Travel Guides & Articles
Solo travel for women: Tips for vacationing alone
From mountain trekking in India to a silent retreat in Bali, I’ve been fortunate to travel solo multiple times in the past decade.
Over the years, I’ve found that mixing tours with independent travel helps me get the most out of my trips.
Meeting people is high on my priority list, as is feeling safe when I travel. Here are some tips to do both.
Cover your calves in India
In the southern state of Kerala, India, I stayed at Soul and Surf, a guesthouse in the town of Varkala that specializes in yoga classes and surfing lessons. While on the resort’s grounds on a grassy clifftop, I lazed in a bikini among mainly western tourists. But in the center of the small town, I wore long dresses or pants and made sure to cover my legs and shoulders.
I reveled in waking up solo and being able to choose exactly what I wanted to do each day.
Local people dress modestly, and it was important for me to respect that: I also felt that I would be less likely to attract unwanted attention.
Kerala has a reputation for being more relaxed than other parts of India but I still covered up. Following local customs is a good way to fit in to any destination.
Join a tour — but do your own thing too
When traveling by myself, I aim for a mix of organized tours and solo explorations. On a trip to Vietnam, I joined a sightseeing tour of the Mekong Delta, a network of rivers and islands in the southern tip of the country.
While the tour was undeniably touristy, I got the chance to chat with others and hear their stories. We had evenings to ourselves, and I enjoyed swimming alone at the hotel’s pool and eating street food for dinner by myself.
The author on a tour of an island in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.
Lucy Handley
After the tour, I enjoyed doing my own thing on Phu Quoc, an island in the Gulf of Thailand. I reveled in waking up solo and being able to choose exactly what I wanted to do each day.
I mixed tours with solo travel on my trip to Kerala too. After a few days by the beach, I joined an organized trek of the Western Ghats from the hill town of Munnar, hiking through tea plantations, cardamom fields and rainforests, where we had to get off the beaten path so as not to disturb the area’s wild elephants.
Yoga can take you everywhere
I have attended yoga classes alone in Las Vegas, the Spanish island of Mallorca, and the tourist-friendly state of Goa, India.
A retreat at Villa De Zoysa, a family-owned estate in southern Sri Lanka, kickstarted my love of yoga, and it has helped me find community when I travel alone. For those who aren’t fans, language and dance classes could work too.
While cat-sitting in Mallorca, I joined classes at Bini Balance, run by yoga instructor Cristina Moragues. She invited me to join a retreat in the nearby Serra de Tramuntana mountain range that runs through the center of the island.
In Goa, I approached tourists who were walking on Patnem Beach, carrying yoga mats. They invited me to join a class, and we became vacation buddies, going on a boat trip to neighboring beaches and spending the evening at a silent disco together.
Sit at the bar when eating out
Dining alone can feel exposing, so I often look for restaurants where there are seats at the bar.
On a solo trip to New Orleans to see Beyonce perform during her 2023 Renaissance tour, I had brunch at Willa Jean in the city’s central business district. I sat at the bar, enjoying avocado toast and a paloma cocktail, while chatting to a private jet company operator and an LVMH executive, who were both in town for business.
Sitting at the counter or bar at a restaurant can be a good way to meet other travelers when vacationing alone.
Westend61 | Getty Images
At Bearcat, also in the CBD, there’s a large menu with breakfast classics alongside Southern crab and lobster specials, and I found sitting at the bar a good way to take in the buzzy atmosphere.
Get off your phone
Call me old school, but I love a proper travel guidebook.
I find trawling endless online reviews for hotel or restaurant recommendations tedious and instead rely on “Lonely Planet” or “Rough Guide” books. It also feels safer — I’m less likely to have my phone in my hand scrolling on an unfamiliar street. Plus, it means I look up more and can take in more of my surroundings.
Guided walking tours are also a great way to explore a city without your nose in your phone. I took a walking tour of Ho Chi Minh City with GuruWalk, which runs on a pay-what-you-can basis.
Stay in a hotel with group activities
Hotels that offer activities can make for an easy solo trip. Red Mountain Resort in Utah offers packages that include group guided hikes, classes such as Pilates, core fitness and meditation. While there, I found these activities made it easy to meet other travelers.
Guests can go on a kayak or paddleboard “safari” to an adjacent bay at Neilson’s Beach Club in Sardinia.
Source: Neilson
Meanwhile, British holiday company Neilson includes activities like cycling, tennis classes, paddle boarding and sailing in its vacations, and its social dining table can be a friendly place for solo travelers. Traveling during school terms increases your chances of meeting others who are vacationing alone — and it’s cheaper, too.
Certain activities attract solo travelers too. In Indonesia, I stayed at Bali Silent Retreat, where most guests were traveling solo. Not speaking for a few days felt liberating. However, if the silence is too much, the retreat offers short trips to a nearby hot spring, where talking is allowed.
Safety tips for solo travel
Traveling by yourself can feel hugely freeing. That said, I do take a few safety precautions.
Before I go away, I leave a detailed itinerary with my family, including the phone numbers of tour guides and taxi companies I’m using, along with my travel insurance information.
If you’re a U.S. citizen, you can register trips abroad with the government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so you can be contacted if there is an emergency. There is no similar system in the U.K., but the government publishes a list of English-speaking doctors worldwide.
I book most of my transfers, accommodations and tours ahead, though I try to leave some flexibility so I can be spontaneous too.
When I’m out and about, I wear a cross-body purse and avoid keeping valuables in my pockets. I always pack a spare credit card and extra cash, which l leave in the hotel’s safe. When traveling by train, or rickshaw in India, I wore a money belt under my pants. Locals advised me not to walk alone late at night in New Orleans, and I made sure to book and wait for taxis indoors rather than on the street.
A cross-body purse is useful for valuables while traveling.
Mayur Kakade | E+ | Getty Images
When I told friends I was traveling by myself to India, some said they were concerned for my safety. But I found that when people approached me they usually just wanted to practice their English.
In Bali, meanwhile, traveling around the island is simple via the ride-hailing apps Gojek and Grab.
When it comes to accommodations, I avoid ground-floor rooms. I also utilize all locks on the doors, so that someone with a key can’t enter the room while I’m asleep.
And, I seek advice from local people, as well as other tourists, on areas to avoid or tour operators they recommend.
Finally, my best advice: trust your intuition. If a person, situation or place feels unsafe, leave or seek help.
The Skal International India National Congress 2025 concluded at the Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai on September 14, 2025.
The three-day event welcomed a record-breaking participation of more than 200 delegates, from India and abroad, all paying full congress fees to be part of this milestone gathering, said a Skal release.
Distinguished personalities including Maneka Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor, Pooja Bedi, Subhash Gha, Zayed Khani and many more lit up the moments, lending prestige, and inspiration to the occasion.
At the heart of the congress, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the fiscal year 2024–2025 was held on Day 1, preceded by the national board meeting.
President Sanjeev Mehra and treasurer Monik Dharamshi presented transparent reports on finances and activities. Delegates appreciated the clarity of leadership, as the roadmap for Vision 2025–2030 that was shared, laying out strategies to strengthen Skal’s footprint in India and deepen global engagement.
“This congress is not just about numbers; it is about values, vision, and vitality. We are proud to host Skålleagues from across India and abroad to Mumbai, to celebrate the true spirit of friendship, collaboration, and business networking that Skal stands for,” said Mukesh Batra, president, Skal International Mumbai South, the host club.
For the first time, Skal International India national board launched the Skal International Indian Excellence Awards 2025, designed to recognise outstanding contributions from clubs, individuals, and Friends of Skål. The awards celebrated the achievements in club performance, membership growth, innovation, sustainability, and community impact.
The award for best performing Indian Skal Club of the Year 2025 was won by Skal International Chennai; Best active Indian Skal Club of the Year 2025 was won by Skal International Goa; Fastest growing Indian Skal Club of the Year 2025 by Skal International Bangalore; Best Indian Skål Club Event of the Year 2025 was jointly presented to Skal International Kolkata and Skal International Jammu & Kashmir; Best Indian Skal Club CSR of the Year 2025 award went to Skal International Coimbatore; Recognition as a reckoning force to Skal International Kochi; Recognition for outstanding young Skal engagement to Raja Gopal Iyer, Skal International Trivandrum; Indian Skalleague of the Year 2025 to Kamleshwaran P.S., Skal International Chennai; and Recognition for global outreach to N.S.N. Mohan, deputy vice president and director of Region 10, Skal International.
“The Excellence Awards are not merely trophies; they are a tribute to dedication, creativity, and the unwavering spirit of Skålleagues who are driving this movement forward. Our board’s vision for 2025–2030 is rooted in collective growth: more clubs, stronger retention, deeper engagement, and a unified Indian presence on the world stage,” said Sanjeev Mehra, president, Skal International India. “
Travel Guides & Articles
Tharoor calls for targeted campaigns beyond ‘Incredible India’ to boost tourism
Calling for a more nuanced and diversified promotional strategy, Dr Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament, has urged India’s tourism sector to move beyond the singular “Incredible India” campaign and adopt a more segmented approach to marketing the country’s vast and varied offerings. He emphasised the need to highlight niche sectors such as wildlife, beaches, heritage, and culture, arguing that a one-size-fits-all campaign is insufficient to reflect India’s diversity. “One ‘Incredible India’ campaign is not enough,” Tharoor said. “We need to showcase the many different aspects of India that exist within our borders.”
Speaking at the Skål India National Congress 2025 in Mumbai, he also pointed to the glaring absence of Chinese tourists in the country, despite their growing presence in global tourism. “The Chinese are travelling across the world except India. Let’s bring some Chinese money into our country,” he remarked.
Adding a touch of humour to his address, Tharoor quipped, “Perhaps we could even attract some British tourists for a colonial heritage tour—though there aren’t many monuments left; they took more than they left.”
His remarks added both insight and levity to a serious discussion on revitalising Indian tourism, offering clear and actionable ideas to industry leaders and policymakers alike.
Tharoor also called for urgent structural reforms in the tourism sector, highlighting the need to enhance women’s safety and strengthen hospitality infrastructure across the board. “Our nation carries the perception that India is not safe for women. We must change this image. It’s time for action. Increasing the presence of women police officers in tourist areas would be a step in the right direction,” he stated.
He emphasised tourism’s role as a key driver of economic growth, citing its potential to create employment and generate significant revenue. “We have a lot to do. Tourism is a vital sector—it generates jobs and enhances government income. Infrastructure development must be prioritised.”
Pointing to gaps in the current hospitality ecosystem, he added, “We either have high-end five-star hotels or substandard facilities—there’s virtually nothing in the middle. We need to build a lot more to fill this gap.”
Tharoor’s address reflected a mix of strategic insight and wit, resonating with tourism professionals, investors, and policymakers seeking to position India as a more attractive and accessible global destination.
From left: Courtesy of Santi; Abhishek Bali
Jaipur has long seduced travelers with its warren of old bazaars, royal palaces, and glittering treasures. But behind one of the city’s pink façades lies a rarer find: Royal Gems & Arts, a jewelry business housed inside Saras Sadan, an 18th-century haveli, or mansion, a short walk from the iconic Hawa Mahal palace.
Run by ninth-generation jeweler Santi Choudhary with his wife, Shobha, and son, Krishna, the atelier feels like a museum and is open by appointment only. The Choudharys, descendants of the city’s founding families, supply exquisite pieces to royalty and collectors around the world.
Today, Santi oversees a trove of Mughal- and Rajput-inspired pieces, some of which have been loaned to the world’s top museums. Krishna joined the family business while studying Islamic and Indian art in London. In 2019, he started his own label, Santi, with an atelier in London’s Mayfair district showcasing bold, contemporary designs with rare stones set in gold, titanium, or platinum.
Together, the Choudharys’ shops offer a glimpse into India’s past and present—one rooted in Jaipur’s traditions, the other reinterpreting them for a new generation. While the haveli in Jaipur focuses on heritage designs, Santi in London crafts one-of-a-kind pieces, like a rare 18th-century, pyramid-shaped Colombian emerald set in 18-karat white gold with reverse-set diamonds. “Every antique stone we work with brings a mystery with it, and we add something to it for the future,” Krishna says.
Courtesy of Santi
Run by ninth-generation jeweler Santi Choudhary with his wife, Shobha, and son, Krishna, the atelier feels like a museum and is open by appointment only. The Choudharys, descendants of the city’s founding families, supply exquisite pieces to royalty and collectors around the world.
Today, Santi oversees a trove of Mughal- and Rajput-inspired pieces, some of which have been loaned to the world’s top museums. Krishna joined the family business while studying Islamic and Indian art in London. In 2019, he started his own label, Santi, with an atelier in London’s Mayfair district showcasing bold, contemporary designs with rare stones set in gold, titanium, or platinum.
Together, the Choudharys’ shops offer a glimpse into India’s past and present—one rooted in Jaipur’s traditions, the other reinterpreting them for a new generation. While the haveli in Jaipur focuses on heritage designs, Santi in London crafts one-of-a-kind pieces, like a rare 18th-century, pyramid-shaped Colombian emerald set in 18-karat white gold with reverse-set diamonds. “Every antique stone we work with brings a mystery with it, and we add something to it for the future,” Krishna says.
More Must-visit Jewelers in Jaipur
Founded by Akshat Ghiya—a second-generation jeweler who was raised in India and Italy—this store has made a name for itself with its unconventional, contemporary pieces. Ghiya uses stones like pink and purple sapphire, onyx, citrine, and tourmaline to create wearable confections.
This shop, which features striking geometric styles, is attached to a museum that holds more than 2,500 objects—textiles, coins, daggers, and jewelry—collected by the owners’ late father.
Established in 1852, this store is a celebrity favorite. Princess Diana, Oprah, and Gwyneth Paltrow have all ogled the traditional Indian craftsmanship blended with contemporary design. After the eighth-generation jeweler Munnu Kasliwal died in 2012, his son Siddharth took over, and today runs the business alongside his brother, cousins, and uncle.
A version of this story appeared in the October 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline “Jaipur’s Crown Jewel.”
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