Travel can be an enlightening and enriching experience, allowing you to see new sights, experience different cultures, taste exotic foods, expand your horizons, and forge magical memories you can happily look back on in the future.
It’s no surprise that many people believe travel to be an essential aspect of any happy, healthy life, and countless individuals strive every day to work hard, save money, and plan their next big vacations around the globe.
A lot of people travel with friends or family, but there are times when this isn’t always possible or desirable, and there’s nothing wrong with traveling solo. In fact, it can be a great way to really get in touch with yourself.
However, there are risks for solo travelers to take into account, especially female travelers. Indeed, many women can feel frightened about the concept of setting off on their own or might be discouraged from doing so by their friends and family.
While it’s true that being a solo female traveler can be risky, it’s not impossible to have a safe and exciting trip on your own as a woman, and countless female adventurers explore the world every year without any issues whatsoever. If you want to do the same, here are some key tips to keep in mind.
Do Your Research
One of the best tips for travel, in general, is to prepare properly and do your research on your chosen destination before you go, and this especially applies when you’re a solo traveler. You can stray from the beaten path and head to the other side of the world if that’s what you want, but you need to be ready for it.
The internet is a goldmine for information on every possible destination you might be interested in, telling you everything from safety ratings and sex crime risks to how public transport works and whether or not you need any vaccinations before traveling. So don’t just turn up and plan to ‘wing it’ for your vacation; take some time and do your research.
Keep Valuables Close at All Times
One of the big risks for solo travelers is losing personal possessions or having your valuables stolen, leaving you effectively stranded somewhere far from home without any friends or family members to turn to. Pick-pockets and thieves can often target solo travelers, which is why it’s so important to take extra special care of your valuables.
In general, you should try and limit the number of valuable items you travel with anyway, but if you insist on taking smartphones, e-readers, cameras, cards, and more along with you, then you should also invest in a safe, secure day bag to keep those items in and keep them close to you at all times. Don’t leave this bag on luggage racks and never let it out of your sight.
Be Careful Who You Trust
When you’re traveling alone, it’s tempting to try and chat with locals or engage with fellow travelers you might encounter along the way. This can be a great way to meet people and you might even form new friendships that could last for years, but you can’t assume that every person you meet is trustworthy ‘best friend material’.
There are plenty of nice people out there, but there are plenty of others who might have more malicious ideas in mind, especially if they meet a solo female traveler and feel like they could take advantage of her. So feel free to chat to people, but take your time getting to know them before asking them to watch your bags while you visit the restroom or agreeing to go to a party with them.
Blend In
Another useful tip for female travelers wanting to stay safe is to try and blend in and look like one of the locals wherever you go. This can help you travel around, especially in cities, without really standing out or seeming like a big target for thieves and other criminals.
Dressing with an “I Love Paris” T-shirt in the middle of Paris or wearing a big camera around your neck will instantly mark you out as a tourist and could put a target on your back, so try to avoid this. Keep an eye on the locals and follow their clothing habits, and try to look confident too.
Final Word
Traveling alone can be really rewarding, as long as you have the right approach. Keep these tips in mind to ensure that your solo travels are as safe as they can be.
