You’ve been dreaming about that trip to Italy. Walking cobblestone streets at your own pace, lingering over cappuccino in a centuries-old café, maybe finally taking that cooking class you’ve been reading about. In your mind’s eye, it’s just you—free to wander where curiosity leads, unencumbered by someone else’s agenda.
Here’s what makes this moment in time so exciting: record numbers of women are realizing their travel dreams, solo. Google searches for ‘solo female travel’ have surged 230% in recent years, and solo travel bookings continue to climb. Women everywhere are saying ‘yes’ to their wanderlust and booking those flights.
But here’s the truth that doesn’t make it into those glossy Instagram posts: not everyone feels ready to board that plane alone. And that’s okay.
But What If You’re Not That Brave?
Let’s be honest about something. When you read stories about solo female travelers backpacking through Southeast Asia or road-tripping across Iceland, there’s often an unspoken message: if you’re not doing this completely alone, you’re somehow less adventurous, less independent, less… something.
That’s nonsense.
Safety Is A Giant Concern—And It Should Be
Being smart about safety isn’t the same as being fearful. It’s not about letting anxiety win; it’s about acknowledging reality. When women search for solo travel information online, ‘safety’ is consistently among their top concerns. And for good reason.
Solo female travelers cite a few specific anxieties that keep them awake before a trip:
That vulnerable feeling when you first arrive in an unfamiliar place
Navigating transportation alone, especially at night
Securing that crucial first night’s accommodation
Wondering: what if something goes wrong and no one notices?
These aren’t irrational fears. They’re legitimate considerations that deserve thoughtful answers, not dismissive ‘just be brave’ platitudes.
Should Safety Concerns Stop You In Your Tracks, Or Merely Reroute You?
This is the question that matters. Your travel dreams don’t have to die because you’re not comfortable going completely alone. They just need a different route.
Think about it this way: if you were planning a road trip and discovered the highway was closed, you wouldn’t cancel the trip. You’d take the scenic route instead. And often? That scenic route ends up being even better than the original plan.
The same principle applies to solo travel. There’s more than one way to get where you want to go.
The Loneliness No One Talks About
Here’s what the solo travel Instagram accounts don’t show you: dinner alone on night five in a beautiful restaurant, watching groups of friends laugh together at nearby tables. The moment you see something incredible and turn to share it, only to remember there’s no one beside you. The philosophical weight of profound experiences you have no one to process with in real time.
Solo travel can be wonderfully liberating. But it can also be isolating in ways that surprise even the most independent spirits.
I’ve talked with countless women who’ve returned from solo trips and confessed: ‘I loved the freedom, but I really missed having someone to share it with.’ There’s no shame in that. In fact, it’s deeply human.
“No One Else Wants to Go With Me”
Maybe your situation is different. Maybe safety isn’t your primary concern at all. Maybe you’re held back by something else entirely:
Your partner isn’t interested in your dream destination. Your best friend can’t get the time off work. Your sister wants beach resorts, but you’re dreaming of medieval castles and ancient history. You’ve been talking about the Scottish Highlands for years, but no one else shares that particular passion.
So you just… don’t go?
Being Bold Is A Celebration
Here’s the beautiful truth: saying ‘I’m going anyway’ is an act of courage. Prioritizing your dreams, your bucket list, your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Valletta at sunrise—that’s bold. That’s worth celebrating.
But here’s what’s even better: being bold doesn’t mean you have to do it completely alone.
What if you could find 8-12 other people who also want to explore Malta? Other women who’ve been told ‘maybe next year’ one too many times? People who light up when you mention Knights Templar history or Caravaggio paintings or the chance to learn traditional Maltese cooking?
That’s not settling. That’s amplifying your boldness with a chorus of like-minded adventurers.
Sharing Your Bold Decision Only Enhances The Experience
When you travel in a small group of people who’ve all chosen the road less traveled, something magical happens. You’re not just tourists on a trip—you’re celebrating each other’s courage to prioritize what matters. Everyone in that group said yes to their dreams. That shared ‘we’re doing this!’ Energy is infectious.
You’re solo in spirit—making your own choice, following your own passion, honoring your own priorities. But you’re together in celebration. And that combination? It makes the experience richer, not lesser.
You still get the independence, the self-discovery, the personal growth that comes from traveling on your own terms. You just get to share the joy of it too.
That’s How I Can Help
This is exactly where my passion lives: creating small group travel experiences for like-minded women who want the freedom of solo travel with the safety and joy of companionship.
I specialize in groups of 8-12 travelers. Not 40 people on a tour bus. Not a rigid itinerary with bathroom breaks called out. Small enough that real friendships form. Large enough that you never feel alone. Intimate enough for meaningful experiences that big groups simply can’t access.
These travelers bond through their experiences. By day three, you’re texting each other photos. By the end of the trip, you’re already planning your next adventure together. But it’s never forced—these connections happen naturally when you bring together people who share similar interests, whether that’s book clubs, wine appreciation, history deep-dives, or simply a love of authentic cultural immersion.
This is my sweet spot. I love the moment when I see a group of women who were strangers a week ago, now laughing together over a shared meal in a palazzo, swapping stories about the afternoon’s adventures. That’s when I know the magic is working! This was my whole inspiration for Traveltied.
The 5 Ways Small Group Travel Gives You Solo Freedom WITH Built-In Safety
Let’s get specific about how this actually works—how small group travel solves the solo travel paradox of wanting independence without vulnerability, adventure without anxiety, meaningful connections without forced friendship.
#1 – You Get The Independence Without The Vulnerability
Small group travel with expert local guides means you have someone who knows the territory, speaks the language, understands the customs, and can handle the unexpected. Not a helicopter parent hovering over every move, but a knowledgeable partner who’s got your back.
There’s built-in accountability without feeling babysat. Someone notices if you’re not at breakfast. But no one’s tracking your every move during free time. You can wander the medieval streets alone all afternoon, knowing you’ve got people to meet for aperitivo at the castello later.
And here’s where that 8-12 person sweet spot really shines: it’s small enough that you matter. In a group of 40, you’re anonymous. In a group of 10? People genuinely care if you’re okay. But it’s also large enough that you’re never the odd one out or feel pressured into unwanted socializing.
You get the security of the community with the freedom of independence. Both/and, not either/or.
#2 – An Instant Like-Minded Community
Here’s what’s beautiful about curated small group travel: the group is already filtered for shared interests. When I’m putting together a book club river cruise or a women’s history tour, everyone’s coming with similar passions and priorities.
You’re not stuck making small talk with someone whose ideal vacation is the polar opposite of yours. You’re sharing meals with people who also have dog-ear pages, who also light up at the mention of Tuscan hill towns, who also want to understand the stories behind the stones.
Natural friendships form organically. By the time you’re learning pasta-making together from an Italian grandmother or tasting wines with a third-generation winemaker who’s telling stories about his grandfather, you’re not making forced conversation. You’re sharing genuine moments with people who get it.
No pressure to become best friends forever. Just the ease of traveling with people who value the same things you do.
#3 – The Stories Behind The Destinations Come Alive
This is where my entire philosophy centers: I believe travel should connect you to the stories behind destinations—the history, the people, the journeys that shaped the places you’re visiting. Not just facts and dates, but living, breathing human connections.
Small groups make this possible in ways that simply don’t work with 40 people on a bus. When there are 10 of you, you can gather in Maria’s kitchen in Tuscany and learn her grandmother’s pasta recipe while she tells you about growing up in that house. When there are 8 of you, the winemaker has time to pour small-batch vintages and explain the terroir while sharing stories about the family business spanning five generations.
The local guides I work with aren’t just experts—they’re storytellers. They’re not reciting memorized scripts; they’re sharing the places they love with people who genuinely want to understand. These are the connections that outlast any factual detail you might forget. Years later, you’ll remember Maria’s hands moving as she showed you how to shape tortellini. You’ll remember the winemaker’s laugh when he told you about the harvest festival. You’ll remember feeling connected to something larger than yourself.
That’s authentic travel. That’s meaningful immersion. And it only happens in small groups with thoughtfully chosen local partners.
#4 – The Logistics Are Handled (So Anxiety Doesn’t Ruin Your Trip)
Remember those top concerns from women researching solo travel? First night accommodation. Transportation. What if something goes wrong? These logistics create real anxiety that can overshadow the entire experience.
With small group travel, all of this is handled. That first night in a foreign country? You’re not arriving alone to a strange hotel trying to communicate in broken phrases. You’re arriving with people, to accommodations that have been secured and vetted—often historic castles or palaces that individual travelers can’t easily book.
Transportation between destinations? Coordinated. River cruise logistics? Managed. Private experiences that require advance booking and local relationships? All arranged.
You get all the adventure without the mental load of constant planning and problem-solving. That frees you up to actually be present for the experience instead of anxiously managing the next thing on your list.
It’s not about having someone else control your trip. It’s about having someone else handle the infrastructure so you can focus on the magic.
#5 – You Still Get Your Solo Moments
Here’s what small group travel is not: every minute scheduled, every meal dictated, every moment spent in a crowd. That sounds exhausting, and it’s not what I create.
The structure exists for the meaningful group experiences—the cooking class, the winery visit, the guided walk through historic neighborhoods with someone who can bring the stories to life. Those are the moments that benefit from being shared.
But there’s always free time and flexibility. Plenty of time for you to wander alone, sit in a café with your journal, explore the local market at your own pace, or simply take an afternoon to rest.
Some activities are optional—maybe half the group wants the challenging hike while others prefer a leisurely morning at the hotel. No judgment either way. This is your trip, and small groups allow for that kind of flexibility in ways that large tours simply can’t accommodate.
You get structured time for connection and unstructured time for solitude. Group dinners where everyone shares their afternoon adventures, and solo lunches where you people-watch in peace. It’s the best of both worlds: independence when you want it, companionship when you need it.
That’s what makes it truly solo travel, together.
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Sounds like the kind of travel you’ve been dreaming of?
Whether you’re part of a book club ready for your next adventure, a women’s group looking for meaningful travel, or someone who’s been putting off that dream trip because you don’t want to go alone—let’s talk about creating your small group experience.
Contact Traveltied to start planning your journey.
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What Small Group Travel Is NOT
Let me be crystal clear about what I’m not talking about here, because ‘group travel’ can conjure some pretty unappealing images.
This is not a 40-person motor coach tour where you’re herded from photo op to photo op, with a guide holding up a flag and counting heads every fifteen minutes. That’s not travel; that’s human logistics.
This is not a rigid schedule where bathroom breaks are announced and free time is a twenty-minute window before you have to be back on the bus. You’re not in middle school. You don’t need a hall pass.
This is not ‘lesser than’ solo travel. It’s not admitting defeat or being less independent. It’s being smart about getting the experience you actually want instead of the experience you think you’re supposed to want.
This is not giving up your independence. You’re still making your own choices, following your own interests, having your own experience. You’re just doing it with built-in safety and optional companionship.
This is not generic travel. I prioritize historic accommodations. Places with their own stories to tell. Small group travel done right is a completely different animal. It’s intimate, flexible, authentic, and designed around the experience rather than the logistics. That’s the distinction that matters.
How to Know If Small Group Travel Is Your Answer?
Not sure if this approach is right for you? Here are some questions to consider:
Do you want solo travel freedom but feel held back by safety concerns?
If the idea of traveling alone appeals to you but the reality makes you anxious, small group travel might be exactly what you need. You get independence without vulnerability.
Do you love the IDEA of solo travel but worry about loneliness?
There’s a big difference between solitude (which can be wonderful) and loneliness (which can be isolating). If you crave some company but not constant companionship, small groups offer the perfect balance.
Are you part of a book club or women’s group that shares your interests?
If you already have a community of like-minded women, traveling together amplifies what you already love about your group. Book clubs are especially perfect for this—you already share a passion for stories, so why not explore the places those stories came from?
Do you want meaningful experiences, not tourist traps?
Small groups get access to authentic experiences that big tours can’t touch. If you’d rather learn pasta-making from a local grandmother than eat at the tourist restaurant near the Colosseum, this is your path.
Would you rather connect with local storytellers than follow a flag?
If you care more about understanding the human stories behind destinations than checking off landmarks, small group travel with the right guides changes everything.
If you answered yes to any of these questions, let’s talk about rerouting your travel dreams. Your destination doesn’t have to change—just the path you take to get there.
What Small Group Solo-ish Travel Actually Looks Like?
Let me paint you a picture of what this kind of travel experience really feels like:
Morning: You gather with your small group of 10 in Maria’s sun-drenched Tuscan kitchen. She’s teaching you her grandmother’s pasta recipe—not in a sterile cooking school, but in the home where she learned it herself as a child. Her hands move confidently as she explains the feel of the dough, tells stories about harvest festivals, laughs about her granddaughter who now wants to learn the old ways. The kitchen smells like flour and olive oil and possibility.
Afternoon: Free time. You wander the medieval streets alone, popping into artisan shops, discovering a tiny church with incredible frescoes that wasn’t on anyone’s itinerary. You sit in a quiet piazza with your journal, watching life unfold around you. No schedule. No one is waiting. Just you and your thoughts and this incredible place.
Evening: You meet everyone at the castello for aperitivo on the terrace as the sun sets over the valley. The conversation flows easily now—these women who were strangers four days ago are sharing their afternoon discoveries, laughing about the shopkeeper who insisted on practicing his English, comparing notes on tomorrow’s optional activities. Someone ordered that amazing wine from lunch and wants everyone to try it. The bond that forms when 10 women learn pasta-making together and then scatter to their own adventures before reconvening—it’s natural, warm, unpressured.
Your guide Elena, who grew up in these hills, isn’t reciting facts. She’s telling you about her grandmother’s recipes, the way the seasons shape life here, the festival next week that tourists never see. She answers your questions with stories, not statistics. And because you’re just 10- ish people, she has time for those stories. She knows your names. She notices that Sarah loves architecture and points out details specifically for her. She sees that Karen prefers wine to walking and suggests a perfect afternoon alternative.
By the end of the week, something has shifted. You came as individuals, drawn by your own dreams and priorities. But you’ve become a temporary community. You’ve traveled solo in spirit. Following your own path, making your own choices, having your own transformative experiences. But you’ve done it together. And somehow, that’s made it all more meaningful, not less.
That’s authentic and experiential travel. That’s what happens in small groups with thoughtful curation and local partnerships. That’s what I specialize in creating.
The Sustainable Tourism Bonus You’re Creating
Here’s something that might not be obvious at first but becomes clear when you think about it: small group travel is inherently more sustainable than mass tourism.
Eight to twelve people have significantly less impact than busloads of 40 or cruise ships of thousands. You’re not overwhelming local infrastructure, creating bottlenecks at popular sites, or contributing to the overtourism that’s damaging so many beloved destinations.
More importantly, small groups create meaningful two-way connections rather than extractive tourism. Maria teaching you pasta-making isn’t performing for tips. She’s sharing her culture with people who genuinely want to learn. The winemaker spending an afternoon with you isn’t just making a sale, he’s building relationships. Your money goes directly to local families and small businesses, not corporate chains. You become part of the solution to overtourism rather than part of the problem. You’re choosing depth over breadth, quality over quantity, connection over consumption.
That’s responsible travel. That’s what it means to travel small. And it makes the whole experience feel better—not just for you, but for the places you’re visiting and the people who live there.
Ready to Reroute Your Travel Dreams?
You don’t have to be ‘that brave’ to travel. You just need the right route.
I specialize in creating small group experiences—ideally 8-16 travelers—for like-minded women who want meaningful, authentic European experiences. Whether you’re part of a book club ready to bring your stories to life, a women’s group looking for your next adventure, or someone who’s been putting off that dream trip because doing it alone feels too daunting. I can help!
I focus on:
Custom European itineraries built around your interests
Historic accommodations (castles, palaces & historic homes)
Authentic experiences with local guides who are storytellers
Small groups (8-16 people maximum) that bond through shared experiences
The perfect balance of structured group time and solo exploration
Ready to start planning? Visit Traveltied.com to learn more about Beyond the Book Experiences and other custom travel options, or contact me directly to begin the conversation. We’ll create something that matches your dreams, your budget, and your vision for what meaningful travel looks like.
You don’t have to do it alone!
Remember that dream at the beginning—you, in Italy, walking cobblestone streets at your own pace, lingering over cappuccino, taking that cooking class? That dream doesn’t have to stay a dream.
Record numbers of women are traveling solo right now. They’re booking those flights, exploring those destinations, having those transformative experiences. But solo doesn’t have to mean alone.
Small groups give you the independence you crave, the safety you need, and the meaningful connections that make travel unforgettable. You get to follow your own path. You just don’t have to walk it completely alone.
Your travel dreams don’t need to stay dreams. They don’t need to be diminished by fear or put off because no one else shares your specific passion. They just need the right plan and the right group of like-minded adventurers to share the journey.
That’s what I’m here to help you create. Let’s reroute those dreams into reality.
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About Jonnie & Traveltied
Jonnie is the founder of Traveltied, a custom European travel planning business based in Wake Forest, North Carolina. As a history lover, she specializes in creating authentic cultural experiences for small groups, with a focus on book clubs, women’s groups, and travelers seeking meaningful connections to the stories behind destinations. Her mission is to help people travel in ways that create lasting memories through genuine human connections, not just checked-off bucket lists.
