Solo Woman's Travel Safety Guide: Your Pre-Trip Checklist for Scouting Retirement Destinations
There is a specific kind of magic that happens when you step off a plane in a new city alone. For me, that feeling, the mix of independence and discovery, is why I love being a global nomad. I know that for many women, the idea of solo travel feels heavy with “what-ifs.” We are often told the world is a scary place, but I’m here to tell you that it is actually a wide, wonderful place just waiting for you to claim your seat in it.
[Download the GenXit Solo Woman’s Travel Guide Here]
Whether you're scouting your future retirement city or just testing the waters in a new country, traveling solo gives you the unfiltered experience you need to make smart relocation decisions.
Getting out of your comfort zone doesn't have to mean living in a state of anxiety. It's about building a sisterhood of travelers who move with purpose. I've found that when you prioritize a few simple safety habits, you stop "managing" fear and start actually enjoying the adventure.
Solo travel isn't just about seeing the sights, it's your best tool for honest assessment. When you're navigating a city alone, you learn the real rhythms:
How safe do you feel at night?
Can you handle daily tasks in the local language?
Is the infrastructure what you actually need?
These reconnaissance trips are how you turn a retirement dream destination into a confident relocation decision.
Prepping for Paris
I am currently getting ready for my upcoming solo trip to Paris! I’ll be filming plenty of content while I’m there to show you exactly how I navigate the city, from vetting the right rides to finding those perfect quiet corners. I promise to link those videos right here as soon as I’m back and the editing is done.
But before I even think about boarding that flight, I’m going through my own checklist. Even though I’ve done this a hundred times, I never skip the foundational steps.
Why I Still Use Paper (The “Take With You” Strategy)
In our digital world, we rely on our phones for everything, maps, translation, banking, and our exit plans. But as any seasoned traveler knows, batteries die and phones get lost.
That is why I am currently filling out the “Take With You” sections of our new Solo Woman’s Travel Guide.
The Analog Backup: I fill out my local emergency numbers, embassy addresses, and my “Breadcrumb” contact info on paper.
Document Redundancy: I keep my passport and insurance policy numbers written down so I’m never stranded if my tech fails.
The Language Bridge: I make sure I have key phrases like “I am lost” or “Please call an ambulance” written in the local language.
Having this information physically on me gives me the peace of mind to put my phone away and actually look up at the architecture. Confidence isn’t about being fearless; it’s about being prepared so that your intuition can do its job.
Beyond the paperwork, I also carry a few physical essentials that give me an extra layer of security. I’ve put together a list of the gear I actually use and trust over at our [Amazon Personal Safety Store]. (Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases).
Join the Journey
Planning a scouting trip to your shortlist cities? Download the guide and use the 'Take With You' sheets to build your safety baseline before you go. Whether you're spending two weeks or two months testing a location, you'll move through it like you already live there.
The guide includes everything I learned the hard way: from vetting accommodations in unfamiliar neighborhoods to setting up your 'breadcrumb' check-in system with someone back home. It's the resource I needed twenty years ago, and the one I still reference today.
[Download the GenXit Solo Woman’s Travel Guide Here]
MJ
