5 Tips To Travel Solo As A Woman
Traveling solo to another country can be intimidating especially if its your first time doing it. Many things can happen and if you are not ready or even mentally prepared, it can affect the whole experience. Planning your trip doesn’t end at booking your flights and hotels, there are other things that need to be done for a successful and safe trip.
As a solo female traveler it is completely normal to feel a bit anxious keeping in mind the current situation around. To control this anxiety preparation and research is a must. To help you enjoy a great safe trip, below are some tips :
1. Prepare for the worst with Documents and secret cash
For documents we recommend keeping copies of them on clouds such as google drive or icloud this includes your ID and passport incase your purse is stolen, this will be a massive relief. One of the top tips for people traveling into areas with less to no internet connectivity or ATM access is to keep some stash of cash hidden in their undergarments. This might sound a bit extreme but in places like these you need a financial cushion if things were to go south.
2. Keep it Low Key
Want to get unnecessary attention in Paris, show up in shorts and a tee and more specifically wear a hoodie with a university name on it. As much as shorts and a t-shirt is common in north america you would never see someone wearing them in Paris. Blend in as much as you can and try to pass off as a local. Research about the local style of clothing and wear it with confidence. Bottom line: try not to look like a tourist.
3. Have Safety Devices
There are plenty of devices that are good self defence weapons. You can buy a pepper spray, rape alarm, stun gun and tasers guns etc. Make sure you get them through airport security or buy them in the country if it’s affordable for you. Another thing that helps in unsafe situations is knowing basic self defence. When you know basic self defence it keeps your nerves calm and you act quickly if push comes to shove.
4. Keep your loved ones informed
No matter how old you are or where you go, always keep your loved ones informed about your activities. It also helps if you have a friend or two in the city to keep in the loop. This will help your family and friends know where to look for you, if things were to go south. Keep the local police contact numbers with you in case of emergencies.
5. Dont Trust people too quickly
When you are travelling it’s easy to get sucked into the optimism and laughter that every new person you meet brings with them. It can be tempting to jump at the opportunity of making new friends and join the tribe. Sometimes these tribes do turn in to lifelong friendships too but not always. Some con artists have mastered the art of befriending travelers and robbing them the first opportunity they get. Take things slowly and let people earn your trust.
There is no need to worry at all times, you can have an enjoyable trip as a female solo traveler. As long as you have planned it properly and you are prepared for anything that might come at you, you are good to go. We wish you the best of luck for your next solo trip. Let us know if you have any of your personal tips that has helped you in the past.