Ultimate Solo Work Travel Tips for Working Moms: How to Stay Safe, Sneak in Self-Care, and Make the Most of Your Trip

If you’re like me, solo work travel can feel like a mix of excitement and dread. On one hand, it’s an opportunity to break free from the daily grind, enjoy some rare alone time, and maybe even get a good night’s sleep without interruption. On the other hand, there’s that guilt of leaving your family behind, plus the stress of juggling work responsibilities while making the most of your trip.

Don’t worry, I’ve been there! Today, I’m sharing my solo work travel tips for working moms—everything from staying safe, sneaking in some much-needed self-care, to making your downtime an adventure. There is so much opportunity to discover magic that can be found in solo travel if you know how where to look, and how to do it safely. Let’s make sure your next business trip isn’t just productive but enjoyable, too!

1. Small Safety Tips for Solo Work Travel

First things first—safety. Traveling alone as a mom can feel daunting, especially when you’re in unfamiliar territory. Meeting new people, being in a new place, getting out of your comfort zone, and going to new destinations can bring up all of your anxieties. But with a few precautions, you can keep things secure and enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Solo travelers, whether it is your first solo trip or your twentieth, safety should always be on your mind while you travel, and these top tips can help you make that happen. 

A Few Solo Work Travel Safety Tips:

• Stay in Safe Locations: Choose accommodations in well-lit, busy areas. Want to take it one step further? Stay in a hotel with 24/7 security. If you’re using Airbnb, check out the reviews and ensure it’s hosted by a Superhost. There are a ton of great accommodation options for solo business travelers, but do your homework and check those reviews!
•  Keep Your Loved Ones in the Loop: Share your itinerary with friends or family members. Use apps like Find My Friends or Life360, so someone always knows your whereabouts. Most rideshare apps also now have a feature where you can share your trip with someone else, which I have taken advantage of more than once. (My cousin was subject for well over a year to randomly getting my Uber rides as a feature I had accidentally set up. While we laughed about it, it honestly was probably a smart thing to have rolling!) It really isn’t as stalkery as it sounds, and it could end up saving your butt!
• Check In Regularly: Set a reminder to check in with your loved ones or at least a trusted friend once or twice a day. It gives them peace of mind, and it gives you a moment to reconnect with home.
• Trust Your Gut: Never underestimate your intuition. Don’t hesitate to leave the situation or change plans if something doesn’t feel right, or if it makes you uneasy in any way. Chances are, if you are traveling solo and your stomach is in knots in a situation, you are not enjoying it anyway, so why torture yourself anyway?

Just A Few More…

• Be Mindful of Public Transportation: Public transportation can be a blessing but also a huge safety risk if you do not know how it works. Make sure you know your route ahead of time, and if you need help, ask someone instead of losing what is going on around you by burying your face nervously away in your phone. 
• Know Your Travel Plans: Memorizing your travel plans isn’t essential, but having a solid knowledge of what your travel plans are is a must. Knowing how to quickly find your tickets, hotel address, and confirmation, or where to find your travel insurance information, can give you peace of mind and keep you safe, especially if you are coming in at odd hours of the day. 
• Use Your Damn Locks: You know, those ones on the door in the hotel? Use them. All of them. Yes, I know your door automatically locks when you shut it, but the first thing you do every time you enter your room. It isn’t paranoia; it is being safety-minded. 
• Research Local Customs: If you are traveling in the United States, this one probably isn’t such a big deal. But are you headed to a foreign country? Knowing the local customs in a new country or area is not only respectful, but it can also help to keep you safe. So before you jet off to Costa Rica or New Zealand, be sure to check out the local customs and local laws. 

Safety doesn’t have to mean constant worry, but taking these small steps and remaining mindful can make a big difference.

2. Making the Most of Your Down Time: Turn Work Trips Into Mini Adventures

Work travel is a golden opportunity to mix business with a little pleasure—yes, you read that right! One of my favorite solo work travel tips is to carve out time for mini-adventures. Even if your trip is packed with meetings, there are usually pockets of free time to turn into memorable moments.

Here’s How to Make Your Work Trip an Adventure:

• Plan a Morning Adventure: If you’re an early riser, use those quiet morning hours to explore your destination. Whether it’s a brisk walk through the city streets or checking out one of the local coffee shops, starting your day with a mini-exploration sets a positive tone for the rest of your trip.
• Take an Extra Day: Just because you are headed out for a work trip does not mean you have to rush. If you have the flexibility, come in a day early to give yourself some extra time to check out a unique experience or two in the area. Especially if it is your first time visiting an area, this can be one of the best ways to make the most of your adventure!
• Explore Local Cuisine: Skip the hotel restaurant and head out for a solo dinner at a local hotspot. Try the regional cuisine, take yourself on a culinary adventure, and soak in the local culture. It’s a great way to unwind after a day of work, and you never know what new flavors you are going to develop a love for!

What Else??

• Sightseeing in the Evening: If you finish your workday early, take an evening stroll around the city or book a short tour. Apps like TripAdvisor and Airbnb Experiences offer short, fun activities that you can fit into your solo travel adventure. You may even look into seeing if there are any state or national parks around the location you are staying at. You never know where you will find adventure!
• Museum or Gallery Visits: If you’re a lover of art or history, most cities have museums or galleries that stay open later in the evening. A quick cultural detour can be a great way to unwind and inspire.
• Check Out Local Events: A few days before your trip, check out the local events happening in the area you will be visiting before you get there and see what fits into your schedule. You never know when you may have the unique opportunity to sneak in a concert or craft show!
• Network Outside of Work Events: Don’t be afraid to get out and talk to the locals while taking in new experiences. New friends can be met wherever you go, and you never know where you will run into like-minded people. Plus, while solo travel can be lonely, getting out to network and have that human interaction can enrich your trips and create new adventures in friendship!

By mixing adventure into your work trip, you’re not just crossing off tasks from your work list—you’re filling your cup with experiences that inspire and rejuvenate.

3. Sneaking in Self-Care on the Road

As working moms, we often put self-care on the back burner, especially when we’re away from home. 

But let me tell you a secret—solo work travel is the perfect time to sneak in some well-deserved “me time.” Small acts of self-care can make your trip feel a little more like a retreat, and can really kickstart a better self-care routine for once you return home. 

Self-Care Tips for Solo Work Travel:

• Bring Your Favorite Creature Comforts: Travel-sized versions of your favorite skincare products, a scented candle, or even a cozy blanket can make your hotel room feel more like home. One of my favorites is this travel silk pillowcase (because hotel pillowcases are NOT my jam). 
• Ask for a More Private Room: Nothing is worse than relaxing for a few minutes on a business trip when your room is next to the elevator. You hear the elevator dig, families dragging through the hallways all night, and partygoers coming in at 2am. Those more private rooms at the end of the hall can be a godsend when you only want a few minutes of quiet.  
• Book a Massage or Spa Session: Many hotels have on-site spas, or you can find a local spa for a quick massage or facial. Treat yourself to a relaxing session—it’s the perfect way to de-stress after a long day of meetings.
• Take Time for Mental Wellness: Download a meditation or mindfulness app like Headspace or Calm and carve out 10 minutes before bed to quiet your mind. It’ll help you rest better and recharge for the next day. If you do not have a meditation practice in place, solo travel trips are honestly one of the best times to try to get one started when you have the time to yourself without distraction!
• Enjoy a Luxurious Bath: Let’s be real—how often do you get to enjoy a peaceful bath without a kid banging on the door? Take full advantage of your hotel tub and soak your stress away. Bring along bath salts, bath bombs or bubble bath, put on some relaxing music and take a few minutes to yourself. 
• Bring Along a Journal or Book: Getting away from home for work can also be a great time to get away from the monotony of your day-to-day. Bring along a journal and record the magic that you see that inspires you. Be sure to take a long a book that allows you to escape for a few minutes each day. Allow yourself the little escapes that do not take much effort and see how they inspire you. 

Sneaking in self-care during work trips can be as simple as creating small moments for yourself. When you return home feeling refreshed and recharged, you’ll see how mighty these little acts of self-kindness can be. There are so many opportunities to fill your cup while you are out and away if you are only willing to look outside the box. 

Whether you are taking just a few minutes out of an evening or devoting a few hours a day of your work travel days to self-care, any effort in this area is a good effort. Prioritizing you and taking the time while you have time away to remember how good it feels to take care of yourself can jump-start your efforts to take care of yourself once you return home. Plus, let’s be honest: when you take care of yourself, you feel better, so you are generally a nicer person to be around. This means less stress, less yelling mom and less burnout at the end of the day.

4. Helpful Products to Pack for Solo Work Travel

Now, let’s talk about the essentials. Having the right gear can make your trip smoother and more enjoyable. Here are some must-have items for working moms on solo work trips:

Must-Have Travel Products:

Ok, so you know you were not getting away without catching a few of my must-have products for solo travel. Mostly because I am the self-proclaimed queen of Amazon, and I want all of the creature comforts wherever I go. So, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite things: 

• Portable Charger: Don’t get caught with a dead phone battery. A portable charger ensures you stay connected, whether you’re navigating an unfamiliar city or catching up with loved ones back home. Plus, when you are out and about adventuring, it is always a good idea to have a backup for extra battery for all of those pictures you will want to capture!
• Card Holder: I have always and forever been a girlie who wants a larger wallet for my purse so I have room for all the things. Regarding airport travel, I just want a little something to carry my credit cards. Anything more is too much for me to carry. That makes these little cardholders perfect for my solo work travel. 
• Travel Work Bag : I am probably the most critical person when it comes to selecting a work bag for travel. Currently, my favorite is my Isaac Mizrahi Laptop Backpack that I picked up at TJ Maxx. It has an amazing laptop sleeve, a ton of sections (including a cooler zipper pocket), AND a strap on the backpack to go over your carry-on handle so you do not have to carry it on your back through the airport! If you do not want to scout your local TJ Maxx to find one yourself, you can snag a similar one on Amazon here. 
• Noise-Canceling Headphones: These are game-changers for flights, hotel stays, or even focusing during work. I love to use them to block out the noise and create my own peaceful bubble. I LOVE these because they fold up and make storage easier in my already WAY full travel bag. 
• Reusable Water Bottle: Staying hydrated is key, especially when traveling. Bring a lightweight, reusable water bottle and fill it during your trip. Also, you will not catch me traveling without Liquid IV packets in my bag, especially since it is so easy to dehydrate on the road. No one has time for dehydration today! 
• Travel-Friendly Skincare: Air travel and hotel AC can wreak havoc on your skin. Pack a simple skincare routine with hydrating products to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy. 
• Packing Cubes: These will keep your luggage organized and make packing and unpacking a breeze. (Honestly, it is a toss-up whether I pack ahead enough to pack in these, but when I do, I love them!) You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to dig through your suitcase for that one missing item, and you will feel like you are hella adulting for all of the organization. 

Packing these essentials will help you stay comfortable, organized, and stress-free during your trip, making them essential to this solo work travel tips ultimate guide!

Final Thoughts: Solo Work Travel Can Be a Game Changer for Moms

Ladies, work travel doesn’t have to be just about meetings and work stress. You can turn solo trips into a time for solo adventure, self-care, and personal growth with a few intentional steps. By following these solo work travel tips, you’ll find that these trips can become not just something you have to do but something you look forward to.

So, the next time you pack your bags, remember to pack your sense of adventure and a little extra self-care, too. You deserve it.

Let me know in the comments: What’s your favorite part of solo work travel? How do you make it enjoyable while still being productive? I can’t wait to hear your tips!