Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips Podcast By Cheryl Esch-Solo Travel Advocate/Travel Coach/Freedom Traveler cover art

Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips

Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips

By: Cheryl Esch-Solo Travel Advocate/Travel Coach/Freedom Traveler
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About this listen

Equipping Women over 50 to Safely Travel in Confidence

Is fear holding you back from traveling because you don’t have anyone to go with? Are you concerned about being a woman traveling alone? Not sure how to prepare for a solo trip? Do family and friends think you are crazy for even considering solo travel in this day and age?

In this podcast, you will become equipped to travel safely by yourself. You’ll learn things like tactical travel tips and how to prepare for a trip, and how to overcome the fear so you can discover the transformation that travel can bring. My mission is to see more women over 50, empty-nesters, discover how travel can empower them. If you want to enjoy your next travel adventure solo, then start your journey here.

Hi Sister Travelers, I’m Cheryl, solo travel advocate and coach. I spent nearly 20 years putting my family/children first and felt guilty about even considering solo travel at the time. After my divorce and transitioning to an empty nest, I began to rediscover my passion for travel, built confidence in myself, and started to explore again. I have experienced life-changing adventures through travel and I want the same for you.

If you are ready to find freedom through travel and build your confidence while safely navigating new places, then this podcast is for you!

Pack your bags, grab your plane tickets and check one more time for that passport. It’s time to explore the world!

Email: adventuresredheadrambler@gmail.com

© 2025 Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips
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Episodes
  • From Trauma to Peace: One Woman's Epic Australian Odyssey with Tess Millhollon
    Jun 24 2025

    What drives a woman to sell everything she owns, travel halfway around the world, and jump on yachts with complete strangers? For Tess Millhollon, author and founder of Her House, it was the desperate need to reclaim her sense of self after surviving sexual assault in college.

    Tess shares her remarkable journey of healing through solo travel in Australia, where she discovered that recreating her comfortable bartending life from Texas wasn't enough. The pivotal moment came when she spotted a hostel job board posting: "yacht crew wanted, no experience necessary." This spontaneous decision led to her learning to sail and "yacht hopping" up the Australian coastline—what she humorously calls "extreme hitchhiking"—creating the adventure of a lifetime.

    Throughout her seven-month journey, Tess encountered what she calls "persons of peace"—strangers who became divine connections offering safety and community when she needed it most. One particularly meaningful encounter with a woman at an airport who later connected her with hosts became the inspiration for Her House, her current venture connecting solo women travelers for safe accommodations worldwide.

    The conversation delves into the emotional challenges of long-term solo travel, including homesickness and the importance of bringing small comfort items like fuzzy socks or a familiar pillowcase. Tess beautifully articulates how solo travel teaches you to trust your intuition—knowing when to push forward and when a journey should end. "No one had done what I'd done, no one had felt what I felt...like I had me," she explains, highlighting how self-reliance during travel transfers powerfully to everyday life.

    For women considering solo adventures, Tess recommends establishing connections in your destination before arriving—exactly what Her House facilitates through its community of background-checked members spanning all generations. Whether you're in your twenties like Tess was or a retiree seeking new experiences, this growing network offers both safety and authentic cultural immersion.

    Ready to find your own healing journey? Download the Her House app, visit herhouseco.com to explore membership options, or read Tess's full story in her book "Sherbet Skies"—a testament that no matter how far you travel, you're never truly alone.

    JOIN THE HER HOUSE Community.

    www.herhouse.co

    Remote Trails Radio

    Remote Trails Radio is a laid-back and engaging podcast where two friends share...

    Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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    Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    Facebook community: Solo Travel for Women Over 50

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/860865768609200


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    37 mins
  • Debunking Solo Travel Misconceptions for Women
    Jun 17 2025

    Have you ever looked at a solo traveler with a mix of curiosity, concern, or even pity? Those reactions reveal the powerful misconceptions surrounding solo travel, especially for women over 50. As a freedom traveler and coach who's ventured solo across continents, I'm pulling back the curtain on these limiting beliefs that might be keeping you from one of life's most empowering experiences.

    Safety concerns top most people's list when discussing solo travel. While being informed is crucial—researching current conditions and avoiding regions experiencing unrest—countless destinations welcome solo women travelers with open arms. Resources like Safe Expat offer daily safety updates, and thorough preparation eliminates most risks. The world offers abundant safe havens for the solo adventurer.

    Beyond safety myths lies the assumption that solo travelers are lonely souls without companions. This perspective misses the mark entirely. Many women, myself included, actively choose solo travel for its unparalleled freedom. There's a special kind of empowerment that comes from navigating foreign streets on your own terms, making spontaneous decisions, and discovering your own resilience. Paradoxically, solo travelers often find themselves more socially engaged than those in groups, striking up conversations and forming connections that might never happen otherwise.

    I still experience fears during my travels—like my recent worry about breaking down in remote parts of Iceland without cell service. But courage isn't the absence of fear; it's moving forward despite it. With each journey, that courage muscle strengthens, building confidence that extends well beyond travel into everyday life. Solo travel becomes not just a vacation choice but a transformative practice in self-reliance and presence.

    Ready to dispel these myths through your own experience? Whether you're considering your first solo adventure or seeking to expand your horizons, I'm here to help. Connect with me for personalized guidance on creating your perfect solo journey. Don't wait for the "right" companion or the "perfect" time—your adventure is calling now. What destination will be your first solo story?

    BOOK A CALL: Get direction for your solo trip

    https://calendly.com/solotraveladventures/book-a-call

    Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    Facebook community: Solo Travel for Women Over 50

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/860865768609200


    Leave a review:
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solo-travel-adventures-safe-travel-for-women-preparing-for-a-trip-overcoming-fear-travel-tips/id1650161410

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    10 mins
  • Surviving Perimenopause: A Traveler's Guide to Managing Hot Flashes on the Road
    Jun 10 2025

    Ever found yourself standing in a crowded European plaza, sweat dripping down your back, wondering why you bothered to travel at all? For women navigating perimenopause and menopause, travel presents unique challenges that rarely make it into guidebooks or travel blogs.

    Hot flashes, night sweats, and unpredictable temperature regulation can transform dream destinations into uncomfortable ordeals without proper planning. Drawing from personal experience and health coaching background, I share eight practical strategies to help you travel comfortably during this hormonal transition. From packing essentials like extra moisture-wicking clothing and portable fans to understanding your personal triggers and making smart accommodation choices, these tips can preserve your travel enjoyment without letting hormonal changes dictate your experiences.

    The conversation covers practical solutions you might not have considered: neck fans that provide constant cooling, the importance of confirming air conditioning in European accommodations, and how to respect cultural dress codes while managing symptoms. I also share personal insights about managing triggers—how sugar, alcohol, and stress specifically affect hot flash frequency and intensity, and why sometimes a slight adjustment in consumption can dramatically improve comfort while traveling.

    Don't let this natural life transition keep you from exploring the world. Your adventures await, and with these practical approaches, you can focus on creating memories rather than managing discomfort. Ready to reclaim your travel confidence? Listen now, and then join me at the upcoming Freedom Fest virtual travel summit where I'll be speaking about solo travel for women.

    Join the Virtual Travel Summit-Infinityland June 7 & 8, June 14 & 15

    Sign up: https://toinfinityland.com/travel-summit

    Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    Facebook community: Solo Travel for Women Over 50

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/860865768609200


    Leave a review:
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solo-travel-adventures-safe-travel-for-women-preparing-for-a-trip-overcoming-fear-travel-tips/id1650161410

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    14 mins
All stars
Most relevant  
this comment specifically refers to the above episode in this podcast (some others I have found less helpful).
So, I think of myself as fairly budget conscious but this episode had me taking a hard look at some of my payments that I've been less diligent about optimising.
I've been saving really well in the past few years but this really helped me to consider ways I could be saving more because yes, I would like to be traveling more than I do.

Regarding the podcast generally: this chic is easy to listen to, good sound and not over the top like a lot of other travel podcasters - I guess it's nice to listen to a more mature woman who's traveling vs some unrelatable 20 something (not that I'm quite in the 50+ age group yet but I'd rather listen to this than some 20+ yo giving travel advice like they're an expert - not that some aren't amazing but very few)

episode "Can't afford to travel?"

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