About Dr. Travelbest

Helping Women Find the Confidence to Travel Solo

I believe some of life's greatest adventures begin when you decide you're willing to go on your own.

I'm Dr. Mary Travelbest, a lifelong traveler, educator, author, and podcast host who helps women gain the confidence and practical skills to travel solo.

I've traveled independently around the world, navigating unfamiliar cities, public transportation, hostels, hotels, airports, language barriers, missed connections, unexpected changes—and all the wonderful surprises that make travel memorable.

I don't believe you have to be fearless to travel solo. You just need to know how to take the next step.

Why I Created the 5 Steps to Solo Travel

Over the years, I've met many women who dream about traveling but keep waiting.

They're waiting for a spouse to go with them. Waiting for a friend to have the same vacation dates. Waiting until they feel more confident. Waiting until they have everything figured out.

Sometimes that means waiting for years.

I created 5 Steps to Solo Travel to help women stop waiting and start exploring.

My approach isn't about becoming an extreme adventurer or traveling exactly the way I do. It's about discovering your comfort level, building confidence gradually, and learning how to make smart decisions when you're on your own.

You can start small. Take yourself to lunch. Explore somewhere new in your own city. Take a day trip. Spend one night away. Then, when you're ready, go farther.

Solo travel confidence is something you build.

I've Been There

My travel experiences have taken me across the United States and around the world—from Europe and Scandinavia to South America, Africa, Asia, Canada, Mexico, and beyond.

I've traveled inexpensively and comfortably. I've stayed in hostels and hotels, taken trains and buses, navigated unfamiliar transit systems, eaten alone, gotten lost, changed plans, made mistakes, met extraordinary people, and discovered places I never expected to see.

Those experiences are the foundation of what I teach.

I'm not interested in presenting a picture-perfect version of travel. I want to tell you what actually happens—and help you develop the confidence to handle it.

An Educator at Heart

Travel isn't my only classroom.

I'm a marketing professor and educator, and teaching has shaped the way I approach solo travel. I don't simply tell people where to go. I break intimidating challenges into manageable steps so people can learn, practice, and gain confidence.

That philosophy became the foundation of my 5 Steps to Solo Travel books, the Dr. Mary Travelbest podcast, and my resources for women who want to become more independent travelers.

My goal isn't to turn you into me.

My goal is to help you become a more confident version of you.

Travel Doesn't Have an Expiration Date

I especially want women in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond to know that adventure doesn't belong exclusively to twenty-something backpackers and social-media influencers.

Experience can actually make us better travelers.

We know ourselves better. We know what matters to us. We're often more comfortable talking with strangers, solving problems, changing plans, and appreciating experiences rather than rushing through them.

There may be things we do differently as we get older—and that's perfectly fine.

The objective isn't to travel young.

It's to travel well.

Come Travel With Me

Whether you're considering your first solo outing or planning an adventure across the world, I hope you'll find something here to help you take your next step.

Explore the 5 Steps to Solo Travel books, listen to the Dr. Mary Travelbest podcast, try the Solo Travel Confidence Coach, and discover practical ideas you can use to build your confidence one adventure at a time.

You don't have to wait for someone else to be ready.

Your next adventure can begin with you.

— Dr. Mary Travelbest