Travelling alone can feel intimidating at any age, and even more so as we get older. But here’s the quiet truth many women discover once they try it: solo travel isn’t lonely, or reckless, or second-best. It’s liberating.
For women in their third act, solo travel offers a rare mix of freedom, learning, and confidence-building that’s hard to find anywhere else. Yes, it comes with challenges — but the benefits often stretch far beyond the trip itself.
The Unexpected Benefits of Travelling Solo Later in Life
1. Flexibility Without Compromise
You get to design the trip you actually want — not the committee decision version. Want to splurge on business class because you know your knees will thank you? Do it. Want a slow-paced, art-filled month in Lisbon instead of a 10-city marathon? No one’s rushing you. One of the delicious gifts of aging: you don’t need anyone’s permission.
2. Total Freedom With Your Time
No school schedules. No limited vacation days. No waiting for a friend to “finally be ready.” If you’re lucky enough to have the health, curiosity, and savings — the world becomes beautifully available. You can stay longer, linger more deeply, or wander with no itinerary at all. That’s not just travel — that’s reinvention.
3. Real Learning, Beyond The Guidebook
Travelling solo sharpens every sense. You notice more. You ask more. You rely on yourself — and rediscover your own capability. Whether you’re figuring out the Paris Métro, bargaining in a Moroccan souk, or learning the secret to getting cheap fares on a British train from a chatty local (true story), the learning is both practical and personal. Confidence grows each time you navigate something new.
Practical Tips for Successful Solo Travel (50s, 60s, 70s+) Beyond
These tips come from seasoned older solo travellers – including me.
1. Plan Ahead — But Don’t Over-Schedule
Allow for rest. Know how far you can physically walk in a day. Book your first few nights before you land. If you’re hopping cities, a simple spreadsheet can be your best friend. I put together a simple one that includes names and addresses of hotels, airline reservation confirmations along with dates.
2. Try A “Hybrid” Solo Trip
Not sure you’re ready for full solo? Try a mix: a few solo days, a short group tour, or meeting a friend halfway through. It helps you build confidence without throwing you in the deep end.
3. Let Technology Be Your Travel Buddy
eSIM cards (no more hunting for Wi-Fi)
Translation apps – they can speak for you
Offline maps like Google Maps or Maps.me
WhatsApp or text check-ins with someone at home so they know where you are
Technology = independence, safety, and calm.
4. Pack Lighter Than You Think
Two small, manageable bags beat one giant suitcase. Especially if you’re boarding trains, ferries, or cobblestone streets. If you need something you didn’t pack buy it – its part of the fun.
5. Build in Connection
Solo doesn’t mean solitary. Join a walking tour, a cooking class, a language school, a yoga class or a day trip group. Fellow travellers and locals often gravitate toward older solo women — we tend to look approachable and interesting.
6. Safety is Smart, Not Scary
Stay aware. Trust your instincts. Keep copies of documents both virtual and in physical. Share your itinerary with someone. Buy travel insurance. You’re not being paranoid — you’re being prepared.
7. Expect Things To Go “Wrong” — and Call It Adventure
Missed trains, weather surprises, confusing signs, lost socks — they all become plot twists. The biggest shift? Choosing curiosity over frustration. Be patient and keep a sense of humour.
The World Is Still Yours
Solo travel isn’t about proving something. It’s about expanding your life in a way that only you can. And yes — it’s absolutely possible, joyful, and deeply meaningful in your third act.
And honestly? You’ve already mastered harder things than navigating an airport. You’ve raised children, led teams, and lived through loss. A solo train ride in Italy is not going to be the thing that breaks you.
Here’s the real plot twist: people will assume you’re brave for travelling alone — but mostly, you’ll just feel… free. You’ll eat when you’re hungry, nap when you feel like it, wander down strange streets because they look interesting, and talk to people you’d never meet if you were chatting with a travel companion about whether it’s too early for gelato.
So go. Go before you’ve “finished planning.” Go before you “feel ready.” Go now, so you can come home with a story that starts with “Well, you’re not going to believe this…”
Another very touching & insightful news letter. Although sad for the loss of your dear friend, you have offered an inspirational & mindful approach to living as a senior. However one decides to define choices available to them. Loss of health, managing unexpected or unplanned changes & other life challenges is a part of living. Different for & how each of us responds.
Thank you for providing a myriad of resources to support personal efforts. There have been significant gems for me.