Considering a Solo Trip? Eva Zu Beck and DW Reporters Share Their Experiences

Why It Matters

These insights reveal a growing market for women‑focused travel services and provide actionable safety strategies, encouraging more women to embark on solo adventures confidently.

Key Takeaways

• Choose central accommodations for safety and social interaction.
• Solo travel boosts confidence through spontaneous local connections.
• Injuries underscore need for emergency plans during solo trips.
• Traveling off‑season can cause loneliness; pick busy periods.
• Female‑only hostels provide added comfort and security for solo women.

Summary

The DW segment gathers several female travelers—hosts Hannah Hummel and Eva zu Beck, plus DW reporters Aisha Sharipzhan, Gönna Ketels and Sarah Hucal—to discuss the realities of solo journeys for women.

Across the interviews, common themes emerge: solo trips foster personal growth, confidence and authentic local interactions, while logistical hurdles such as decision‑fatigue, safety concerns and health emergencies demand careful planning.

Hummel cites a solo weekend in Barcelona that sparked confidence; zu Beck recounts buying two horses in Mongolia and the isolation of a week‑long trek, as well as a concussion from a fall. Sharipzhan highlights Borneo’s wildlife and the stark palm‑oil impact, Ketels praises a structured Namibia itinerary, and Hucal notes that solo backpacking in Bolivia and Peru yielded more social connections than group travel, despite occasional discrimination in restaurants.

The discussion underscores a rising demand for female‑friendly travel infrastructure—central lodging, female‑only hostels and reliable emergency resources—while reminding women that intuition and seasonality are key to safe, rewarding solo experiences.

Original Description

Solo travel is on the rise — but what does it really take to explore the world on your own, especially as a woman? In this episode, global explorer Eva zu Beck (@evazubeck) and DW Travel hosts share their personal insights and experiences from years of solo travel.

Be sure to watch until the end, when Eva zu Beck, Hanna Hummel, Sarah Hucal, Aisha Sharipzhan and Gönna Ketels reveal their most helpful tips and travel hacks you won’t want to miss.

00:00 Intro

00:18 Hannah Hummel

01:13 Eva zu Beck

02:52 Aisha Sharipzhan

03:47 Gönna Ketels

05:14 Sarah Hucal

06:47 Travel tips and hacks

CREDITS:

Report: Christina Deicke

Editing: Dustin Jacobi

Supervising editors: Elisabeth Yorck, Christian Hoffmann

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