Girl about the Globe.

Discover how I started my solo female travel blog in this post!

Who am I?

I’m Lisa, a travel journalist and blogger with a thirst for the world and an addiction to solo travel. Twenty-three years ago I took my first solo journey and since then I have pushed boundaries, faced my fears and overcome challenges that I now realise were meant to make me grow. And although I don’t profess to getting it all right, I am determined to not let others make the same mistakes I did and help them on their solo journey.

As an unconventional forty-something divorcee, life to me is one big adventure and I guess you could say I’m a risk taker. I am not new to travelling, having travelled extensively in my twenties as a solo female I spent my youthful years living in Australia, working in a hotel in Guernsey, as a chalet girl in France and a cocktail waitress on a cruise ship. I was constantly moving around until I reached the age of 33 and decided that it was time I settled down.

Settling Down

So, I got married and spent three years living in my marital home and working in a 9 to 5 job but as each day passed I became more and more unhappy. The pressure to have a family was too much so at the age of thirty-six I left my job and my marital home and flew to an ashram in India feeling the need to reconnect with who I was. I could no longer just ‘settle’ for a mediocre life. My life was happening without me and I had to find it.

Sri Lankan wedding

My colourful Sri Lankan wedding

Finding me…

Now a happy divorcee, I have stepped into who I am meant to be. Some people just aren’t meant to lead a conventional life and I am one of them. I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled to 142 countries and 110 of these solo, and I’ve never let being alone or having anxiety stop me from doing anything. I’ve taught English to Buddhist nuns, starred in a Thai soap opera and survived quicksand. I’ve challenged my fears both emotionally and physically and had many adventures along the way.

The challenges

But it’s not all been a bed of roses, there are times that I’d rather forget such as: having my backpack broken into, getting lost on my jog in Hong Kong, being spat on in Mongolia and chased by a rickshaw driver in Malaysia. But it all adds to the experience and each time I’ve travelled I’ve learnt more about the world and myself at the same time; all experiences that I would never have encountered if I had not travelled alone.

The stunning San Blas islands

That bug called wanderlust!

My need to explore the planet has never been greater and I know that I won’t rest until I have seen every single country. As a forty-something divorcee I am on a mission to show others that you don’t have to settle for a life just because society expects you to.

Travelling by yourself does take courage to travel into the unknown but each time it rewards you with self-confidence, educates you about the world and allows you to grow as a person (as well as discover different aspects of yourself that you never knew existed).

Facing your fears, your insecurities and coping with moments of loneliness aren’t easy but you can do it and you can travel solo. I created this blog to show that if I can do it, anyone can.

Starting My Solo Female Travel Blog

I created Girl about the Globe in 2012 to help support solo female travellers like me, and as a way of documenting my solo travels after my divorce. My aim was to give an unbiased view of what solo travel is really like and show the personal transformation that it brings. 

Eight years later and it has grown to be an award-winning travel resource which inspires and empowers women to travel consciously and help vulnerable girls about the globe as they do it.

The way that I travel has changed over the last two decades. As well as solo destination guides, journalism articles and inspiring stories, my focus is on how to travel consciously and seeking projects that help local communities. Find out more about the Girl about the Globe website

Here are some of my favourite posts:

How Girl about the Globe can help you

With so much travel advice out there it can be overwhelming to know how to travel solo or even where to begin. You may be feeling fearful or anxious and looking for empowerment and inspiration to take that first step.

If you’re travelled before and are a seasoned solo you may be looking for emerging destinations or how to stay safe in more challenging countries. Maybe you have a desire to travel consciously but are unsure how to do it (or even what that really means).

Girl about the Globe shows you what to expect as a woman travelling alone to a destination and equips you with all the knowledge and confidence you need to go it alone.

The content on this site will help you to:

  • Feel empowered and inspired to travel to new destinations
  • Overcome any fear of travelling solo and know what to expect as a woman travelling alone
  • Know exactly where to travel to and how to do it safety and consciously
  • Discover solo female friendly companies to ensure you have the best trip
  • Know how to make a positive impact on a destination and enhance the lives of the people who live there.

Get Started

Solo Destination Guides – Our Solo Destination Guides will help you feel more informed to make your own choices as to where to go, what to do, how to travel around, and how to make a difference in the countries that you visit.

Content – Our articles will help you to choose your perfect destination, show you the best websites to book through, and inspire you with tales of others who have gone solo. Discover how to travel consciously, where to volunteer and the best products to use. All tour companies and accommodation are recommended by solo female travellers so they come with our solo female friendly guarantee.

GatG Blog – This site is all about you but if you want to follow the solo adventures of a 40-something divorcee (yes, that’s me), then check out the blog section where I share my solo adventures including my itineraries, costs and things to do for solo female travellers.

Facebook Group – Our Facebook group provides a supportive community of solo female travellers with all the inspiration, advice and reassurance you need to travel solo. You’ll be supported throughout your travels and can connect and share experiences. You may even meet up with another girl about the globe during your trip.

GatG Products – Our unique products help you to overcome any emotional barriers you may have about travelling solo and keep you feeling organised, confident and upbeat during your trips.

Connect on Social Media – Connect with GatG on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Youtube for motivating quotes, weekly travel tips, travel solo articles, and inspiration for your solo trips.

You’ll leave Girl about the Globe feeling supported, empowered and inspired to travel solo and know how to help vulnerable girls in the countries that you travel to.

Plus, by just booking though this site you are making a difference. Girl about the Globe donates 10% of all sales to organisations helping vulnerable girls about the globe. Thanks for helping. Lisa x

Are you ready to be a girl about the globe?

Subscribe to the monthly newsletter below for all the latest content including a new solo destination guide, new content and travel tips to help you travel solo, and new solo adventures to inspire you. To say thank you for signing up I’ll be sending you ‘101 Solo Travel Tips’ to help you on your journey.  Thanks for becoming a Girl about the Globe. 

31 thoughts on “How I Started My Solo Female Travel Blog”

  1. Khairul

    Hi Lisa,

    Amazing story. I am a guy in my late twenties, and single. I have a fear of flying but I have flown previously domestically and internationally , most of them were 1-2 hours flights. I am planning to visit Istanbul in April 2015, and if time and financial permit I would love to visit Plovdiv and Kavala in between. Just came across your blog today while doing some research on my trip. At the moment I am still consulting my travel consultant to pick my final destination, and I shall be able to decide by this end of year.

    Oh yeah, I am from Malaysia. Would love to know about you experience being chased by a rickshaw driver here!
    Take care.

    Reply ↓
    1. Girl about the Globe Post author

      That’s amazing that you haven’t let your fear of flying stop you from travelling. Plovdiv is such a lovely city, I definitely recommend going there. Ref Malaysia, the rickshaw driver wasn’t taking us where we wanted to go so we got out the rickshaw without paying after a brief discussion and he ran after us spitting and hissing. We had to spend the next 3 days avoiding the area. Very scary 🙂

      Reply ↓
  2. Darren Howarter

    I love your blog here. I just found this by hitting links from FB and boom here you are. Its been wonderful to meet you and we can’t wait to see your book get published. Your life is a fabulous adventure, please keep sharing all of it. We have to have some ‘bad’ so we relish the ‘good’ when it happens. Its all in the balance of life.

    cheers!

    Reply ↓
  3. Khairul

    May I know which parts of Malaysia that you have been? I am based in KL, and I guess we don’t have rickshaw drivers here but could be some in Malacca and Penang :). Are you now on a trip or just residing and working in a specific place? I can’t wait for April next year and I think I might need to add few more places to my list eg : Bucharest or Skopje. Take care Lisa.

    Reply ↓
    1. Girl about the Globe Post author

      I’ve been to KL, Malacca, Penang and the Cameron Highlands. It was in Penang. I’m sure it was a one-off experience 🙂 I’ve been living in Colombia for 6 months but I’ll be travelling more of Central America from Sunday for 8 weeks. Skopje is a very cool place. I loved the Balkans. Have an amazing trip x

      Reply ↓
  4. Sonal

    Great to read about you and i share exactly the same life story as yours.
    So good to read…feels like a clone…

    Reply ↓
  5. Sharon

    Great story and I had to comment and say good on you for making the big move of changing your life when you were not happy. That must have been a really hard thing to do.

    I have always loved travelling solo and love the little opps that I get to do it every now and then. Thankfully, I also love travelling with my husband and kids and share similar ideals so that this is something we are able to do together. I know i had too many relationships before that with people who held me back from being myself. I would try so hard to “settle down” and do what was expected, but I just couldn’t. Here’s to taking the road less travelled!! 😀

    Reply ↓
  6. Tim DiNicola

    Hi Lisa,

    My new bride Julie Mazeika and I just met you on the tour of Curacao. It was nice meeting you and also checking our your website. If you would like any more pictures of Curacao, please feel free to email me. I am by no means a professional photographer but it’s a hobby I enjoy.

    We wish you the best on your travels to Aruba and beyond.

    Be safe and have fun.
    Best regards,
    Tim & Julie

    Reply ↓
  7. Sheryl Austin

    Hi Lisa,

    I hope that you enjoyed the rest of your time in Aruba! Rocky with DePalm tours is hoping your will make him famous! George and I enjoyed meeting you and spending the day sightseeing in Aruba!

    I look forward to “traveling” with you through your website and seeing what other fun adventures are in your future! May you continue to enrich the lives of others (eapecially women) through your writing!

    As one of my grandsons favorite games (Monkey Math) exclaims “Happy Travels Tiny Turtle”

    May you find blessings around every corner!

    PS: I posted, or tried to, Thursday , but I didn’t see it today and wanted to make sure I had a chance to tell you what a pleasure it was to meet you!

    Reply ↓
  9. SO

    I love reading up on your adventures. I am a 20-something female who decided the walls in my Kentucky home were only getting smaller. I am planted in Panama for the time being, and I know you’r e boppin around Central America. If you find yourself in Panama City I’d love to grab a coffee and share experiences. Best of luck!

    Reply ↓
  10. Michael Phan

    Hi Lisa,
    Your story really inspired me to travel solo. I got divorced 3 years ago and have been travelling mostly with friends to South America such as Columbia & Costa Rica. I feel the urge to travel on my own to discover myself. Hope to run into to you on my future solo trip. Take care

    Reply ↓
  11. Nicky Falleni

    Hi Lisa,

    Was so lovely to meet you today on the walking tour!! Checking out your blog now, amazing!! Will be passing onto any others who are looking at travelling solo!! Good luck and safe travels!! And if you ever come to NZ there will always be a place to stay!!

    Take care

    Nicky

    Reply ↓
  12. Chaitrali

    hy lisa….i m from india…i am planing solo traveling for first time..i m 24 years old..prague, vienna, bratislava, and budapest..can you suggest me some tips…for solo travelling, and my safety

    Reply ↓
  13. Todd @Visit50

    So awesome! 100 countries, so impressive, and inspiring!
    I set out for a crazy travel goal as well – to visit 50 countries by age 50. I didn’t even have a passport until after college, but I’ve been making tracks and am almost there. Along the way I started my travel blog (www.visit50.com) to inspire others to make time to see the world.

    It looks like you’ve blown right past my goal – maybe your 100 goal will be my next!

    Reply ↓
  14. Mariah Edgington

    Good for you! My bestie (hubby) and I have recently relocated to Boquete Chirique Panama trading in the subzero winters for year round 65 – 85 degrees. Next month we’re heading to Medellin, the first stop on a two year travel trek to exclusively Spanish speaking countries to solidify español!

    Reply ↓
  15. Joan Magine

    Dear Girl about the Globe,

    This was enjoyable. Thanks. I looked up Aruba for a gal pal who is planning on going there solo. Wanted to make sure it was safe, since the Bahamas aren’t right now.
    Would like to read a paragraph on safety tips for the girl traveling solo or at least be able to click on a link of safe travel tips. Some young girls could get in bad predicaments… going into bars, getting drunk…
    Such AS: Remember, don’t go home with strangers… and that’s not stupid or square to say. It’s right to say. It’s okay to say no one night stands. If some foreign man wants to have a relationship, then he should do it right. If he’s Mr. Right, then he’s not going to ask for just one night. He can meet you for coffee the next day, call you, write long distance.
    Remember, divide your money throughout pockets and socks and the bra… Remember… be prudent and safe. I shudder at the thoughts… guess I’ve seen some movies and know women who weren’t so safe and they are damaged now.

    Reply ↓
  17. Gina

    I’d live to know your ‘top five list’ !! I’m in a place to do a lot more traveling than I have been and ready to go solo (have gone solo several times but obviously not to your extent). I have a bucket list and would live to hear yours! Maybe it’s on your site and I missed it! Live your site. I use it extensively! Thanks! Fair winds and following seas!

    Reply ↓
    1. Girl about the Globe Post author

      Hi Gina! Thanks for your kind words about the site. That’s great that you have gone solo several times too. My top places are: Wadi Rum in Jordan (It’s absolutely magical!), the Atacama Desert in Chile, Rio in Brazil (I love that place!), Medellin in Colombia, and anywhere in the Greek Islands (I recommend Poros and Hydra) x

      Reply ↓

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