Shifting gears a bit, I want to focus some upcoming posts on the travel. Having done some traveling recently, I feel compelled to share some of the places I’ve been and things I’ve learned along the way.
Female travelers are afraid to travel by themselves because they feel that being a solo female traveler somehow inherently puts them in danger. I think solo females should go out there and conquer the world and not wait to be accompanied by a friend or a partner or a relative. That being said, I totally understand the reluctance and the fear that can come with the prospect of traveling by yourself. So I have a few guidelines that will hopefully help ease your mind and will hopefully prompt you to get out there and go see the world by yourself even if you are a girl.
Be Prepared
A lot of the fear and insecurity that comes from traveling on your own is not having an idea of what you’re doing and where you’re going. If you are not an experienced solo traveler, I would recommend that you plan out at least the first 48 to 72 hours of your trip. You should plan your accommodation and your transportation. If you are landing at an airport, know exactly how you will get from the airport to your accommodation. You should know which areas of the city are best to stay in and which modes of transportation are the safest. These are all aspects to plan before your trip so that you can be prepared for all eventualities.
Remain Inconspicuous
When you travel, try to stay under the radar because undue attention especially from lecherous men can be fairly unnerving if you are a woman who is traveling on her own. Make sure you cover your shoulders, arms, and head if necessary. This is not only respectful of the culture but also to avoid any extra attention or to deflect potential harassment. The name of the game in this case is trying to keep as low a profile as possible because if you really want to go local the best thing to do is to blend in.
Be Vigilant Especially When you Party
I understand you want to let your hair down when you travel but successful solo travel as a woman often hinges on common sense. Keep your wits about you and don’t make yourself a target, leave the expensive jewelry at home, don’t flash your cash on the street and don’t trust strangers. If you go out to sample the local nightlife, it is important to limit your alcohol intake if you really must drink at all. The reason is that alcohol can impair your senses and can make you vulnerable to any creeper out there who are looking to take advantage of you.
Partner with Other Solo Female Travelers
Traveling solo doesn’t mean that you have to be alone all the time. It is helpful to partner with other female solo travelers simply because you will understand each other’s concerns, triumphs, and challenges and often you can trade tips and tricks for traveling solo.
Keep Friends and Family Updated
Finally, I would recommend that you keep friends and family informed about your whereabouts. Honestly, this seems really obvious but you may probably go on your trip and have such a good time that you forget to write your family friends back home. It’s super important to keep them up to speed and up to date with what you are doing. I would recommend sending them a copy of your itinerary so even if you don’t have the chance to contact them daily at least they can kind of have a running schedule of what you are supposed to be doing and where you are.
Make sure you not only include an itinerary of where you will be and on what dates but that you also include the contact information for the accommodation and tours you may have booked. Also, if you find that updating them individually is onerous or annoying make sure you point them toward your social media channels which you’ll surely be updating so they can be privy to what a good time you are having on the road.