If you’re a woman traveling alone, it can be a bit stressful. Whether you’re going to the local grocery store or crossing the country for work, there are some mistakes you need to avoid. Here are ten of those mistakes and what you should do instead.
Dressing Inappropriately
If someone says “dress modestly,” they mean wear clothes that cover your whole body – your legs, arms, chest, and even head if possible. No underboob, no cleavage, no rips in your skirt.
Not Having a Backup Plan
It would help if you always had a backup plan if something goes wrong with your original plans, whether it’s someone you’re meeting turns out to be shady, or you accidentally lock yourself out of your hotel room.
Assuming Other Women Are Safe
Women are harassed constantly when they travel alone, so don’t assume that everyone around you is safe just because they’re locals. If you think you might be in danger, trust your instincts and run away to somewhere safe.
Telling People Where You’re Staying
New people you meet should not know exactly where you’re staying because that will give them the chance to find out where you are. So instead, tell people the town/city you’re staying in and avoid giving them your hotel name. Also, don’t post online where you’re staying; stalkers can see those things.
Taking an Unlicensed Cab
You should only take a licensed cab, so if something does happen to you, there is a record of your trip, and the cab company can be held accountable for any harm done to you.
Wearing Flashy Jewelry
Wearing flashy jewelry, especially gold and diamonds, is a massive no-no while traveling alone. Not only can it be used against you in case of an attack, but it can also be used to grab you and pull you in towards someone.
Accepting Food/Drink from Strangers
Never accept food or drink from a stranger because that could have something in it that will hurt or even kill you.
Letting Fear Hold You Back
Don’t ever let your fears hold you back from doing something. For example, if you’re frightened of getting kidnapped, avoid dangerous places and stay away from strangers. That’s another thing to think about: if something terrible happens to you, then your family or friends can find out where you are or even who hurt you. So don’t travel to help people fix the world; fix it yourself! Be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Additional Solo Travel Tips for Women:
It’s also a good idea to have an escape route planned out well in advance. For example, if you’re going to a dangerous place, consider a place well outside of that area, and if something goes wrong, you’ll have somewhere safe to go.
Have a plan in place before you travel. Think about what could happen and be prepared.
Never walk around alone at night in not-so-safe areas.
Keep your passport and other essential documents on your person at all times when inside hotels, hostels, or other places where you can’t lock yourself away from strangers or people you don’t know very well.
Never leave those things unattended.
Don’t travel without your cell phone, and make sure you have a local SIM card and not just a roaming package. Most traveling SIM cards come with unlimited data and texting, which is great for staying connected with friends and family back home. You can buy them at any mobile phone shop all over the world.
Don’t be afraid to say no to people you don’t know very well, but if that makes them angry or argumentative, pretend you don’t understand their language or that they’re saying something else entirely.
If someone is bothering you on public transport, change seats immediately or pretend to be asleep so they’ll leave you alone.
Buy a whistle. They’re not expensive and can help you in an emergency.
Avoid taking public transport at night in places where it’s not very safe. Instead, always take a licensed cab or use Uber if possible. If not possible, try to find other ways to get to where you need to be, for example, walking or biking, which is better than walking alone on foot at any time of the day.
Traveling alone can be fun, but it does require some common sense on your part. Don’t ever let fear hold you back, or you may end up in a terrible situation.
I wish you happy and safe travels.