One of the most important things that need to be on the bucket list of everyone is traveling. It is a way to recharge, reduce stress, explore the world and support your mental health. To take things further, however, many people have adopted the concept of solo traveling. While it could be fun and nerve-wracking, it comes with a series of challenges, especially if you are a woman.
Traveling alone comes with many unknowns and difficulties; for women, worrying that something horrible would happen to them makes those difficulties and uncertainties much greater.
Many women desire to travel alone but are apprehensive about their safety. While we share the same concerns, here are some tips to ensure safety as a solo female traveler.
- Do a lot of research.
Research is the answer to almost everything when it comes to travel. To save money, be a more responsible traveler, discover fantastic things to do, understand the local culture, and know if there are places or habits to avoid.
Here are some examples of relevant questions you need to ask, especially when traveling to places with a very different culture from yours: how do women usually dress? Is alcohol consumption allowed and common? Is it safe to walk the streets at night in such a neighborhood? How are women treated in this destination? Is it dangerous to use public transport at certain times?
You need to ask these questions before going to any destination you choose.
- Take out travel insurance.
If you are traveling abroad, it is highly recommended that you take out international travel insurance if the credit card used to buy the ticket does not offer this benefit. Travel insurance can make the difference, whether it is a vacation or a visit to the New Year retreat. Getting sick or having an accident is one of the most annoying things that can happen to solo travelers, and it is even worse when you don’t have a reliable insurance company to turn to.
- Trust your intuition
When you travel, your intuition is your best friend. Listen to her well!
If a situation looks suspicious, it probably is. Why would it be any different elsewhere if you can trust your gut at home? So, if you do not feel like going out or want to avoid a place, please do.
- Write regularly
Text friends and family several times daily to tell them where you are, what you’re doing, and your plans for the next few days.
If you have a Wi-Fi connection, use apps like WhatsApp to send text messages and make free calls. Send the license plate to a friend if you book transport services like Uber or Lyft.
- Don’t Carry Too Many Things
Leave out any shiny objects that catch your eye. Solo female travelers must be careful about wearing expensive jewelry, not even having it in their hotel room.
The less you attract people’s attention, the less likely you are to be robbed.
In the same way, you should avoid headphones, especially in public. Solo female travelers should be vigilant and remain aware of their surroundings. Even if you like to listen to your favorite songs while walking around your city, it is not a good idea when you are in unfamiliar terrain.
Keep your hearing and eyes sharp and constantly aware of your surroundings.
- Get information about your destination.
Before you proceed on your journey, use your social media accounts to communicate with your friends or friends of friends who live in the place you plan to visit. Advice from people in the locality is always the best.
Do not be shy! Ask for specific suggestions on where solo female travelers will feel safest and don’t hesitate to ask people you meet on the site for advice.
After all, getting in touch with the locals can completely change your experience; you can understand the place you are visiting instead of being a simple tourist.
- Avoid Late Night Arrivals ⠀
It is only sometimes possible to do this because, at times, the flight, train, and bus schedules do not run-on schedule. But, when possible, the ideal is to arrive in a city you don’t know during the day.
In the first few hours in an unknown destination, it’s normal to be a little disoriented, and at night it’s much easier to get lost – in addition to being riskier if that happens.
When daylight arrives, not only do you have more transport options to go to your accommodation, but you also have an easier time studying the terrain and solving any problems that may occur upon arrival, like a problem with the hotel, etc.
- Be careful with taxis.
Sadly, some taxi drivers seem cocky almost everywhere in the world. For this and financial reasons, you should be very careful when using this service. If you have to hire a taxi or use this service, you should know which companies are reliable and avoid picking up a random car on the street. It is also good to find the estimated time and value to the destination and check if the taximeter works normally – or negotiate the price beforehand in places with fixed costs.
Other tips are to follow the route on Google Maps and pretend that you are talking to someone on the phone and say that you are in the taxi and will arrive at your destination soon to give the impression that someone is waiting for you.
Conclusion
Solo traveling can be fun and adventurous if you observe the necessary precautions to stay safe and secure in your desired destination.
