Safe Travels! My 10 Best Safety Tips for Solo Female Travel

As a solo female traveler, safety is a major priority. And it is one that has become more important to me as I have aged. Call my 17-year-old self naïve, maybe even dumb, but safety and security for women travelling independently is at the top of most of our minds. And after 15 years of travelling, and making some foolish calls, I feel like I may have some legs to stand on as far as safety travel tips go.

Not to say I’m smart now, just smarter than I was. Three cheers for personal development!

Make the Decision to Travel Solo with Eyes Wide Open

Keeping yourself safe as a woman traveler, really does start when you make that initial decision to travel solo. I am a huge advocate for independence and solo travel for many reasons.

But if you’re not ready or don’t feel safe, then you shouldn’t do it. Think about how you are in a crisis. Do you immediately reach for the phone to call someone for help, or can you tackle anything. I’m not saying you shouldn’t push yourself beyond your comfort zone, but there is a difference between taking calculated risks and being reckless.

I had done two major long term backpacking trips with friends (6+ months), plus a 6-month international semester abroad and a 4-month international internship before I ever travelled solo. I am also independent to a fault and don’t like being told what to do, so I’m kind of made for solo travel.

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What are the Best Countries for Solo Travel for You?

There are all kinds of articles out there about ‘the most dangerous places to travel’. Most of them are crap if you ask me. I recently saw one and I had recently been to 5 of the 20 countries on the list. 

A better way to find out the true security situation of a country is to do actual research and talk to other people who have been there, especially folks of your same age, sexuality, gender, and ethnicity.

Being a woman makes figuring out the best destinations for solo travel that much more complicated. We ladies deal with street harassment, warnings of not walking alone after dark, and even clothing restrictions.

My experience in Jamaica was very different from that of my 64-year-old father.

I was very comfortable in Nepal on my own for two months, but I actively recruited a travel buddy to go with me to India for 10 days.

Finding out the reality of a good destination for you will take some work, but it’s all worthwhile information as a solo female traveler. To be forewarned is to be forearmed!

Blogs and guidebooks can be useful for this type of research. I find that tourist boards gloss over this or are far too general, while sites like Canada’s government travel advisories are very alarmist. Pretty much every country I have been to in the last 5 years has some level of travel warning. Calm down Canada. Don’t want to get murdered in Jamaica? Don’t join a gang. Pretty easy risk mitigation.

Language is also a major factor. If you can communicate in your destination, you are safer. Not to say you should only go to countries with your own mother tongue, but even knowing a few basic phrases can help.

Part of destination planning is also contingent on your needs. Maybe you are a vegetarian and that country’s diet is heavily sheep protein based (ahem, Kyrgyzstan).  Health care and access to medical is also important for many people.  It’s obviously a no brainer to buy travel insurance, so after you pick your destination make sure you compare global medical insurance plans and and that our target country is covered fully!

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Solo? Stay Safe by Booking Ahead or Being Flexible…

I’m a big fan of flying by the seat of my pants. In other words, not planning. Often this freedom is liberating and that is what many of us solo folks are looking for.

At the same time, planning ahead, by booking accommodation and transportation means that you know where you are going and how you’re getting there.

I can’t tell you how many times I have arrived somewhere after dark and not had a room booked. I would love to tell you I don’t do this anymore, but then I would be lying to you.

Being flexible means you can hop town if it is sketchy or just plain boring. But having your bookings made means you are sure of a bed that night.

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Leave Your Travel Details with Someone Who Cares

There was this week back in 2009 during which I was on a small island off the East Coast of Nicaragua (Little Corn Island, everyone should go!). My mom knew this, but there was no internet on the island, and I ended up staying one more day than planned. Then I got to Managua and there was no internet at my hostel. Then I left for Honduras and couldn’t get online for another full 2 days. By the time I finally got an email sent off to my parents, my Mom was ready to call the Canadian embassy.

Leaving details with folks back home can go either way, but really you would rather someone have a vague notion of where you are rather than not.

This gets tough when you are travelling for a long time with little structure or plan. But even if you can plan a few days in advance and give those plans to someone who will notice if you don’t check in, your personal security factor goes up.

I would specifically recommend this if you were going off the grid for even just a night or two. I know being off the grid is magical, but as a woman travelling alone, we need to cover our bases. Who doesn’t remember that creepy scene in Wild when that weird hunter guy with a shotgun follows Reese Witherspoon. And it was way worse in the book… Yikes!

Killer Books from Fearless Females Who Travel Solo!

Time to Take Flight: The Savvy Woman’s Guide to Safe Solo Travel

Kicking Ass on the Road: The Ultimate Guide for the Solo Woman Traveler

Go Your Own Way: Women Travel the World Solo

by Jayne Seagrave by Sunni Dawson

by Faith ConlonIngrid Emerick, Christina Henry de Tessan (Editors)

Travel Safe with Other Solo Travelers!

Don’t worry, you still get your solo traveler street cred, but hooking up with other travelers isn’t just for the fun social times.

While I was in Central America on my own for 3 months, I travelled with people for at least half of that time. Having some travel buddies for parts of your trip, especially the dodgier bits, can cover your butt.

Unless it’s that Dutch woman who latched on to me uninvited in Mexico, steer clear of her!

How can you hook in with other solo ladies? This is actually why staying in hostels is a great way to be, even if you can afford better.  Sterile fancy hotels don’t breed new friends like the old couches of a hostel common room.  I have met most of my travel friends in hostels, though I have also met people hiking, one on a beach chair in Cambodia, and another crossing the Nicaraguan/Honduran border!

Be open to new friends! 

Choose your Accommodation Wisely for a Solo Traveler

Regardless of your budget, security is a must. Depending on your own comfort level, dorm rooms may be out of the question altogether. But many hostels have female only dorm rooms that I always opt for if I can. Not only does that add a level of security, but boys are gross and snore. Blah.

I also like to see if there are lock –up facilities, either a locker in room or with the staff. My computer may be a million years old, but it would break me if it were stolen.

When choosing a place to stay for solo travel, don’t just look for the in-house amenities. Check and see how close it is to restaurants, shops, and transportation. Check it out on Google Maps on Street view to see if the area looks sketchy. Call or email the accommodation and inquiry about street lighting. You can be as close to the centre as you want, but if the last 200 meters to your front door is down a dark alleyway, don’t do it!

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Don’t Get Super Drunk

I love my wine and rum, but when I travel solo I never get beyond a certain level (anymore). It’s just plain dumb and ultra risky.

I have a girlfriend who made friends with some dudes at her hostel, and then went out drinking with them that night. She got way too drunk and her wallet, phone, and iPad were stolen. Were those guys the culprits? I don’t know. But regardless of who took her gear, nobody really had her back that night and much worse could have happened.

If you’re travelling with the real intention to party, take a girlfriend!

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Cross Borders Early in the Day

This is just good travel advice in general, but as a solo female traveler, getting stuck in a border town is never a great scene. Border towns in developing countries are infamously sketchy and have less than stellar accommodation. If you are crossing a border, do so early enough to get a bus or taxi away and to a decent town.

One of the worst places I ever stayed was in a border town in Nicaragua. I had crossed late in the day, after the last bus left. I had to stay in a “hotel” that was really just a couple of rooms attached to a bar. That I’m sure were meant for something else.

All night I heard people walking past my cell, a few even knocked on my door. I kept that door bolted and tried to keep 100% focus on my book. Which was Obama’s The Audacity of Hope and really did get me through that night with my sanity. Thank you Barack, you never stop giving.

Solo travel can be extremely liberating and rewarding for women, but it can also be a bit tricker when it comes to safety and security, especially for solo female travellers. After years of solo travel, here are my best 10 safety tips for solo female travel. Be safe when travelling alone!

Ladies, Pack Lighter!!

Nothing says female traveler like a massive suitcase or backpack. You may as well paint a bulls-eye on it with a sign saying I Can’t See You! The less you carry, the less enticing you and your gear will be to a would-be thief. Lighter and less luggage also means you are more physically capable to make a break for it and you can keep track of your gear better.

That said, if someone does come after your bag or your purse, drop it! Nothing is worth injury or worse.

Seriously ladies, if you are travelling in a way that means you are personally carrying your gear, give up trying to look cute. You won’t regardless of how much makeup or white mesh bralets you are toting around.

Be Super Polite and Friendly to the Front Desk Folks

This may sound natural to all of you nice people out there, but front desk people at hotels and hostels get a lot of crap, all the time. Which isn’t smart, because these folks hold a ton of power and can really help you out in a bind.

Not only does the man or woman standing behind the check in desk determine what room you are in (and with who if it’s a dorm!) but they may have the power to upgrade you. They are also full of information, especially about the security situation of the town or the neighborhood.

Regardless of how tired or cranky I am, I always try to be nice to these people (except for once in Cusco, Peru when a dude didn’t want to check me in at 5am. Come at me bro!).

I always ask their names, ask if they are from that town, and say something nice about the country. These people have tough jobs, and they are wonderful resources far beyond just giving out the Wifi code.

A big Jamaica travel guide for independent travellers and newly arrived expats to the great Caribbean nation! Travel tips, life tips and more!
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I have been in my fair share of risky situations.

There was the creeper who followed me part way home in Kathmandu. I spotted him and told him off. He said that was his direction too.  I stopped at a well lit street corner and told him he could go first then. Directionless, he turned around and left. I then sprinted home.

There was the taxi driver in Malaysia who said his car was just “over there”. It wasn’t.

There was the guy in a dorm room in Byron Bay who laid in bed all day drinking warm milk. He was seemingly harmless, but I’m pretty sure he was short a few screws. He also smelled weird.

I was pick pocketed in Jamaica at a taxi stand. Sure, I lost my phone, but I was totally unhurt, so it went the best it could have I guess!

In Thailand, I had my Swiss Army Knives and some cash stolen out of a private room.

But really, in the big picture I have done pretty well. Any injuries I have suffered are my own fault (damn ankle!) and I like to think I’m a pretty smart solo traveler nowadays. Dare I say I am actually qualified to give these unsolicited travel tips for solo safety!

Did I miss any? What safety precautions do you take while travelling solo?

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Solo travel can be extremely liberating and rewarding for women, but it can also be a bit tricker when it comes to safety and security, especially for solo female travellers. After years of solo travel, here are my best 10 safety tips for solo female travel. Be safe when travelling alone!

13 thoughts on “Safe Travels! My 10 Best Safety Tips for Solo Female Travel

  1. What a great article! The photos are great too. I thought your suggestions to check out the street view of a hotel and also contact them to find out about the lighting on the street are particularly good.

    I also agree with your recommendation to travel with light luggage to make a quick exit if required. I find it however, a challenge to find the one or two pieces that wash easily in a sink, don’t get all wrinkled up being wrung out and yet don’t get smelly, especially in hot weather. For me, packing a scarf or two changes a simple outfit and take up less space than more clothing. I am a big fan of wearing a money belt to keep extra cash safe but more importantly your passport. It works best under baggy clothing but the piece of mind is worth it.

    In my younger days when I traveled alone I found it worth it to have some opening lines to start conversations. Most fellow travelers are good people and are willing to help out a solo female, plus it makes the journey much quicker and more fun. Of course, you need to keep your wits about you.

    Lots of good suggestions in your blog. Keep ’em coming!
    Sharon

    1. Thanks Sharon!

      Great packing suggestions! I always find a scarf useful too either to guard from the sun, enter a modest house of worship or wrap up on a chilly bus air conditioned bus. I’m trying to pack lighter and lighter these days, I just know that I wear so little of what I actually bring along, why carry it?!

      Cheers,
      Emily

  2. Good article. I would also add, walk and move like you mean it, like you could possibly be an Ex-pat as opposed to a tourist. Try to have an idea of where you’re going day-to-day, and even mapped out, in order to avoid/limit the risk of getting lost. I always look to make friends with families with kids as opposed to single people.

    1. Hi Vanessa,

      Great additions! I always walk with purpose regardless, and definitely try to do so when travelling. I have a decent memory when it comes to maps, so if I’m going somewhere new I try to memorize the map so I don’t have to stop and look lost!

      Cheers,
      Emily

    1. Hi Ciara,

      I always try to pack as light as possible regardless of whether it is a backpack or a suitcase. Less stuff is great! Normally when I travel I have a backpack, only when I’m traveling for work do I have a suitcase, and then I try to keep it to a carry on size.

      Cheers,
      Emily

  3. Lorenzo Dragonieri

    - Edit

    Reply

    Great article.i make friends with older people.They are more helpful,GENERALLY.I also wear older underwear and socks ,the ones I am about to discard at home, for the first two days of a trip. I just throw them out after use .Less washing to do.Without becoming paranoid ,go with your feeling or err on the side of caution.I carry a wallet full of multiple currencies of little value and Canadian tire money which would be the possible target of pickpockets,while keeping documents and money in a money belt.

    1. Great suggestions Lorenzo! I’m sure folks ay be pretty surprised if they think they struck gold and end up with Canadian Tire money! I like travelling with older people too, mainly my parents 😉

      Cheers,
      Emily

  4. Really Great tips solo female traveler must follow. I would add one more is to book somewhere social, such as a hostel or friendly apartment rental. There’ll be plenty of other solo travelers in the same boat as you.

    1. Hi Suzy,
      So glad you’re thinking about travelling solo. I love the freedom that comes with solo travel, you can do as much or as little as you want every day and means that you are truly at the helm. Of course there are some things to consider when travelling solo, and heck, more often than not these days I have a great travel buddy who wants to travel with me!

      Cheers,
      Emily

  5. Safety is very important part of solo traveling. I read your blog. You share information about solo female traveling security is absolutely correct. Your blog is very helpful for solo travelers. Thanks for sharing this so interesting post! I really want to be thankful for the way you have put it here.

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