8 Safety Tips for Solo Woman Travelers

Today’s post is especially for you aspiring female travelers, regardless of your experience safety is ALWAYS top priority! Here are some of my safety measures to ensure I spend my trips enjoying new cultures versus stressing over not becoming a headline.

• Especially for beginners, when it comes to traveling solo you should start out in one of two ways. The first way is to get comfortable traveling to places solo in areas that you’re already comfortable in and familiar with. This can be done locally at home or in a different city/state within the same country. The second way to go about it is to travel with a reputable group that hosts various traveling experiences. Both methods allow you to get out of your comfort zone and gradually build up your confidence in how you respond in situations. Solo travel doesn’t mean you need to always go it alone!

• ​​Ladies, please do NOT go to countries where women are treated as second-class citizens alone. It’s just not smart, especially where there is a language barrier, and you are totally dependent on others (who will be mostly men by default). That’s just asking for trouble and setting yourself up to be miserable and unsafe. Just don’t do it! No matter how experienced you are traveling solo. In places like those, you need to coordinate having a hired personal guide with you and/or ensure you have connections well in advance to make the most of your trip.

• Buy locks for your room door and learn how to use them. Let’s be real. You won’t always pick the best hotel or living situation for your destination and sometimes you may be tight on the budget. I’m in no way recommending booking the cheapest rooms (more on that later) but in the event you make have made a hasty decision or didn’t have many options due to an unplanned situation/emergency (i.e. canceled flight, you got sick) than knowing how to use the locks on your door will help add a layer of security and peace of mind. I found some on Amazon here.

• Personally, I advise you don’t skimp on the hotel. I know, I know. You want to put as much money towards the experiences and food you plan on enjoying. But the hotel is part of the experience as well! You won’t enjoy your travels so much if you are worried about where you’re sleeping and recuperating your strength. There is no price on your safety, so please do your research and if you must skimp on the hotel make sure it’s not in a sketchy area.

• Don’t walk around with all your cash or valuables when you can avoid it. If you’re not in transit to the airport try to only carry enough cash for the day. Don’t keep all your cash or credit cards in one purse or wallet because if for any reason you get robbed it puts you in a tight spot. People recommend making copies of your credit cards and keeping all documents and cash that isn’t needed in the safe at your hotel. Anything you need to carry with you I recommend keeping in a small purse/bag that you can wear in front (if wearing a backpack wear it in front of you while in transit) of you, preferably with a zipper, not something that’s so easy for a seasoned pickpocket to access. There are locks for backpacks on Amazon which you can find here for added safety.

• Ladies, personally I believe our safety is sooo important which is why I HIGHLY recommend you book a private driver or arrange for a private transport well in advance of your trip! The difference between a driver and transport (aside from the cost) is how long you need them. Typically, a transport is only for to/from like from the airport to your hotel, while a driver is like a chauffeur. It is a big added expense, but it’s worth it IMO because the price is set (you’re not worried about the local cabs taking advantage of you, which they will!), you are dealing with a reputable company (do your research), you don’t need to worry about finding a new cab, getting lost across multiple public transits, and being in a car with a random stranger driving you around someplace you don’t know. The peace of mind is priceless and I highly recommend you put as much effort into planning your transition to and from all places (hotel, airport, experiences, food) with a reputable driver or tour hosting company. Research, research, research, and book in advance with preferably a travel credit card so you can avoid foreign transaction fees and have the added protective layer of your credit card company in case of a dispute. Use Uber over a taxi and when you must use a taxi ALWAYS negotiate and agree on the price BEFORE you set foot inside the car or you will get scammed!

• Close second to having a personal driver is hiring a personal tour guide. If you do your research you can find smaller tour companies that are flexible and offer to provide a custom itinerary based on what you’d like to do. Do your research and shop around. They can double as your photographer for catching content, save you time by navigating to your destinations quickly, and provide that added layer of security. You may prefer to have another woman with you and if so request that specifically. If you’re like me and like to plan for maximum success and experiences, the time you’ll save by having a personal guide is well worth the investment.

• Another great tip is to research any scams, protests, and extremist groups in the places you plan on visiting so you know which areas to avoid or exercise more caution. Use YouTube, Google, and your country’s embassy for alerts and warnings before you go. It’s also a great idea to register with your country’s embassy so someone there is aware of your location in event of an emergency. You can do this online.

Lastly, when asked you are ALWAYS with someone (preferably a boyfriend or husband, but a brother or girlfriend may work if you meet a cute guy. Still be careful because you don't know him well yet). You NEVER want to give the impression that you are alone to avoid predators looking to take advantage. You are always in transit or someone (a man) is waiting for you to meet or check in with them soon. If someone is asking for details simply say "I don't want to talk about that right now" to avoid discomfort from probing or them calling bluff. Shoot a quick text or call to someone you know letting them know you're getting in a cab and/or where you're heading. Make it obvious so the cab driver is aware you are in touch with a network looking out for your safety.

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Traveling the world is definitely something I believe we all should do because it makes us all better, self-aware individuals. The fact we are women and maybe traveling alone shouldn’t scare us from having and experiencing new adventures that can improve our lives!

Are there any more safety tips you can offer? Please share them with the community in the comments below!

Please travel safely!

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