There are so many benefits of travelling solo and when it comes to solo women travel, it brings along with itself its own set of challenges. A woman when travelling alone should ensure to follow some safety norms to make a successful and hassle free trip. There have been instances when I had to travel alone in a country like USA. I felt that more or less safety norms are similar everywhere in the world. Out of my own experience, I am listing 9 travelling tips for solo women that if followed helps you experience a fantastic trip.
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9 Travelling tips for solo women
1. There should be some two trustworthy people known to you who should know about your whereabouts all the time. So , leave your itinerary with them. If need be, you should be easily accessible to them and vice versa.
2. Never walk around with earphones on as you become less alert and more vulnerable to target by unwanted nuisance.
3. Don’t show that you are a stranger. Look confident. Only ask routes from authorities. Once I had boarded a cab but when I got in the cab, something didnt seem right as the cab was a very big black car and the person driving it was hell handsome with jet black goggles on. Also, the cab was having a great fragrance. Never in my life I had such a cab. Since everything seemed so rosey , my gut feel gave me a hint that something was not right. I immediately got off the cab. Travel with authorised taxis so you know they are trust worthy. Before boarding the cab, ensure the cab doors are not child locked. After boarding the cab if you still feel that something is not right, get down the cab and stay at the public place till the time you get a new authorised booking.
4. One of the easiest and doable thing is to gel with the local crowd by wearing clothes like they do. Although you may still standout but not starkingly different
5. Book an authorised hotel/hostel/guest house so you are sure there are no hidden cameras or any other possibilities of mishaps. Come back to your hotel before it gets dark. Trust your gut feeling. If you feel that the hotel is not right or something is fishy, immediately book a new one and a cab pick up from there.
6. Ask hotel about sightseeing places that are not deserted and host a lot of crowd. Visit such places only. Ask about general safety norms from hotel authorities.
7. Don’t chit chat with strangers and specially on deserted lanes and during odd hours. If you need to speak to authorized personnel, call them to public area of the hotel like reception, restaurant etc. If you feel intimidated, start shouting crazily and make loud noises that will alarm the stalker and public. Else, enter a hotel/restaurant if you are passing by and inform their reception about the same. Take their help to book you a cab when the stalker leaves.
8. Carry pepper spray and if need be, use it else convert your possession at hand to your weapon. Keep safety local helpline numbers handy which you can call immediately.
9. Last and not the least be alert and quick on feet all the time.
Nidhi KM
©Viharin.com
The taxi seemed too good to be true. Good that you followed your gutrip feeling and got out of the car!
Thank you for endorsing my gut feel.
Yup, these tips are really practical for solo women travelers. Especially nowadays when people take advantage of foreign women from another country.
Yes Aldrick! Totally bang on!
Travelling solo has a woman can be daunting. These tips are helpful and great advice. The first one is actually important for all people. You never know.
Totally The Travel Ninjas! These days you can’t say anything. Security is important for everyone!
Great security tips that will be applicable to solo travel for women anywhere across the world. I have not tried solo travel yet. But if I do I am sure to carry my pepper spray, book a very authentic hotel and keep my distance from strangers when in doubt.
I am happy that you liked my article Neha and specially the re enforcement on pepper spray
The world is indeed a challenging place for a solo female traveler. These tips are bang on point and I agree that these have to be followed at all times, even when you are with your companion. All travelers must follow these tips and be safe!
Good you found these tips helpful Sandy!I totally agree not only female travellers, even males have to be equally conscious these days!
As a solo female traveler, I’m always on alert whenever I’m in a sketchy area. I am guilty in wearing headphones in public though cause sometimes I don’t want people interactions but I realize how dangerous it is sometimes. I should remember everything in this article for my next trip.
Thank you for such a comment! If my tips helped you in a way, I feel glad
It is wonderfully compiled up post. I agree with what you said – the safety norms are just the same for solo women in all countries.The solo women need to be alert and sensible enough to judge and take action for herself.
Thank you Suruchi!Echo your point of taking action for self!
One thing that I haven’t done in my solo travel is taking the cab alone. I always take public transportation because it’s cheaper and I want to get a local feel as much as possible. I also put my earphones on but only when I’m on a train, just to help pass time. So far I have been lucky in my travels, no untoward incident that I would consider life threatening, although I did get scammed in Cambodia and Vietnam. As you mentioned in your tips, one has to be vigilant all the time.
Yeah, being alert always is the key these days!
Very well listed points.
I love traveling with friends though.
Sure!