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As a solo female traveler, people often ask me if I feel safe while traveling. Sometimes I do feel more vulnerable, but taking some extra precautions gives me peace of mind. I recommend these safety tips for anyone who is traveling. Some are more important for women traveling alone.
Travel Safety Tips – Before Your Trip
1. Give your itinerary to someone you trust.
Check in with a friend or family member regularly and make a plan in case something goes wrong. You can also set up location sharing, either constantly or on a temporary basis.
2. Get travel insurance.
If you do have a problem while traveling, having travel insurance can prevent it from ruining your whole trip. Some credit cards include travel insurance, but the coverage is usually limited to trips less than 60 days and might not include medical coverage. I use SafetyWing for international health insurance. It includes medical coverage when you’re traveling internationally, plus travel protections for things like lost luggage.
The payments are really simple compared to other insurance options. You pay a monthly fee and can cancel anytime. For my plan, I pay $45.08 per month. This was more affordable than other options. Use this calculator to see your pricing.
3. Make sure you have international data on your phone.
International data is crucial in case you need directions or need to call someone. Your phone plan might already have international data, but it’s usually expensive. To save money you can buy a local sim card for the country you’re visiting. You can buy one when you arrive at your destination, but I prefer to buy an eSIM ahead of time so I’ll already have data when I arrive. I use Airalo eSIMs because they have regional eSIMs that will cover several countries.
4. Buy locks for your bags.
I strongly recommend putting locks on your purse and backpack. Especially if you’re going to Barcelona, Rome, or another city known for pickpockets. I used small combination locks and found some that match the colors of my bags. I keep my bag locked when I’m walking through a busy area or out at a club.
You might also want to use a fanny pack or cross body bag. If you want extra protection, you can buy a slash-proof bag.
5. Research local scams.
Some cities are known to have common scams. For example, you should ignore anyone who asks you to sign a petition. In Paris and other cities, these are usually organized pickpockets. One person will distract you with the petition while their partner steals from you.
Another scam common in Italy, is to give you a bracelet or something small and then ask for money. They’ll put the bracelet right on your wrist if you let them.
The best way to avoid these types of scams is to keep walking and pretend you don’t speak English. Google “tourist scams in [city]” before your trip to see if there’s anything specific you should lookout for.
6. Research neighborhoods to avoid.
In some cities, there are well known areas that can be more dangerous. Look this up ahead of time and mark the area in your maps app so you don’t accidentally walk through there.
7. Plan your travels to arrive in new cities during the day.
I feel much safer if I arrive during the day. It’s also helpful for finding my accommodation because daylight makes it easier to read street signs and house numbers. If I run into any issues, local businesses will still be open.
This is especially important for solo female travelers. It’s less important if a friend is picking you up at the airport.
For flights, you can use Google Flights to filter by arrival time.
8. Read reviews carefully when booking accommodation.
On Airbnb, I try to book 4.8 or higher with at least 20 reviews when possible. Obviously the more reviews the better. I won’t book a new listing with no reviews. You can also look at the host’s information to see their total reviews of all properties. Look for reviews that mention a safe neighborhood or responsive host.
For hostels, the reviews will also give you a sense of how seriously the staff take safety. Some hostels have guests wear a wristband and won’t let anyone in without the wristband. Lockers also vary by hostel, so check reviews to see if they are large enough or if the locks are broken.
9. Take pictures of your passport and IDs.
I don’t like to keep my passport on me when I’m out exploring. I have a picture on my phone in case I need my passport number (it’s required for buying train tickets in Spain). I also printed a copy. Luckily I’ve never had an issue, but having the printed copy can be helpful if your passport is stolen and you need to get a temporary passport from the embassy.
Travel Safety Tips – During Your Trip
10. Don’t be an easy target.
Try to avoid looking like a tourist as much as you can help it. Dress like the locals when possible to help you blend in. For example, in Spain locals tend to dress nicer. In Istanbul, women don’t wear short dresses. I was also pleasantly surprised to see how popular sweatpants were in Istanbul.
Don’t put anything in your back pocket. Put your phone and other valuables in zipper pockets. Keep your hand on your purse in crowded areas. Don’t wear designers or dress like you have a lot of money.
11. Keep extra cash and cards in a separate place.
Just in case you are a victim of pickpockets, keep some cash and cards in a separate place. I usually have a credit and debit card plus a small amount of cash in my purse, and backup cards and cash in my room. I usually keep them with my passport in a locked compartment of my backpack.
12. Avoid walking alone late at night.
This depends on the city, but generally it’s better to avoid walking alone late at night. If I’m by myself, I don’t go out late at night very often. If I’m with a hostel group, I find a couple of other people to stick with and walk back with them at night. In my experience, most social hostels seem to be good about looking out for each other.
It’s worth mentioning that I felt safer in most European cities than I did in some American cities I’ve lived in. Still, trying not to walk alone at night is a good tip for solo female travelers.
Sometimes walking alone at night is unavoidable. I try to walk fast, avoid making eye contact with anyone, and look like I know where I’m going.
13. Don’t tell new people you meet that you’re traveling alone.
When talking to people I meet while traveling, I usually say I’m traveling with friends or visiting a friend. I’d also try to mention my boyfriend (even when I was single).
14. Go to a restaurant or store if you need to get away from someone.
Once when I was traveling alone, a persistent man kept asking me things like where I was going, if I was single, if I was by myself, etc… I told him I had to go meet some friends and walked away. I went inside a nearby restaurant and asked to be seated toward the back. Luckily he didn’t follow me. If someone does follow you, you can ask a waiter or store clerk for help.
If there are no businesses nearby, you can also walk up to a stranger and pretend you know them. Preferably a group of women.
15. Drink responsibly.
Just like at home, watch out for people spiking your drink. Don’t let someone bring you a drink, get it directly from the bar. Don’t leave your drink unattended. I try to time my bathroom breaks in between drinks, or will bring my drink to the bathroom with me.
Don’t get too drunk by yourself or with a date. I try to stick with beer or wine instead of cocktails because they’re usually less strong and it’s easier to keep track of how much alcohol I’ve had. You can also order water or a virgin drink if you want to stay out without drinking more alcohol.
16. Ask locals and other travelers for recommendations.
The best travel advice I’ve gotten has been from other travelers. Locals and other travelers will be more familiar with the area and know places to avoid or things to watch out for.
17. Trust your intuition.
Listen to your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, leave the area.
Do you take any other safety precautions when traveling, or have other safety tips for solo female travelers? Let me know in the comments!