I left university in 2005 and rather than jumping straight into full-time employment I made the decision to travel across Malaysia, Thailand and Australia – alone. I have made so many new friends but after hearing about the recent death of student Meredith Kercher I realised how important it is to travel safely.

Partying

I love to dance and party but I made the decision not to drink alcohol whilst travelling because it is very easy to loose your head and forget that you are in a new country with strangers. I wanted to feel in control and I have lost count of the number of backpackers who had lost their passport or money which meant the end of their travels.

Streetwise

It is common sense but do not walk the streets at night alone, stay in a group, or walk in highly populated places which are well lit. I am always aware of the people around me and when I arrive in any destination I make myself aware of the areas that I should avoid and a walk around in daylight is a good way to get to grips with the local area.

Informed

It is important that you keep your family and friends up-to-date with your travel plans and I found myself visiting local internet café’s, chatting to friends and family on MSN messenger, and sending copies of my flight tickets and details of my accommodation before I moved on to the next destination.

Transport

Sometimes it felt easier to take a taxi but I had heard of so many horror stories from travellers taking taxis in Thailand that I always caught the local bus. If you do feel the need to get a taxi make sure you take note of the car registration, and any taxi number inside.

When travelling at night on a bus make sure you sit with a group of people and not alone. I was sat at the back of a bus in Phuket where I was approached by a Thai man. He put his hand on my leg and tried to lift my skirt. A quick jab in his ribs followed by shouting loud at him to leave me alone made him leap to his feet and leave the bus.

Advice

Trust your instincts. If you feel you’re in a dangerous situation, don’t panic, seek help from some one nearby, or walk quickly into a highly populated area. Seek advice from tourist information offices, speak with English speaking people and ask them advice on where not to travel.

Remember in some countries we are treated differently than back home, so make sure you research your destinations thoroughly before travelling. More importantly enjoy yourself, and don’t feel afraid when travelling alone, you can learn a lot about yourself and the World.

• Safety tips for solo women travellers
• The travel experiences of a solo male traveller
• One Travel Tip for Travellers
• Travel Safe .. Be Safe

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