Going Places: A Conversation with Abigail Akinyemi

Going Places is a series from TripIt that highlights frequent travelers to showcase their unique travel styles and insider tips.

Meet Abigail Akinyemi, AKA The Lady Who Travels, a solo-travel expert who's visited over 30 countries across five continents. Her love for travel dates back to middle school, but she got her first taste of international travel in college when she traveled to Tanzania and Mexico-the latter, her first solo trip.

"I wanted to go away for spring break my senior year of college, but none of my friends wanted to go," she told me. "So I planned the trip anyway, then joined a Facebook group for women traveling solo-and I made plans to meet up with those women once I arrived in Cancun."

That trip was Abigail's ah-ha moment: "I realized I could build an online community of travelers-especially of women traveling solo-to meet like-minded people and share what I was learning along the way."

Since then, Abigail has garnered tens of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTubeby sharing her expert travel tips-and she's just getting started.

Safety is everything when it comes to solo travel

Abigail's area of expertise? "I focus on comfort," she said. "Not budget, but not necessarily luxury travel either-the sweet spot in between."

And a big part of traveling comfortably is focusing on safety. "My number one tip is to always protect your safety, no matter what."

TripIt helps Abigail do just that. "I was first introduced to TripIt when I worked as an intern in corporate finance. I used the app to manage and track executives' travel arrangements-anticipating what they'd need based on their flights and meeting schedules. It's how I learned to manage an itinerary!

"Now, I manage my own itineraries. I forward all of my reservations to TripIt-and then share my travel planswith friends and family so they always know the details of my trips."

Abigail also recommended consulting TripIt's Neighborhood Safety Scores, powered by GeoSure, to learn about the level of safety for the neighborhoods  you're visiting. You can access  hyperlocal safety ratings  for myriad categories along any point within your TripIt itinerary for more than 65,000 cities and neighborhoods, including scores for overall safety, health and medical, physical harm, women's safety, political freedoms, theft, and LGBTQ safety.

DYK?You can also set a personal risk levelwithin the Neighborhood Safety Scores feature. When you set your personal risk level, TripIt will flag any plan with a safety score that's above your threshold. For instance, if you've booked a dinner reservation in an unknown neighborhood, you can check the TripIt app to see if that area is above your risk level at night. Armed with this information, you might opt to take a cab there instead of walking.

Her other tips for staying safe while traveling? "If you're American, register for STEP. It's helpful to receive the alerts-safety-related and otherwise. On a recent trip, I received a heads-up about a transit strike, which led me to make alternate plans-and kept my trip on track.

"Always bring a door lock," she added. "And if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable in your room, ask the front desk to change it. It's not an inconvenience; your safety-and peace of mind-are worth it."

Related reading: 8 Expert Tips for Staying Safe While Traveling

On avoiding indecision-and where to go on your first solo trip

In addition to safety, Abigail also values the beauty of an organized trip.

"I know people who have missed flights because they booked for the wrong day-but not me! Thanks to TripIt, I have never missed a flight; I always know when and where I'm supposed to be."

As do her travel companions. That's right, while Abigail's a solo-travel expert, she doesn't alwaystravel solo. "A trip is a beautiful opportunity to create a core memory with your people," she said. "Traveling with family or friends shows you another side of them-a side you won't see at brunch."

But planning a trip with others can sometimes lead to what Abigail called "the hamster wheel of indecision."So, how does she avoid it? "I book on my own first, then let people know where and when I'm going. That way, if they don't book, my trip still happens. And if they do? I can add them to the plans in TripIt. They know to expect it. It's a thing with my friends: 'Oh, you booked? Abigail will add you to TripIt.'"

"It's a thing with my friends: 'Oh, you booked? Abigail will add you to TripIt.'"

So, where does The Lady Who Travels plan to go next? "Central and South America. I'm planning to start in Mexico, wind my way through El Salvador, and end in Brazil."

And maybe make a stop in her favorite under-the-radar destination: Antigua, Guatemala.

"I was there two years ago, and fell in love. People are so friendly. The vibe is very low key. You don't need to go big on excursions to enjoy the atmosphere or relax on the water. I can't say enough good things-just go!"

Want to plan your own solo travel adventure? "If this is your first time, consider a staycation," she advised. "Everyone sleeps on a staycation, but if you live in a city, chances are there are lots of unique, local experiences you haven't tried. It's a good way to dip your toe into spending time alone."

It's also an opportunity to follow Abigail's second rule of travel: "Always book a spa treatment," she quipped, with a smile.

Safety + spa = comfort travel at its finest.

Want more of Abigail's tips? Head to her websiteand sign up for her newsletter to get expert travel advice straight to your inbox. And catch up on all Going Placesfeatures to learn new travel tips, discover underrated destinations, and more.

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