Solo Travel Adventures: Safe Travel for Women, Preparing for a Trip, Overcoming Fear, Travel Tips

Cheryl Esch-Solo Travel Advocate/Certified Travel Coach/Freedom Traveler
  • 4.0 (4)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
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Faith-Rooted Solo Travel for Christian Women Over 50 Have you found yourself in a season you didn’t choose? Maybe your marriage ended.Maybe you lost your spouse.Maybe the house is suddenly quiet after years of raising a family. And now you’re asking the question many Christian women over 50 quietly carry: “Who am I now?” Solo Travel Adventures is a podcast for Christian women navigating life after divorce, widowhood, empty nest, or unexpected transition — and who feel a quiet pull toward something new. Hosted by solo travel coach Cheryl Esch, this show explores how solo travel can become a catalyst for renewed identity, restored confidence, and deeper trust in Christ. Each week Cheryl shares faith-centered encouragement, practical solo travel guidance, and honest conversations about what it means to rebuild your life in midlife. Inside this podcast you’ll discover: • How to rebuild confidence after 50 and major life changes• How solo travel and faith can help you hear God more clearly• Practical steps to plan your first solo trip after 50• Encouragement for Christian women navigating divorce, loss, or empty nest• Stories and insights about reinventing yourself after 50 as a Christian woman This isn’t just about travel. It’s about becoming. If you’re a Christian woman over 50 navigating life transition who feels the stirring for something more — a new chapter, a renewed sense of purpose, and the courage to step forward — you’re in the right place. So pack your bags, open your heart, and come discover what God might do when you say yes to the journey. https://www.cherylbeckesch.com Instagram: @solotraveladventures50

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    From Divorce To Kuwait: A Midlife Move That Rebuilt One Woman’s Life//185

    A sleepless night. A divorce after 32 years. A job listing that makes zero sense on paper. Then Kuwait shows up on the screen and Danielle Hebert takes the leap. What starts as a desperate need for space turns into two years of solo living abroad that reshapes her confidence, her faith, and the way she sees the world. We talk through the practical realities of moving to a Muslim-majority country as a midlife woman: what Danielle asked in her interview about culture and dress, what surprised her when she landed, and how she learned to navigate daily life, safety, and boundaries. She shares the warmth she receives from strangers, neighbors, and coworkers in an international school community filled with people from across the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. The conversation also holds space for the complicated parts, including moments that feel unsettling and the inequality she witnesses among migrant workers. Most of all, Danielle explains why this wasn’t “running away.” It was healing travel with intention: rebuilding self-esteem through meaningful work, creating deeper connections with family back home, and finding spiritual rhythm in an unexpected place. If you’re searching for solo travel inspiration, a midlife reset, or hope after divorce, this story will challenge your assumptions and widen your imagination. Subscribe for more Solo Travel Adventures, share this with a friend who needs a fresh start, and leave a review telling us: where would you go to heal? Coaching Invitation If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming. https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    40 min

  2. 28 APR

    Fearless Solo Travel: Faith, Freedom and Flight//184

    Fear can sound responsible, even wise, until you realize it’s quietly making your decisions for you. If you’ve felt that tension between wanting to take a solo trip and hearing the anxious loop of “what if something goes wrong,” I’m speaking straight to that moment. We get honest about the difference between real safety awareness and the internal fear that grows in the unknown, especially for women who want freedom but also want to feel grounded and protected. I share how I lean on scripture when fear gets loud, because God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. We talk about the Biblical pattern of being called to go even without perfect clarity, and how solo travel can become a personal journey of trust, courage, and discovering who you are in Christ. Then we flip the script on the questions that keep women stuck: not just “what if I can’t handle it,” but “what if God has already equipped me for this?” We also get practical with solo travel tips that build confidence without feeding the need to control everything: praying before you book, researching your destination, choosing accommodations wisely, sharing your itinerary, and staying connected with trusted people back home. I explain why safety isn’t rooted only in control, and how peace grows when you plan well, listen for Holy Spirit prompts, and stay open to the unexpected. If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to travel alone, let this be your nudge to take one small first step today. Subscribe for more solo female travel encouragement, share this with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review so more women of faith can find it. What’s one place you feel called to go next? Coaching Invitation If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming. https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    13 min

  3. 21 APR

    What If Your First Trip Quietly Built You? // 183

    Your travel style didn’t start when you booked your first grown-up trip. It started the first time you learned what “new” feels like. We’re digging into the idea of a travel origin story and how childhood experiences can shape your adult relationship with road trips, adventure travel, and even solo travel confidence. I share one of the most defining trips of my life: a four-to-five-week RV road trip at age nine, crammed in with a family of six and rolling from Pennsylvania through the Midwest and out to the West. It’s part awe and part chaos, with U.S. national parks like the Badlands, Arches in Utah, and the Grand Canyon leaving a permanent mark. Alongside the beauty are the moments that test you, including my first tornado on the horizon and a string of RV problems that turn into stories you never forget. We also talk about why the same exact trip can create totally different outcomes. One person feels inspired and hungry for nature and novelty. Another feels repelled and avoids that style of travel forever. The point isn’t to judge your past. It’s to use it. If you’re a midlife traveler trying to figure out what fits now, or a woman planning solo travel and wanting more courage, this conversation helps you connect your memories to a travel plan that actually matches your personality and season. If this sparks something, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, then subscribe and leave a review so more women can find the confidence to take the trip they’ve been holding back on. Coaching Invitation If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming. https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    14 min

  4. 14 APR

    What If Your Next Trip Is God’s Direction? // 182

    Your suitcase is packed, your itinerary is tight, and your mind is already racing ahead to everything that could go wrong. We have been there. That’s why we’re talking about the link between Christian travel and prayer while traveling and how bringing God into the process can change not just your trip, but your peace. We explore travel and prayer as two journeys that move you in different directions: one across the world and one closer to God. From the first moment a destination pops into your head, we walk through what it looks like to pray for guidance, timing, finances, and whether you should go solo or choose a tour. We also share a real story of wanting to take a specific trip, hitting roadblocks, and realizing God’s answer was “no” and why that can be a gift, not a loss. If you deal with travel anxiety, we spend time in scripture that speaks directly to it, including Philippians 4:6-7, and we talk about how thanksgiving and continual prayer can guard your mind with a peace that doesn’t depend on perfect plans. We also touch on praying for protection and staying open to hearing God more clearly when you step away from daily noise. If you want your next trip to be more than a getaway, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who loves faith-based travel, and leave a review so more women can find it. What’s the one thing you most need to pray about before you travel?  Resources & Links Apply for 1:1 travel coaching with Cheryl: https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Coaching Invitation If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming. https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    14 min

  5. 7 APR

    Can A Long Walk Reconnect Body Mind And Spirit? // 181

    You can feel it when travel stops being about seeing more and starts being about becoming more. I’m Cheryl Esch, and I’m sharing the pull I’ve been sitting with lately: the desire for a deeper, quieter kind of solo travel that resets me from the inside out, not just for a weekend, but in a way that lingers. I talk honestly about the Camino de Santiago and the part people don’t always say out loud. I went in carrying big expectations after a hard season and wanted the walk to equal instant healing and a clean new beginning. It didn’t. That disappointment taught me something important about purposeful travel, spiritual travel, and mindful travel: when we force a trip to deliver a guaranteed transformation, we miss what’s happening right in front of us. The real work is staying open, letting God lead, and allowing meaning to unfold in its own time. Then I get practical about planning a pilgrimage style hike or multi day trek that fits real life. We walk through how I’m choosing my next route by listening to my body, factoring in injuries and training, testing what’s feasible on my schedule, and deciding whether a guided group tour makes sense. I also share a list of inspiring options around the world, including Kumano Kodo in Japan, Via Francigena, Cotswold Way, Scotland trails, Iceland’s Laugavegur, Patagonia, and more, with an eye toward quieter routes and nature focused experiences. If you’ve been craving a reset, a little peace, or just space to breathe again, press play. Subscribe for more solo travel inspiration, share this with a friend who needs a fresh start, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What kind of walk is calling you right now?  Resources & Links Apply for 1:1 travel coaching with Cheryl: https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Coaching Invitation If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming. https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Episode 107: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048349/episodes/15925135-finding-myself-on-the-camino-a-transformative-experience.mp3?download=true Episode 104: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048349/episodes/15751955-preparing-for-the-camino-de-santiago-essential-tips-for-a-successful-pilgrimage.mp3?download=true Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    23 min

  6. 31 MAR

    Group Trips Help Women Travel Braver with Doni Belau of Girl's Guide to the World // 180

    You can feel it when life gets too crowded with roles: mom, partner, caretaker, employee, planner. The calendar stays full, but you start to wonder where you went. That’s why this conversation with Doni Belau, founder of Girl's Guide to the World, hits so hard. She shares what happened when she finally took a month to travel on her own and discovered something simple and life-changing: she could enjoy her own company again, make choices on the fly, and come home stronger. We get practical about solo travel for women and why “going alone” is often less about loneliness and more about reclaiming agency. Doni explains how women-only group tours can be the perfect first step if you want independence without the stress of handling every detail, especially the dreaded solo dinner table. We also talk about the psychology of travel, including the power of a pattern interrupt, how new places force your brain to wake up, and why connection and community are central to women’s wellness travel. Safety comes up too, with real talk about media-driven fear, naming specific risks, and planning with data and common sense. Doni shares her love for Japan, her complicated relationship with India, and how meaningful itineraries can include culture, conversation, and supporting women entrepreneurs around the world. If you’re craving confidence, clarity, and a push toward your next chapter, press play, then subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more women can find it. Find all of The Girl's Guide to the World Tours: https://www.girlsguidetotheworld.com/ Resources & Links Apply for 1:1 travel coaching with Cheryl: https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Coaching Invitation If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming. https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    40 min

  7. 24 MAR

    Can Midlife Women Stop Fearing Judgment And Start Traveling Alone? // 179

    We name the hidden thing that stops many midlife women from traveling alone: the fear of what other people will think. We reframe judgment, talk through the comments people make about safety and money, and share simple ways to choose ourselves without apology.  • fear of judgment as the real barrier to solo travel • identity pressure from decades of caregiving roles • common reactions ranging from admiration to disbelief • assumptions about cost and how frequent travel looks • worries disguised as concern about safety and loneliness • reframing solo travel as freedom, growth, and adventure • deciding for ourselves and refusing outside votes • limiting who we tell early and building a supportive circle • normalizing solo travel with real examples of women doing it • taking the trip first so confidence can follow • letting go of the need for permission from anyone Resources & Links Apply for 1:1 travel coaching with Cheryl: https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Coaching Invitation If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming. https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    15 min

  8. 17 MAR

    How to Choose Your Next Solo Trip in Midlife: Let Your Travel Dreams Reflect Who You’re Becoming // 178

    When life suddenly grows quieter—when the schedule opens up, the house is still, and a new season begins—it can leave you wondering what comes next. In this reflective solo episode, Cheryl invites you to dust off the travel dreams you once tucked away while raising families, caring for others, or simply navigating a busy life. Those destinations you’ve always imagined visiting may hold more meaning than you realize. Cheryl shares a simple but powerful way to evaluate your travel dreams so you can choose the right solo trip for this season of life—one that reflects who you are becoming, not just who you used to be. What You’ll Hear Why your travel dreams may change in midlifeHow to create a meaningful “dream destination” listThree questions to ask before choosing your next tripWhy some destinations speak to specific seasons of lifeHow solo travel can help you rediscover who you are becoming Key Takeaways Travel dreams often reflect deeper desires for growth, reflection, and renewal.Not every dream destination fits every season of life.Asking why you want to visit a place can reveal what your heart is truly seeking.Solo travel can create space to listen, reflect, and grow into your next chapter. Resources & Links Apply for 1:1 travel coaching with Cheryl: https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Coaching Invitation If you’re feeling drawn toward solo travel but unsure where to begin, this is something I support women with through 1:1 coaching. Together we can explore what kind of travel experience fits your season of life and create a thoughtful plan that reflects the woman you are becoming. https://cherylbeckesch.com/workwithme/ Support the show https://www.cherylbeckesch.com hello@cherylbeckesch.com Instagram @solotraveladventures50

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Faith-Rooted Solo Travel for Christian Women Over 50 Have you found yourself in a season you didn’t choose? Maybe your marriage ended.Maybe you lost your spouse.Maybe the house is suddenly quiet after years of raising a family. And now you’re asking the question many Christian women over 50 quietly carry: “Who am I now?” Solo Travel Adventures is a podcast for Christian women navigating life after divorce, widowhood, empty nest, or unexpected transition — and who feel a quiet pull toward something new. Hosted by solo travel coach Cheryl Esch, this show explores how solo travel can become a catalyst for renewed identity, restored confidence, and deeper trust in Christ. Each week Cheryl shares faith-centered encouragement, practical solo travel guidance, and honest conversations about what it means to rebuild your life in midlife. Inside this podcast you’ll discover: • How to rebuild confidence after 50 and major life changes• How solo travel and faith can help you hear God more clearly• Practical steps to plan your first solo trip after 50• Encouragement for Christian women navigating divorce, loss, or empty nest• Stories and insights about reinventing yourself after 50 as a Christian woman This isn’t just about travel. It’s about becoming. If you’re a Christian woman over 50 navigating life transition who feels the stirring for something more — a new chapter, a renewed sense of purpose, and the courage to step forward — you’re in the right place. So pack your bags, open your heart, and come discover what God might do when you say yes to the journey. https://www.cherylbeckesch.com Instagram: @solotraveladventures50

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