Despite my wariness, I bit the bullet last month and jumped on a plane for the first time in a long time, since I moved home from London at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

For me, it was a much-needed mental health break, a reminder of the world outside my tiny little village and for me to return to the bucket list I’ve been trying to tick off. I’ve been wanting to visit Santorini, a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea for years. Chilled out, 4 hours away and probably one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been.

Was it worth it to take my nervous-yet vaccinated, masked and distanced- self away? Yes. But I completely understand why it might be worrisome for others. This reasoning, combined with the cabin fever and claustrophobia people have experienced over the past 20 months or so makes me wonder if we’ll see an increase in solo travel? Already, I’ve had friends tell me they’d like to take themselves away on a holiday but have never done so nor never thought they’d enjoy it.

Reasons for travelling alone

It’s only when queried that it dawns on me how rare it must be for women to travel solo. For valid reasons, women are reluctant to venture into unfamiliar territory by themselves. The very sad reality is that this world isn’t safe, especially for women, and I’ve definitely had my fair share of unpleasant experiences to justify the reasoning of wary travellers. But, unfortunately I also know that bad things can- and do- happen on one’s door step. So for now anyway, I’m going to continue to travel myself.

Why? The reason is as complex as it is straightforward; I got used to doing things by myself. Up until recent years, my friends weren’t interested in visiting antique shops or museums, and I wasn’t keen on blowing what little money I had in a holiday resort sippin’ cocktails (I swear I’m fun deep down!). And now that I’ve gained more like-minded friends, I now have to contend with their parenting or work schedules. We do regular catch-ups that are all about late-night chats and brunching, but when it comes to exploring, I still prefer to do it alone. Also, I am the INFJiest INFJ that ever lived, so there’s that.

All this being said, the news stories at the time of this trip- concerning the tragic and infuriating cases of Gabby Petito and Sarah Everard- did spook me. And for the first time possibly ever, I did feel anxious about traveling as a solo female. I know that my commitment to sharing my live location, not drinking and coming home before dark simply is not enough to ensure safety. Women cannot ensure their safety, as it is not our responsibility to control the actions of a predator.

Tips for travelling alone

For my own peace of mind, there were steps I could take to stay as safe as possible, and these are ones I’d recommend everyone take.

· Plan your first night well. Granted my memory of the movie Taken is a bit hazy, but from what I remember from the plotline, you need to be really careful about what taxis you get from the airport. If you can get to your accommodation via public transport, all the better. Not only is it more budget-savvy, but there’s safety in numbers. The downside is that public transport can be breeding grounds for germs, and in light of COVID this might not be the most pleasant option.

· Leave a digital trail of your whereabouts. Use a debit card to pay for as much as possible, take pictures on your phone and utilise the live location function on WhatsApp to share your location with a trusted friend. This is something that was recommended to me for dates, taxi journeys and boozy nights when I lived in London and it gave me such peace of mind.

· Tell the right people where you’re staying. Make sure you give your accommodation address and contact number to your next of kin back home. And if someone asks you where you’re staying, it’s okay to be vague. Making small talk with a stranger you meet along the way is lovely… but they don’t need to know exactly where you’re staying. Another travel tip I learned from experience? Do not tag your hotel on social media until you’ve left unless you want random men in your DMs. Yeesh.

· Be safe, be seen. Despite the temptation to venture off the beaten path, Stay in sight of both CCTV and other humans. Stranger danger is real, so be selective about who you strike up conversation with and what information you share with them. Lucky for me, my core demographic is old ladies- the kinds who work in theatres and make pottery in their downtime. I feel comforted by the fact that the strangers I’m most likely to attract are not very threatening.

· Keep cash on you for taxis. I’ve lived most of my adult life in Dublin and London, where taxi apps like Free Now and Uber are the norm. Santorini, however, like many other cities I’ve visited favour the old-school approach. Keep enough cash on you to ensure you can jump in a taxi whenever you need to get to your accommodation safely. Not having cash readily available will mean either a trip to an ATM or mean you have to walk. Neither is ideal late at night.

Thankfully, my week went without incident, and I felt safe. However, I was disappointed that, because of taxi drivers tryna play me, I did find myself waiting at bus stops and walking in rural areas more than I felt comfortable with. For a 7 minute drive, taxi drivers were quoting me €20. I don’t like being the stingy tourist who disputes pricing, but I also don’t like paying ridiculously more than I feel is fair. So there were times when I ignored my own advice and took a route into Oia that was a hell of a lot more rural than I had initially imagined. Another time, I took a bus back to my accommodation that went south of the island before it went back north. I wasn’t under time pressure (nor would I have wanted to be!) so this time-consuming solution didn’t seem too bad. But because of the lack of street lights and rural roads, I misjudged my bus stop and alighted the bus prematurely. I found myself walking the remaining 20 minute journey back. Which, without streetlights, a hard shoulder on the road or any hi-vis clothing, made me feel very vulnerable. But, I was in the middle of nowhere and another bus wasn’t due for an hour. In hindsight, I wish I had called by host and had him arrange pick-up. Learn from my mistake and take advantage of your host’s willingness to help. Better yet, know your bus stop!