Carina Herrmann was a pediatric nurse. After a burnout, she decided to start a new life: she travels the world alone and encourages other women to do the same in her blog “Pink Compass”.
BRIGITTE: What is so appealing about a solo trip?
Carina Herrmann: You are not accountable to anyone. You are free and can decide for yourself when to travel, where to travel, which hotel to choose. And because you have more freedom, you get to know yourself better. Solo travel is a chance to become bolder and more confident.
That sounds so positive. Don’t you ever feel alone?
Yes, of course! As a solo traveler you are constantly confronted with loneliness. I get a lot of emails from women who are homesick and wondering what to do. Everyone has these moments. You just have to go through with it and not get carried away with emotional acts. Two days later, the world usually looks completely different again.
How does the environment react to women traveling alone?
On my first big trip in 2011, I was on the road for 14 months. That’s when I realized that it’s different whether you’re traveling alone as a man or as a woman. Back then, in Southeast Asia, it was not normal for a woman to travel alone. I was often asked there if I was married.
How do you deal with that?
That depends on my gut feeling. These questions are usually only asked out of curiosity: Why is a woman my age still single? Sometimes I just cheat and say that my friend is waiting for me at the hotel.
Do you also travel alone in the evenings or at night?
Rarely. I either join forces with other travelers or I already know the area well, feel safe and dare to venture out on my own. If nobody else is on the street, I wouldn’t go out though.
Are you still afraid sometimes?
I’m a chronic scaredy-cat, so yes. Even after all my travels, there are always situations in which I feel uncomfortable. But now I can weigh up the risks I’m taking quite well. It’s always good to stay alert. As a long-term traveler, at some point you loosen up and overlook dangers that you might have noticed at the beginning.
Have you ever experienced a dangerous situation?
Toi, toi, toi, nothing has ever happened to me! But there were situations that were critical. Once I arrived in Istanbul at night. Too cheap for a cab, I walked the streets looking for my hotel. There were only men on the street, I followed one into an alley. He couldn’t speak German and gave me signs. I was sloppy, it could have been someone else. But thank God he turned out to be the owner of the hotel I had chosen.
How do you overcome fear?
Good preparation is important: the better I know what to expect, the more comfortable I feel. If you’re really scared, it’s good to plan the first week in detail. The hotel is booked, maybe even a tour. If you make the beginning easier, it will eventually run by itself.
Which countries do you recommend for women traveling alone?
Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia, USA and Canada. Australia is very comfortable for the first trip alone because there are many travelers there. The infrastructure is good and it is easy to find connections. I can also recommend Indonesia – especially Bali. It’s Asian and foreign, but touristy enough that it’s comfortable to travel alone. In general, it is of course easier in countries that are similar to our culture and well developed for tourism.
Are there countries that a woman is better off avoiding?
Every woman has to find that out for herself. For example, I’m not necessarily drawn to India. This is less due to my fear than to the prevailing image of women there.
What makes a good hostel for women?
I am an advocate of women’s dorms. So hostels with female dorms. Here women are among themselves. Especially as a beginner you feel more comfortable with girls and you can find allies.
What about couch surfing? Is this safe for women traveling alone?
That cannot be answered in general. There are many women who also stay with men. But I prefer to sleep with women. There is now also a great platform for women,www.womenwelcomewomen.org.uk.
You travel a lot. How do you fund your travel?
First I traveled from my savings. I had also saved a budget for after the trip. Meanwhile funded my blog pink compass my travels, on which I have around 10,000 readers a month.
Would you actually get on a plane with your partner?
I would never give up a trip for anyone. But if I meet someone with whom it fits and with whom you can develop a common vision, a joint journey would of course be conceivable.