Enjoy solo travel, stay safe

Traveling the world as a solo female? Worried something might happen? Nervous? Think your friends and family might be right about the world “being dangerous”? Not sure where to begin? Fear not. Many women travel the world alone and end up fine.

Life is short — we have limited time to do the things that we really want to do. It’s also a voyage — or a sack of coins that are yours alone to spend. (Those are my metaphors for life, anyway.) And it’s supposed to be fun. For a lot of people, that means not waiting until retirement to travel but rather getting out there and exploring now.

If you want to travel now, but you’re scared to go it alone, you’ll be able to find excuses everywhere if you look for them. You’ll find ways to say you can’t do it right now: you’re not ready; your job, friends, or fears are holding you back; you have too many obligations.

Basically, these excuses mean you’ll never get on the road. Because at every stage of your life, you’ll be able to find a reason why it can’t work for you. It will never be the right time to travel — especially as a woman…

Here are tips for making your solo travel safe:

Be street smart: Be self-reliant and well prepared, so that you don't need to depend on someone unless you want to — carry cash, a map, a guidebook, and a phrase book. Walk purposefully with your head up; look like you know where you're going. If you get lost in an unfriendly neighborhood, be savvy about whom you ask for help; seek out another woman or a family, or go into a store or restaurant to ask for directions or to study your map.

When you use cash machines, withdraw cash during the day on a busy street, not at night when it's dark with too few people around.

Local language: it pays to learn a few words in the local language. That helps to converse with locals at the same time greeting in their language will please them that might help in trouble.

Dress conservatively: That doesn’t mean you need to be covered head to toe; but shorts paired with a tank top are not advisable. Loose cotton clothing that breathes and shields from skin burn works better for the weather too. Keep a scarf handy if needed.

Most public transport has spaces just for women: Hire public transport that has women crowd. Even in restaurants, there will be a “Family Section”. Head straight for those. Added benefit: These usually have air conditioning, though the food costs marginally more.

Stay in Touch via Social Media: Letting people know where and when you will be traveling is a very good safety blanket. While friends or family at home may be limited in what they can do, leaving a breadcrumb trail of your travels on Facebook or a blog is a great way to reassure everyone that you’re safe and enjoying yourself. As you meet fellow travelers, becoming Facebook friends is a great way to keep in touch.

Research Your Destination: Understanding your destination is vital when it comes to planning what to do if something goes wrong. It is always worth checking to see if men in the area are particularly forward or have a tendency to approach female travelers. Knowing the typical tourist scams of a particular destination is also important to look into.

Choose your purse carefully. While a day pack designed with security features is ideal for travel you may prefer to carry a purse. It is better to use purses that you wear across your shoulders. In prevents you from losing money from robbery.