Solo travel, they said, is empowering.
And it is. Don’t get me wrong.
There’s something deeply liberating about booking a ticket, wandering through unfamiliar cities on your own terms, and discovering just how self-reliant you can be. You learn to trust your instincts, make decisions on the go, and enjoy your own company.
But let’s talk about the part that rarely makes it into those dreamy travel reels: solo travel can be expensive.
That beautiful hotel room designed for two? You may pay the same price even when you’re the only person sleeping in it. The airport transfer, the private taxi, the rental car? The full bill is yours.
No splitting the fare. No sharing the accommodation costs. No dividing the price of a private guide between friends.
Just you, your freedom, and your bank balance having a very serious conversation.
I call it the solo travel tax: the extra cost of exploring the world when there’s nobody beside you to split the bill. It shows up in hotel rooms, airport transfers, private tours, and those dreaded single supplements.
You pay for convenience. You pay for safety. You pay for space that is rarely priced with one person in mind.
Freedom feels wonderful. Funding every bit of it yourself? That deserves a conversation too.
For women travelling alone, some of those expenses reflect decisions we make to feel safer. A better-located hotel. A reliable airport pickup. A taxi back after dark instead of a long walk-through unfamiliar street.
These choices can make a real difference to how confidently we move through the world. They also add up.
Then there are the experiences that require a minimum of two people. You find an activity you love, only to discover that you must either pay for both places, wait for another traveller to join, or miss out altogether.
Excuse me, I have already gathered the courage to come alone. Must I now sponsor an imaginary companion too?
And, of course, there’s the single supplement: an additional charge for occupying a room alone on certain tours or travel packages. Whatever the pricing explanation, it can feel like a financial penalty for showing up by yourself.
None of these fits neatly into a romantic montage of sunsets, floating breakfasts, and a woman walking confidently towards the ocean.
But it belongs in the conversation.
Because when we celebrate the freedom of solo travel without acknowledging its financial demands, we leave out something that matters especially for women saving carefully to make that first journey happen.
And yet, many of us do it anyway.
We go because there is joy in choosing our own pace. Because a quiet breakfast in an unfamiliar city can feel surprisingly peaceful. Because finding our way through a difficult moment can build a confidence that follows us home.
We get to spend an afternoon doing exactly what we want, without negotiating an itinerary or apologising for needing rest. Somewhere along the way, we may discover that we are more capable and more comfortable in our own company than we realised.
Those rewards matter. So does the cost of reaching them.
Yes, solo travel can be empowering.
Yes, it can be worth every carefully saved cedi.
But no, it isn’t always affordable and needing more time to save does not make you any less adventurous.
So, if you’re dreaming of a solo adventure, look beyond the flight price. Budget for accommodation, transfers, meals, activities, and the choices that help you feel safe. Leave yourself some breathing room for the unexpected.
Give yourself permission to choose a journey that fits your finances, whether that means travelling closer to home, staying for fewer days, joining a shared excursion, or saving a little longer.
Your independence does not need to leave you financially stretched to be meaningful.
The solo travel tax may be real, but you get to decide how much you can comfortably afford to pay.
And remember you’re not “just one.”
You’re a whole experience.