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Independent Singapore
02-07-2025
- Independent Singapore
‘I worked 10 jobs to see the world, and now I travel for free!' — 19 y/o Singaporean student shares how Gen Zs like her can solo travel too
SINGAPORE: From lugging wine trays to lugging backpacks, Jaedyn Choo's side hustle evolution is the Gen Z survival guide we didn't know we needed. While most 19-year-olds spend their holidays bingeing on Netflix or catching up on sleep, Jaedyn was backpacking across six countries and 18 cities—on a shoestring budget and her own dime. That's right, not with her parents' money. Not with some fancy scholarship. Just elbow grease, hustle, and a lot of time in 10-hour shifts. Her secret? Working odd jobs during her school breaks and then turning the whole experience into an income-generating content machine. From polytechnic to passport stamps It all began with a craving—not for food or fame—but for freedom. Jaedyn wanted to just leave everything behind and see the world, but as a full-time student in Singapore with no trust fund or well-padded allowance, the only way out was to earn her own way. 'My first solo backpacking trip was to Thailand when I had just turned 19,' she says, and then, it was Bangkok. Chiang Mai. Pai. The backpacker trifecta. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider Except… she didn't go alone at first. She eased in with three other fellow free-spirited female travellers from Sweden, Romania, and the UK. 'I liked it so much! I liked being around people who shared the same mindset—to leave everything and see the world!' Jaedyn expressed her excitement. And just like that, solo travel became her preferred lifestyle. Hustle now, wander later However, here's the twist: Jaedyn's parents didn't approve of her lifestyle choice. Not one bit! So rather than use the allowance they gave her—what many teens would call free money—Jaedyn took the high road, or in her case, the working-class grind. 'I felt it would be disrespectful for me to use the allowance they gave me (for something they didn't support),' she says. So, she took on ad hoc jobs. From being a wine server to taking on cleaning gigs and packing jobs, if it paid, she just took it. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider During the first half of her school holidays, Jaedyn would grind through 10-hour shifts, earning around S$12 to S$13 an hour. That's roughly S$100 to S$130 a day if she played it right—enough to save S$800 in two weeks. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider 'S$800 could give me two weeks in Thailand if I were really on a budget,' she says, with the nonchalance of someone who's cracked the backpacker math code. The budget backpacking blueprint If you want to copy Jaedyn's playbook? Here's her minimalist travel math: Flights: <S$300 (round trip) Hostels: S$10–S$15/night (shared with up to 20 strangers, but hey—adventure!) Meals: <S$5 per meal (hello, Thai street food!) Fun: S$10 a day Daily Spend: <S$50 (all in, including activities) Checked Baggage: Nope. Saves S$60–S$70 per flight She avoids restaurants as if they were tourist traps (which they usually are) and chooses hostels over hotels—even if it means sharing communal bathrooms and dealing with late-night snorers. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider All that budgeting paid off, literally. But what Jaedyn does when S$800 isn't enough… 'I usually spend all my money,' Jaedyn admits. 'In fact, on my first few trips, I didn't even have enough to book my return flight.' She then had to borrow money from her sister to fly home. Hustle again. Pay her back. And repeat the cycle. Between classes and coursework, Jaedyn squeezed in four trips in less than a year. That's more air miles than most office workers clock in a decade. From backpacker to content creator In late 2023, something shifted. A casual phone call with a TikTok influencer friend changed everything. 'He mentioned that he was making a few hundred dollars from one video,' Jaedyn shared, and compared that with how she was working 10 hours just to earn a hundred. It was her lightbulb moment. Here she was, filming her own backpacking adventures anyway. So, she thought, why not monetise them, right? 'It's something I could do while overseas. It will give me a solid income, and it requires less time, so I could do it while studying… and I had no boss telling me what to do. I could post whatever I wanted.' So she has now flipped the script. Instead of working to travel, she travels while working. And guess what happened? Her follower count exploded! Over 20,000 people tuned in to her raw, relatable takes on budget travel and solo backpacking—something most Singaporeans can only dream about. Turning views into value Soon, Jaedyn wasn't just inspiring wanderlust—she was inspiring action. 'So many people messaged me saying they went on their first solo trip because they saw my videos. It made me really happy. It was something Singaporeans didn't know much about,' she expressed her joy at how her lifestyle resonated with many. Brands started to notice, too. One video could now fetch her S$500 to S$700. She was putting in roughly 30 hours of creative work per month—and earning far more than she had ever done cleaning hotel rooms. 'Back then, I'd take like 80 hours to make $800. Now I'm spending 30 hours to earn about S$1,000–S$2,000,' she says. That's a six-time return on her time. Photo: YT screengrab/@cnainsider And yes, she's still flying. Only now, her trips are longer, her experiences richer, and her wallet fuller. No regrets, just receipts With more cash flow, Jaedyn now travels for up to a month at a time, upgrades her adventures, and still has enough left over to save for a rainy day. 'I feel that when I work hard for my own money, I don't ever feel guilty spending it because I worked hard with the goal of spending it on myself,' she explained. And she doesn't sugarcoat her journey as well. Everyone around her—from relatives to friends—was against her going solo travelling, probably out of fear or concern for her safety. 'I had family members send me a chat (message) with paragraphs of prayers, thinking I was going to die there,' she laughs. 'But I knew that it was something I really wanted to do, so I did it anyway.' Side hustle, not full-time fantasy For now, content creation is the dream job that lets Jaedyn live her dream life, but she's not banking on it forever. 'It's a good side hustle to have, but I don't think I'll ever pursue it as a full-time thing,' she says, adding that 'It fluctuates too much to give me a sense of stability. Hopefully, within the next four or five years, it can sustain, but I also know that with something like this, there's always an expiry date.' In the meantime, she's doing what most people spend their entire lives waiting to do—travelling the world on her own terms, making money doing what she loves, and rewriting what it means to be young and financially independent in Singapore. Jaedyn's 3 golden travel rules: Work before you wander – Use school breaks strategically. Spend smart, not hard – Hostels over hotels. Street food over fine dining. Turn your story into content – If you're already living the journey, film it. Final boarding call In a city obsessed with degrees and high-paying jobs, Jaedyn's story is a passport out of the pressure cooker. It's proof that you don't need to be rich to travel—you just need to be resourceful. So the next time you scroll past a dreamy beach photo and think, 'That could never be me,' remember Jaedyn. It absolutely could be you—if you're willing, like Jaedyn, to work smart for it with a budget in your pocket, sleep in hostels, and chase your dreams with a camera in hand. If you want to see how Jaedyn turned odd jobs into global adventures and did it all, watch the full CNA Insider's Money Mind episode below and get inspired to plan your very own escape next! P.S. Like Jaedyn, Afiq Zayany, a Singaporean Grab rider, has also cracked the code to living large on a lean budget. From dodging Singapore's rental hikes to cruising across the Causeway into a golf villa with a buggy service, this Singaporean Grab rider shares how he earns six figures and lives in a RM1.4 million villa in Johor Bahru
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Daily Mail
I'm a female solo traveller - here are my backpacking essentials for travelling alone
Travelling solo can feel overwhelming enough without the added stress of figuring out what to pack for the trip. The challenge of distinguishing between 'needs' and 'wants' when packing for individual travel can lead to overpacking, unnecessary buys or forgetting essential items altogether. To navigate this, it's helpful to create a comprehensive packing list that separates necessities from optional items, reducing baggage weight and allowing for a seamless travel experience. Thankfully, seasoned f emale solo travellers have shared their go-to accessories, devices, clothing items and bags that offer practicality, convenience, comfort, and safety during their trip. Recommending travel hooks to her followers on TikTok, @jemmastravels said: 'When I was in Asia I would have wet bikinis, or in Europe I'd have smelly shoes that I didn't want in my bag, and I could just hook them to the outside of my backpack and go from hostel to hostel. Could not recommend them enough.' Another TikToker, @ encouraged fellow solo travellers to invest in soap bar bags, adding: 'I love shampoo and conditioner bars, but I hated dealing with them after a shower. 'These bags are made to let them dry inside without the inside getting all gross.' From anti-theft bags to probiotics to power banks, here are 14 backpacking essentials every female solo traveller should pack for their next adventure: Seasoned female solo travellers have shared their go-to accessories, devices, clothing items and bags She's Birdie Original Personal Safety Alarm Feel safer anywhere with the She's Birdie Original Personal Safety Alarm, a stylish keychain-sized safety device. With a powerful 130dB siren and a strobing 200-lumen LED light, it's ideal for solo travellers, night outings, or daily commutes. Clip it onto your bag, keys, or belt and go with confidence, as recommended by over 120,000 users worldwide. £33 Shop Simond Compressible Filter Bottle Stay hydrated and safe with the Simond filtered bottle, which removes 99.99 per cent of bacteria and 99.9 per cent of protozoa and microorganisms. With a 1L capacity and a wide opening for quick filling, it's lightweight at just 115g and folds down for easy packing. Pro tip: Rinse the bottle, cap, and filter three times before first use, and be mindful of drips when drinking. £29.99 Shop Decathlon Waterproof Hiking Boots For active travelers, a good pair of waterproof hiking boots is a must. The Decathlon Waterproof Hiking Boots, created by QUECHUA, offer excellent grip and support, perfect for hiking trails or walking through wet weather. They feature a high, flexible upper, 6 eyelet lacing with hooks for support, TPR soles with 3.5mm studs, heel cushioning with a 6mm EVA pad adapted to natural footpaths, and they include a removable insole so you can add orthopedic insoles £19.99 Shop Toifucos Travel Packing Cubes (Set of 8) Helping keep you organised when packing, the Toifucos Travel Packing Cubes could help save you time and free up valuable space. The set comes with eight different sized bags, including shoes, toiletries and drawstring bags - perfect for separating your dirty holiday clothes. In one TikTok video, uploaded by solo traveller, @discoverwithemma, she said: 'I've seen these compression packing cubes all over TikTok. 'They actually save so much space because they have an extra zip.' £11.99 Shop Bag Smart 28L Carry-on Backpack Stay organised and hands-free with the versatile Bag Smart carry-on backpack. It fits up to a 15.6" laptop, opens flat for TSA checks, and includes dedicated compartments for shoes and essentials. Water-resistant, machine washable, and airline-approved as a personal item, it's a smart choice for minimalist travel. Volume: 28L | Dimensions: 31cm x 42cm x 20.5cm £75.00 Shop TESSAN Universal Travel Adapter This all-in-one travel adapter is a must-have for globetrotters, allowing you to charge your devices in over 150 countries. Compact and portable, the 5.5 x 7.25 x 5.35 cm adapter is compatible with outlets in Europe, the UK, the US, Australia, China, and many more, covering all major plug types. It features three USB ports and one AC socket, allowing you to charge multiple devices at once, such as phones, laptops and cameras, all while being compact and portable. It's also equipped with two overload fuses, each rated at 10A. If a fuse is damaged, you can immediately replace it with the spare one provided. £19.99 Shop Dude Flushable Wipes (Box of 30) From cross-country hikes to sketchy restrooms, Dude Wipes are a must-pack essential for solo travellers on the go. Fragrance-free, flushable, and gentle on skin, they're ideal for freshening up on the go, cleaning dirty hostel surfaces, or when toilet paper is nowhere in sight. £12.41 Shop Eagle Creek Money Wallet Discreet and comfy, the Eagle Creek neck wallet keeps passports, cash, and cards safe under your clothes. Made of breathable, washable silk with sweat-resistant lining, it's perfect for hot and humid destinations. Colour options: Rose pink or black. £29.99 Shop OHOVIV Power Bank Keep your devices charged with the OHOVIV Power Bank. With 12000mAh capacity and fast charging up to 22.5W, it powers phones, tablets, and more. The dual USB and Type-C ports let you charge three devices at once, while the compact design makes it travel-ready. Type-C input supports: 18W quick charging for both iOS and Android. £15.19 Shop Pacsafe Go 15L Anti-Theft Backpack Peace of mind meets everyday style with the Pacsafe GO anti-theft backpack. Cut-resistant straps and fabric, lockable zippers, and an RFID-blocking pocket help keep valuables safe. Fits a 13" laptop and features a hidden pocket for essentials. Eco bonus: The bag is made from 21 recycled plastic bottles. £99.90 Shop Sea To Summit Travel Hooks (Pack of 3) These handy mini carabiners are perfect for clipping wet clothes, shoes, keys, or gear to the outside of your backpack. Lightweight and colourful (grey, blue, orange), they're a hostel-to-hostel lifesaver. TikToker @jemmastravels swears by them for keeping wet bikinis out of her backpack across Asia and Europe. £6.00 Shop Optibac Travel Biotics (20 capsules) Support your gut while on the move with Optibac Travel Probiotics. These clinically-backed strains - Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria & Saccharomyces - are designed to survive high temperatures and new environments, helping reduce stomach upsets during travel. Ideal for destinations like Mexico, Thailand, or India. Also compatible with travel medications. £15.99 Shop Matador Soap Bar Case Whether you're trekking through the wilderness or exploring new cities with just a carry-on, the Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case makes carrying soap or shampoo bars a breeze. Ultralight and waterproof, the rolltop design keeps everything sealed while the Dry-Through technology lets your soap dry inside - even when zipped shut. Shower, stash it, and pack it up without mess. Available in: Garnet, Charcoal, and Arctic White. £13.95 Shop Compact Shower Filter Don't let poor water quality affect your skin or hair while travelling. The Tubo shower filter uses a 20-stage filtration system to remove up to 99 per cent of chlorine, heavy metals, and bacteria. Its compact size fits most showerheads and lasts for up to 12,000 gallons - making it a smart travel essential from beach huts to city hostels. £19.99 Shop
Times
10-06-2025
- Times
My first month as a solo female caravanner? Totally empowering
I've been solo skydiving over Salisbury Plain — three times no less — and tandem paragliding in the Himalayas. I've swum in the second-largest lake in the UK in the middle of the night, and I've taken on that terrifying treetop challenge at GoApe that involves a leap of faith into a giant rope net 12m above ground. And yet none of these thrills can quite compare to reverse-parking my caravan in front of a canvas-twitching campsite full of strangers, setting up my canopy and settling down for a beer — all on my own. I'm in month one of a four-month trip around Scotland in my tiny Eriba Pan Familia, a 30-year-old metal bubble with a pop-top roof and no loo, and it's dawned on me: solo caravanning is the most empowering thing I've done. Sure, it's not adrenaline-fuelled (or at least, it's not meant to be) and it's hardly a bold pursuit, but when the prevailing narrative in society is that women can't drive well — we all know the sexist slur 'women drivers, no survivors' — let alone tow a trailer or caravan, perhaps it's no wonder it makes me feel like I've conquered Everest every time I park on a site without the need for help. • 16 of the best destinations for solo female travellers It's a curious thing, being a solo female caravanner; we're a rare breed. I've barely met any lone women on this trip, much less ones towing caravans. And it seems there's this conviction among many women that they could never do it themselves. I've been called brave more times than I can count over the past two years I've been out in this silly little vehicle, and when I post a video about it on Instagram, it proves my point: comment after comment reads 'I could never do this' or 'I'm too scared to tow', all from women. Of course, when I started out, I was nervous; even the drive up to Scotland this time had my heart rate raised, despite the fact I've towed this van to Portugal and back. Although perhaps my nerves were a symptom of the fact my car had broken down the week before and so I'd had to borrow an unsettlingly pristine one-year-old BMW X3 with 1,000 miles on the clock to get going. Still, I hadn't let the unknown stop me from learning the ropes when I bought this caravan in 2023 and I strong-armed a good friend into letting me practise reversing his flat-bed trailer on an industrial estate. The fact many think they can't do it certainly massages my ego a bit (or is that the BMW?), but in reality it's not that hard, and I'm really not that brave. Plus, the two main caravan clubs run towing courses that will turn you into a pro in no time. • 11 of the best group tours for solo travellers For all its merits — the freedom, the empowerment, the mental health-boosting outdoor lifestyle — solo caravanning can also be isolating. Each time I park up somewhere new, it feels as if other campers are a little baffled by my presence. Anni, a fellow solo caravanner I serendipitously met on a park bench in Glasgow last month, has had much the same experience. 'The women look at me with a combination of suspicion and pity,' she said. 'Although once I get talking to them, they thaw and reveal they are actually envious that I am caravanning alone.' And it's true. I've been stared down by other women on campsites while their husbands jostle out of their padded camping chairs to come to my rescue — 'She can't possibly unhitch that caravan alone!' they must think. Even if I don't look like I'm struggling, the 'Do you need a hand, love?' inevitably comes from somewhere nearby while I'm winding my jockey wheel up or plugging the cables into the car. • I've been to 31 countries as a solo female. Here's where I'd recommend After a week pitched on the edge of a hill in South Ayrshire at Culzean Castle Camping and Caravanning Club Site, where I witnessed sunsets so delicious that they made me feel drunk, I was quite happily reversing the car towards the towbar when a passing man decided to come to inspect my work. 'I just don't want you to prang that nice new BMW.' I'm sure he meant well, but what he didn't realise was that my 'nice new BMW' has a towbar-assist camera, so I can line up the car and the towbar perfectly the first time, every time. Instead of helping, he stood so close to the car that he set off the rear sensors and the safety measures kicked in, engaging the handbrake automatically. But overly helpful men and suspicious campers aside, the feeling of towing my own home on wheels to wherever I fancy next is the most liberating and thrilling experience. I've spent a month zig-zagging around southern Scotland, from the ruined abbeys of the Borders to castles in Dumfries and Galloway and the lush green trails of Galloway Forest Park. I've parked on the shores of Loch Lomond, where I could swim right from my pitch, and camped in the sheltered glens of Arran, where my caravan was the perfect home after a day's hard hiking in the hills. Plus I've cooked lunches for one on coastal roads while waiting for ferries to carry me to further afield isles, and had fresh fish and seafood delivered to my pitch on the Kintyre peninsula. It hasn't all been plain sailing — or towing, I should say. I was perhaps a little cocky in Glasgow as I pulled off a blind-side reverse into my pitch and scraped the van along an inconveniently placed planter (nothing a little resin polish on a rag can't fix). And a single-track road on the Kintyre peninsula had me reversing the van into a passing place so the oncoming motorhome could get by. It was what you might call a squeaky bum moment, but I just about managed to stay out of the roadside ditch as the massive camper went onwards, and I drove on feeling utterly triumphant. I know there'll be more challenges ahead, but all I'm concerned with right now is where I'll park up next. To the beach or the mountains? The world may not be my oyster in this tiny van, but the Scottish Highlands will do. Would you go it alone in a caravan — or have you? Let us know in the comments
News24
08-06-2025
- News24
Thinking of taking a solocation? Here's why Dubai, Poland, Spain may be just right
Supplied More and more people are taking up opportunities to travel alone. InsureMyTrip conducted a study across 62 cities based on female safety and tourism metrics to create a list of the best cities for solo female travellers. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates came up tops for safety, with an overall score of 7.71 - 83% of women reporting feeling safe walking alone at night Solo travel is on the rise, but for female travellers it is safety concerns - more than money or geography - that often stop them in their tracks. InsureMyTrip conducted a study across 62 cities based on female safety and tourism metrics to create a list of the best cities for solo female travellers. Travel trends have changed to reflect that the safest places to travel to alone are not always the Nordic countries. Due to their reputation of being small and often equal-gender societies, there was a belief among travellers that they were safer vacation spots for solo travellers. However, that has changed. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates came up tops for safety, with an overall score of 7.71 - 83% of women reporting feeling safe walking alone at night. Dubbed the city that never sleeps, it has establishments closing late in the evening, surveillance in public spaces, night tours of the city, late-night restaurant dining, and shopping at various boutiques and malls. This setup is perfect for solo travellers who love leisurely exploring the city. READ | The world's safest country for women travelling alone is not a Nordic country And if you aren't too concerned about safety and you were already looking to chase the summer as South Africa gets colder, here are six good reasons why you should consider Dubai: 1. Perfect winter weather Trade icy mornings for balmy days bathed in sunshine. Dubai's winter climate is idyllic, averaging a pleasant 25°C, perfect for exploring the city from the early morning to the late evening. 2. Thrilling theme parks Thrill-seekers unite at IMG Worlds of Adventure, the world's largest indoor theme park, or Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, The Palm. Little ones will be mesmerised by KidZania, a miniature city where children can role-play their dream jobs. 3. Desert adventures Escape the urban bustle with a desert safari. Families can experience dune bashing and sandboarding, followed by a traditional Bedouin dinner under the stars. This immersive experience offers a glimpse into the region's rich cultural heritage. 4. Underwater wonders The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, in the Dubai Mall, is home to thousands of marine animals. Walk through the underwater tunnel and marvel at sharks, rays, and penguins - witness the ocean's wonders up close. 5. Cultural immersion Dubai is more than a modern metropolis; it's a city steeped in history and tradition. Explore the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, a labyrinth of narrow alleyways and traditional wind-tower architecture. Visit the Dubai Museum in the Al Fahidi Fort for insights into the city's past. 6. Family friendly convenience Dubai's commitment to luxury extends to its family-friendly accommodations. The city boasts many hotels and resorts catering to families, offering spacious rooms, kids' clubs, and dedicated family pools. Many hotels also offer all-inclusive packages, making it easier to budget for your trip. Consider purchasing a Dubai Pass, which provides access to multiple attractions at a discounted rate. Look for hotels that offer free breakfast or complimentary access to kids' clubs. READ | Best destinations for solo women travellers - SA ranks in the top 20 Other countries that made the top 10 cities for solo female travellers, with their overall scores, are as follows: Dubai, UAE - 7.71 Krakow, Poland - 7.18 Madrid, Spain - 7.14 Munich, Germany - 6.89 Chiang Mai, Thailand - 6.84 Lisbon, Portugal - 6.61 Prague, Czechia - 6.50 Vienna, Austria - 6.47 Singapore - 6.43
Times
15-05-2025
- Times
16 of the best destinations for solo female travellers
The best countries for travelling solo as a woman are usually found where safety meets affordability. You want to be somewhere with an infrastructure for solo tourists so that you feel secure — but also somewhere where won't have to empty your bank account for a private room or a meal for one in a café. Some 84 per cent of solo travellers are estimated to be female, so you're bound to meet kindred spirits along the way. Here is a solo traveller's bucket list with women in mind — places with high gender equality and low crime rates. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Best for affordable luxury You'll meet countless other women along the backpacking trail in Thailand, one of the original solo traveller havens, but that's not the only reason to go. Affordable rooms, cuisine and train journeys mean that you can plot an epic journey, stopping for a few nights — or weeks — in each of your desired spots. Start in the capital, Bangkok, for a great Thai history and culture 101, before hopping on one of the scenic trains out to the coast — perhaps Hua Hin — or down to the ferry points for idyllic islands including Koh Lanta, Koh Muk or Koh Chang. Looking for a place to stay? Oasis bungalows on Koh Chang are a hit with solo travellers. • Read our full guide to Thailand Best for laid-back vibes If you want a taste of Latin America but are concerned about security, then mellow Costa Rica has a tranquil feel (although, like anywhere else, you'll want to take precautions in urban areas and be savvy about your personal safety). Solo travellers rate this naturally bountiful nation's hot springs in Arenal Volcano National Park; wildlife-packed cloud forest; and beach towns such as Santa Teresa and Nosara. Stay at Socialtel Nosara, which has affordable private rooms and budget dormitory bunks. Best for gourmet travellers Spain has a lot to offer, whether you want to strap on your dancing shoes or soak up the artworks of Dalí, Picasso and Gaudí. Explore the tapas bars of Barcelona, the toe-tapping flamenco halls of Madrid, the ski-able peaks of the Pyrenees and the wave-raked west coast ideal for surfing. The Women, Peace and Security Index has ranked Spain among some of the safest countries for travellers. For a long weekend in the Catalan capital, Royal Passeig de Gracia is in the centre of the city, near Gaudí's La Pedrera building. It has comfortable rooms and a rooftop bar with excellent city views. • Read our full guide to Spain• Most beautiful places in Spain Best for layovers The skyscraper-clad island nation of Singapore is smaller than some cities, but not only is it consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in Asia, according to the World Happiness Report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, it's also considered among the safest. With (sticky) summer temperatures all year round and spotless streets, it's a shopping-mall metropolis famed for its cocktails, and one of the few places in the world where street-food stalls win Michelin stars. The luxury Naumi hotel is a great pick — it has a whole floor dedicated to female travellers. • Best things to do in Singapore Best for city slickers Few countries fuse ancient and modern as seamlessly and intriguingly as Japan. Spend one day sleeping in a ryokan (traditional inn), soaking in hot springs or meditating with monks, and the next gawking at neon-lit skyscrapers and sampling first-rate sushi. Japan is consistently ranked within the top 20 safest countries in the world and you'll find women-only subway cars and zero cat-calling. Best of all, dining alone is considered normal. Book a room at the Akihabara Bay Hotel, an all-female capsule property in Tokyo. • Read our full guide to Japan• Cherry blossom season in Japan: when to go Best for adventurers Locals may have Viking blood coursing through their veins, but in 2024 the Global Peace Index, compiled by the Institute for Economics & Peace ranked Iceland as the most peaceful country in the world for the 17th year running. This land of fire and ice is an adventure playground made of black-sand beaches, gnarly lava fields, volcanic geysers and troll-guarded valleys. Come winter, the sky can be streaked with the northern lights while the midnight-sun summers bring festivals aplenty. It's home to only 400,000, so it's easy to feel at ease amid the large-town mindset. Prepare to let go of preconceptions of what a hostel stay might look like — Kex in Reykjavik is the hippest around. • Read our full guide to Iceland Best for diverse sightseeing Frenetic India can feel full-on for solo travellers; Sri Lanka is the calmer, safer, alternative. With eight Unesco world heritage sites — including the ancient rock-top palace of Sigiriya (above) and fresco-filled Rangiri Dambulla Cave Temple — it provides tiers of vivid-green tea terraces, sandy beaches, towns lined with British, Dutch and Portuguese architecture and some of the most scenic railway journeys in the world. What's more, the predominantly Buddhist locals are peaceful and welcoming — just be sure to dress modestly. For a female-friendly stay, opt for a room at the four-star Pledge Scape Negombo. • Best Sri Lanka tours Best for music lovers Rated one of the safest countries for female travellers by theWomen, Peace and Security Index, published by the Georgetown Institute, landlocked Austria has a fairytale combo of castles, such as Orth, and palaces set amid Alpine peaks, glaciers and waterfalls. Linger in the coffee houses of Vienna, listen to the strains of Mozart and Schubert (both born here), and indulge in plates of schnitzel and sachertorte. It will all have you yodelling like Maria from The Sound of Music. Meet like-minded guests at the Aviva hotel in Upper Austria, which is exclusively for friends and solo travellers — no couples, no families. • Safest countries in the world Best for amazing art Equality is the calling card of the Netherlands — after all, it was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage — and its crime rates are low. There's much for solo travellers to enjoy: we suggest starting in ever-evolving Amsterdam and biking to and fro between its clutch of world-class art museums: from the Rijksmuseum (filled with the Dutch masters) to the Van Gogh Museum and Rembrandt House. For an affordable base, Hostelle in Amsterdam is a female-only hostel outside the city centre. • Best things to do in Amsterdam• Best hotels in Amsterdam Best for outdoor wonders Switzerland is typically near the top of gender equality surveys and is a very safe destination for solo travel. It's also often heralded for its quality of life, thanks in large part to the spectacular scenery: from the 4,478m (14,692ft)-high Matterhorn and mountain-encircled Interlaken, to the car-free medieval town of Lucerne and the blue Lake Geneva. Spend days hobnobbing with the glitterati in St Moritz, swimming in Bern's city-centre river, or gorging on the world's best chocolate. If you're heading to Zurich, Josephine's Guesthouse for Women is a solid pick. • Read our full guide to Switzerland Best for road trips Consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the world, Norway also ranks highly in gender equality surveys and is very female-friendly. Get steamy in Oslo's riverside saunas (above), explore endless fjords in a hire car, discover Viking ships and visit up-and-coming Bodo, which was a 2024 European Capital of Culture. The Grand Hotel in the capital, Oslo, has a Ladies' Floor designed by women, for women. • What to do in Norway Best for getting off the beaten track Squeezed between its brasher big brothers Argentina and Brazil, Uruguay is often named as South America's safest country — and it's politically stable to boot. Spend days admiring Montevideo's architecture and sinking your teeth into an asado (barbecue); ride horses across flat and endless plains in the company of gauchos; bubble away in hot springs; and drink caffeine-rich mate with locals. For unique accommodation close to Punta del Este, try Club Hotel Casapueblo. • Read our full guide to South America Best for hiking adventures Smaller and cheaper than Australia, and full of Kiwis who are known for their down-to-earth friendliness, New Zealand makes solo travel easy. And when you add in epic scenery — featured in films such as The Lord of the Rings — with fjords, rugged mountains, rolling hills, sandy beaches and glaciers to hike, bike, swim and explore, it's a compelling package. Plus, when you're done you can dine on the freshest lamb and scallops and sip craft beer. Over on Auckland's west coast, you'll find Te Wahi Ora Women's Retreat. • Great things to do in New Zealand Best for beach breaks The Polynesians' closeness to Mother Nature has bred a respect for the feminine — and when you live in a palm-tree-fringed paradise there's little need for crime. Don't think it's just a destination for honeymooners, either. Solos can join cruises offering single cabins or even dormitories, rent a car and catch the ferry to Mo'orea, or learn to scuba dive. When it comes to where to stay, pick the private island of Vahine — aka the Island of • Our ultimate bucket-list trips Best for bar hopping We can't guarantee that the weather won't be wet, but the welcome is always warm — Ireland is frequently hailed as one of the friendliest destinations in Europe. So rent a car and take in the green vistas of Connemara and Killarney national parks, be awed by dramatic cliffs on the Wild Atlantic Way, and look for leprechauns at Carlingford Lough. Finish the day by raising a glass of Guinness in a snug pub as locals gather for a traditional Irish music session. If you'd rather explore on foot, Kelly's Resort Hotel & Spa in Rosslare gives you easy access to Wexford's beautiful walking • Read our full guide to Ireland Best for admiring the architecture Portugal ranks in the top 20 on the latest Women, Peace and Security Index. Get lost amid Lisbon's collision of Roman, gothic and baroque architecture and its riot of 15th-century azulejos (tiles), laze on beaches visited by Atlantic breezes, listen to the evocative strains of Fado music and gorge on delectable pasteis de nata (custard tarts). Staying overnight in the capital? Female travellers rate Zuzabed. • Read our full guide to Portugal• Most beautiful places in Portugal
