Solo Female Travel: 19 Safety Tips for Traveling Alone as a Woman
So, you think you’re ready for your first solo trip?
That’s what I thought when I went to Italy in my early 20s. I imagined my first trip alone as an empowering, life-changing experience that would allow me to step out of my comfort zone.
And while it was all that and more, it was also scary, stressful, and really, really hard. I got lost, I got catcalled, and I ended up in several situations where I felt very unsafe.
I now know that to have fun and stay safe while on a solo travel adventure requires careful consideration and planning. Here are my top tips for traveling by yourself as a woman.
1. Research Your Destination
No matter how adventurous you are, there will be places in the world you’ll want to avoid, whether due to civil unrest, terrorism, health risks, or something else.
Before you make definite plans, research your travel destination thoroughly. A good starting point is your government’s travel advisories.
Americans can find the US government’s travel advisories here.
Even if a place is deemed safe, make sure it’s also a safe place to travel alone as a woman. It’s a good idea to do further research into local customs, dress codes, potential scams, and areas to avoid.
For example, when I went to some conservative destinations in Asia for the first time, I made sure to add long, flowing pants and long-sleeved t-shirts to my packing list to avoid a) unwanted attention and b) getting sunburned.
Reputable travel guides and travel blogs written by genuine travel experts are an excellent resource and a gold mine of travel tips. You can also ask questions about your new destination on online forums – locals especially like to help people traveling to their country/area for the first time.
2. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
You should always be aware of your surroundings, no matter who you are, but this is particularly important when traveling solo as a woman.
Avoid distractions, like going on your phone or listening to music while walking in crowded and unfamiliar areas. In the evenings and at nighttime, stay in public and well-lit areas.
3. Trust Your Instincts
Always listen to your intuition. If something doesn’t feel quite right on your solo female travel trip, don’t ignore it. Instead, try to extract yourself from whatever situation you’re in.
For example, when I was traveling in South Asia, I got a bad feeling about a taxi driver, so instead of asking him to bring me to my actual destination (which was several hours away), I got him to drop me off in a nearby town. I told him I would spend a day there and contact him the next day to continue my journey. In reality, I called another taxi, and I felt much safer.
Depending on where and how you’re traveling, single females might also want to consider bringing pepper spray (you can typically pack it into a checked bag).
4. Use Personal Safety Apps
Personal safety apps are one of those things that can significantly improve your female solo travel experience and safety.
Take GuardOn, a safety-sharing app compatible with every device, which can be downloaded for free. With GuardOn, women traveling alone can:
- Share their location in real-time with family and friends.
- Send alerts to local authorities and designated contacts, letting them know their situation and where they are with a tap of a button, which can significantly reduce response times in dangerous situations.
- Build an accurate medical profile, with data like allergies and medications, that emergency responders can access when you need medical assistance.
5. Keep Valuables Hidden
When I was in North Africa recently, my phone was stolen from my back pants pocket in what I thought was a safe area. I now always keep my phone in my front pockets or a bag.
A money belt or a hidden pouch for keeping money, credit cards, and important documents safe is also a good idea, as is an anti-theft bag (which can’t be cut open with a knife).
I’m also wary of leaving valuables like my laptop in a hotel room when I’m away for the day, so I always try to keep these things out of sight or bring them with me.
Similarly, I have heard too many horror stories of people’s luggage being ransacked by airport workers, so I always use lockable bags when I travel.
6. Make Copies of Important Documents
You never know when your passport or identity card may be stolen or when you might accidentally lose them yourself. It’s advisable to have digital and physical back up copies of any important documents.
7. Stay Connected
For various reasons, traveling makes staying in touch with your family and friends more difficult. For example, there could be a significant time difference, or you might be in a place that doesn’t have a stable internet connection.
Still, it’s crucial that you check in with those close to you regularly for your own safety. Set up a schedule (for example, texting your friend every second day at 9 pm at night) and send your loved ones travel itinerary updates if you plan to be on the move a lot.
Of course, it’s likely that you may forget to text your family or friends when you’re ticking things off your bucket list.
A personal safety app like GuardOn, which lets those close to you see your whereabouts in real time and comes with a panic button you can press at any time, might be a good option for many solo female travelers.
8. Learn Key Phrases In the Local Language
Not everyone in the world speaks English. Before you embark on your solo adventure, try to learn a few basic phrases in the local language.
I’ve noticed that locals really appreciate this and are almost always more friendly than they would be otherwise. In some places, knowing a few basic words in the local language is the only way you’ll be able to find your way around or order food.
Being able to converse with locals, even at the most basic level, can also help you in case of an emergency.
9. Choose Accommodation Wisely
Whether you’re looking for accommodation on Airbnb or hostelworld.com, always read the reviews, paying special attention to those from other solo female travelers.
Most booking sites let you filter reviews based on whether they have specific words (“solo,” “single,” “alone,” etc.) in them, like so:
You can also search for “best hotels/hostels in [your destination]” lists, but be careful: you don’t know how the selection might have been made.
10. Carry a First-Aid Kit
In my experience, it’s always a good strategy to bring a first aid kit with you wherever you go.
The exact items you’ll want to bring will vary based on your destination (for example, you’re more likely to be able to get everything you need in cities than villages), but some of the things I like to include in my first-aid kit are:
- Plasters.
- Thermometer.
- Antiseptic wipes.
- Scissors.
- Pain killers.
- Imodium.
11. Avoid Oversharing on Social Media
I get it, it’s fun to brag on social media about our amazing travel plans and all the cities we’re visiting as if we were travel bloggers.
But that’s not a good idea. Oversharing can actually put you in danger. If you share your location online, someone could also figure out that you’re not around and try to break into your home.
That said, you shouldn’t overshare in real life, either. If someone you just met asks where you’re staying, it’s a far better strategy to lie or tell them you can’t remember the name of the hotel/hostel you’re staying in.
12. Be Cautious with Alcohol
If you’re going to consume alcohol, try to do so in moderation, particularly if you’re going to be going out at night in an unfamiliar environment.
When you’re going out at night, don’t bring too much cash or any important documents with you, and consider dressing more modestly than you might at home to avoid unwanted attention and dangerous situations.
13. Use Reputable Transportation
On my recent trip to South Italy, I was waiting in a queue outside the train station for a taxi when I was approached by a stranger offering to take me wherever I wanted to go.
I would have been able to skip the queue and pay less, but my common sense prevented me from taking him up on his offer. If none of the Italians were tempted (I wasn’t the only person he approached), I reasoned, then surely nothing good would come out of it.
Especially when traveling as a single female, always stick to official transportation. You can research how to identify public transportation at your destination online.
For example, here’s what public buses look like in India according to Google Images:
If taking an Uber, I swear by taking a photo of the vehicle’s registration plate (in full view of the driver – you want them to see you doing this) and sending it to my family or friends.
14. Join Group Tours or Activities
Just because you’re a solo woman traveling alone doesn’t mean you must spend all your time alone.
If you find yourself missing other people’s company, see if you can find a group tour or activity you could join as a way to make new friends and meet locals as a single person. As a bonus, this will help you stay safer while exploring.
15. Connect with Other Women Traveling Alone
If you’d like to make new friends with other women traveling alone, see if you can connect with other women traveling solo. It’s a good way to get support, share experiences, and find fun and like-minded travel companions.
Check out:
16. Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance may cost a little extra, but it’s totally worth it for the peace of mind that it brings.
17. Avoid Showing Maps Publicly
The biggest giveaway that someone is a clueless tourist? They stare at Google Maps while navigating their way around. Extra points if they have a voice guide enabled.
Don’t get me wrong: Google Maps is really handy, and I use it all the time. But to look less conspicuous, consider studying the route before you leave your accommodation. Or use Google Maps (or another navigation app) with earphones.
18. Have a Plan for Emergencies
When you’re traveling, things are bound to go slightly wrong. But if you have a plan for emergencies, then whatever happens shouldn’t derail your trip too much.
Before you go on your trip, create a personal emergency action plan. Things you might want to consider include:
- Do you know local emergency numbers? If not, do you have an app that can notify local emergency services if you’re ever in trouble? For example, GuardOn provides global access to local emergency services.
- Do you have your country’s embassy contact information?
- Do you have back ups of your documents?
19. Follow Local News
You may only be visiting, but you should stay up to date with local news. Regardless of whether it’s New York, New Zealand, Mexico, Colombia, or Europe, keeping an eye on local and global media outlets can help you stay on top of any potential safety concerns or changes.
When I was visiting an island nation near China in early 2020, a local (English language) news website gave me enough warning about COVID-19 that I could make it home just before all flights were canceled.
Journey Solo, but Never Alone
Traveling alone as a woman can feel exhilarating. At the same time, it can also feel like one of the scariest things in the world. I hope that the above safety tips will make you feel at least a little bit more confident.
Something to remember is that going on a solo adventure doesn’t have to mean you’re completely on your own.
Personal safety apps like GuardOn let you share your exact location with friends and family and send emergency alerts to trusted contacts and local authorities in real time. With 24/7 monitoring service, GuardOn is your full-time travel companion, always there to make sure you’re alright no matter where in the world you may be.
