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The Solo Female Travel Book: Tips and Inspiration for Women Who Want to See the World on Their Own Terms
Traveling alone doesn't have to be scary! With the proper tools, community and precautions, anyone can expertly navigate the globe on their own.
Jen Ruiz is a lawyer turned travel blogger and bestselling author who has traveled the world extensively by herself. “The Solo Female Travel Book” is the latest installment in her how-to travel series and includes funny stories, tips and inspiration to help you see the world safely and confidently.
From surviving her first overnight hike in the Grand Canyon to dating mishaps while “living abroad” in Sydney Australia, Jen shares some of her most comedic and relatable travel memories in this book.
It’s half guide, half memoir, all heart and a must-read for aspiring female adventurers.
With this book, you will learn how to:
- Prepare for your first solo trip
- Choose the right destination
- Plan the perfect itinerary
- Take stunning photographs by yourself
- Pack light and bring all the essentials
- Make friends abroad and combat loneliness
And much more! Don’t let fear hold you back. You don’t need to have a travel partner to have amazing adventures.
There is power in flying solo, and it’s time for you to start discovering it.
Jen Ruiz is a lawyer turned travel blogger and bestselling author who has traveled the world extensively by herself. “The Solo Female Travel Book” is the latest installment in her how-to travel series and includes funny stories, tips and inspiration to help you see the world safely and confidently.
From surviving her first overnight hike in the Grand Canyon to dating mishaps while “living abroad” in Sydney Australia, Jen shares some of her most comedic and relatable travel memories in this book.
It’s half guide, half memoir, all heart and a must-read for aspiring female adventurers.
With this book, you will learn how to:
- Prepare for your first solo trip
- Choose the right destination
- Plan the perfect itinerary
- Take stunning photographs by yourself
- Pack light and bring all the essentials
- Make friends abroad and combat loneliness
And much more! Don’t let fear hold you back. You don’t need to have a travel partner to have amazing adventures.
There is power in flying solo, and it’s time for you to start discovering it.
108 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 23, 2022
I feel prepared to take on the world … Literally and metaphorically. 💛
March 25, 2019
This is 💯 Jens best book yet !
This book focuses on Jen’s solo travels . Hot on the heels of her extraordinary Ted Talk , this book continues her theme of swapping Tinder for plane tickets and focuses on a curated selection of her solo travel adventures.
From hiking and camping solo when she finds a ticket rarer than Willy Wonkas golden ticket .
To NZ where she discovers how to prevent having to pay her insurance excess that she thought her credit card covered . To winning a chicken pooping contest .
Jen’s one woman travel adventures, are like Carrie Bradshaw with less sex that we know of.
Her romance with an Australian begins with projectile vomit , a smart phone and a thirst for adventure.
Buy this book for anyone that would rather catch flights not feelings . It’s the perfect gift for any female that want to travel solo but is deliberating over buying the ticket .
This book focuses on Jen’s solo travels . Hot on the heels of her extraordinary Ted Talk , this book continues her theme of swapping Tinder for plane tickets and focuses on a curated selection of her solo travel adventures.
From hiking and camping solo when she finds a ticket rarer than Willy Wonkas golden ticket .
To NZ where she discovers how to prevent having to pay her insurance excess that she thought her credit card covered . To winning a chicken pooping contest .
Jen’s one woman travel adventures, are like Carrie Bradshaw with less sex that we know of.
Her romance with an Australian begins with projectile vomit , a smart phone and a thirst for adventure.
Buy this book for anyone that would rather catch flights not feelings . It’s the perfect gift for any female that want to travel solo but is deliberating over buying the ticket .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2020
Great Read
Easy book to read in a day. Fun. Uplifting and very informative. I've never been afraid to travel alone but I was curious about the content and definitely learned a few things!
Easy book to read in a day. Fun. Uplifting and very informative. I've never been afraid to travel alone but I was curious about the content and definitely learned a few things!
April 18, 2022
Not what I was expecting....
This book was longer than the first 2 in this series, and had the least to say. It hardly had anything new to add to the great tips of Affordable Flight Guide or You Need a Vacation, and a lot of the information is frankly common sense. Women should be doing those things already and if they don't....makes one worry for them lol
Most of the book was more like short stories about her experiences, which sometimes tied into the point of the chapter but other times just seemed like a interesting story, but not exactly what I thought I'd get out of it.
My favorite story of her and her Australian Mr. Perfect, which I wish had a more romantic ending haha
All in all, the gist of this book can be summed up in these few words: Anywhere can be dangerous, don't let that stop you from traveling. Just research, be prepared, and use common sense to keep yourself safe. The End.
This book was longer than the first 2 in this series, and had the least to say. It hardly had anything new to add to the great tips of Affordable Flight Guide or You Need a Vacation, and a lot of the information is frankly common sense. Women should be doing those things already and if they don't....makes one worry for them lol
Most of the book was more like short stories about her experiences, which sometimes tied into the point of the chapter but other times just seemed like a interesting story, but not exactly what I thought I'd get out of it.
My favorite story of her and her Australian Mr. Perfect, which I wish had a more romantic ending haha
All in all, the gist of this book can be summed up in these few words: Anywhere can be dangerous, don't let that stop you from traveling. Just research, be prepared, and use common sense to keep yourself safe. The End.
April 8, 2020
This book was just what I needed. The best travel solo book I have ever read with a lot of good and practical tips. I loved it, now I am ready to take off on my solo trip! Thank you!
January 9, 2020
That's an elk, not a moose.
The author opens this book with a hiking trip in Arizona and mentions a "moose" running in front of her car on the way to the trail head. Wldlife expert sites verified my suspicions that those "moose" pictures tourists send home from the Grand Canyon are actually elk. Apparently, this is a common mistake.
Aside from this bit of fauna confusion, the book is informative for the newbie traveler and entertaining for the armchair traveler. Even if you've traveled extensively in the past, things have changed. The digital world dominates travel now as it does all aspects of our lives and this is current information. I was fascinated by all the apps, travel sites, and tips for using the internet to make travel easier, cheaper, and safer. Being older, it's bewildering to me, but you'd be insane to travel without up-dating your thinking and polishing your computer skills.
There are many books that promote solo travel (as opposed to tours) and some of them are aimed at women. I think what this one has going for it is the author's lively style and her comprehensive approach. I'm impressed that years of practicing law haven't reduced her to writing in the verbose, legalese style that drives us crazy when we try to read legal documents. She's a good writer - witty and never afraid to laugh at herself.
What she pulls from her legal background is intense organization and attention to detail. Although she promotes solo travel as the antidote to the frantic schedules of many tours, most of her agendas sound exhausting to me! An hour resting at the hotel between long days hitting the tourist hot-spots wouldn't be enough for me. I'd need a full day of rest occasionally. However, that's a matter of age, physical condition, and personal preference.
She makes the point that travel is hard work (which it is!) but the information she provides could be applied to a slower style of travel. Some of us are kamikaze travelers and some aren't. Different strokes. I like her emphasis on connecting with local people or other travelers, especially those who share your interests.
Lots of talk about safety, which is good. She misses one point I read once, which is to dress like an ex-pat. Most third world countries now have American residents as well as Americans working in government agencies and NGO's. Wearing "business casual" and carrying a briefcase (or large manila envelope) and a local newspaper makes a woman look like she knows her way around and is therefore less vulnerable. LOVED her no-nonsense advice to avoid getting drunk. If staying sloshed is your idea of a vacation, you can do it more cheaply and more safely in your own backyard.
Overall, it's a fun book, even if you're not planning a trip in the near future. Her story of the chicken-poop contest in Belize is worth the price of admission by itself. Let's give it up for "Rice and Beans." May he have a long career in show business and avoid being served for dinner.
The author opens this book with a hiking trip in Arizona and mentions a "moose" running in front of her car on the way to the trail head. Wldlife expert sites verified my suspicions that those "moose" pictures tourists send home from the Grand Canyon are actually elk. Apparently, this is a common mistake.
Aside from this bit of fauna confusion, the book is informative for the newbie traveler and entertaining for the armchair traveler. Even if you've traveled extensively in the past, things have changed. The digital world dominates travel now as it does all aspects of our lives and this is current information. I was fascinated by all the apps, travel sites, and tips for using the internet to make travel easier, cheaper, and safer. Being older, it's bewildering to me, but you'd be insane to travel without up-dating your thinking and polishing your computer skills.
There are many books that promote solo travel (as opposed to tours) and some of them are aimed at women. I think what this one has going for it is the author's lively style and her comprehensive approach. I'm impressed that years of practicing law haven't reduced her to writing in the verbose, legalese style that drives us crazy when we try to read legal documents. She's a good writer - witty and never afraid to laugh at herself.
What she pulls from her legal background is intense organization and attention to detail. Although she promotes solo travel as the antidote to the frantic schedules of many tours, most of her agendas sound exhausting to me! An hour resting at the hotel between long days hitting the tourist hot-spots wouldn't be enough for me. I'd need a full day of rest occasionally. However, that's a matter of age, physical condition, and personal preference.
She makes the point that travel is hard work (which it is!) but the information she provides could be applied to a slower style of travel. Some of us are kamikaze travelers and some aren't. Different strokes. I like her emphasis on connecting with local people or other travelers, especially those who share your interests.
Lots of talk about safety, which is good. She misses one point I read once, which is to dress like an ex-pat. Most third world countries now have American residents as well as Americans working in government agencies and NGO's. Wearing "business casual" and carrying a briefcase (or large manila envelope) and a local newspaper makes a woman look like she knows her way around and is therefore less vulnerable. LOVED her no-nonsense advice to avoid getting drunk. If staying sloshed is your idea of a vacation, you can do it more cheaply and more safely in your own backyard.
Overall, it's a fun book, even if you're not planning a trip in the near future. Her story of the chicken-poop contest in Belize is worth the price of admission by itself. Let's give it up for "Rice and Beans." May he have a long career in show business and avoid being served for dinner.
February 11, 2021
It's on me for picking this book, I'm not the demographic for it and didn't realize until I had the book. I picked it from the library, but if I'd seen the book in person before selecting I probably wouldn't have chosen this.
I'm not familiar with Ruiz and her blog so I wasn't sure what to expect. This is a short and somewhat high level guide. Ruiz shares a few anecdotes about travel, one where she confuses a moose with an elk, but none of them really have resolutions. She talks about getting into tough spots and ends them with 'but it turned out fine'. There's not a lot of actual how-tos to detailed travel stories or things I look for in travel books. Ruiz also talks about safety, but it's very brief, and she doesn't take into account that women of color are often treated differently no matter where we are in the world.
That being said this would be good for first time travelers. There's a list of common sense things before you travel like getting vaccines, visas, etc. that younger or less experienced travelers may not think of before going on a big trip.
I'm not familiar with Ruiz and her blog so I wasn't sure what to expect. This is a short and somewhat high level guide. Ruiz shares a few anecdotes about travel, one where she confuses a moose with an elk, but none of them really have resolutions. She talks about getting into tough spots and ends them with 'but it turned out fine'. There's not a lot of actual how-tos to detailed travel stories or things I look for in travel books. Ruiz also talks about safety, but it's very brief, and she doesn't take into account that women of color are often treated differently no matter where we are in the world.
That being said this would be good for first time travelers. There's a list of common sense things before you travel like getting vaccines, visas, etc. that younger or less experienced travelers may not think of before going on a big trip.
November 3, 2019
A quick but useful read! I wish this book had even more detail and content, but it’s concise enough that it will help me in approaching the planning part of my upcoming travels and identify some key habits to get into while on the road.
I like the way Jen explained things such as how to weigh risks, prioritize, and plan enough but not too much. The section on safety was pretty detailed and had a lot of useful tips. One thing I didn’t like was that there were some typo’s and missing punctuation, which was a bit unprofessional but didn’t affect the clarity of the writing at all.
The stories Jen wove into her tips & advice were entertaining, funny, and will probably be useful in comforting myself if I ever get into similar situations! I also really appreciated the resources pages at the end with various groups, websites, apps, and companies to look into.
I like the way Jen explained things such as how to weigh risks, prioritize, and plan enough but not too much. The section on safety was pretty detailed and had a lot of useful tips. One thing I didn’t like was that there were some typo’s and missing punctuation, which was a bit unprofessional but didn’t affect the clarity of the writing at all.
The stories Jen wove into her tips & advice were entertaining, funny, and will probably be useful in comforting myself if I ever get into similar situations! I also really appreciated the resources pages at the end with various groups, websites, apps, and companies to look into.
January 2, 2020
The reading is so friendly, easy going and basically tries to enforce you to don't be afraid of travel, it provides examples of thing you can do to start travel solo as female and at the end of the book include a list of apps, web sites, gadgets to travel, etc. I read it with Amazon Unlimited and it was free.
October 18, 2025
The book is organized, easy to read written from a woman's point of view. Some of the information was repeated like what clothes to wear. But being ex- military, we always have a point of contact at the destination, and we use the buddy system. My favorite part was cleaning out the refrigerator before leaving and paying any bills that may be due.
December 27, 2025
fun and informative
Great book. I’ve been a solo traveller and digital nomad and her tips are great. I even learnt a few things. She also has great resources at the end of her book. She gives fantastic common sense advice and reeks a few entertaining stories. Most importantly, she encourages you to travel and gives you the confidence to try.
Great book. I’ve been a solo traveller and digital nomad and her tips are great. I even learnt a few things. She also has great resources at the end of her book. She gives fantastic common sense advice and reeks a few entertaining stories. Most importantly, she encourages you to travel and gives you the confidence to try.
June 13, 2020
Interesting
While I do not have social media, I can imagine that this lady does and enjoys her time on these sites. Some decent tips, but she may have a few higher standards than I do.
While I do not have social media, I can imagine that this lady does and enjoys her time on these sites. Some decent tips, but she may have a few higher standards than I do.
February 24, 2023
I feel that this book covered most of what those with common sense should already know, so I feel that I didn’t get anything out of it. It wasn’t what I was looking for. It was short, but I’ve read other travel books that are more interesting, educational, and empowering.
July 5, 2023
Good travel advice
This short book has been very helpful in reminding me of the things I need to do to be prepared for my trip. It's laid out efficiently & easy to read. There are a bunch of apps she recommends.
This short book has been very helpful in reminding me of the things I need to do to be prepared for my trip. It's laid out efficiently & easy to read. There are a bunch of apps she recommends.
June 14, 2024
LOVE THIS
This is my first time hearing of Jen Ruiz, a lawyer turned globe trotter & I am so glad I read her book. It’s a fun read & her Instagram look fun too. She connects travel with purpose, provides a wealth full of travel tips, & I highly recommend this book.
This is my first time hearing of Jen Ruiz, a lawyer turned globe trotter & I am so glad I read her book. It’s a fun read & her Instagram look fun too. She connects travel with purpose, provides a wealth full of travel tips, & I highly recommend this book.
October 27, 2020
Informative and hilarious
Full of tips, advice and humour. A great read for any traveler, solo or not! It had me giggling throughout!
Full of tips, advice and humour. A great read for any traveler, solo or not! It had me giggling throughout!
December 15, 2021
Confidence boosting!
Jennifer Ruiz really put my mind at ease for travelling alone by providing a lot of practical safety advice and group networks. Highly recommend!
Jennifer Ruiz really put my mind at ease for travelling alone by providing a lot of practical safety advice and group networks. Highly recommend!
August 11, 2022
Might be good if you've never left your house before but I couldn't read anymore.
October 28, 2025
Good tips
Some of the information is useful. Knowing what to do before I trip. It's helpful！I like the part about how to protect yourself. Thank you.
Some of the information is useful. Knowing what to do before I trip. It's helpful！I like the part about how to protect yourself. Thank you.
November 12, 2022
Solo Travel - Tips and inspiration
Great read full of the authors solo travel stories and tips and tricks for solo travel.
I picked this up after deciding a solo trip is something I would like to do and have found it super helpful in helping me decide if it was for me and with the planning.
One you can easily jump around sections and return to.
Would recommend if solo travel is something you are interested in.
Great read full of the authors solo travel stories and tips and tricks for solo travel.
I picked this up after deciding a solo trip is something I would like to do and have found it super helpful in helping me decide if it was for me and with the planning.
One you can easily jump around sections and return to.
Would recommend if solo travel is something you are interested in.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews