Solo Female Travel Over 60: Senior Guide

Updated for 2026 — Accurate as of February 2026.

I started solo traveling at 62, six months after my husband of 34 years passed away. My daughter thought I was having a breakdown. My friends thought I was being reckless. My doctor was the only one who encouraged me — she said grief needs movement, and staying in my house waiting to feel better was not movement. Three years later, I have visited 18 countries alone. I have walked the Camino de Santiago, taken a cooking class in Tuscany, watched the sun rise over Angkor Wat, and discovered that the woman I am at 65 is braver, more curious, and more alive than the woman I was at 25.

Solo travel over 60 is the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry. According to AARP’s 2025 Travel Trends report, 39% of women over 60 are interested in solo travel, up from 21% in 2019. The average solo traveler over 60 takes 3.2 trips per year and spends $4,800 annually. We are not a niche market — we are the market.

This guide addresses the real concerns and real joys of solo travel for women in their 60s, 70s, and beyond. Not the patronizing “you’re never too old!” cheerleading, but practical, honest advice from a woman who started this chapter late and would not trade it for anything.

Addressing the Real Concerns

”Am I Too Old?”

No. But let me be specific about what that means: you are not too old to travel solo. You may, however, need to travel differently than a 25-year-old, and that is not a limitation — it is wisdom.

At 65, I walk more slowly than I did at 35. I need more sleep. I take medication daily. I have a knee that protests stairs and a back that objects to cheap mattresses. None of these things prevent me from traveling. They simply shape how I travel.

The fundamental question is not “Am I too old?” but “Am I prepared?” If you can walk a mile at your own pace, manage your own luggage, and navigate basic logistics (or are willing to learn), you can solo travel.

Health Preparation

Health preparation for solo travel over 60 is more involved than for younger travelers, and it deserves more attention, not less.

Pre-trip medical checklist:

Item	Timeline	Notes
Comprehensive physical	3-6 months before	Include cardiovascular and mobility assessment
Dental check	2-3 months before	Dental emergencies abroad are expensive and stressful
Vision check	2-3 months before	Bring a current prescription and spare glasses
Travel vaccinations	6-8 weeks before	Some vaccinations are recommended for older adults specifically
Medication supply	1 month before	90-day supply minimum, in original labeled containers
Doctor’s letter	2 weeks before	Explaining all medications and conditions, in English and destination language
Medical alert jewelry	Before travel	If you have conditions that emergency responders need to know about

Medications while traveling:

• Always carry medications in your carry-on bag, never in checked luggage
• Bring twice as much as you need (in case of travel delays)
• Carry medications in original pharmacy containers with labels
• Bring a written list of all medications with generic names (brand names differ internationally)
• Research whether your medications are controlled substances in your destination
• Know the local equivalent name for your medications in case you need an emergency refill

Travel Insurance: Non-Negotiable

Travel insurance for travelers over 60 is essential, not optional. Medical evacuation from a remote destination can cost $50,000-$200,000. Emergency surgery abroad without insurance can bankrupt you.

Insurance considerations for 60+ travelers:

Provider	Age Limit	Medical Coverage	Pre-Existing Conditions	Annual Cost (estimate)
Allianz	No upper limit	Up to $500K	Covered with conditions	$300-$600
World Nomads	69 (some plans to 79)	$250K	Limited coverage	$200-$400
IMG Global	No upper limit	Up to $1M	Available at higher premium	$400-$800
April International	No upper limit	Up to $500K	Covered	$350-$700
Medjet	No upper limit	Medical evacuation only	Not applicable	$99-$395

Critical: Read the pre-existing conditions policy carefully. Many insurers exclude conditions diagnosed within 60-180 days before the policy purchase date. Some offer a “look-back” waiver if you buy the policy within 14-21 days of your first trip deposit.

Pace and Style

The Slow Travel Advantage

Women over 60 have an advantage that younger solo travelers envy: time. If you are retired or semi-retired, you can travel slowly, and slow travel is objectively better travel. Instead of racing through five cities in seven days, you spend a week in one place. You find a favorite cafe. You learn the neighborhood. You have real conversations. You rest when you need to.

My pace formula:

• Maximum 2 destinations per week (including travel days)
• No more than 3 hours of active sightseeing per day (with breaks)
• One rest day per week (no plans, no obligations, just rest)
• No overnight travel (sleep in a proper bed every night)
• No more than 4 hours of sitting transport in a single stretch

This pace means I see less in terms of quantity and more in terms of quality. I know a small corner of Florence better than most tourists who spend three days there, because I spent a week and walked the same streets until they felt like mine.

Accommodation for Comfort

At 62, I switched from hostels to hotels and private Airbnbs, and this was one of the best decisions I made. The cost difference is real — $50-100/night instead of $15-25 — but the comfort difference is profound. A good bed, a private bathroom, and a quiet room are not luxuries at our age — they are health necessities.

My accommodation priorities:

1. Ground floor or elevator access (stairs with luggage are a safety risk)
2. Private bathroom (shared hostel bathrooms at 3 AM are not my scene)
3. Good bed (I read mattress comments in reviews religiously)
4. Central location (minimizes transport and walking to distant neighborhoods)
5. Natural light and space (mental health matters, especially when traveling alone)

Types of accommodation that work well for solo women over 60:

• Boutique hotels with character and service
• Airbnb apartments in residential neighborhoods
• B&Bs with hosts (built-in social interaction and local knowledge)
• Small group tours with accommodation included
• Wellness retreats and spa hotels

Best Destinations for Solo Women Over 60

My Personal Recommendations

These are destinations I have traveled to solo after 60 and specifically recommend for women in our age group:

Portugal (especially Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve) Warm climate, flat enough in key areas (though Lisbon has hills — take the trams), incredibly affordable, safe, welcoming to older travelers, excellent public healthcare system in case of emergencies. The Portuguese have a cultural respect for older people that makes solo travel here feel particularly comfortable.

Italy (especially Tuscany, Umbria, and the Amalfi Coast) Italian culture reveres older women in a way that is genuinely uplifting. You will be called “bella signora” by shopkeepers and offered the best table in restaurants. The food is extraordinary, the pace of life in smaller towns matches a relaxed travel pace perfectly, and the art and history reward deep, slow exploration.

Japan The safest country I have ever traveled in, at any age. Japanese efficiency means transport is reliable and accessible. The culture is deeply respectful of older people. The food is exceptional and healthy. The only challenge is language, but Google Translate and the exceptional signage system make navigation manageable.

New Zealand Clean, safe, stunning scenery, English-speaking, and with excellent tourist infrastructure. The South Island is one of the most beautiful places on earth. New Zealand’s culture is welcoming and unpretentious.

Scotland Manageable size, English-speaking, extraordinary scenery, rich literary and historical culture, and a pub culture that welcomes solo women warmly. Edinburgh and the Highlands are particularly rewarding for slow, thoughtful exploration.

Destinations That Require More Consideration

Destination	Appeal	Challenges for 60+ Solo Women
India	Spiritual, cultural, transformative	Physical intensity, illness risk, sensory overload
Morocco	Stunning, exotic, affordable	Aggressive touts, heat, limited mobility infrastructure
Southeast Asia	Affordable, warm, beautiful	Heat, food safety concerns, healthcare quality varies
South America	Vibrant, diverse, adventurous	Language barriers, altitude (Peru/Bolivia), safety variation
China	Fascinating, historically rich	Language barrier, pollution in cities, limited accessibility

These destinations are absolutely doable over 60 — I have met 70-year-old women trekking in Nepal — but they require more preparation, more flexibility, and ideally some travel experience in easier destinations first.

Technology for Over-60 Travelers

Essential Apps

App	Purpose	Why It Matters Over 60
Google Translate	Real-time translation, camera translation of signs and menus	Removes language barriers instantly
Maps.me or Google Maps (offline)	Navigation without data connection	Never get lost, find your way home
WhatsApp	Free international calling and messaging	Stay connected with family
Uber/Bolt/local equivalent	Safe, tracked transportation	Eliminates taxi negotiation and safety concerns
TripIt	Itinerary organization	All bookings in one place, accessible offline
ICE Medical Standard	Emergency medical information	First responders can access your medical info if you are incapacitated
GoodRx/equivalent	Medication identification	Identify pills and find pharmacies

Tech Tips

• Increase your phone’s font size before departure (Settings > Display > Text Size)
• Enable “Find My Phone” and share your location with family
• Download all maps and translation packs offline before leaving Wi-Fi
• Carry a portable charger — dead phone = no maps, no taxi apps, no emergency calls
• Use a phone lanyard or wrist strap — dropping your phone in a foreign city is a crisis

Solo Travel After Loss

The Grief Journey Intersection

Many women over 60 come to solo travel after losing a partner. I am one of them. Traveling alone when you had always planned to travel together is an act of courage that deserves acknowledgment.

The first trip is the hardest. I cried at dinner on my first solo evening in Paris — not because anything was wrong, but because everything was beautiful and he was not there to see it. By the third trip, the tears were less frequent. By the tenth trip, they were replaced by something I can only describe as gratitude — for the beauty I was seeing, for my health that allowed me to see it, and for the fact that I was choosing life instead of waiting for it to end.

What helped me through the early solo trips:

• Journaling every evening — writing to him, about him, about what I was experiencing
• Carrying a small photo that I placed on the bedside table in every hotel room
• Allowing the sadness when it came without fighting it or being embarrassed
• Talking to other travelers — many understood, and the conversations were healing
• Choosing my first few destinations carefully — places that were new to both of us, so I was not haunted by memories of trips we had taken together

Practical Tips That Make Life Easier

Luggage Strategy

At 65, I cannot wrestle a 50-pound suitcase onto a train platform. My luggage strategy reflects this reality:

• One rolling carry-on (22” x 14” x 9”) with four spinner wheels
• One small backpack as a personal item and day bag
• Total weight under 20 pounds including the bag itself
• Pack only what you can carry independently up a flight of stairs — because sometimes there is no elevator, no porter, and no kind stranger

Packing priorities for 60+ travelers:

• Comfortable, supportive shoes (bring two pairs — rotating prevents blisters and foot fatigue)
• Layers (our bodies regulate temperature less efficiently with age)
• Medications and health supplies in an accessible pouch
• A quality rain jacket (getting cold and wet is more dangerous for older bodies)
• Reading glasses and a spare pair
• A shawl or large scarf (covers shoulders for churches, adds warmth, doubles as blanket on planes)

Staying Connected with Family

Your children and friends will worry. This is love, not control, but it can feel oppressive if not managed with clear communication.

My system:

• Daily text at a consistent time (I text my daughter at 8 PM local time, every day)
• Weekly video call with my friend group
• Shared Google Maps location with my daughter (always on)
• Emergency protocol document shared with two people: what to do if they cannot reach me for 24 hours
• A clear message before each trip: “I love that you care about me. I need you to trust me. I will check in daily, and I will call if I need help.”

Meeting People

Solo travel over 60 is not lonely if you choose the right activities:

• Walking tours: Excellent for meeting fellow travelers. Free walking tours are available in most European cities.
• Cooking classes: Inherently social and popular with 50+ travelers
• Organized small group activities: Airbnb Experiences, GetYourGuide small group tours
• B&B and guesthouse common areas: Other guests are often happy to chat over breakfast
• Church or spiritual communities: If this is part of your life, local congregations welcome visitors warmly
• Women-focused travel groups: Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel), Overseas Adventure Travel, and Women Traveling Together all offer group trips for women over 50

The beauty of traveling alone at this age is that you are not trying to find yourself — you have already done that. You are enjoying yourself. You are rewarding yourself with the experiences you have earned. And you are proving, to yourself and to every young woman who sees you exploring the world alone, that age is not a boundary. It never was.

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