Being on the road as a solo woman can be the most fulfilling but also challenging experience of your entire life. It’s something we are not taught we are able to do by society and in order to do that, we need a man on hand. But it’s becoming more and more common that women are finding the confidence to say screw that and are going to do it anyway.
While there is still a lot more risk in being a sole female traveller compared to men, it’s still more than possible, and we have so many influencers that prove it to us every day, which is encouraging and so powerful. So if the van life could be for you, we are here to give you our full guide so you can make the decision yourself.
It’s so common to think you might dislike something or that you ‘can’t’ do it but you never truly know unless you take the risk and the step forward necessary. The worst thing that could happen is that you hate it and come home within the first week. Solo travel is not for everyone and I understand why. It might be lonely for some and a little bit scary for others, but for many, it’s pure tranquilly and eye-opening.
Solo travel, especially in a van, teaches you that you don’t need much to survive but also that you have true freedom to go and sleep wherever you want. How insane is that but how natural does it also seem?
Together, we are going to go through some of the tips I’ve learned along the way on how to embrace freedom as a woman wanting to embrace the van life.
The Enhancing Escape
Imagine waking up to the sunrise over a crystal clear lake, the sound of waves crashing, or the sound of wildlife in the secluded areas. I mean, that is a dream for more than the average person but it kind of re-awakens a part of us we always knew was right. Like a fully authentic way of living away from the capitalistic and modern lifestyle that just doesn’t promote these feelings of awe in the morning.
You are taking back what you consider a happy reality by adopting the van lifestyle. You have the freedom to wake up wherever you want, which also allows you to follow your own schedule. The van life is unfortunately suited for those who either work on social media as creators, are digital nomads or have the means to support themselves over a temporary period to experience the van life.
Picking the perfect van is an essential part of the whole experience. Whether you are warming up to a Ford Transit, Volkswagen or a brand new customer-built camper van, the options are endless, but going with a model and size that suits you and how you plan to live happily is all that matters. You should pick a van that suits your travel ambitions as well. For example, some vans are best suited for sticking to the roads but if you ever plan to go off-road you might need a van that is built for that and not a low-rider.
Seek Out Sisterhood
Van life is no different than when girls go solo travelling around Asia; there are more people just like you and there will be chances to connect with others or friendly couples. You will be absolutely shocked at how friendly some people can be and the types of characters you will encounter during this adventure.
Try looking for groups online like ‘Girls About the Globe” or “The Adventure People” if you are looking to meet like-minded people or to get some recommended locations that are safe for women, whether it’s women-only UK based city centre car parks that might be within reach but you get the idea.
A main objective when women are travelling around New Zealand is to park in a great location with great views but they also want to be safe and wary of anything that they don’t want to find out the hard way. This is also a great opportunity to help you map out your next location. From my experience in places like camping grounds for others who were either camping for the weekend or living a similar lifestyle, it was always pleasant, everyone was so kind and generous, which I was really lucky to have had as a positive experience.
Camping or being a solo traveller and meeting like-minded people truly attracted so much good energy and it was great to be a part of a new community I had never experienced before.
Stay Protected
With all that being said, it’s important to note that while you might have mapped out women’s solo-approved locations to visit, there will still be moments you want to do your own adventuring so staying protected is always key. I felt most secure having things on my person at all times because you never know who or what is around the corner so these little things I do on a daily basis help me feel protected when I am on my own.
- I locked the van at all times and my keys were clipped to my pants while inside my pocket.
- Head torch for when things get dark.
- An alarm at all times, while you can apply for a permit to use pepper spray if you wish.
- Kept curtains and all windows closed.
- I parked in secure locations when I left the van.
- I kept my phone and portable charger all charged up at all times in case of emergencies.
- I called a member of my family when I didn’t feel safe.
- I left areas right away if I didn’t feel safe.
- I locked my car when pumping gas.
- Invest in good door locks, as old models are easier to break into.
If there was something I could do to make myself feel better, then I did it. You will obviously get a vibe from a place, but I never saw any harm in taking that extra step into feeling safer.
Embrace Simplicity
When it comes to van life, you must unlearn a lot of the conveniences you have while living in a house or flat, whether that is having a working toilet or a large kitchen space to do all your cooking. Picking the van life means you are leaving all those things behind and choosing a more old-school and simple lifestyle that kind of restores some sort of authenticity back into your life.
It’s very much not for everyone but it’s definitely something that you can used to and most people don’t mind living on the road and, in fact, prefer it because it offers a closer and more intimate space but also encourages you not to hoard a bunch of unnecessary things that we usually pick up when living in a house or flat.
You will need to master the art of organisation but also keep on top of any mess you might create when toy are cooking, getting ready and the rest. Having a small space really takes effort but once it’s done then you don’t need to think about it. It’s also so worth it in the end because you get to reconnect with yourself and only you and discover a sense of self-reliance you never knew you had.
