Travel Tip Tuesdays: Safety for Women (but applies to men too)

“Is it safe for a woman to travel alone?”

The short answer is a resounding, “Yes.” Fellow ladies, you might be apprehensive or even terrified at the prospect of taking a trip by yourself. Two words: Don’t be! I’ve traveled to both coasts and through dozens of cities by myself, and I’m one of the less adventuresome people— I’ve met women who have traveled the entire world, spent months in the Middle East, or biked to California from the southern tip of Argentina, all without any trouble. Traveling solo can be as safe as anything else, as long as you have a little common sense. Here are some tips for anyone, but especially for women.

Travel buddies: Charlotte, from Belgium, and Darija, from
Slovenia. They have both done extensive solo travels.

Plan ahead for safety. Stay out of trouble areas. Ask a local where the “bad streets” are and mark it on your map. Be aware of your surroundings and if you start to feel nervous, don’t chide yourself for being paranoid— turn around and walk back the way you came. Be sure to plan your day so that you’re indoors before nightfall.

Always look totally confident, even if you’re not. Burying your head in a huge map while looking panicked and confused might attract a kind stranger to help you out, but it’s not worth the risk of looking like someone who’d make an easy victim. Stand tall, walk with purpose, and practice the expression and body language that clearly say, I am a confident self-sufficient woman, and I’m not afraid of you. If you need help with something, find a woman to assist you.

Keep in touch with your woman’s intuition. First impressions can be deceptive, but more than often they are often dead on. If you get a bad vibe from someone, stay away from them without questioning this idea. If you feel that someone is trustworthy, obey the Trust, but verify rule. Don’t go out of your comfort zone, but also consider taking a calculated risk. I can’t tell you how many times a small risk on my part made my trip infinitely better.

Be bold. If someone’s annoying you, look them straight in the eyes and tell them as much, politely. If they start harassing you, yell and scream at them. If you’re being followed, go into a store and ask if the owner can call you a cab. Personally, I’ve never been in any of these situations, but I’m always ready to cause a scene if I have to.

Be smart, but don’t be afraid. Of course it’s important to be cautious, but don’t let fear cloud your judgement or hamstring your plans. Have fun, be confident, and enjoy the wonders of traveling by yourself!

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Have a travel question? Leave a comment and I’ll answer!