Safety concerns are one of the main reasons why women talk themselves out of solo travel.
Even if you aren’t terrified to solo travel, I can assure you that others will be terrified for you.
Before I get into my spiel on safety and share practical tips, let me just get this out of the way: Safety concerns are valid. Especially for women.
It is perfectly normal and OK to want to prioritize your safety. It’s not only reasonable to research the safety situation for wherever you’re traveling, it’s RESPONSIBLE.
Safety matters and you should care. However, the fear of something happening while traveling shouldn’t stop you from going to most places. When you let fear stop you, you don’t just prevent bad things from happening, you block the AMAZING memories you could have if you chose to take the trip, despite your fears.
I honestly don’t believe fear of something bad happening is a valid reason to not travel entirely, and here’s why: Most anything that can happen to you while traveling can probably happen to you at home.
I don’t mean to scare you, but bad things happen everywhere. Are some places more dangerous than others? Absolutely. But nowhere on this earth is 100% safe.
With that said, I think much of the world is safer than the news would have us believe. After traveling to 35 countries, I can happily say that nothing bad has happened to me. The only unsafe situations I’ve been in have happened in my own city of Seattle. Like I said, anything can happen anywhere… So don’t let that stop you from traveling.
Safety Precautions Matter EVERYWHERE
I know I just typed on and on about how safety concerns shouldn’t stop you from traveling all-together. However, you should absolutely still practice safety precautions EVERYWHERE. Bad things are more likely to happen when you let your guard down and stop being mindful. This is not victim shaming. There are plenty of senseless crimes that couldn’t have been prevented. Still, a lot of cases of pickpocketing and robbery, for example, could be avoided by staying aware of your surroundings and being mindful of your belongings.
I don’t want you to spend your trip paranoid. I just want you to be mindful and to practice the proper precautions. With that said, here are the safety tips I think every woman should keep in mind of on EVERY trip:
ALWAYS secure your belongings
Carry a purse/wallet that zips. Keep a hand on your bag. DON’T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN IN BUSY AREAS. Pickpocketing is very common in most touristy places, and it happens QUICK. Don’t be an easy target! Don’t make your possessions accessible.
Keep belongings in your bag and keep your hand on your bag. It’s that simple.
Only bring what you absolutely need while in public
You probably don’t NEED to bring all your cash, credit cards, and passport anytime you leave your accommodation. If there’s anything valuable you don’t think you’ll need while you’re out exploring, don’t bring it with you. That way, if something happens and you lose some of your possessions, you won’t have lost everything.
Give yourself a curfew and/or stick to well-lit, busy streets
Wandering alone at night on empty streets is a sure way to find trouble most anywhere.
If you’re alone, give yourself a curfew. It doesn’t have to be super early. I am often still out at 9 or 10pm when solo traveling, but I make sure to only walk on well-lit, busier streets. They say there’s safety in numbers. If you’re alone on a busy street and you’re clearly aware of your surroundings, it’ll be harder for someone to attack or rob you since others will probably see it happen.
If you’re walking through a dark, empty street alone, you’re suddenly much more at risk. Just avoid it altogether.
If your accommodation is in a dark backstreet, it’s probably best to take a taxi home if you’re out late.
Remember that ‘No’ is a complete sentence
Morocco is a gorgeous country, but I definitely had to practice firm boundaries there.
I think women find themselves in uncomfortable situations because we’re afraid of causing more conflict by saying ‘no’. We may not want to talk to the person. We may not like someone’s pushy-ness, but we also don’t want to come off as rude or put ourselves at greater risk.
I get it. I’ve been there. But I’ve learned the hard way that you have to be willing to be a bitch sometimes. I’m not telling you to be rude and guarded to everyone. I AM telling you that if a street harasser, a cat-caller, or someone with an off vibe approaches you, you need to treat ‘no’ like a complete sentence.
You don’t owe anyone your time or energy. If someone is making you uncomfortable or has bad intentions, you don’t need to be nice to them. Don’t give them an opportunity to bother you.
Don’t go to a stranger’s home, hotel room, car, etc.
This should really go without saying.
If you don’t really know the person, don’t go behind closed doors with them.
Avoid telling random people you’re traveling alone
If you’re staying at a hostel, yes, you can say you’re traveling alone. So will many other guests.
The guy who’s chatting you up on the street and wants to grab a drink with you doesn’t need to know you’re alone. I always have a story prepped, “oh, I’m meeting my friends back at the hotel soon” or “I actually have to go, my boyfriend & I have dinner plans.”
When in doubt, make people believe that you’re on the way to meet up with whoever you’re traveling with. A little lie never hurt anyone- in this case, it’ll keep you safe.
Be careful when drinking
Some people will tell you not to drink if you solo travel. I understand where they’re coming from, but I think it’s fine to drink IF:
1.You watch your drink carefully.
2. You give yourself a limit
How much is too much when drinking depends on your tolerance, so I won’t get too specific, but you should definitely ensure you’re not so drunk that you lose control of yourself.
Drinking can be a way to be social & experience the local nightlife. You shouldn’t deprive yourself of that, but you should still drink responsibly.
Send your itinerary to a loved one and check in with them often
I send my mom a Google doc outlining my itinerary so she has a rough idea of where I’m at each day. I also text her frequently & call when I can.
Checking in with your friends and family will give them peace of mind. Make sure you’re communicating with them at least once a day! In a worst case scenario, they’ll be able to say when they last heard from you & what your plans are.
Have an emergency budget
I always try to add at least an extra few hundreds dollars to my overall trip budget to account for emergencies or paying more to stay safe.
Paying more for the cab at midnight is safer than walking.
Paying for safer transportation is safer than risking it.
While not a guarantee, you may run into unplanned situations, and you’ll need to be ready to pay for them. Give yourself a safety net. You may not need it, but you’ll be grateful you have it.
Enroll in travel insurance
If you can’t afford travel insurance, you shouldn’t be traveling.
If you get in an accident, get sick, have to evacuate the country due to unrest or a natural disaster, or need to book a surprise hotel room due to a delay, wouldn’t it be nice if you had some financial assistance? It sure would. That’s why you NEED travel insurance. It should never be considered as optional. Similar to your emergency budget, you hope you won’t need it, but you’ll be very happy you have it.
My favorite travel insurance coverage is SafetyWing. They’re great for long-term travel, but will also cover trips as short as 5 days. I usually choose their basic plan & add coverage for my electronics.
Be smart, enjoy your trip!
Staying aware of your surroundings & protecting yourself doesn’t mean you have to be closed off & paranoid. Quite the contrary! One of the joys of solo travel is meeting people and opening yourself up to new experiences.
Still, absolutely no destination is 100% risk-free. Practicing the safety tips listed above will greatly increase your odds of having an amazing, safe trip!
Stay mindful, have a plan for if things go wrong, and practice firm boundaries. Most of all, have the best time! Solo travel is incredibly empowering and the joys far outweigh the risks.
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