Lucy Handley, a travel writer who has backpacked and stayed in destinations including Bali, India and the United States, told CNBC that one of her simplest and most reliable tips for women travelling alone is to sit at the bar when dining out.
"Dining alone can feel exposing, so I often look for restaurants where there are seats at the bar," Handley wrote. She said bar seating allows solo travellers to enjoy the atmosphere while offering an easier way to strike up conversation; on a solo trip to New Orleans to see Beyonce during the singer's 2023 Renaissance tour, Handley said she sat at Willa Jean’s bar, ate avocado toast and drank a paloma while talking with a private jet company operator and an LVMH executive.
Handley shared several other practical habits she uses to make solo travel more comfortable and social. She recommended choosing accommodation that offers group activities to facilitate meeting other travellers, and suggested joining organised tours while still carving out time to explore independently. "Finding a balance between socialising and down time can be a great way to capitalise on your experience," she wrote.
In addition to organised activities and tours, Handley urged travellers to seek out local classes as a means of building community. She credited a retreat at Villa De Zoysa, a family-owned estate in southern Sri Lanka, with kickstarting her interest in yoga and said that yoga classes have repeatedly helped her find community while travelling alone. For those less inclined toward yoga, she suggested language or dance classes as alternative ways to connect with locals and fellow visitors.
Handley’s account, published for CNBC and summarised by lifestyle outlets, also notes a range of travel experiences that informed her advice, from mountain trekking to silent retreats. She described solo travel as potentially isolating and overwhelming, particularly for first-time travellers, and framed her recommendations as ways to reduce discomfort while expanding opportunities for convivial encounters.
Her guidance focuses on practical measures—where to sit when eating, what kinds of accommodation to choose, and which local activities to join—that can make solo trips feel safer and more socially rewarding. Handley’s examples underscore how small choices, such as selecting a seat at the bar, can alter the tone of a trip and create unexpected connections on the road.