Travelling solo as a woman is one of the most empowering things I’ve ever done. You get complete freedom over your itinerary, meet people you never would have crossed paths with otherwise, and learn a lot about yourself along the way.
But there’s also a reality that every solo traveller eventually runs into; if something goes wrong, you’re the one dealing with it. No travel partner. No one else to figure things out.
And I learned that lesson the hard way in my early 20s when I spent some time living in Bali. Scooters are everywhere on the island and, like a lot of travellers, I rented one so I could explore more easily. At the time it felt completely normal – until one moment when it wasn’t.
I ended up wiping out on a freshly gravelled road, and getting pretty severe road rash across my legs. The skin damage was bad enough that I still have visible scars to this day.
What made the situation worse was the fact that I didn’t have travel insurance at the time.
Because I was paying for everything myself, I hesitated about going to the best clinic available. Instead of immediately seeking proper treatment, I found myself worrying about how much it would cost and trying to manage things as cheaply as possible.
Looking back now, being in Bali without insurance was the wrong decision. When you’re injured in a foreign country, the last thing you want to be thinking about is medical bills.
That experience was a turning point for me and since then, I always make sure I have travel medical insurance whenever I leave the country. After travelling to more than 50 countries, it’s become one of the most important things I arrange before a trip.
If you’re planning to travel solo, here’s what I recommend looking for and a few travel insurance providers worth considering.
What Solo Female Travellers Should Look for in Travel Medical Insurance
Not all insurance policies are designed with solo travellers in mind, and it’s something I didn’t really understand until I’d been travelling for a few years.
Some policies look great on paper but become frustrating once you’re actually on the road, so here are the things I now pay attention to when choosing travel medical insurance.
Strong medical coverage
Medical care abroad can become expensive surprisingly quickly. Even something that sounds minor – a scooter accident, a bad infection, or a broken bone – can turn into hospital visits, scans, medication, and follow-up care.
When you’re travelling alone, that kind of situation becomes even more stressful. Having solid medical coverage can make a huge difference if something unexpected happens.
The ability to buy insurance while already travelling
Many solo travellers don’t always know how long their trip will last. Sometimes a two-week trip turns into a few months once you start exploring. Being able to purchase or extend coverage while you’re already abroad can be incredibly helpful.
No fixed return date
Traditional travel insurance policies often require exact travel dates. But if you’re travelling long term, working remotely, or moving between countries, that kind of structure can feel restrictive. Flexible coverage tends to work much better for open-ended travel.
Adventure activity coverage
Many destinations involve activities like hiking, surfing, diving, or riding scooters. Making sure these activities are covered is important for anyone who likes active travel.
Simple and affordable pricing
Travel insurance shouldn’t feel overly complicated. Solo travellers are often managing their own budgets, so clear pricing and easy renewal options are always a plus.
Travel Insurance Comparison for Solo Female Travellers
Below is a quick comparison of a few travel insurance providers commonly used by solo travellers.
| Provider | Best For | Approximate Cost | Verdict |
| SafetyWing | Long-term travellers and digital nomads | $62.72 per 4 weeks | Flexible and easy to manage |
| Heymondo | Traditional travel insurance with strong app support | varies by trip | Great for shorter trips |
| World Nomads | Adventure travellers | varies | Good coverage for active trips |
Each of these providers offers slightly different benefits depending on the type of trip you’re planning. Safetywing is the most flexible out of all of them, while Heymondo is good for short trips where you have fixed start and end dates.
SafetyWing – Best Travel Medical Insurance for Long-Term Solo Travellers
For travellers who spend longer periods on the road, SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance Essential has become a popular option in the digital nomad community. I started hearing about it from other travellers long before I seriously looked into it myself.
One of the biggest differences is the 28-day rolling subscription model. Instead of purchasing a policy with a fixed end date, coverage renews automatically every four weeks and can be cancelled anytime. This works particularly well for travellers who don’t have a strict return date.
Another feature that makes it appealing for long-term travellers is the ability to purchase or extend coverage even while you’re already travelling. Many traditional insurance policies require you to buy coverage before leaving your home country, but SafetyWing allows you to start coverage during your trip.
SafetyWing’s travel medical insurance also provides coverage across 180+ countries, making it suitable for travellers who plan to visit multiple destinations.
Pricing is also fairly straightforward. For travellers aged 18 to 39, coverage currently costs about $62.72 per four weeks. Since it’s billed every four weeks rather than monthly, it’s relatively easy to maintain coverage throughout a long trip.
Another interesting feature is that children under 10 can be added to a parent’s policy at no extra cost, which can be helpful for families travelling together.
Overall, this type of coverage tends to work well for:
- solo long-term travellers
- digital nomads
- people visiting multiple countries
- travellers who prefer flexible insurance coverage
One thing I appreciate is how simple the system is. When you’re moving between countries, the last thing you want is complicated paperwork or rigid travel dates.
You can explore SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance here.
Heymondo
Heymondo is another travel insurance provider that many travellers use, especially for shorter trips.
One of the standout features is its mobile app, which allows travellers to manage claims and communicate with support directly from their phone. For solo travellers, that can make things much easier if something goes wrong while abroad.
Heymondo policies typically include emergency medical coverage, travel assistance services, and protection for common travel issues such as lost luggage or trip disruptions.
The company offers a range of plans depending on the type of trip you’re taking, from short holidays to longer journeys abroad.
For travellers who prefer a more traditional policy structure with an easy-to-use mobile app, Heymondo can be a good option.
World Nomads
World Nomads is one of the most well-known travel insurance providers among backpackers and adventure travellers.
The company has been popular with travellers for years, largely because of its coverage for a wide range of adventure activities such as scuba diving, trekking, and other outdoor sports.
Policies can typically be purchased before your trip and extended while travelling, which provides some flexibility if your plans change.
Many travellers choose World Nomads when their trip involves activities that fall outside the scope of basic travel insurance policies.
However, depending on the trip length, the price can sometimes be higher than other options, particularly for long-term travel.
Is Travel Insurance Worth It for Solo Female Travellers?
If you’ve never had to use travel insurance before, it can feel like an unnecessary extra expense. But travel has a way of teaching you lessons the hard way, and sometimes those lessons come with scars.
Medical emergencies, accidents, infections, and unexpected travel disruptions can happen anywhere. When you’re alone in another country, having financial protection and access to support can make a stressful situation much easier to handle.
While most of my trips have gone without a hitch, my accident in Bali was a clear reminder of this.
Besides medical coverage, travel insurance can also come in useful for things like lost baggage, lost passports and delays or cancellations that can derail a trip.
My Recommendation After 50+ Countries of Solo Travel
After travelling to more than 50 countries, I’ve learned that preparation matters more than people think. Flights and accommodation are the obvious things to plan, but travel medical insurance should be part of that preparation as well.
If you’re looking for the most flexible coverage, especially on longer trips, SafetyWing is the option I personally prefer. What makes it stand out is how well it fits the way many people travel today. The 28-day rolling subscription means you don’t need to commit to a fixed return date, and the ability to buy or extend coverage while you’re already abroad is incredibly helpful if your plans change mid-trip.
If you plan on moving between countries or working remotely while travelling, that flexibility can make a huge difference. Safetywing is also relatively affordable compared with many traditional policies, which makes it easier to maintain coverage for longer journeys.
When you’re planning a solo trip it might be tempting to skip travel insurance to save some money, but it’s honestly not worth the risk. After my scooter accident in Bali, having that peace of mind is something I don’t take for granted anymore.
