Safety tips for female travelers

Traveling, especially solo can be an amazing and empowering experience. It is a liberating feeling to be able to explore the world on you own terms. However, when you are by yourself and as a female you gotta be resourceful and prepared in order to solve any problems that come your way, as unfortunately it does come with some risks.

Planning your trip in advance will allow you to be more prepared, avoid incidents and make you feel more confident, and that’s why we have put a short post with safety tips for female travelers to help you a bit!

Be prepared (redundant, I know)

But yes, this is for sure the most important of all the tips. Knowing where you are going, the conditions, the safety warnings and so forth will allow you to prepare and make choices when booking your accommodation, transportation, choosing the attractions you wanna visit, etc. Thanks to the internet, there is a lot of information available at the tip of our fingers, and making a little research won’t take you much time.


Try to blend in

I know that it might be hard and we might disagree with some things of different cultures (especially is opposite to ours), but being the center of attention could give you some problems. Dressing accordingly and modestly will most likely save you from unwanted attention, especially from men, who can make annoying comments and even be aggressive at times.

This also applies to conversation topics, as some subjects can be highly sensitive for some people (like communism in Cuba). Avoiding them will save you from uncomfortable situations.


Learn some basic phrases in the local language

Learning some basic words in the language of the country you are in will also help a lot, not just in situation on emergency but pretty much for everything. Not everybody will speak english (I assume you speak english because you are reading this) , especially in rural areas.

Female Solo Traveler

Keep an eye on your drinking

Having a couple drinks in a foreign country is great, but mind the quantity, as getting actually drunk in an unknown place could put you in great danger.


Trust your gut

We are “intuitive” beings. Always trust your gut. It something tells you shouldn’t go there, or to avoid somebody, trust your instincts, there might be a reason for it.

We could also be too polite at times, but we shouldn’t let our politeness put us in a dangerous situation. Don’t be afraid to say no.


Avoid traveling at night

This is pretty much common sense. Crime rates tend to increase at night, and it will always be recommended to avoid walking, especially alone and through empty streets and areas after dark.

It is also recommended, especially in Africa and some countries in Asia and South America, to avoid taking ground overnight transportation at nighttime, as road conditions can be challenging and the possibility of getting robbed increases as well.


Keep up that confident attitude

I know it might sound dumb, but acting like if you know what you are doing, could save you sometimes. Bad people would usually target to those who look vulnerable, and someone who is confident appears not to be.


Always bring a charger

I really admire how people used to traveled years ago, as things were harder in some senses (how did they do it prior to ride sharing and cellphones?) Just kidding, but it is true traveling has become easier over time and it is a good idea to use all the resources available.

And a lot of them (like maps, telephone, ride sharing, etc) are on our phone. So what happens once we run out of battery? It is a good idea to always carry a charger (and a transformer if needed)


Split your money

We all agree on something: No one can travel without money. And in an emergency situation, money is one of those things you need to solve problems. Although not all the countries have the same safety standards, pickpockets exists everywhere, especially in cosmopolitan areas and busy tourist attractions.

Splitting your money will allow you to always have a reserve in case something happens. I never hide all the cash in the same place (I usually hide some cash in my regular bag or suitcase and another in my socks or a hidden pocket in my pants)

Female Solo Traveler

Take care of you valuables

As we mentioned above, pickpockets exists pretty much everywhere, and a lot of them do target tourists. It doesn’t hurt to be a little extra careful, and to leave your valuables inside your bag (hidden from the public eye) unless you are going to use them. Common sense place a key role here.


Avoid flashy jewelry

Unless you are in a place you know its safe, it is recommended to avoid using flashy jewelry, as it can be ripped of you. However, using a wedding ring might be a good way to get you out of uncomfortable situations.


Let people know where you are

Try to keep your family, your friends, your social media or even the host or front desk agent from where you are staying what you are going to do. That way they will be able to help you if something happens or notice is you don’t return (worse case scenario)


Know where you are

It might be useful to get one of those copies of the city map at the tourist center or, and as we are in the 21st century, use an app. One of my favorite ones is called “Maps.me”, and it allows you to download maps so you can use them without internet, just by the GPS of your phone. That way I can still reach my destination if I get lost.

Female Solo Traveler

Only take what you need

Sometimes I found myself in this situation: “should I bring my laptop to the attraction? there might be a place nearby where I can work”. The answer to that is NO. Taking more things than what you need will be uncomfortable, limit your mobility and implied a higher risk for you as well. I can always work later at the hotel.


Check local weather

This is huge if you are traveling in changing seasons or to tropical weathers. It might rain a lot, or there might be a drop in temperatures. There won’t always be a chance of buy the clothes you need when you need them.


Keep copies of you documents

It could be on the cloud, paper copy, or whatever method that is easier for you. But having copies of you document will be really helpful in the case you lose something like your passport, as it is easier to confirm your identity and arrange replacement documents this way.


Save emergency numbers

And not just your mom’s, but the hotel/hostel, emergency number from the country, airline, and any other number you think it might help you in an emergency


Get a travel insurance (if you can afford it)

According to VisaGuide.World not all of us can afford travel insurance (I rarely do), but it is a good idea to have it if you can. It will give you some peace of mine to know there will be somebody able to help you if something does happen.