One of the most common concerns people come to me with is how to stay safe while traveling alone as a woman. Granted, traveling solo can be scary for anyone, but as a woman, I can surely relate to the added worry we may experience when heading for our next adventure.
A lot of people wonder, why would anyone want to travel solo anyway? Don't you get bored? What do you even do?
My #1 answer for why solo travel is attractive to me is this: I don't have to wait on ANYONE. I don't have to agree with anyone else on a destination, I don't have to argue about costs, and I don't have to worry about mixing travel styles and potentially finding out that my friends/family and I have completely different interests when it comes to how we experience new places. I love traveling with my friends and family as much as the next person, but sometimes you just need to go out solo and enjoy your own company.
However, when traveling alone, it is extremely important to take the necessary precautions to have a safe trip. We must always, and I mean always—keep an eye out for Selener.
Seriously, though. Here are six things I would NEVER advise my clients to do while on a solo vacation:
1. Tell strangers I am there by myself
As a solo female traveler, you might get some awkward stares while you're out and about. Some people don't understand why someone would actually enjoy doing fun activities on their own. So, it is likely you may meet some people that question you and ask: Are you here alone? Where are your friends/family?
My advice: Lie. Tell people your friends are meeting you a little later, or that your husband is back at the hotel taking a nap so you decided to grab a bite on your own. It is no one else's business that you are by yourself, so it's important that you don't go around telling it to just anybody. You should never allow other people to think that if you were to go missing or not return to your hotel, there would be no one looking for you.
A small exception for this is if you would like to let your hotel staff know that you are alone, so maybe you can request for them to keep an extra eye out for you for any strange behavior. However, in some unfortunate cases, you cannot trust them either. It's sad, but it's true.
2. Stare at my phone while walking in public
Not a single Instagram story, text message, or TikTok video is more important than being aware of your surroundings while in an unfamiliar location. If you stare at your phone while navigating your way around, you risk the chance of being pickpocketed or possibly missing a turn to get to your destination. If something around you seems off, it's key to make sure you are able to react quickly and make smart moves.
Sometimes, we may need to look at our phones if we are using maps to get to where we are going. However, this is an easy way to be easily spotted as a tourist and you don't want to appear lost and vulnerable. Try to learn your route before you head out, and take a look at your phone periodically to make sure you're on the right path.
3. Post my location on social media while I'm still there
I get it—you want to show everyone how much fun you're having. I used to do this, too. I would post every second of my trip on my story because I was enjoying myself, making memories, and wanting to share it with my friends and family back home. The truth is, though, they can wait.
When you post your location while it's still current, you risk people seeing it who do not have the best intentions, especially if your profile is public. Tagging your location also adds your post/story to the feed of that specific location, so people who do not follow you may watch it and find out where you are at that exact moment. As of lately, I've made it a point to keep all of my content in my camera roll until I return home or at least change cities, so I don't have to worry about anyone keeping track of my whereabouts. It's also a nice way to ensure you are living in the present.
4. Drink too much alcohol
There's nothing like sipping on a tasty cocktail on the beach while on vacation, or checking out the nightlife in a new city. It's fun, and a great way to celebrate discovering a different place on the map!
While alone, though, you don't want to take it too far. Getting too far under the influence means you will be less aware of what's going on around you. Unlike on group trips where you may have reliable friends to take care of you if you happen to take one too many shots, traveling solo means you have got to look out for yourself. If you do want to go all out when it comes to drinking, perhaps do it at your own hotel/resort where you'll know you can easily make it back to your room (or do it in your room so you're already there!).
5. Go out without a fully-charged phone, a bit of cash, and some type of identification
There are lots of things I make sure I take with me on every trip, like these 10 travel essentials. I like to make sure that I also always take a few things with me every time I leave my hotel. A fully-charged phone (and a portable charger) is extremely important in case you need directions or to contact anybody. I also like to take a little cash because in some countries, credit cards aren't as widely accepted and you don't know if there will always be an ATM around. Lastly, I always keep some type of identification on me such as a driver's license so that if anything happens, people can easily find out who I am.
These are just a few things I like to bring, but whatever is essential to you, make sure you have it with you before you go out and explore.
6. Scare myself out of trying something new
I know a lot of this post has been me trying to teach you guys how not to get kidnapped or pickpocketed, but I think the biggest "don't" of solo travel is letting the fact that you are by yourself scare you out of enjoying your experience. The truth is, there are tons of solo travelers out there and with proper research and preparation, I'm sure you will feel a bit more at ease.
Try that new restaurant. Go on that excursion. Hike to reach that picture-perfect view you were looking at on Google all the time before you arrived. Solo travel really tests your independence and will channel a different level of growth you never experienced before. Honestly, there's a high chance you won't even be fully alone! Traveling allows you to meet so many people along the way, and it's possible you'll make tons of new friends in this new location that you'll remember for a lifetime.
Need help planning your next solo trip? Booking with a travel advisor can help you get rid of some nerves as we are here to make sure your trip is smooth sailing.
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