Safety tips for solo women travellers
By Amanda Kendle on Monday, June 9th, 2008

It’s not really my preference to travel alone, I like to have somebody there to share the experience - I’ve still had some fantastic solo trips. The first time I hit the road on my own, I was pretty worried about being a lone woman and felt vulnerable and a little scared.

Safety tips for solo Women travellers

Luckily, that feeling didn’t last long, so I thought I’d share some tips about how I managed to feel comfortable as a woman travelling alone.

Choose your accommodation carefully

Figure out a safe location. For me, walking alone at night is the worst part of travelling solo, so I always make sure to book accommodation that’s really central, right next to a train station, and when possible, in an area I know will always be busy and full of people.

Stay close to other travellers

There are times when you don’t want it to look like you’re alone - getting off a long-distance bus or train, or at a major sightseeing spot - because that can make you vulnerable to people selling souvenirs or accommodation or generally making a nuisance of themselves.

I just walk close to a group of other people so it’s not clear that I’m alone.

Be prepared to enjoy your own company

Sometimes, eating out alone will be fine, but in some places you might feel that you’re the centre of attention. When I travel alone I’m also quite happy to take a meal back to my hotel room (and then with a half bottle of wine!) and settle in for the night with a good book or some hotel TV.

Be prepared to meet other people

One of the big joys of solo travelling is you’re much more likely to make friends with your fellow travellers. Be open to suggestions for joint sightseeing trips with people you meet at a hostel or on a bus, but be wary too. I would usually only go with a couple or with a group of girls, rather than with a guy or especially a group of guys.

You just have to use your best judgement.


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5 responses to “Safety tips for solo women travellers”

Vanessa Lenssen | 10 June, 2008 at 9:18 am

Not sure this would inspire me to travel alone… taking a meal back to my hotel room? Vulnerable to people selling souvenirs? Be proud you are a single traveller, be safe of course but that’s all just common sense. The most important thing is to live a little, get out there and see the world, you can have some amazing experiences and meet some fantastic people if you just have a little confidence to get out there and travel solo. And… don’t hide away in your room, sit in a cafe or restaurant and try the delicious food, savour the moment and people watch, don’t hide away and you’ll have a much better time than if you worry about who is going to try and sell you a trinket or know that you are on your own. Have fun, get out there and meet new people, life is for living not worrying.

Amanda Kendle | 10 June, 2008 at 12:14 pm

Agreed Vanessa, but it does depend on the destination … in one town I visited in Tunisia I just got far too much attention in the evening (any foreign girl - I’m nothing special!) to enjoy sitting in a restaurant. Better to have a nice meal for lunch and then a restful evening at home! Of course, in plenty of places you can get out for the night without any problems at all.

Kirsty | 10 June, 2008 at 2:10 pm

I think it’s hugely important to give people the benefit of the doubt. Obvioudly, trust your intuition, but take some risks, too. Being wary all the time and living in fear of being attacked is no way to travel. Obviously don’t wander around hammered at night by yourself but don’t be afraid to put some trust in people and let go once in awhile.

Scribetrotter | 10 June, 2008 at 11:29 pm

A couple of more thoughts to throw into the mix… choosing a ’safer’ destination helps if you’re a woman traveling solo - certain parts of North Africa or Central Asia might not be as welcoming as Western Europe or Southeast Asia… And within countries, your destination counts too - the part of town you’re staying in, the type of accommodation etc…

The other point, and to me it’s an important one, has to do with culture. When I’ve felt most threatened, it’s usually been because of a cultural faux pas - wearing the wrong type of clothing, going out at the wrong time, going to a place meant more for men than women. All of these situations, in my early travel days, could have been avoided had I been more culturally attuned.

I have to admit I love solo travel - I did it for three years some time back and my problem was always finding time to be on my own because it’s so easy to meet people if you make even the slightest effort.

Rohan | 16 June, 2008 at 12:20 am

I feel afraid walking the streets of Newcastle, nevermind travelling alone by myself. I’m not sure I could travel alone.

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