Safety First: Tips for Women Traveling Solo

Kathleen Corrigan | March 29, 2016

Plan ahead and be prepared

The better prepared you are for your solo adventure, the more self-reliant you’ll be. Research whatever you can about your chosen destination and about the cultural norms there. Better yet, try to find a firsthand account written by a female traveler who has been there before. That way you can get some tips that are specific to the country you plan to visit and possibly avoid any unpleasant or unsafe situations that could arise there.

Know your itinerary and your route inside and out and try to memorize the details of each leg of your trip. Alert someone as to when you’re expecting to depart or arrive at any given destination and check in whenever you can, whether it’s someone at home, a trustworthy fellow traveler you’ve encountered or someone at your past or upcoming destination.

Arm yourself with a map, a guidebook and a phrasebook should you be traveling to a country that speaks an unfamiliar language. Not knowing where you’re going and having to ask for help too often can make you appear less confident, and make you a bigger target for pickpockets or scammers. It’s also a good idea to buy a hidden wallet belt before leaving for your trip. These are meant to store important items such as money and passports and can be concealed under your clothes to foil pickpockets and purse-grabbers.

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