Traveling does wonders for a person’s mental health. It increases happiness, melts away stress, and boosts creativity.
But for solo women who travel, all these positive effects can drown under the worry of being unsafe. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be like this.
Keep reading to learn about ten simple safety tips for women who love to travel alone. From suggestions about how to choose lodgings to ideas on how to blend in with the locals, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s dive in!
1. Rely on Reviews
Online reviews aren’t just useful for finding great food and entertainment while traveling. They’re also an amazing way to find safe lodgings.
Before you book a hotel or any other kind of rental, be sure to read tons of online reviews. Never stay anywhere that others have found unsafe in any way.
If a property you’re interested in doesn’t have online reviews, continue searching. Especially for women traveling alone, finding safe lodgings can be a life-saver.
2. Travel with Secure Luggage
If you’re looking for tips for flying alone, this one’s for you. Investing in super-safe luggage is a must if you’re traveling anywhere, but especially when you’re getting to your destination by plane.
After all, crime happens in airports, too. Make sure your luggage has safety locks and is durable and rugged.
3. Schedule Check-Ins
It’s important to live in the moment, especially when you’re exploring the world. But it’s also important to check in regularly with your friends and family back home.
If you schedule check-ins with a trusted loved one, they’ll know that something’s wrong if they don’t hear from you. So, although you may want to live wild and free while traveling, scheduling a few phone calls will make your trip safer.
4. Don’t Be Afraid of Selfies
Asking a stranger to take your picture could result in you never seeing your phone again. To avoid this, get used to taking selfies to preserve your traveling memories. You can also buy a selfie stick if you want to see more in your pictures.
5. Bring Funds for Safe Transportation
If you’re traveling on a budget, it’s tempting to take the bus, train, or even walk to get from place to place. But if it’s late at night or you have to travel through a bad neighborhood, you could be putting yourself in danger to save a few dollars.
When budgeting for your trip, plan to spend money on transportation like taxis or car services. Getting door-to-door rides will keep you out of harm’s way.
6. Dress like the Locals
Clothing is cultural. It can make you stand out like a sore thumb while traveling, which can make you a target as a tourist. To blend in with the locals, study their fashion ahead of time.
And, don’t worry, you can still travel in style with all your favorite items. Even a small effort to look less like a tourist is all it takes to ramp up your safety.
7. Do Your Research
If you want to travel abroad alone, you’ll need to do some thorough geographical research about your chosen destinations first. After all, every city has some parts that are less than safe for a solo woman. So, before you hit the road, arm yourself with information about the areas to avoid.
If you’re not in a position to research safe places ahead of time, find a trusted local and ask them for advice. If your lodgings have female staff members, that’s a great place to start.
8. Hide Your Cash
To avoid robberies when traveling abroad alone, hide your cash in safe places no matter where you are. For example, you could put money inside your shoe, or at the bottom of a box of tampons.
It’s also a great idea to book lodgings that have amenities like in-room safes. This gives you a secure place to store your cash and important items like your passport.
9. Carry Defensive Products
No matter how strong or proficient in self-defense you are, it always helps to have a little backup. Defensive products will help you fend off attackers and make a quick escape.
There are plenty of self-defense products a woman can carry around with her. Here are a couple of examples of some super effective options.
Pepper Spray
This defensive spray is a popular protective product because it doesn’t call for physical contact to harm an aggressor. You can simply spray your assailant in the eyes to temporarily incapacitate them.
Just keep in mind that you can’t bring pepper spray on airplanes. You’ll have to buy this item locally on your travels.
Spiked Keychain
If you use a keychain to carry your keys, you may as well make it a defensive tool, too. Buy a spiked keychain that you can easily carry in your hands as you walk around town. If needed, you can use it to injure an assailant.
10. Learn the Local Lingo
Learning some words and phrases in the local language isn’t just useful, it could also help you in a potentially unsafe situation. Beyond learning how to ask where the restroom is and how to order food, check out what to say if you find yourself in danger.
It’s also a good idea to find out what the emergency phone numbers are for the country you’re traveling in. Log them in your cell phone ahead of time for easy access.
Arm Yourself with These Safety Tips for Women
The next time you plan a solo adventure, use the safety tips for women above to guide your journey. If you follow each one, you’ll experience a much safer trip.
Just remember to thoroughly research your lodgings, the local lingo, and safe areas before you take off. Schedule check-ins with a loved one back home at least a few times during your trip. And be sure to find safe places to keep your cash and important documents at all times.
Want to read more awesome articles with tips about traveling? Check out our travel blog page for tons of information.
