More Than 50 Safety Tips for Female Travel
Travel is one of the greatest pleasures of my life so I am thrilled to share this blog with you. Along my various journeys and trips, and in learning more about how we travel as women, from my personal experiences and the experiences of other women, by far, one of the biggest concerns of female travelers is safety. I am in many female travel groups on Facebook and the topic of safety surfaces frequently, for many good reasons of course. In addition to the multitude of great articles already available with tips for traveling safely as a woman, this is why I am sharing my top tips for staying safe as a female traveler, whether traveling alone, with a companion or with a group. Regardless of the travel styles and options, women have many safety concerns that require planning, solutions and options.
So, in this blog I am sharing more than 50 safety travel tips that I have accumulated in my personal travel experience to over 30 countries and hundreds of towns and cities across six out of the seven continents. I have visited countries, towns and cities in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania (with only Antarctica left as the seventh continent to round out my travel experiences).
My top travel safety tips are related to:
Documents
Accommodation
Phone
Clothing
People
Self-defense
Awareness
So, let’s get started with my list of safety suggestions:
Learn about travel advisories before booking your trip to determine if the destination is safe
Do a google search of the news on the destination to learn about the location before booking your trip
Email a photo of your passport to someone you trust
Send your travel itinerary to someone you trust
Buy travel insurance and email a copy to someone you trust
If there is an embassy of your country where you are visiting, you might choose to register with the embassy
Leave your passport (if it is not required to carry with you in that country) and large amounts of cash and extra credit cards in the locked safe in your accommodation
Choose accommodation that is in a safe neighborhood (you can research safe neighborhoods online) such as areas where embassies are located
Choose accommodation with a 24-hour front desk presence
Bolt all locks and latches on your accommodation door
Do not open your accommodation door for anyone you do not recognize even if they claim to be sent by the accommodation property
Do not post the name or location of your hotel accommodation on social media at least until after you have completed your trip
Notice and identify landmarks (a shop, a tree, a building, for example) near your accommodation so that you know when you are safely approaching your accommodation
Keep your mobile phone charged for use if needed
Include roaming on your mobile phone and/or buy a local SIM card or eSIM to use your mobile if needed
Research your destination through blogs, videos, articles, books, podcasts, documentaries, social media, travel groups such as facebook travel groups in general and for that particular destination to gain confidence, knowledge, trust, information, comfort in your understanding of how things work more or less in the places you are visiting so that you are calmer and less anxious about your trip
Plan your routes before leaving your accommodation or use online maps like google maps or maps or ask your hotel/host for a local map and directions to the places you want to visit so that you are confident in finding places
If you get lost, go inside a shop or cafe and ask the host discreetly for directions instead of standing on the sidewalk looking at your phone or map for directions in plain view of people on the street
Share your mobile phone location tracking with someone you trust
Keep your purse close across the front of your body or keep your money and documents in your coat inside pockets or in a travel waist bag/pouch under your clothing
Wear clothing that is in alignment with local customs so that you don’t draw too much unwanted attention to yourself
Wear comfortable shoes that allow you to walk quickly or run easily if needed
Connect with local women in the destination prior to traveling through women’s Facebook groups including (though not limited to) Solo Female Travelers, Host a Sister, and Host a Vegan Sister
Attend meet-ups (meetup.com or Eventbrite or Facebook) in the destination to make new like minded friends
Do not tell everyone that you are alone on your trip to avoid potentially becoming a target of someone with problematic intentions
Do not tell strangers on your trip where you are staying to avoid problematic people finding you at your accommodation
Use drivers recommended by your accommodation or from another trusted source for tours/transportation
Ask your accommodation and your trusted travel groups (such as Facebook groups) for recommended places to eat, visit, shop, etc.
Let your accommodation know where you are going for the day so that someone locally knows where you are
Keep in touch regularly with a loved one so that someone knows that you are safe
Do not tell taxis and ride share drivers that you are alone and do not share personal information with them; keep the conversations focused on the tourist sights in the location that you are visiting
Match the color, make, model and license plate number of your driver (Uber or other rideshare vehicle) with the information on the app to ensure you enter the correct vehicle
Take a self defense class prior to traveling so that you can cultivate that inner confidence and skills that will strengthen your courage in public even if you never have to use the self-defense skills that you learned
Check if the local tap water is safe to drink to avoid potential issues
Do not drink too much alcohol to allow yourself to stay alert
Do not accept drinks given to you or bought by other people
Do not leave your drink out of your sight at any time once it is served to you by the server
Do not be afraid to scream if someone approaches you in a problematic way (this is not the time to be polite, a people pleaser, Miss Goodie Two Shoes, Little Miss Perfect, or Little Miss Manners)
Do not talk to complete strangers on the street who approach you randomly; just keep walking away from them without making eye contact
If you feel uncomfortable with someone in the street, switch sides of the street
Do not be afraid to actually run away from someone if you feel uncomfortable with them (this is not the time to be polite, a people pleaser, Miss Goodie Two Shoes, Little Miss Perfect, or Little Miss Manners)
Trust your instincts, trust your gut, and if someone feels problematic, leave immediately as you are not obligated to be available to everyone who wants you to be available to them
Stay adequately hydrated to ensure your body and alertness are functioning properly
Practice awareness of your surroundings, even in your hometown, so that you take that awareness with you on your trips
Walk with confidence
Avoid walking alone at night in places where there are not a lot of people
Get enough rest, relaxation and sleep so that you are energized and alert
Attend local classes such as yoga, deep breathing, meditation sessions in yoga and wellness spaces to be in the safety of like minded people and to increase your clarity and alertness
Practice mindfulness and attention to your surroundings by noticing the sounds, smells, people and places around you and how you are feeling in your body so that you are more aware and alert to stay safe in the present moment versus being preoccupied by the past or the future; and to keep your awareness of your surroundings to avoid colliding with objects
Practice meditation, deep breathing and journaling to calm your nervous system and enhance your enjoyment of your trip
Choose a retreat as a best of both worlds travel option of solo travel and group travel so that you will have travel companions for most of your trip with the option for alone time whenever you wish
Enjoy your trip. After all enjoyment is part of being a safe traveler since if you are not having a nice time you might become more distracted by your lack of enjoyment so enjoy your trip.
Share your own travel safety tips with others (in blogs, articles, videos, posts, etc.) to expand the knowledge and experiences of female travelers worldwide.
I would super love to hear your thoughts about the travel safety tips I have shared. It would also be great to hear your personal travel safety tips so please add them in the comments.
I’ll be back to share more travel tips in the near future. Until then, happy travels and take good care. Bye bye.
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Best wishes,
Angel
Certified Raw Vegan Chef & Yoga Teacher
Wellness Lifestyle Coach & Author
Meditation & Retreat Leader