Safety Tips for Women Solo Travelers
26 Ways To Stay Safe While Traveling Alone as a Woman
June 15, 2022
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Solo travel is all fun and games until you realize that you really need a plan to stay safe while traveling abroad!
It’s easy to disregard this part of the travel planning process because we just need to think good thoughts and hope the universe has our backs completely, right?
No, it’s not that easy! As women solo travelers, we are in charge of our safety and protecting it requires so much more than blind trust. It requires awareness.
So if you are in the process of planning your first solo trip abroad, keep in mind the following solo travel safety tips:
Female Solo Travel Safety Tips
1) Do intentional research about the city you’re staying at
As solo travelers it’s sometimes difficult to literally go “off the beaten path” when you’re strolling through a new city.
To stay aware of your surroundings and safe when you solo travel, it’s helpful to have an idea of where you’re going!
While planning your solo adventure, research the city as a whole and pay close attention to areas that are recommended to avoid during the daytime and nighttime.
If you note any areas you want to visit for a museum or event, but you’re unsure it’s a safe one, then consider joining group tours or private transportation to reach your destination!
2) Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses
Okay, this is probably that one job interview question that you probably never want to have to answer ever again.
I know, I’m sorry…But this is about your solo travel safety after all!
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will prevent you from overestimating or underestimating your abilities and will save you the stress of being in some kind of risk.
Make a list of things you are good at and those that may bring inconvenience to you, and find a back up plan to mitigate the issues! A few ideas to help you get started:
STRENGTHS:
You are an energetic morning person
You prioritize detailed planning in advance
You are able to know when your body needs rest
WEAKNESSES:
You often find yourself with a low-battery phone
→ back up plan: purchase a portable charger and carry a cable with you at all times
When you go out to restaurants and bars, you tend to drink more than you plan to
→ back up plan: pace your drinks, for example, have 1 drink every 2 hours or choose drinks with low alcohol content
You book 5 AM flights because it’s cheaper but miss them because you’re not a morning person
→ back up plan: sleep with your phone nearby and have a friend or family member call you to wake you up, or budget for pricier flights that are better suited to your lifestyle!
3) Learn to trust your instincts
Got that little voice in your head and the butterfly feelings trying to tell you something? Well better practice listening to them more!
When you solo travel, you’ll learn to stay alert of your surroundings. But of course you’ll find out that some things are not always seen or heard before they happen.
It’s just a feeling.
It’s like when you’re reading the room and you feel a change in the mood around you but you just can’t point your finger on it. That is your instinct telling you something is off.
So if you got that uneasy feeling when you are walking around town, or visiting a specific spot in the city you’re in, stop for a second to understand it. Then determine if you’re able to continue exploring or if’s best for you to leave.
If you have to leave, just know that you can always try to come back later or the next day!
RELATED POST: 5 TIPS FOR SOLO TRAVEL
4) Purchase travel insurance
Make it a goal to put this as one of your first three things to get when planning a trip: Flights, accommodations, and travel insurance!
Before I understood how important it is to have insurance when you solo travel, I avoided looking into it. There are so many options out there and it got overwhelming choosing one!
But the good thing is that getting travel insurance costs roughly the same and provides similar benefits between policies from different insurance companies.
This can help you get travel-related expenses reimbursed in case of emergency like stolen luggage, cancelled flights, or if you need medical assistance abroad.
When you kickstart your solo travel savings, consider budgeting an additional 5-10% of your total travel costs for this! Then take your time to understand the policy you choose before purchasing it.
RELATED POST: SAVE MONEY FOR TRAVEL IN 10 STEPS
5) Register on S.T.E.P. (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program)
This is one of the coolest female solo travel safety tips I could ever share with anyone who wants to solo travel.
The program is for US citizens and nationals only but if you’re from another country, you should contact your country’s travel department to be pointed in the right direction.
Now back to the STEP.
The program is a service of the US Department of Consular Affairs and it allows you to submit details about upcoming trips. This allows consulates, embassies, and the U.S. Department to be able to contact you and assist you in case of an emergency.
Utilizing the tools and resources from STEP is free. When you sign up to the program, you get detail updates about your destination right to your inbox and also get passport assistance if it’s stolen, lost, or destroyed.
So once you have your trip fully planned out, sign up to STEP to provide your details! If anything changes, you can always come back to edit it.
Then, once you return from your trip, log in to remove it!
6) Share your plans with a trusted friend or family member
Sharing your travel plans with someone back home will not only give you a sense of security but also a sense of comfort.
Pick a best friend, a sibling or a parent that you trust and give them a detailed list of places you’re staying at, including flight days/times and the itinerary you plan to follow.
In addition, if you’re taking group tours, make sure you include the name of the company, phone number, the contact email for the person in charge, and website!
Once you give your person all the important details, ask if it’s okay for you to be in touch with them for a daily safety check-in.
This can help you combat feelings of homesickness and will also allow your person to make sure you are safe and that your plans as you’ve planned them.
7) Bring a second phone if you have one
You’ve probably heard the countless stories of tourists losing their phones or having it stolen when they are abroad.
With this reality, solo travelers have to be prepared with an alternative because it can happen to anyone. If your phone is stolen, what would you do?
When solo traveling, keeping a second phone tugged away in your suitcase can be a blessing once your main phone becomes compromised.
You should communicate with your loved ones back home to let them know the main number is not in your control and that they should stop all messages there. This will help keep your safety a priority.
If you don’t have a second phone you can use, ask around your friends or family and ensure you can use it with a SIM card or wifi.
8) Notify your bank about your travel plans
There’s nothing worse than traveling abroad and wanting to spend money only to find out you don’t have enough cash and your cards are blocked!
For solo travelers, being locked out of your money is anxiety-inducing!
To avoid this, another female solo travel safety tip is to make sure you notify your banks before your trip that you will be going to X,Y,Z destinations, during X,Y,Z dates.
You can easily schedule travel plans on your bank’s app or call a representative to get you set up!
9) Understand exchange rates / international card charges
When you’re traveling abroad, you’ll come across exchange rates and international credit card charges which is why it’s helpful to understand what they are before your trip.
If you’re like me, you don’t like to fuss over bills and coins and you prefer to use cards instead when you travel. In my case, I like to use a credit card to pay for the majority of my purchases like tickets and meals, and my debit card to withdraw cash from the ATM only when needed.
Using a credit card gives you better protection against fraud. If your credit card gets stolen, it won’t stop the thief from using it but it does prevent them from accessing your bank account.
But before deciding how you want to deal with your own expenses while traveling, call up your bank and credit card company to ask about transaction fees and whether they have partnerships with ATMs from banks at your destination.
This can save you from being ripped off and putting your travel money at risk.
10) Get familiar with the transportation system beforehand
There are two types of destinations: Those that have extensive transportation network and those that don’t.
For first-time solo women travelers, your destination will play a huge part on how your experience is going to go. Choosing a destination that is rather easy to navigate will provide much more comfort when abroad.
So start off with destinations that have extensive transportation network that allows you to mobilize through the city easily! Get familiar with the main stations and the different type of lines that run through.
This is a great opportunity to also find out what tickets cost and what type of schedule you should expect lines to run!
11) Carry a travel-sized First Aid kit
In many countries, pharmacist can prescribe and sell you medicine that is perfect for your illness so as long as you know where to find one, you should be good.
But if you’re like me and get a bit anxious thinking you have to ask for medicine in another language, then get a step ahead of yourself and carry a DIY first aid kit with you!
You’ll only be able to pack a few things like pills for a cough or stomachaches but at least you know you’ll have something to help you feel better in a pinch.
12) Wear a daypack with a concealed zipper
Small backpacks are the rage when traveling abroad.
But you certainly want something that is also practical and keeps your valuables SAFE in every situation (I.e., anti-theft, protects it from rain, does not easily rip).
To enhance your safety as a solo traveler, consider getting a daypack with a concealed zipper.
An example of a concealed zipper is that it happens to be hidden in the back or it’s on the side, instead of the top like a regular backpack.
13) Pick a crossbody purse
Let’s say that instead of carrying a daypack (sometimes it gives you a sweaty back, eek) you want to carry purse instead.
Well if that’s the case and you’re on the search for the perfect purse to match all your solo travel outfits, pick a crossbody style!
What I love about crossbody bags is that they can be big enough to fit the essentials, including a DSLR camera, but still be small enough that it doesn’t feel bulky or annoying like a backpack sometimes does.
On top of it, you can carry it in front of you for added security; it won’t be an easy target for stealing on the run!
14) Be aware of your surroundings when you have earbuds on
One of the things I really loved when I lived in Madrid was to walk around Plaza del Sol and Plaza Mayor with my earbuds playing upbeat songs.
It’s still one of my favorite memories as a solo traveler!
And although it drowned out outside noise (and I had no one bother me), it was also very important to me to maintain focus on my surroundings. I had to keep your eyes moving so I didn’t zone out!
It’s okay for you to wear your earbud but the key is to be aware of your surroundings at all times!
If you see something that doesn’t add up, pause the music for a second and listen to what’s going on. You’ll be able to assess the situation and can avoid potential conflict as opposed to if you weren’t paying attention at all.
15) Learn about body language and scam activities
This is an extension of the previous point but regardless of whether you have earbuds on or not, it’s useful to learn about shifty body language.
This is truly important if you’re visiting a country where you don’t fully understand the spoken language!
I just want to note that most people are good and they will just be tourists like you. But to stay safe as a solo traveler, don’t let your guard down so easily.
If someone tries to get close to you while showing you something (like asking you the time or to point something on a map), be proactive by keeping your distance and noticing their face and hand movements.
Pick pocketers and thieves don’t act alone. They will usually distract you and make a hand or face gesture for their accomplices to target you.
By learning to distinguish between a normal and malicious move you can protect yourself when you travel solo!
Also, take note that in a lot of countries you’ll encounter street vendors that will come up to you asking you to hold whatever they are selling. Unless you really have intentions of purchasing it as a souvenir, don’t fall for this!
It’s a tactic they use to guilt-trip you into buying their items and may get upset at you if you don’t.
16) Join day tours from your hostel or Airbnb Experiences
I will vouch for group tours all day, err’day.
For a solo traveler that finds it difficult to open up to strangers at hostels, I mainly join tours to get the opportunity to meet other traveler friends!
But I also vouch for them as a way to get to know the city safely while learning a good chunk of history.
Joining a tour whether that is from your hostel or through Airbnb Experiences (or other websites likes GetYourGuide and Viator) on your first day at your destination will get allow you to find places you can safely visit on your own later!
GROUP TOURS VIA GETYOURGUIDE
Other DAY TOUR ideas:
MADRID - Toledo Full Day Trip
PARIS - Versailles Half Day Tour
BRUSSELS - Ghent and Bruges Day Tour
17) Check-in with loved ones daily
When you solo travel for the first time, the experience can get a bit lonely for some. If this is your main concern, then checking in with your loved ones daily is a way to counter it.
But for safety reasons, staying in contact with loved ones should be part of the plan so they can ensure that you are safe and that you are able to follow your travel plans as you originally intended.
This doesn’t mean you have to disclose everything or that you can’t change your mind about your itinerary. You always can do so!
But by checking in with someone back home, they'll be able to know how and where to contact you in case of an emergency.
18) Carry a portable door lock
When I traveled solo in 2016, I didn’t know portable door locks were a thing and I wish someone would have told me about them.
I remember I was constantly trying to figure out what to use to stop any potential break-ins: A chair, my luggage, bending the rug under the door, and I even tried a regular doorstopper.
But the problem with all those methods was that they weren’t foolproof. None of those methods would have stopped anyone from pushing the door hard!
Cue the portable door lock.
The provide extra security in locking your door and it’s easy to carry around. The lock can’t be removed from the other side of the door so you have control of it at all times!
These are perfect if you plan to stay at Airbnbs or Hotels. However, they are not suitable for hostel rooms because you’re not the only guest that’ll need access to it.
19) Practice saying ‘no thank you’ and moving on
No, thank you. No, merci. No, gracias.
Saying NO is sometimes uncomfortable but often necessary to maintain our safety as solo women travelers.
In various countries, some people believe that tourists (women in particular) will go with the flow when they are asked to do or receive something that they don’t want or didn’t ask for.
For example, street vendors who are constantly trying to get our attention when exploring the city whether that is by selling something or giving unwanted compliments.
And when the tourists speak up or say ‘no thanks’, they are suddenly labeled as rude. It becomes uncomfortable and, in an attempt to make things “better”, sometimes they give in to their request.
But you know what? Your safety is your priority and you must put it at the front at all cost.
Prior to your solo trip, practice saying ‘No, thank you’ and moving on. Do not entertain the conversation, do not make eye contact and do not give other people the opportunity to connect with you if that’s not what you want.
20) Plan to travel during daytime
Overnight travel is cheaper and tempting.
But if you’re getting to your destination during nighttime, when almost everything is shutting down and closed, it can easily get complicated and stressful.
Consider this an important tip for solo female travel.
Traveling during the daytime can provide you comfort in knowing that when you arrive at your destination, there will be life around you: Shops and restaurants will be open, transportation will be accessible, and you’ll be able to have more control of who you communicate with if you need help.
21) Make copies of travel documents for safekeeping
On top of providing a copy of all your documents to a trusted person back home, you should also keep physical and digital copies for yourself.
It can come handy to you when traveling in case you lose your passport or foreigner ID card.
Grab a folder from the store and keep at least 2x physical copies of your important documents in it. Make sure this folder travels with you (in your carry-on) and if you’re staying somewhere long-term, that it is stashed away in a locked storage.
As for digital copies, scan them and keep the files in an email that you send to yourself. Do not take pictures and leave them on your phone’s photo gallery! Your gallery is not password-protected and can easily be accessed by anyone.
22) Don’t make bank transactions on public WIFI
I’m guilty of having done this before. I was in a new city, and my checking account was running low. I needed to transfer money from my savings!
I didn’t have phone service yet because I had just moved. So, I used the city’s public WIFI to log into my bank to make the transaction. And oh boy, I felt how unsafe that was.
As you might know already, hackers have gotten ‘smarter’ in how they target people’s personal information.
Thankfully, nothing bad happened to my accounts that time but it’s not necessary to risk it.
It’s safer to make bank transactions on safe WIFI connection like at your hostel or Airbnb but if you want ever more safety, consider installing a VPN on your phone and laptop.
23) Prioritize sleep!
Some of you may disagree with me and say that sleep is probably the least of your problems. But prioritizing sleep is a huge benefit for keeping yourself safe when traveling solo as a female traveler!
Sleep helps our bodies and our minds recover from exhaustion which may in turn keep us alert when we are out exploring.
When you are sleep-depraved you can easily miss a lot of verbal and physical cues that may indicate you may be at risk of injury or about to have an unpleasant experience.
On top of it, lack of sleep will make you feel detached and forgetful which can lead to stress.
24) Sleep with your pack or purse nearby
This is probably an odd one and not for everyone.
Hostels and Airbnbs offer lockers and other storage spaces to keep your stuff safe. But, in hostels, for example, your locker is quite accessible to your roommates.
Since you don’t have control of who you get to room with when you’re solo traveling, taking extra precautions never hurts.
Before you go to bed, gather your most important documents and small devices and put them in a small purse or backpack with a zipper and place it on the bed by your legs or nearby.
When you go to sleep, just cover it with the duvet or a pillow if you have an extra one.
Once you wake up and get ready to go shower, simply put your purse or backpack back inside your locker.
25) Don’t share your address with people you just met
For my single solo-traveler ladies, if you want to meet up with someone you swiped on Tinder or Bumble (or whatever dating app works abroad), sharing where you’re staying from the get-go is probably not a safe idea.
Your usual precautions is to always meet in a public place first!
But even after, sharing where you’re staying puts you at risk of an invasion of privacy if the information lands on the wrong hands. Make sure you trust the person enough before sharing this with them.
Also if you notice that someone is following you back to your Airbnb or Hostel, try to alert the host or the receptionist as soon as possible!
26) Geotag locations on Instagram or Snapchat after you leave
For the last female solo travel tip, let’s talk about social media sharing!
Posting stories and posts on Instagram and Facebook is always fun. I mean, how are you supposed to share all the amazing things you are seeing and doing abroad?!
I personally love sharing locations I’ve been to in hopes of inspiring others to make a trip there too.
But with sharing on public media comes certain risks too. If you geotag the location, you are giving away bits of information about your whereabouts.
To stay safe, always consider uploading stories and posts after you are done visiting an area. For example, if you’re at a restaurant and want to share it on Instagram stories, wait until you leave to your next spot to upload it.
That way, when you geotag it you actually won’t be there anymore! The best thing about this is that no one will be able to tell that you aren’t posting on real-time.
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