Women Traveling Alone – Fighting Homesickness
As a woman traveling alone in Munich, Germany, I’m fighting homesickness. So, instead of feeling sorry for myself I decided to make a list of what helps women who travel solo!
But first, a quip from Elizabeth Gilbert (because she traveled alone in Italy, India, and Indonesia):
“If you are brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting (which can be anything from your house to your bitter old resentments) and set out on a truth-seeking journey (either externally or internally), and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared – most of all – to face (and forgive) some very difficult realities about yourself….then truth will not be withheld from you,” writes Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love.
For more info on women traveling alone, click on Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo by Beth Whitman. And, read on for my tips on fighting homesickness for women traveling alone…
Women Traveling Alone: Fighting Homesickness
Traveling alone as a woman doesn’t bother me – especially in Germany, where everyone’s just going about their business and not giving me any undue attention. But, what does bother me is the fact that my husband went back to Canada a couple days ago. He had a business conference in Frankfurt, and I went along for the week. I couldn’t tear myself away from Germany and decided to stay an extra week in Munich. Boy, am I missing my husband!
That said, I’m very glad I’m here in Munich and don’t regret my decision to stay on alone. So, to help me feel less lonely, I decided to make a list of what works to fight homesickness while traveling alone.
1. Go on tours with other people. Today I joined a walking tour – a free one! – and met another Canadian, two Indians, an American, a Peruvian, and two Germans. The walking tour of Munich was informative and entertaining, and I liked chatting with my fellow tourists. Some of them were women traveling alone, too – which made me feel not so alone!
2. Check your email. I’m a writer so my laptop is with me here in my hotel room in Munich. In fact, I spend a good portion of my day working in my room, and the rest of the time I’m wandering the streets of Munich. I check my email regularly throughout the day, which helps fight homesickness. It definitely helps that hubby Bruce emails me often to keep in touch. If you’re not married, keep in close contact with a friend, partner, or family member (even if you are married, keeping in touch with several people definitely helps to fight homesickness when you’re a woman traveling alone).
3. Don’t compare yourself to couples or groups. I once enjoyed traveling alone as a woman….but the truth is that getting married ruined it for me. Before I got married, I would’ve been happy just walking the streets. Now, I walk the streets of Munich and remember how great it was to have Bruce along! To fight homesickness while traveling alone, it definitely helps not to notice those couples and groups of people – and not to compare yourself as a solo traveler to them.
4. Remember that people don’t think less of you. Sometimes it’s hard to travel alone as a woman because you feel self-conscious. You may think that people feel sorry for you, or think less of you because you’re a solo tourist. Stop that! People don’t care that you’re a woman traveling alone. They probably don’t even notice you.
5. Seize the opportunities as a solo traveler. More people talk to me and invite me to join them as a woman traveling alone. When I’m with my husband or in a group, I don’t get to know my fellow tourists or the locals in the same way. To fight homesickness when you’re traveling alone, say “yes” to invitations to people’s homes and to join fellow travelers for dinner or tours around the city.
6. People watch. One of my favorite things to do in airports, cities, in hotel lobbies – anywhere, really (except for trains and buses, because new people don’t pass by as often) is people watch. You can’t do that in the same way when you’re with others, because you’re too busy talking or pointing things out. To stay positive and fight homesickness, focus on the things you love about traveling alone.
7. Record your visit with a tape recorder. What’s the modern equivalent of a “tape recorder”? The first time I was a woman traveling alone was when I hitchhiked through Europe in 1998. I took along a tape recorder and a handful of blank tapes, and talked to my sister throughout my trip. It was a great way to fight homesickness while traveling alone – even though she never did listen to any of the tapes when I got home.
8. Remember how fast time flies. Here, as I travel alone in Munich, I keep reminding myself that I’ll be home in less than a week, and I’ll be back in my old routine, and I’ll wish I was back in Europe! To fight homesickness, it helps to remind yourself that time passes so fast and before you know it you’ll be flying home again…and being a woman traveling alone will be a fond memory.
So, savor the moment…for it only comes this way once.
Are you a woman who travels alone – and what do you do to fight homesickness? I’d love to know your secrets for the next time I’m out in the world by myself! 
Are you tired of struggling with debt? Make it your goal to get out of debt this year
If you want to fix a poor credit report, Sky Blue Credit Repair helps with
credit repair, including credit bureau disputes, debt validation, and debt counseling services.
Are your fears about work, family, relationships, or money holding you back from achieving your goals? Try this natural way to end feelings of anxiety and panic.
Comment by Laurie PK on 9 June 2009:
A reader found this article about fighting homesickness by Googling the words “fighting homesickness.”
It’s been almost a year since I wrote this article, and now I don’t think we should “fight” homesickness! It’s a natural part of being away from home, and we should accept it and even embrace it…and NOT fight it.
How do you accept and embrace homesickness? By writing about your feelings, talking about feeling homesick with the people around you (not just those back home), and figuring out the root of your homesickness. Are you lonely? Then find ways to get more involved in the activities around you. Are you seriously depressed? Get help from a doctor.
If you have any thoughts on accepting or fighting homesickness, please share them here!