Solo Travel Advice for Women from Christine Lozada

Travel is a lifelong journey of learning.

I vividly recall the first time I read that “73% of women felt that travel empowered them” while browsing Wanderful’s blog. My instant reaction was to throw my arms up and shout “YES!”. For me, traveling—whether near or far—means immersing myself in a new environment and discovering what I learn. Each travel experience has given me fresh perspectives, helping me to understand myself better and recognize my role in making a difference in the world.

My Journey into Travel

For many years, I spent 10-12 hour days in the corporate sector with major companies. The figurative ball and chain of my cubicle grew heavier with each passing year. I learned to maximize my limited vacation days by planning personal trips around my business travels.

Eventually, I began sharing my travel experiences and discovered that the more content I produced, the more I could inspire and uplift others—especially women who would think, “If Christine can do that, so can I.”

Now, as a full-time creator making the kind of travel videos I wish I had seen before embarking on my journeys, I haven’t paused my travels. It has become my lifestyle. In communities of fellow travel creators like Wanderful, I find camaraderie when I share that “I’ve never spent more than three weeks in one place over the past eight years” (which is entirely true).

I can’t stop traveling because I refuse to stop learning.

The most valuable lesson travel imparts is perspective. Regardless of how far I wander or how often I travel (to popular destinations or remote ones), I embark on each journey expecting to learn something that reshapes my worldview. Growing up in San Diego and later living in urban settings (San Francisco and New York City), I’ve come to realize that many of my perspectives are influenced by the limited experiences I’ve had in these three locations.

One of my favorite pastimes while traveling is people-watching. Recently, while camping in Ethiopia, I spent my afternoons with my bike in an open field, observing local villagers as they came to the camp near the water source they walked hours to reach. They would stop to touch my tent, intrigued by the unfamiliar material, and gaze at me with curiosity, having never seen anyone quite like me. I would then spend an hour watching them transform cow droppings into patties and burn them to prepare their evening meal.

Upon returning home from that trip, as I turned on my stove with a simple knob to brew a cup of tea using tap water, I caught my reflection in the microwave (another option for heating tea) and pondered how my face resembled all the diverse faces I had seen right outside my window in the city I visited.

That’s just one new perspective I gained from a single journey.

Travel Planning and Safety

Like the story above, people often inquire about my “wild travel adventures,” but they also ask for my top travel planning advice.

My answer?

You can research countless activities, but with an open mind while traveling, you'll discover endless opportunities once you arrive. One ritual I follow on every trip is what I like to call “Wanderlost.” I intentionally carve out time in my schedule to wander around and purposefully get lost. You never know what you might stumble upon, and if you embrace the adventure, it’s a sure bet you’ll find something remarkable.

Many people ask me where my favorite spot to get “Wanderlost” is, and without a doubt, it's Venice, Italy. Why? The city is filled with countless winding alleyways that lead to delightful surprises: a picturesque canal, a cozy wine bar, a stunning church, an art museum, a quaint bakery, and even a street musician playing the violin—the possibilities are endless.

During my week-long solo adventure in Venice, I always make sure to download the Google Map ahead of time (in case I'm not connected via a SIM card). That way, if I get “too Wanderlost,” I can easily navigate my way back without any hassle.

As a woman, I often get asked about safety since I frequently travel alone, just me, myself, and I.

Despite the relatively adventurous journeys I embark on—like biking across Ethiopia where few tourists venture, scuba diving with manta rays while living aboard a boat in The Maldives, or spending a week searching for the blacktip shark migration with my drones, all highlights of 2021—safety remains a top concern. This is particularly important for me as a woman, especially since most of my travels are solo.

For instance, I often book hotels through Dinogo, paying particular attention to the reviews, especially comments regarding the safety of the property and its location.

I also engage in small, seemingly trivial habits that greatly enhance my experience. Whenever I eat out or sit at a bar, I position the chair next to me toward myself, drape my jacket over it, and order a water in a cocktail glass, covering it with a napkin for the imaginary friend that never arrives. You know who interrupts my dinner? No one.

Here’s one final tip for those looking to embrace the “Wanderlost” lifestyle: I avoid walking around with headphones. From a safety perspective, I prefer to be fully aware of my surroundings. I make it a point to strike up conversations with strangers. Ten years ago, I resolved to talk to every stranger as if we were lifelong friends. For example, when getting an espresso at a local café, asking the barista about their weekend often leads to fascinating local insights about where to find the best pasta in town (which I happily indulged in that evening).

After traveling solo to 8 countries and countless cities, I constantly look forward to my next solo adventure and encourage other women to do the same.

The world is truly ours to explore. My upcoming travels will lead me to… hold on. There’s a reason my travel channel is named “Where in the World is CL”… it’s because that’s the toughest question to answer correctly, keeping everyone guessing.

Christine Lozada is a travel content creator, drone pilot, and podcast host. She produces essential videos to watch before visiting a destination, empowering over 1.5 million people to travel more intelligently. A certified drone pilot, she has taught thousands how to start flying drones with ease. While on her travels, she also hosts Everyday Badassery, a podcast featuring inspiring travel tales.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Dinogo Software Corporation, its subsidiaries, or their respective parent or affiliate companies.