Solo Travel Over 50

Travel is wonderful, but it has a way of teaching you things at the exact moment you’d rather not learn them. I’ve packed the wrong shoes, made some questionable travel decisions, and occasionally discovered that my carefully researched plans weren’t quite as foolproof as I’d hoped.

Here you’ll find my practical travel tips for packing smarter, saving money, staying safe, and making the most of your adventures. Some come from careful research. Others come from experience, which is a polite way of saying I learned them the hard way.

Packing Tips (Where Confidence Is Won or Lost)

I have overpacked. I have underpacked. I have packed the wrong shoes. After enough trips, I’ve finally figured out a few things that make packing easier. And no, bringing six pairs of shoes for a week in Europe is not one of them.

• Sue’s Travel Must-Haves
  The travel essentials I actually use and recommend, rather than the things that looked like a good idea on Amazon.
• Level8 Gibraltar Aluminum Carry-On Review
  Aluminum luggage: for when you want your suitcase to outlive you. My honest assessment after traveling with it.
• How to Pack for a Summer Month in Europe
  Three very different climates, one suitcase, and a printable packing list to help you avoid bringing your entire closet.
• Packing for a Month in Europe: The Follow-Up
  What worked, what didn’t, and what I learned after actually living with everything I packed.
• Europe Fall Packing List: Clothes, Shoes, and Carry-On Essentials
  Two weeks in Europe, changing weather, sensible layers, and some hard-earned advice about footwear.

Travel Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Have To)

Not every trip goes according to plan. Sometimes you get a wonderful surprise. Sometimes you find yourself having a meltdown in an Italian airport. These are the stories behind some of my most useful travel lessons, including a few I’d have preferred to learn from somebody else’s mistakes.

• 10 Travel Lessons I Learned in Europe
  Ten things my European travels taught me, including what I’ll absolutely do differently next time.
• An Injury in Italy: Mo’s Tale of Woe
  When an Italian adventure takes an unexpected turn, you learn a few things about handling emergencies abroad.
• Solo Travel Struggles: A Meltdown at the Florence Airport
  Solo travel builds confidence, but it doesn’t magically prevent exhaustion, frustration, or crying while surrounded by a herd of suitcases.

Money-Saving Travel Tips (Without Making Travel Miserable)

I enjoy a beautiful hotel, a memorable dinner, and the occasional splurge. But I also enjoy having money left when I get home. Here are a few things I’ve learned about spending more wisely, using travel rewards, and keeping everyday costs under control.

• Confessions of a Points Amateur
  Travel rewards always seemed more complicated than they needed to be. Here’s how I finally started making sense of points and credit card benefits.
• Walmart vs. Safeway: California Grocery Price Comparison
  Staying somewhere with a kitchen? I compared grocery prices at two major California chains to see where your vacation food budget might stretch further.

Travel Planning, Safety, and Logistics

A little preparation can make an enormous difference, particularly when you’re traveling alone. I’m not a fan of scheduling every minute of a vacation, but knowing how to get around, where you’re staying, and what to do when something goes wrong leaves a lot more room for enjoying yourself.

• Travel Tips from the Travel and Adventure Show
  Travel advice and ideas from some familiar travel experts, gathered at the Santa Clara Travel and Adventure Show.
• Solo Female Travel Safety Tips
  Practical ways to stay safe and feel more confident while traveling on your own, without allowing worry to take over your adventure.

A Little Travel Inspiration (Because Planning Is Half the Fun)

Not everything about travel needs to be practical. Sometimes the fun starts with a quirky idea, a wonderful place to stay, or a destination you hadn’t even considered. These articles are for the daydreaming stage, before the packing lists and flight reservations take over.

• Where You Should Travel Next Based on Your Favorite Beatle
  Paul, John, George, or Ringo? Your favorite Beatle might just know where you should take your next vacation. Not scientific, but surprisingly convincing.
• Cool Places to Stay Around the World: Travel Bloggers Share Their Favorites
  From unusual accommodations to memorable hotels, fellow travel bloggers share some of their most interesting places to spend the night.

Frequently Asked Questions About Travel

Is solo travel safe for women over 50?

Solo travel can be a safe and rewarding experience at any age. Research your destination, choose accommodations carefully, plan how you’ll get around, and trust your instincts. I have a whole article on solo female travel safety tips with more practical suggestions.

How do I pack light for a long trip?

Pack for about ten days rather than the entire trip, choose clothes you can mix and match, and plan to do some laundry along the way. Limit the shoes, no matter how persuasive they seem while you’re packing. My month-long Europe packing guide explains how I approached this for a trip through three different climates.

What’s the biggest packing mistake travelers make?

Bringing too many things “just in case.” Particularly shoes and clothes that don’t work with anything else in the suitcase. If you wouldn’t wear it at home, there’s a good chance you won’t suddenly become a different person in Paris.

Are travel credit cards worth it?

They certainly can be, particularly if you travel regularly, pay your balance in full, and actually use the benefits. The trick is finding a rewards program that fits the way you travel rather than making your travel plans revolve around a credit card. I explain my own learning curve in Confessions of a Points Amateur.

What’s the first thing I should plan for a solo trip?

Start with where you’ll stay and how you’ll get there, particularly how you’ll get from the airport or train station to your accommodations. Once those essentials are settled, you can work out the sights, restaurants, and experiences. Leave some free time, too. Some of the best travel memories happen when you haven’t scheduled anything at all.

I’ll keep adding to this collection as I travel, try new things, and inevitably make a few more mistakes worth writing about. After all, if something goes wrong on a trip, the least I can do is turn it into useful advice for somebody else.