Woman traveling alone?

Although my sister and I usually travel together, sometimes we have had to make trips alone, separately.

The trips to China and Chile were made as “woman who travels alone”.

Sometimes, people ask us if we’re not afraid to travel alone, they know “with so much danger to women.”

In reality, both men and women are exposed to the same threats.

However, by taking a few tips, we can make our journeys as single women what we want: a wonderful adventure of learning and self-discovery.

Prepare

Safety is about prevention. The more you prepare, the less likely you are to find yourself in a dangerous situation. We recommend that you:

You arrive at the destination during the day.
Take only licensed taxis or services with built-in safety features, such as Uber.
Research your destination in advance so you have an idea of the design of the city and the areas you should avoid.
Book at least your first night of accommodation before arriving at a new place.

Stay healthy

Traveling healthy basically comes down to three things: taking prescription medications, keeping an eye on what you eat and drink, and resting. To eat and drink healthy:

Don’t overdo it in alcohol or drug use.Decreased awareness is the last thing you need when traveling alone (and the increased supply and temptation of alcoholic beverages can and does happen).
Ely out food from street vendors or food carts that appear to be freshly cooked and well cooked.
Drink bottled water or fill a bottle of water with water you know comes from a safe source.
Finally, to make sure you rest, don’t overdo your first night in a different time zone.Give your body time to adjust.

Tell people where you’re going

No, you’re no longer 16, but at a minimum you should leave your daily itinerary with a friend or family member at home.Also leave the same information with someone where you stay.

It’s always a reasonable precaution for someone at home to know what you’re scheduled for and when.That way, if something goes wrong and they need to contact you, they will have a general idea of how.

Mix at your destination

Women traveling alone can have a lot of fun, but sometimes it’s nice to meet someone who knows the area. Visit these renowned sites to meet local travelers: Travelettes, Wanderful, Pink Pangea.

Among the things to keep in mind:

She walks like a local, energetically and with a sense of purpose.
Respect the dress code and local customs.It’s up to you to conform to the cultural and religious norms of any country you visit.

Stay in public places

If you feel uncomfortable, stop and ask how to get there. A local can tell you if you’re heading to an unsafe area.

If someone suddenly comes up to you in need of help, look for someone to help.If the situation is a trap, they will be less likely to mess with multiple people.

Learn to deal with men

In certain cultures, men, even if they have no bad intentions, feel “compelled” to flirt with women who go alone.

In small towns, most of the time men speak more English than women.So, for women traveling alone, it can be an advantage to know how to deal and talk to men to get the right direction.

However, sometimes it can be helpful to wear a “fake” wedding ring to protect yourself from potential suitors.

Learn some phrases in the local language

Memorize the phrases and words “Slow down”, “please”, “thank you”, “You can speak slower”, “Where is it…” and some others in the local language.

Duolingo is a great tool for learning phrases and it’s free.And at the very least, if you don’t want to learn a language, get Google Translate and have it translate signs, menus, and text.

Don’t carry a map in your hand

Walking with a map in hand can make you look like a lost tourist, but sometimes it’s the best way to know where you are.

Want to look less flashy? Use a map app like Google Maps or a Lonely Planet guide.

Understand how public transport works

The suitability of public transport for your travels can vary greatly from country to country.Before you leave:

Research the security of the mass transit systems you’ll use and find out how to pay for it
Go and understand where it can take you
To have this information literally at your fingertips, download the Transit app from the mass transit providers of the destination you’re visiting.

Be proactive, not reactive

Choose who to talk to, don’t let yourself be chosen.

Listen to your instincts. Sometimes, you need to be rude, if necessary, to convey your point. If it is people who “insist” on helping or giving an unsolicited service.

Regardless of whether feelings hurt or people get upset, if a polite ‘no’ doesn’t work, rudeness is completely acceptable to ensure your safety.

Never rush to make a decision

If you’re in a crowd, don’t get distracted by someone who comes over to sell something and wants an answer right away.

In general, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Scammers succeed when they can make you make a quick decision without considering the consequences. So take your time.

Use all the same tools you use to stay safe at home. They will keep you safe wherever you go. In other words:

Don’t buy anything from people on the street unless a place you trust can answer for them.
Don’t answer phone calls in the middle of the night.
Don’t let strangers take pictures with your phone or camera.
It’s okay to be cautious when traveling. No one will think less of you for being cautious and skeptical.

Make copies of important documents

Make copies of all your important documents and save them in a separate place. That could mean:

In different places of your person
On your person and in your carry-on luggage
With you and a friend or family member
All of the above, plus a copy in the cloud. Turn them all up to Google Drive (or whatever cloud you’re in) so that if your phone and computer are lost along with your documents, you can still access them.
Take photos of all your travel documents.

Also, before you leave, make sure your passport is valid.If not, hurry up and pay the extra money for an expedited passport renewal.

Photos are one of the main reasons why passport applications are rejected. Remember that you can’t wear glasses in the photo. There are even phone apps that you can use that will help you how to do it.

Be smart with cash

When you use ATMs, withdraw cash during the day and not overnight.
In addition, it distributes cash in several locations; don’t carry it all in your wallet.And use credit cards when it makes sense.
Before you leave, see what mobile banking options are available where you’ll be traveling.Banks’ websites are great for this.
Call credit card companies and your bank and tell them the dates and destinations of your trip, and ask about liability and cancellation protection if you lose your cards.
If you only have one brand of credit or debit card, Mastercard, for example, considers getting a Visa or American Express card.Not all overseas locations accept multiple credit cards.
Finally, sign up to receive text messages and emails for identification issues or fraudulent transactions.

Take care of your belongings

This can be especially difficult (women traveling alone: sorry).However, nothing says “come and snoth” more than a woman dragging four Louis Vuitton suitcases down the sidewalk.Keep it light and simple.

Staying safe means staying alert.To help do that:

Keep your bags in sight at all times.
Carry a purse or purse with a long strap that fits your body. When you leave the equipment on straps, place it between your feet and step on the strap.
Don’t hang a bag on the back of a chair.
Keep your backpack in front of you if you’re in a queue.

Conclusions

From time to time, horror stories emerge in the press about cases of women travelling alone.

However, the press tends to give more publicity to cases of women travelling alone than to men.

All in all, a woman traveling alone is one of the most meaningful experiences one can have.

Traveling can take you out of routines, show you new possibilities and make you a better person. With so many good things in your favor, traveling should be the experience of your life, and it can be, when you take a few simple precautions.

What are you waiting for, woman? Go out and see the world!