There's a moment every solo traveler knows: you've landed somewhere new, your bag is on your back, and there's nobody to check in with. For Fiona Chen — who goes by Finding Fiona on social media — that moment stopped feeling scary a long time ago. Now she chases it.
Fiona travels constantly: Hong Kong, Egypt, Spain, Japan, Madeira. She documents it all, but her real project seems to be convincing other women that the trip they keep saying 'someday' to can actually happen now. We dug into her advice to pull out what's most useful — especially for a solo travel audience in India.
The safety-first framework that actually makes sense
Fiona's approach to preparation is refreshingly un-glamorous. Before she books anything, she researches whether a destination is safe — reading articles, checking what other recent travelers have said, and being honest with herself about which places she simply wouldn't go alone. She splits destinations into three rough categories: places with no real warnings, places that need standard precautions (watching for pickpockets, staying alert), and places she avoids entirely for solo trips.
Once safety is sorted, accommodation is where she spends without guilt. Staying somewhere good, in a good area, is non-negotiable for her. Her final personal rule is low-tech but effective: out when the sun rises, home when it sets. It's not about fear — it's about stacking the odds comfortably in your favour.
For tools, she uses Tripadvisor to vet hotels before booking, and she never travels without a reliable eSIM. 'Once you have data, you can usually figure everything else out,' she says — and anyone who's been stuck without internet in an unfamiliar city will immediately understand why.
Five destinations, ranked by ease of getting there
Fiona's personal list of favourite solo destinations runs from easiest to hardest to travel to — a useful framing that shifts the conversation away from 'best' and towards 'where should I actually start.'
Japan tops the list: safest, most culturally rich, and endlessly fun for food and shopping. She recommends eating through Tokyo — Tsukiji Outer Market for fresh seafood, ramen, sushi, and convenience-store snacks — and spending shopping time across Shibuya, Harajuku, and Ginza. Sydney comes second for its quality of life and Bondi Beach. Barcelona is third, with Ciutat Comtal as her favourite restaurant for sharing small plates of seafood and foie gras, plus a day trip to Montserrat. Seoul is fourth — she calls Seongsu neighbourhood the 'Williamsburg of Seoul,' full of trendy cafes, pop-ups, and beauty stores, with Olive Young as her go-to for Korean skincare. Madeira, Portugal, closes the list as the 'Hawaii of Europe': volcanic landscapes, serious natural beauty, and the place where she went paragliding alone for the first time.
Why this matters for a solo travel audience in India
For women in India considering solo international travel, Fiona's framework is quietly practical. The eSIM tip is particularly relevant — reliable data on arrival removes one of the most anxiety-inducing variables of landing somewhere unfamiliar. Her point about spending on safety (good accommodation, researched destinations) also lands differently when you're weighing a trip budget against peace of mind.
Her destination list skews towards East and Southeast Asia, which works well from India: Japan and South Korea are increasingly popular routes from major Indian cities, with direct or short-connection flights. Both destinations have strong reputations for safety, walkability, and excellent public transport — exactly the conditions that make solo travel feel manageable rather than daunting.
But perhaps the most useful thing Fiona says has nothing to do with apps or packing lists. Early in her travels, she was headphones-on and shut off from everyone around her. In Zurich, she let that guard down at dinner, ended up spending the next day with a stranger, and gained a close friend. She calls the confidence that comes from solo travel 'clocking in your street smarts' — the slow accumulation of proof that you can handle things on your own. Once you have it, she says, nothing holds you back from seeing the world. That's a feeling worth getting on a flight for.