Adrien Behn is the creator of the popular podcast Strangers Abroad, a series of conversations had with strangers she met while backpacking throughout Latin America for 5 months, overlapped with her personal stories about being a woman who travels alone. The conversations focus on self-growth, world progress, and the importance of travel with all of the wonderful + weird people she met while traveling. She is a travel writer, live storyteller, and forever solo-female traveler. She desires to hit every country before she dies ( with modern medicine, she still has plenty of time).


Thank you so much for sharing your travel experiences with us! Can you talk about the differences between traveling as a solo female traveler and traveling with a partner?

I have traveled with close female friends all over the world and never had an issue traveling with them. Whereas, the first 3 hours of landing in Mexico City, my boyfriend and I saw each other for who we really were and broke up.

Wow, that must have been a pretty uncomfortable trip! What were some of the issues?

With my girlfriends, it was never an issue. If we wanted to do something different we gave each other the space to go off and do it. We weren’t tied to each other.

Whereas my ex ( who had never traveled before) expected me to do all of the bookings, itineraries, and planning. I do enjoy that part; however, he didn’t make it any easier when I didn’t know something about where we were visiting.

Did you have similar travel styles with your ex or with your female friends?

When I’m traveling with my best travel friend, Carla, we typically are interested in the same things. I do like going out a bit more and she enjoys museums more, so we give each other the space to do what we please but will always share meals together.

My ex, being a novice traveler, leached onto me throughout our trip because he had never traveled before. I prefer solo-travel, so that was particularly inconvenient, annoying, and eventually resulted in us sobbing on the streets of Oaxaca realizing we couldn’t be together anymore. I now only date men who respect my full independence.

Did you or your partner struggle with sticking to a budget, and do you feel that money caused conflict when you have traveled with other people?

Typically, with friends and partners, we are always open about our budget and will discuss beforehand so we don’t go overboard. I have no desire to buy things while I’m traveling because that means I have to carry it. So I tend to have fancier meals because that just means that I’m the added weight instead of my luggage (lol).

What are some of the other issues you’ve faced while traveling?

A general issue is not speaking the language and hoping that when you find someone to translate nothing is getting lost in communication. I always try to learn the basics of every country’s language I’m visiting.

It is unfortunate that I have to call this an issue, but being a woman alone makes you hyper-alert. Other than catcalling and the male gaze, I have been barely scratched while roaming the world.

However, the largest issues have always been more internal than external. Issues of self-doubt, loneliness, homesickness have plagued me more than anything else. The external issues I face abroad don’t tend to be so different from issues I face at home.

Do you ever have conflict about sightseeing plans?

Nope, communication is key here. If you aren’t communicating with your friend/partner then you will be dragging onto some god awful sightseeing tour surrounded by selfie- sticks, and families asking for McDonald’s.

If neither of us wants to do something the other does, we speak up and communicate that.

What type of traveler are you?

I tend to be more of the planner, but I understand travel well enough to leave room for spontaneity.

Do you have any tips for couples planning a trip?

Nope! Solo for meeeeee!

Which countries have you visited as a solo female traveler?

Most of Europe, Turkey, all of Central America, Colombia, and Peru.

Have you ever felt unsafe?

Yes, but it’s typically my anxiety perceiving the situation as being more dangerous than it actually is. I find the world to be more protective than predatory.

Do you feel any countries are too dangerous for women to travel alone?

I can only speak for the ones I have been to and everywhere I have been has been totally fine.

Have you ever visited a country where people considered it unsafe for women, only to have an amazing time?

Not at the moment. There were places I thought would be safer for women and turned out not to be—- I’m looking at you Italy.

What are your tips for solo female travelers?

Be selfish. Go on your own and don’t let others hold you back. Give yourself the full freedom that women have been denied forever.

Do your research and always be respectful of the culture- even if you disagree with it. Traveling in someone else’s home is no place to be self-righteous.

Learn the basics of the language and always talk to strangers.

Thanks, Adrien! For more stories and conversations, be sure to check out Andrien’s podcast, Strangers Abroad. 

What about you; what type of traveler are you? Do you tend to prefer traveling solo, with a partner, or going on a girl’s trip? Would you like to be featured on Love Lust or Bust and share your travel stories and experiences with us? If so, click here, or leave us a comment below!

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