Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips – Details, episodes & analysis

Travel in 2026 isn’t about rushing back to crowded hotspots. It’s about choosing experiences with intention, calm, and clarity.

In this episode, Cheryl explores the biggest travel trends shaping 2026—and how women over 50 can turn them into realistic, meaningful plans.

If you’re craving depth instead of checklists, restoration instead of exhaustion, and confidence instead of chaos, these trends will help you travel smarter.

In This Episode:

• Why wellness travel is shifting toward digital detox and quiet retreats
• The rise of “why-cations” and purpose-driven itineraries
• Mountain escapes and cozy seasonal travel
• Off-peak travel strategies for better value and fewer crowds
• The return of slow travel with longer, immersive stays
• Rail travel revival and rolling hotel experiences
• The continued rise of solo travel for women
• Generational travel and meaningful shared experiences

Travel trends may change—but your why matters more than any destination.

When you align your trip with your purpose, budget, and energy, you return home renewed—not depleted.

If you’re unsure how to design a trip that fits your season of life, comfort level, and confidence, Cheryl works with women in 1:1 coaching to create safe, intentional, and meaningful travel plans.

Apply for 1:1 coaching at:
 https://cherylbeck.com

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Why do you travel?

Before choosing a destination, booking a flight, or building an itinerary, this single question can reshape everything.

In this episode, Cheryl reflects on 100,000 downloads and three years of Solo Travel Adventures by exploring how intention transforms travel from a checklist experience into something meaningful.

Because when your “why” is clear, every decision becomes easier.

In This Episode:

• Eight common reasons women travel—and how to plan around each one
• Traveling for connection with family and friends
• Planning restorative trips that truly allow for rest
• Designing travel around festivals, events, or marathons
• Cultural immersion beyond tourist highlights
• Ethical volunteering and how to avoid exploitation
• Turning work travel into intentional micro-journeys
• Filtering destinations and pacing through your personal purpose

If your goal is rest, you’ll plan differently than if your goal is adventure.
 If your goal is cultural depth, your days will look different than if your goal is celebration.

When purpose leads, FOMO fades.
 Clarity replaces overwhelm.
 And you return home changed in the way you actually hoped for.

If you’re unsure what your next trip represents in this season of life, Cheryl works with women in 1:1 coaching to clarify their travel goals and design meaningful, confidence-building experiences aligned with their purpose.

Apply for 1:1 coaching at:
 https://cherylbeck.com

Support the show

https://www.cherylbeckesch.com

hello@cherylbeckesch.com

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What’s really stopping you from taking a solo road trip?

For many women, it’s not the desire—it’s the hesitation around safety, logistics, and the unknown. In this episode, Cheryl walks through the essential guide to planning a solo road trip that feels both secure and freeing.

Because preparation creates freedom.

From nostalgic childhood road trips to the powerful self-reflection that comes from hours behind the wheel alone, solo road travel offers a unique blend of adventure and clarity—especially for women over 50 stepping into a new season.

In This Episode:

• Creating a reliable check-in system for peace of mind
• Using location-sharing apps wisely
• Choosing safer accommodations (interior corridors vs. exterior access)
• Car camping considerations and practical comfort tips
• Downloading offline maps and carrying paper backups
• Pre-trip vehicle checks (tires, oil, brakes)
• Building a practical emergency kit
• Why solo driving time becomes powerful reflection space

Solo road trips aren’t reckless.
 They’re structured independence.

When you layer smart safety habits with thoughtful planning, the open road becomes a place of confidence, renewal, and self-trust.

If you want structured support planning your first (or next) solo road trip with realistic safety layers and confidence-building systems, Cheryl works with women in 1:1 coaching to design intentional travel experiences aligned with this season of life.

Apply for 1:1 coaching at:
 https://cherylbeck.com

Support the show

https://www.cherylbeckesch.com

hello@cherylbeckesch.com

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In the US we have 63 National Parks to explore with Big Bend in the state of Texas.
Big Bend in located far West Texas on a bit over 800,000 acres of geographic marvel of vast desert landscapes with rocky mountain ridge tops and carved out canyons near the border of Mexico. It is the 15th largest National park in the US.

BEST TIME TO GO: Spring and Fall or November thru April.

HOW TO GET THERE: You must drive. It is very remote with no airports nearby.

Two Entrances: Persimmon Gap (North side) and Maverick Entrance (West side near Terlingua)

WHERE TO STAY: Chisos Mountain Lodge, RV campgrounds or tent campsites and backcountry campsites. All accommodations can be booked through the NPS.org site with links to bookings.

THINGS TO DO: Hiking or scenic drives. I share the hikes/trails I experienced during my 3 day trip, but there are 200 miles of trails to explore.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS: 1) Get gas before driving into the park. 2) Bring enough supplies of water and food or camping needs. 3) Get a paper map of the park because GPS will not work in many places of the park.

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Everyone loves "hacks" whether for travel or general life hacks to make our lives easier.
These 7 airport travel hacks will save you time, money and reduce your stress.

1) Get TSA Pre-check status or Global Entry to save time during security check. Lines are shorter, you move through the process quicker and you don't have to remove your shoes.
2) Take an early morning flight. The first flights out are less likely to be cancelled or delayed, plus they experience less turbulence.
3) Take a picture of where you parked if you drive to the airport.
4) Take an empty water bottle. Saves you money from buying bottled water at the airport and no time wasted standing in line either.
5) Check the status of your flight before you leave for the airport in case it is delayed or cancelled.
6) Sign up for lounge access.
7) Place a designating item on your luggage, like a sticker, ribbon or scarf on the handle, especially if you have a basic color suitcase like everyone else.

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Do you question why travel solo when you could share the experience with others? Maybe your friends or family don't understand why you would even want to travel alone.
Traveling alone can be rewarding and transformative especially for women over 50.

1) Self-discovery
2) Independence
3) Flexibility
4) Personal growth
5) Cultural immersion
6) Easier to make new friends
7) Increased mindfulness. Solo travel provide solitude.
8) Reduces stress
9) Personal achievement
10) Empowerment

While traveling alone can offer all these benefits, it's important to prioritize safety.
All in all, solo travel can be immensely rewarding.

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Celebrating 1 year of this show and I couldn't have done it without all of you listeners.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this show a success.

In the coming year, I will be more present within my Facebook community where I encourage members to ask questions, offer advice on travel to those asking.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/860865768609200

I plan to bring on more expert guests and even women who have remarkable solo travel stories to share. If you have a story to share, please reach out to me.

Support the show

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hello@cherylbeckesch.com

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Hey Sisters! Your safety and life matter to me.
If you plan to travel during this tumultuous time in our world, with war and killings happening, please reference the government travel advisory sites.

US Travel Advisory: travel.state.gov
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade www.dfat.gov.au or Smarttraveller.gov.au
Canada: travel.gc.ca

Or follow @safeexpat on Instragram

Two Things to Do Instead:
1) Explore your hometown or city with fresh eyes and discover something new.

2) Draw a 50 mile radius around your home town and drive and explore lesser known places within driving distance.

Support the show

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hello@cherylbeckesch.com

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My guest today, Karen Gershowitz, has over four decades of global exploration, and a two-time travel book author, unveils solo travel's potential as more than an alternative - it's an avenue to immerse in cultures and forge bonds.

Karen Gershowitz has been traveling solo since age seventeen, when she flew to Europe and didn’t return to the US for three years. In her career as a marketing strategist and researcher she traveled the world conducting thousands of meetings, focus groups and interviews. When traveling for pleasure, those same skills helped her to draw out people’s stories. She learned about their lives, as well as local customs and fashions and what makes them laugh. Her first book of travel stories, Travel Mania, explores the confluence of travel and life events and how travel has changed her beliefs and life direction. Wanderlust continues those stories, addressing issues readers have asked to hear more about—memorable food, people, and places she experienced in her travels. She hopes these stories tickle the travel bug in readers and set them off on their own adventures. Karen lives in New York City.

FOUR WAYS TO IMMERSIVE INTO A CULTURE:

• Reading a book in public introduces opportunities for unforeseen discussions and new friendships. 
• Shared tables at eateries encourage engagement with local residents and fellow journeyers.
•  Embrace public transit to discover less-traveled regions and experience genuine culture. 
• Participate in classes and meet-ups to connect through common interests and gain insights from residents. 

@karengershowitz
Facebook: Karen Gershowitz

AMAZON BOOK

 https://a.co/d/4oCIcbu

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Paget Rhee of Be Balanced Centers, shares her story about how reclaiming her health has empowered her and given her the confidence to travel and even be bolder in her business and life.

Our health can affect our travels both physically and mentally, making us question if we can even do certain activities.

As women, we are expected to do it all, but this causes stress that affects our health.

Fear is often unnecessary and never comes to fruition. Be wise though when traveling solo but don't let it hold you back or you will never go.

Balancing your hormones to get your health back will allow you to live your best life at any age, and allow you to travel the world.

www.bebalancedcenters.com
To reach Paget Rhee: paget.rhee@bebalancedcenters.com

Support the show

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