Safety Tips for Solo Female Travel
Here I am again trying to convince you that solo travel is for everyone, seriously if you don't get the idea by now I'll spell it out for you. Take a solo travel trip.
Today I’m talking about how best to stay safe when you are exploring new destinations alone as a woman. It's sad to think as females we have to give extra thought to our safety but unfortunately all around the world as a female, you can be more vulnerable. But this shouldn't stop you from exploring the world. There are just a few more things to think about.
Do your research
This is an essential part of your trip planning phase and even more so for a solo female traveller. So be prepared and find out essential information such as what languages are most commonly spoken and what currency you will need. I also think having a plan of how to get to your accommodation when you first land in a new country is crucial, so either by pre-booking a taxi or figuring out the public transport option before you arrive.
If you are headed to any big cities it's worth finding out if there are any specific neighbourhoods to avoid that are known to cause problems for tourists. Also, I always make sure I know the emergency numbers (e.g. 999 in the UK) in the counties I will travel to as they differ all around the world.
Download offline maps
Offline maps are an absolute lifesaver whatever your gender is, to be honest. The last thing you want to be doing as a solo female traveller is getting lost and if you don't have data/wifi Google/Apple Maps might not cut it. So download the app Maps.me before your trip, it allows you to download detailed maps of certain areas and you can use them offline so you never have to get lost again. Just be sure to download the map area before you set off.
Discover the other travel apps I consider essential ->
Keep valuables secure and out of sight
A bit of an obvious one but as a solo female traveller you don't ever want to stand out by flashing a lot of valuables. So leave the fancy jewellery at home and keep the valuables you take on your trip to a minimum. When you go out on day trips keep anything you don't need locked away. And when you do take valuables out with you keep them close, I find the best way to do this is to take a bum bag.
Don't drink too much
It’s okay to enjoy having a drink from time to time, but when you are on your own as a female in a new location it's not the time to go crazy. Not to say you can't have a few beers watching the sunset but just know your limits and don't overdo it. Drinking heavily does come hand in hand with backpacking culture but being fully out of control can leave you in some vulnerable situations as a solo female traveller so please take care of yourself.
Trust your gut
Your intuition is key when you travel on your own and the more time you spend solo travelling the better your intuition becomes. If something doesn't feel right with a new friend politely make an excuse and let them know you need to leave. If you don't feel safe in your accommodation, find a new place to stay. If you get bad vibes from someone walking behind you, duck into a busy cafe/restaurant. Being out of your comfort zone is a great part of solo travel but if something just really feels off trust your gut and change the situation.
Share your location with family/friends
One of the good and bad things about technology nowadays is anyone can see where you are at any time. When you are on a solo trip however sharing your location with family or a close friend at home can give both you and them peace of mind that you're safe. Obviously, you may not always have data/wifi so just simply checking in with someone at home every day and letting them know your plans can help keep you safe.
Take extra precautions at night
As you can imagine once the sun sets you can be a bit more at risk as a solo female traveller so it's definitely worth taking more precautions. The best advice I can give is to not go wandering the streets alone at night-time and save the exploring for the day. If you do want to head out exploring there is always safety in numbers so try to get a group together. Or if it's just a simple journey from A to B why not opt for a taxi/tuk-tuk instead.
Always have travel insurance
An absolute no-brainer, never take any trip without insurance. I hope you never need to use your insurance but it does help support you should you experience illness, injury or theft on your adventure. Unfortunately, things don't always go to plan so think of your travel insurance as a handy backup in case something goes sideways.
Travel Tip- Always make sure your insurance covers you for activities you might be taking part in whilst travelling. For example, a lot of people ride motorbikes and scooters whilst travelling but their insurance doesn’t cover it. This leads to expensive bills so double check your policy before you go.
Arrive at a new destination in the day
I feel more comfortable arriving in a new place during daylight as it's much easier to navigate your way to your accommodation and there are likely going to be more public transport options too. If you don't have a choice on your arrival time make sure you plan your journey ahead. For example, if you get into the airport late at night see if you can book a transfer that will meet you at the airport and take you straight to your accommodation.
Take spare cards/emergency cash
In the unfortunate event, that you get your purse stolen or you simply lose it it's a really handy idea to have a spare bank card or emergency cash stored away elsewhere. You can hide emergency cash in a pair of socks or an empty shampoo bottle, just don't forget where you hide it. It's also a good idea to have either a photocopy or a photo of your passport just in case you lose it.
I want to leave you with one last thought. Don't overthink safety too much, as long as you use your basic common sense and your prepared, travelling as a solo female traveller is nothing to be worried about. Have you been travelling solo as a female? Let us know your best tips in the comments below.
