Feeling a bit of fear and anxiety before such a major trip is perfectly normal,
whether you’re 74 or 24. You’d be surprised at the number of emails I get from
young women in their early twenties expressing the same fears – and more! Let’s
deconstruct a bit.
First, your itinerary
sounds wonderful. All these places are as safe for women as they are for men,
and as safe for older women as for younger ones.
The first thing you
need to deal with is the long flights. Avoiding jet lag and deep-vein
thrombosis are things you should take seriously. Take the proper precautions
and you should be just fine.
Then there’s your
luggage. You basically have two possibilities: either you cut back to a single
suitcase, or you pay the extra luggage charge on your European leg. Check the
airline’s website to see how much it would cost and then decide. The less
comfortable option would be to change one of those suitcases into a backpack
with rollers and take it on board while checking the other one.
I can’t help you with
the logistics but I can tell you that the places you’re visiting are all
interesting, welcoming, and fun – everything you could possibly wish for. London
and Singapore have excellent public transportation, so you’ll easily get
around. Chieng Mai is cheap so you’ll be able to get around everywhere by cab.
Everything appears
poised to provide you with a fabulous trip to wonderful destinations. If you’re
more tired now than you were a few years ago, just take it easy. You don’t have
to see everything in a single day. Cut back on the sightseeing and make sure
you stay within your comfort zone. Make sure you’re comfortable at all times –
especially while walking. Keep your money and cards partly in your hotel safe
and partly in a travel money belt or in an anti-theft bag so you won’t have to
worry about waving around wads of cash. No bum bags – they’re easy to dip into.
These are standard precautions for anyone and there’s no reason you should
travel any differently than the thousands of other women – of all ages – you’ll
be coming across.
I would guess that
your itinerary may have been chosen because you know people in those places. If
you do, that’s great. If not, you might try making contact with a few people
before you go, through some of these hospitality exchanges. And remember –
senior travel doesn’t have to be different: a lot of it is about attitude.
Writer Dervla Murphy can’t have been too far from 80 when I ran across her in
Uganda a few years ago.
Comment from Laura:
Good for you! I hope when I am your age I will demonstrate your chutzpah.
Suggestion – take one bag. The clothes won’t matter, you will NOT wear anything you
think. Mix and match and if you wear the same thing over and over, who cares?
You are changing locales anyway! You will regret the TWO bags….you know people
always pack way more than they really need.
Comment from JAVS:
Your question asks about safety. This is something you will have to be
responsible for. You will be as “safe” at 74 as you were at 34 (if you traveled
abroad then). Use the same precautions (important docs and money in waist or
shoulder pouches inside your clothing) that you have used in the past or as
suggested by others on this blog. Keep alert for stalkers and avoid them by
going into a merchandising establishment or bank if you feel someone is
following you. I took a long trip (London, Italy, France, Eastern Europe and
Russia) a year ago (age 73) and had a great time, but I agree with the comments
about luggage. My biggest hassles were with bags (I had two); I had trouble
when there were no elevators or lifts available at train stations.
Comment from Bren: Hi
Jules, I share your age range, and am planning to travel after 18 months in
Malaysia as my travel base, I’m an Aussie solo with plans for Turkey, the
Mediterranean, to Spain, UK, Ireland and more. I’m taking the time to smell the
roses and immerse myself in the culture, maybe volunteer as well. I will only
take one bag, amazing how little you need outside essential papers and medical
supplies. All else can be bought (and discarded via charities) as needed,. My
essentials as an artist include a small art supply case and travel journal and
a camera. Minimal clothes and underwear changes include a sarong for various
uses; a small, thick hand towel does fine. (Need a packing list? Here’s a
long-term travel packing list.) Free web access is now everywhere.
Comment from Linda: I’m 73 and have been traveling internationally and solo for the past 10 years. You definitely don’t need the hassle of two bags! As others have suggested, carry only mix-and-match things. (Ed note: using packing cubes will help make it all fit into a single bag!) I now only carry a backpack as even one suitcase with wheels causes problems at train stations stairs, buses and lots of other places with curbs and cobblestone streets. And, I agree, pace yourself! You don’t have to see it all in one day. Be a traveler, not a tourist. My favorite female solo traveler was Patty from New Zealand. I met her in Rome on a six-month tour of Europe – she had a single large backpack and she was 76. What an inspiration she was to me and as you will be to others. Go girl! Have fun.
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