Explore how to stay safe and make your trip more enjoyable by using these 25 Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers from the Experts. Learn about self-defence and how to keep your money safe during solo travel.
A solo journey is absolutely love for anyone, especially for women. They can explore the world in their own way and terms, get a chance to come out of their comfort zones, and a chance to meet with people. Female solo travel is also rewarding and empowering, as it gives the opportunity to be self-sufficient. In solo travel, you are just responsible for your own health and safety, enjoyment and have much to do. You can choose your destination according to your interests without considering the wishes of others. It may feel scary for the first time, but you can start up with small travels that will encourage you to plan an international tour.
With all its positive properties, solo travel also invites challenges and risks for women alone. Having a lot of responsibilities may cause you to feel scared at first, but as you start, a lot of adventures will encourage you to explore the world. Travel can be made safer by applying some safety tips and following the instructions from experts. In this article, we will discuss 25 Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers from the Experts, and these will help you in your journey.
Safety Tips
1. Itinerary share
Share your travel plan with someone trustworthy. Keep updated with that person with your schedule and inform him if any change occurs in your plan. Keep someone in your loop plan so he can help you in case of any emergency.
2. Daytime arrival
Daytime travel by public transport will be safer, so don’t reach the new place at night. If you reach in daylight, you will have more chances to meet with surrounding people who can guide you about the area. Moreover, in the daytime, you can examine the surrounding environment more efficiently. Avoid walking in the streets at night time and leave all your cash and valuables in your hotel if you are even travelling in the daytime. Try to arrive in your room after visiting the tourist destination in daylight.
3. Money hiding
Hide some money in your secret bag pockets or your socks. Because pickpockets cannot steal this hide money, and this hide money will be your backup plan if any incident occurs of stealth. Keep your money and cards in different bags and different pockets because if a thief steals one bag, you have a backup plan for your return home safely.
4. No intoxication
Avoid the use of drugs and excessive drinking during your solo travel. Due to the use of drugs or wine, you can lose your senses, and it may cause trouble for you. Therefore, avoid reckless behaviour for a safe journey.
5. Language learning
Learn a few basic phrases in the local language. As it will be valuable in talking with locals. Knowledge about the local language will also help you to reserve the destination, hire transport and get food at unfamiliar tourist places.
6. Solo discretion
Don’t invade your solo journey for everyone, and try to keep it secret. Discretion of solo travel in front of everyone is not safe for you and can cause any future trouble. Choose a place in which you can travel alone without any danger.
7. Review reading
Before booking your reservation in hotels and tour packages, read online reviews. Through online reading of reviews, you can choose your tour package according to your budget and also book your hotel according to your interest. Search online about local cuisines and read reviews to decide your eating place.
8. Transportation negotiation
Try to negotiate with local drivers for fares because most of the time, they try to make scams and tell high expenses. Use only reputed taxi services or online taxis like Uber because it’s cheaper than other taxis. Moreover, you can view the information and ratings of the Uber drivers on the app. But don’t be too cheap and try to book a taxi at a reasonable rate, as the money is not more important than your well-being.
9. Self-awareness
Keep in mind your strengths and weaknesses before travel. For example, if you are not a good swimmer, then don’t choose a surrounding location, like a beach lake. Similarly, if you like cool weather and natural beauty, then choose your destination according to it. Travel according to your capacity, and don’t try to go on travel continuously because your body also needs some rest, and with certain breaks, you can enjoy your trip with full courage.
10. News reading
Before travelling to your desired destination, read the important regional news about that area on the internet. By reading the news, you can get information about all current affairs. You can also check the latest weather updates, which can help in your luggage packing. Moreover, news reading will also help you to know about any natural disaster or pandemic conditions in your chosen area.
11. Insurance and first-aid
Before travelling for international tours, get travel insurance for your safety and also pack a first aid kit if you are going for outdoor adventures. It is hard to bear the expenses of insurance with travel expenditures, but it is for your safety. If, unfortunately, any case of robbery happens to you, then the government will pay you the month according to the worth of your things. Your medical kit should have all basic medicines, such as painkillers. Ointment for minor scratches and wounds, mosquito repellent and other basic flu cough medicines.
12. Gut feeling and awareness
You should have the ability to notice all positive and negative things in your surroundings and be aware of suspicious persons around you. If you are feeling something wrong, then don’t take any risks and trust your gut. You six sense mostly aware of upcoming alerts. If your gets are telling about all good, then it is, but if there is a little bit of chance of negative happening, then don’t take any risk.
13. Socializing and caution
Talk with local people and other travellers to get information about the area, but don’t trust anyone. Try to join a women’s company because women are mostly helpful. In solo travel, socializing can give you a memorable trip, but keep safety cautions on priority and don’t share your personal information with anyone. Try to meet with people, and for this purpose, a walking tour of the area is the best option. By walking a trip, you get interaction with locals and get a chance to learn about the culture and traditions of that area. Locals can give you a piece of better information about what to do and where to go.
14. Cultural sensitivity
Appropriate dressing can save you a lot of trouble. Get knowledge about the traditions and culture of the place where you are going to travel. In hot areas, shorts and sleeveless shirts are good to avoid heat and humidity, but in some cultures, this type of dressing is not acceptable. So pack your luggage according to the area’s traditions. Because the best way for a thief to notice you from a huge crowd is not your skin or eyes or anything else. But your dress is enough to describe your area. So try to dress up according to the cultural dressing of specific area.
15. Help-seeking
If you feel any danger around you, then don’t be shy to shout for help and keep emergency numbers on your speed dials. It is most effective to keep a personal safety alarm in your pocket or handbag. The alarm makes a hell of a sound, and you can seek help in an emergency. Otherwise, you can also call on public helpline numbers. Make sure that you have enough information about popular scams and problems of the city or country to which you are travelling. By keeping all negative information, you can travel more safely by avoiding the scammers.
16. Confident walking
Walk with full confidence, like a man. Avoid looking at your phone or map while walking because your body language and actions show you are unfamiliar with the place. Due to this, the scammers tried to take advantage of your need for more knowledge about places and routes. Don’t use headphones while walking alone because it will decrease your ability to be aware of awareness from surroundings, and muggers are also attractive towards you for snatching the smartphone. If you end up walking alone, then try to pretend that you are talking on the phone, and it will help to keep you safe; thieves will not come to you for fear of having a backup.
17. Female companionship
Try to book your accommodation that has only females. Female accommodation will be safest for you, and try to live in women’s company because in their company you will not feel alone. For example, if you need to ask directions or have any questions, then try to ask women. Be polite with other people, but we should keep in mind our likes and dislikes instead of others, and there is hesitation to be rude to people about those we feel negative vibes. So be aggressive if anyone is disturbing you by keeping courtesy on the side and neglecting people’s thinking.
18. Hotel booking
Book your hotel for your stay in advance and confirm your booking online. Remember to read the review comments about your accommodation because these will help you to know about the facilities and drawbacks of your location. Never book a hotel that has no reviews, and look for reviews that will mention women. Also, keep in mind the nearby accommodation options in case of any problem. If you feel something is off, then it can be, so try to change your hotel because you should prioritise your safety first.
19. Small trips
If you are new to solo travel, then try small trips first. For example, before going for international tours, first plan your trips in nearby cities and states. These small trips will make you an expert, and you can plan your international trip more effectively. Plan an easy and one-day trip at the start, and then slowly increase your time limit for your trip. Also, try far off travelling from your home town.
20. No cabbie tricks
Choosing your taxi in solo travel means selecting your transport by choosing the right cabbie. Don’t let him be friendly with you, and also don’t share your personal information with him. Try to have route details on your phone, and don’t allow your cabbie to change the root at any cost for your safety. Try to hire official taxis and prevent the other fake taxis that can actually be part of human trafficking schemes.
21. Route planning
In solo travelling, you should have enough knowledge about routes and roads. You can download offline maps for this purpose. Take your phone with you and also take one portable charger with you so that in case of any emergency, your phone can remain on.
22. Daytime sightseeing
Try to reach any new location before night and avoid travelling by bus, taxi or train at night. Try to visit all possible attractions in any area at the time and avoid walking alone at night. Because it is easy to travel in daylight and you can get familiar with your surroundings as well as in day time people around you provide a feeling of security. But if you have to travel at night in any emergency, then keep a flashlight that will help you with your route map, and you can find your way to your location. If you are camping and staying in any rustic accommodation, then a headlamp is also important for your safety.
23. Travel updates
Try to update your family on your travel route and destination. If you don’t have network coverage to keep in touch continuously with friends and family, then try to post on social media about your travel updates, such as by using Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. But don’t post your exact location on social media. For example, post your picture about any location when you have left that area. By doing this, your family will be updated and will have peace of mind about your safety, and your privacy will also be maintained.
24. Self-defense
Self-defence is also a major safety tip in solo travel, and you should know what to do in case of an attack. For this purpose, you can take self-defence classes, or you can carry self-defence gadgets with you, such as pepper spray, rape whistle, defence pen or bug spray. But be alert and careful for back fighting. If someone is trying to rob your things with a weapon, give them your accessories because material things are replaceable and not important for your safety.
25. Light packing
Take your time with heavy packing, and try to leave all valuable things at home. In light packing, you should have all the necessary and needy things. Heavy luggage will make your movement slow, and if there is a need to run, then several bags will create inconvenience. Heavy luggage and valuable things, such as expensive jewellery, will attract thieves, and you can become a prime target for them.
Final Analysis
These 25 Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers from the Experts are enough to make your trip memorable and safe. These safety tips will help you to remain confident. Don’t be afraid of travelling alone, and encourage yourself by seeing those women who are travelling alone not only on Earth but also in space. Be brave and explore the world with your guts and abilities. Motivate yourself with small solo trips and have a wonderful time of enjoyment. This solo trip will definitely give you a mental break from your daily hectic routine, and you will enjoy the beauty of the world. This article will motivate you to plan your future trip alone and remember to share your experience with us. You can also suggest any further safety tips if you have any in mind and also share with us which top safety tips you liked most from the tips mentioned earlier.
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