Top 10 Tips for How to Travel Alone as a Woman

Traveling alone as a woman is not easy, yet thousands want to travel solo every year because going away alone can be a wonderful experience. When traveling as a woman, there are several things you need to consider, and they mostly surround staying safe. Here, we will look at the top 10 tips for women who want to travel alone.

There are various reasons why women would want to travel alone. However, regardless of the reasons, one man and one women traveling to the same places would need to ensure their plans were slightly different. Traveling alone does not mean you need to be a loner by any means, in fact, going away by yourself will allow you to meet various people that you never would have got the chance to meet if you were part of a couple or a group. Before you travel solo, make sure that this type of holiday is right for you. A couple of questions you need to know the answer to are, could you talk to a stranger, and could you spot a potentially dangerous situation? If the answer to both questions is no, then traveling alone may not be for you.

Buy Solo Guidebooks

It is important that you have at least one guidebook on every area that you are visiting. However, it is more crucial that these guidebooks are aimed at the single traveler. These books will give you local and safe hangouts and will generally provide you with more information than a ‘normal’ guidebook.

Explore Independent Traveler Meeting Places

Before going on your trip, make sure that you check out the places where travelers and local people meet up. This information can be found easily on the Internet. Meeting with these groups may lead to invitations to other places.

Do Not Stand Out

A traveler is a target because when they are in a foreign place this person is out of their comfort zone. This theory applies even more for a single female traveler. In fact, they are probably at the highest risk out of any traveler. Before going abroad, it is a good idea to check to see how the local women dress. If you can do something (even if it is a minor change) to look more like somebody that lives in the country and less like a traveler your chances of being victimized will decrease.

Know What to Do If You Are Being Followed

If you even have the slightest feeling that you are being followed, you need to stop this right away. Your first move should be to get into a crowded place and tell somebody. This means stepping into a hotel (even if it is not where you are staying) or a restaurant and asking a staff member to call the police. The most important thing in this situation is to remain vigilant.

Do Not Visit Romantic Destinations

There are some places that have been designed to be romantic. Well known honeymoon destinations, hotels that cater for couples and any other travel destination that you may think could be full of those in love should be avoided at all costs if you are a solo traveler because it is more than likely this is not something you want to see every day.

Be Intelligent When Socializing

When you are traveling alone you will want to socialize, this is natural. However, it is important to be clever about who you mingle with. Thinking that every person you meet is a threat will allow you to have a guard up and spot things that you may miss if you trust everybody right away. Socializing with people in your resort or hotel is much safer than socializing with a local.

Arrive In the Day

Getting to your destination and exploring the area in the day is a must if you are concerned about your safety. Knowing the area will give you an advantage in any dangerous situation. On the other hand, if this is not an option, do not go out and explore when it is dark.

Document Safety

Before you travel alone, you should make copies of your documents. When you go out in the day, you should only have your money (for that day) and a mobile phone. This ensures if you are a victim of theft, then you have not lost everything. Furthermore, your important documents should be stored in a safe, and not just in your room.

Be Confident

Somebody targeting a traveler will go for those who look unsure about themselves. While it is important to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings, it is also crucial to be self-assured. This means you should know where you are going before you set off. Stopping to look at a map will show that you are lost, which shows weakness.

Tell Somebody

One of the most important points to remember is that there should be somebody somewhere that knows where you are. Before traveling sit down and run through a travel plan before going on holiday. Then before traveling give a copy of this to a relative or friend at home so they know roughly where you are at all times. If you want to change it, make sure you let that person know before you do as this person knowing where you are could be potentially important.