Solo female travelerThings you might be scared of and why not to be

The most common fear for all female solo travelers. While some countries have higher safety standards than others; getting robbed or mugged could happen just about anywhere (my passport and bicycle were stolen in the smallest town you could imagine in Germany, where I made headlines in the news just for it) and although this is one of those few details that are completely out of your control, there are some precautions we can take to avoid incidents like staying on top of you belonging, avoid walking alone in empty streets and using common sense.

Self defense will also come in handy, but as not all of us have those skills, it is a good advice to trust your guts and instincts, and avoid putting you in situations where you will be uncomfortable.

Nowadays, there is a lot of information online that could help you plan your trip, and make you feel more confident regarding your destination and tips you can use to avoid problems in each country. You can check out guide of countries here: where we provide insight regarding safety and many other tips.

Men could be annoying and even aggressive in certain places, especially in Arab countries, and sexual assault is a very common fear among women. Sadly, being attack could happen in Egypt as much as it can happen in the US.

It is recommended to dress conservatively in middle eastern countries (as much as I think this is wrong, it is not my place to judge their culture but blend in it, at the end of the day I’m the one visiting) and try to avoid walking in empty places, especially at night. If some situation does start to get out of hand, don’t be afraid of yelling and acting erratic, as this would most likely stop the offender.

Some people don’t even realize they are scared to be alone until they are. And of course is one of the things that will happen when traveling solo. Keep in mind that you would most likely meet people while you are traveling, and that being alone could bring you peace and allow learning to spend time with yourself and will be good for your mental health.

At the end of the day, you are never really alone. If you are really worried about it, taking group tours is a good option so you can share your experiences with people interested in the same topic, while also avoiding the risks of visiting places alone. I also love to stay at hostels, where you meet people with close to no effort (as you are going to be sharing a bedroom with them), and there you can find like-minded individuals the most of the time

Getting out of your comfort zone can be challenging at first, but it will make you realize how fast you are to adapt to changes and how good it feels to overcome fears. Learning some basic words in the local language is a good way to get by with less humps, and to connect with locals that will make your trip more pleasant, in between other things.

Traveling solo will change, and will make you grow. It will teach you how to be resourceful, independent and more confident.
The best changes happen when you are uncomfortable!

It could happen to everybody, and it has happened to me a couple times. In scary situations we usually get stuck and panic, but it is good to remember that there is always a solution and that they will come faster if we stay calm. Having a backup plan and preparing is key.

Always bringing a charger with you, making copies of your documents, and carrying a extra cash and a dictionary from your language to the country you are visiting will always come in handy.

Although I love spontaneous traveling, there are some things you need to plan, like transportation and accommodation. Not having where to sleep or how to get there might be a nightmare you do not need to experience if you prepare.