Though solo travelling is an aspiration I am yet to fulfil, my experiences travelling in a group have significantly influenced how I envision solo travelling as a woman to be.
...there were occasions where our vulnerability as women became apparent.
Last summer, between finishing Sixth Form and starting university, I was lucky to go interrailing with a group of friends, all women. Though as a group of 5 we benefitted from safety in numbers, there were occasions where our vulnerability as women became apparent. In those moments, I was incredibly grateful for the support of my friends, and, looking back, I can see how those situations could have escalated had I been alone.
We opted to stay in hostels which have a very lively and social atmosphere, making them popular with solo travellers and groups alike. It was interesting to see the different attitudes that male and female solo travellers had towards their safety, as the men were largely more willing to be spontaneous than the women, not wanting to be caught out in an unfamiliar place.
Concerns for our safety were a unifying factor between the women, forming an instant understanding between us. Before nights out we all made sure to have a way to contact each other, in case we got lost. The same level of concern was not shared by the male solo travellers we met, who didn’t always think to consider such eventualities.
Although it’s sad that we live in a world where women especially have to imagine the worst-case scenario in order to protect themselves, this shared experience creates a unique connection and trust between people who have only just met. Everyone’s willingness to look out for each other put to rest some of the concerns I had for solo travelling, and I feel more confident in thinking about doing so.
