Tips for Women Travelling Alone
Is it safe for women to travel alone? Many women often complains of feeling vulnerable when travelling alone. Many says they find themselves with keys to rooms at the end of long, dark corridors or in parts of the hotel which are less secure. Here are 20 tips for women travelling alone.
20 Top Tips for
Women Travelling Alone
1) Beware of accepting drinks or food offered by strangers.
Spiking of drinks and food has become a worldwide problem whether the motive is sexual assault, robbery, or both
2) Avoid wearing expensive clothes and jewelery
3) Beware of attracting the wrong type of male attention.
You can do this by wearing a ring to swow that you are taken.
4) Keep an eagle-eye on your luggage
Especially while engaged in activities such as checking into hotels or renting a car as these are vulnerable times when the solo traveler is often targeted
5) Always appear calm, confident and in control
Even if you don't feel that way!
6) Carry a mobile phone with plenty of credit or the means to top-up
7) When travelling in the country
- Arrange to travel during daylight when possible and avoid driving at night.
- Phone a reputable taxi company rather than risk an unknown street taxi
8) Before leaving for a trip
- Research the best method for carrying cash and accessing money at your destination
- Make photocopies of the information page of your passport and keep separate from the passport. Have emergency contact numbers for your bank(s) and the number of the consulate or embassy at hand
- Leave your travel itinerary, hotel details and phone number with family or friends
9) Use the 'Do Not Disturb' sign to deter anyone from entering your hotel room
10) Know the acceptable behavior, dress code, and expected etiquette at your destination country
11) Remove name badge after business meetings and avoid displaying personal information on luggage or personal property
12) Pack as light as possible.
Don't struggle with a heavy suitcase which may not be a problem at the airport, but a burden on trains, buses or boats
13) Carry a lightweight pashmina or shawl to cover up in countries where this may be a problem, especially for entering religious buildings or shrines
14) Carry a supply of sanitizer wipes and tissues
15) If taking prescription medicines, ask a chemist to write down all names the drug is known by, or the drug name in your destination country. See your doctor before travel and arrange for all necessary vaccinations well in advance
16) Before booking a hotel or other accommodation check traveler review websites. Return the favor when you return by writing reviews on your accommodation
17) Take out travel insurance and ensure that all intended activities are covered
If you are a women travelling alone, it is also recommended to find female-friendly hotels at their destinations. Even if there is no 'female-friendly' hotels, there's no harm in requesting a room in a more secure area of the hotel or request for a female only floor.
