All opinions are mine and mine alone.
Women on the road: how to stay safe
Travelling is a great experience. Travelling alone in particular is an exceptionally exciting and unique experience.
If you should choose to travel alone, be aware that there’s an element of risk involved. This is especially true for women, and even more so if they travel alone. Of course, that’s no reason not to – but a few additional precautions should be made to make sure you travel not only with style, but safety too.
Keep others updated
Make sure that somebody always knows where you are, like a family member or friend. They can check in on you periodically to make sure everything’s going okay.
The much lamented social media addiction is actually a plus here – regular photo updates lets loved ones know you’re safe.
If you want to be extra careful, make a detailed itinerary for yourself and your loved ones, so they can keep track of where you are without having to call every few hours.
Additionally, keep the details of an emergency contact on you at all times, as well as information about the country’s embassy that you are travelling in.
Team up with others
Another great thing you can do is to look for people in the same situation as you. Having a travel buddy can not only make your trip safer, but more fun too. Women travelling alone aren’t as rare as you’d think, and you may be able to find one with the same destination as you.
This is a great option even if you specifically want to travel alone. If you meet others in the same situation, they’ll likely also appreciate their solo time and independence. This means you can keep safe, have a friend, and also get that time to yourself.
However, you should always initially be a little wary of strangers. Exchanging numbers or even going for a drink can make a fun addition to a trip, but be smart about it.
Keep your things safe
If you’re travelling alone, it’s essential that you keep your possessions safe. Without a travel companion, you won’t have anyone to fall back on in the case that your essentials get lost or stolen.
Keep your passport and important documents close to you at all times – money belts are a good idea. As well as this, don’t keep all your money in one place. Spread it out in a few safe locations so that if you lose some, at least you won’t have lost it all. Depending on the safety of your hostel or hotel, it’s a good idea to leave some money behind if you’re going out somewhere.
Research
Another thing to do is research before you leave. Where are you going? Does the country have any restrictions on solo female travellers or travellers in general? Various countries do, and you don’t want to only find out at the airport.
You should also research cab companies beforehand and only use pre-booked cabs. As well as this, you can look into what areas are known to have a bad reputation and avoid them.
To feel extra confident, you should research various self-defence techniques. This can help put your mind at ease, and in the unfortunate case that something should happen, you’ll be better prepared to deal with it.
When travelling alone as a woman, all of the usual safety rules apply: try not to go out at night by yourself, don’t trust strangers, and most importantly of all – listen to your gut. By taking these few measures to keep yourself safe, you’ll be able to relax, have fun, and make the most of your trip!
Speak Your Mind