Recommendations for a solo "Sixty Something" female traveler

I can’t think of any RS tour that goes to a place that would be unsafe as a solo traveler. I’ve traveled solo on RS tours to Turkey, Italy, France, Spain, and the Adriatic and felt perfectly safe on my own.

Which tours have you been on and which one did you enjoy the most? Perhaps that might help others suggest a tour you might enjoy.

As Laura mentioned, any of the RS tours will likely be quite safe for a "solo sixty something female traveller". My suggestion would be to choose the tour that most interests you in terms of history, destinations covered or whatever. If your budget will allow, you might want to pay the single supplement so that you have your own room.

As a solo older lady, I have never felt unsafe (maybe a teensy bit uneasy late at night on deserted streets - but that's hard to find!) anywhere in Europe and I've been to many places from big cities to rural areas. I've been to nearly all the places RS tours go, mostly on my own, even in exotic-sounding places like Istanbul. I take the same reasonable precautions that RS advises and you are familiar with yourself.

You may not have been aware of this on your RS tours, but single people are nearly always on their own only when they choose to be. Expect folks to be as welcoming to singles as they are to couples - sometimes more so. I encourage you follow your dreams and not be hesitant to spend a few days pre- and post-tour anywhere RS goes.

Based on what the RS tour takers with 10 or more RS tours under their belts have said & my own experience with only 3 so far, all RS tours are about history & culture & none put us in situations or areas that are not safe.

Our week in Istanbul tour in 2014 was my 1st RS tour. Our tour guide was great. It was all couples except for one young solo traveler. She was my "buddy." I loved that tour, but as much as my husband & I tried to talk to some of the others on it, except for the two couples older than us, we found the group somewhat tense & not very friendly.

The other 2 RS tours I did solo & the groups were exactly opposite. The tours were longer & that may have helped people to chill a bit.

Up until 2014, I'd done all the trip planning for us, & I had no problem with the Greece planning for the 4 weeks we spent there after Istanbul, but I was not confident at all about doing it for Istanbul.

My husband opted out of traveling to Europe in 2015, preferring to concentrate on his auto racing, so I'll probably be traveling solo for as long as I travel in the future.

I did a self-planned 6-week solo trip to England & Scotland in 2016. I turned 70 that year. I didn't feel unsafe anywhere I went.

I'd read so much about the Village Italy tour, that I decided to do it solo, with the single supplement in 2017. Before it started, I spent 6 nights in an apartment in Rome, 2 nights in a B&B in Ravenna & 5 nights in an apartment in Venice. After it was over, I spent 3 nights in Milan before flying home. There were more women than men & lots of solo travelers on that tour, and at 71, I was not the oldest.

Last year, then 72 if you're keeping count, I went on the Best of Scandinavia tour, again with the single supplement. I started the trip with 3 nights in Amsterdam before going to Stockholm & 2 back in Amsterdam in the same B&B before flying home.

I made reservations for the 1st hotel for 3 nights before the tour started & was able to have the same room I'd be getting for the tour. I flew to Stockholm from Amsterdam.

Similarly, I was able to keep the same tour room I'd had for the 2 nights I stayed in Bergen after the tour was over. I flew from Bergen back to Amsterdam.

Based on the excellent reviews for the Heart of Portugal & Best of Spain tours, now 73, this year I'm doing back-to-back Iberian Peninsula tours. I'll fly to Amsterdam, stay 3 nights in Haarlem, fly to Lisbon stay 3 nights in the tour hotel before the tour starts & be able to keep that room as my tour room, fly from Porto to Barcelona, spend 3 nights in the tour hotel, keeping the room as my tour hotel room, stay 1 extra night in my tour hotel room in Seville, fly to Amsterdam, spend 1 night near the airport & fly home the next day.

I can recommend Istanbul, Village Italy & Best of Scandinavia. I've already been to Lisbon once & this will be my 3rd trip to Spain, but based on the tour itineraries, I know I'm going to see & experience much that's new & learn a lot, so maybe I can pre-recommend those tours. ;-)

I know this is long & maybe TMI, but I wanted to share a bit about my solo travel experiences, give some examples of arriving early & staying late at the party & assure you that if I can do this, you can.

If you are feeling a little unsure about your new mode of travel, I would suggest a tour in the U.K. or Ireland where you would have the benefit of language familiarity. I do think that you would safe anywhere you choose to go, but a confidence building first tour may be a good idea. I traveled on the Paris and the Heart of France Tour last year and never had any worries about safety as a single “sixties” traveler.

A few hints. If possible, get the single supplement. I enjoyed having my own space. If you want to join others for a meal or activity, speak up. I think Rick Steves tour groups are well known for the general friendliness of the groups, but you do need to communicate if you have something you want to do with others.

I am glad you are still traveling!

I love doing a solo trip to Paris - have done many. Highly recommend.

OK, I've done 11 RS tours (5 with family members and 6 solo) plus 10 Road Scholar tours (similar to Rick's). I'm looking down the barrel of being out of the 60's, lol but I think my thoughts apply. I'd do ANY RS tour on my own. I do think that mostly the longer tours foster more group spirit but that's also because the longer ones I've been on have also been bus-based.

And yes, agree it will be helpful to know which ones you've done to give suggestions on what's next.

In particular I loved the 21 day Best of Europe, Best of England, Paris and Heart of France and Village Italy. Really I liked ALL my RS tours!!

There are many websites, this included, which have "Travel Buddy" linkups. Perhaps you can find a like-minded person to travel with.