35 Essential Safety Tips for Solo Women Travelers
Before you buy that ticket, check out Pchy’s top solo travel safety tips to help you boost your confidence while traveling at home or abroad.
Solo travel is an empowering experience that can offer an adventurous avenue for personal growth, immersing yourself in new cultures, and the chance to meet lifelong friends along the way. But, let's face it, being concerned about safety when exploring new and unfamiliar places on your own is not just okay; it’s human nature.
We'd love to tell you that every destination will be without incident, and everyone you meet on your travels has the best intentions, but it doesn't always work out that way. The good news is you can enjoy solo adventures without compromising safety.
That’s why we put together 35 of the most helpful solo travel safety tips for women designed to boost your confidence and give you peace of mind, no matter where your wanderlust takes you.
Common Sense Tips for Safe, Solo Travel
Research Before You Go
Even if you're a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kinda gal, taking a 30,000-foot view of your destination is smart. Go beyond bookmarking attractions and learn about local customs, laws, and potential safety considerations.
2. Share Your Itinerary
Make a detailed itinerary and share it with members of your inner circle. This itinerary should include any major travel days, with relevant booking information, a list of hotels/hostels you'll be staying in, including their phone numbers, tours or activities you've booked ahead of time, local emergency numbers, and the names and contact information of people you plan to connect with at your destination.
Some may find this overkill, but it can give much-needed peace of mind to your loved ones and a detailed paper trail for the authorities if anything were to go sideways on your trip.
3. Stay Connected
Keep your phone charged, set it to low battery mode, and tweak your settings to limit battery usage on the go. Check out how to optimize your phone for travel on Android or iPhone.
Consider carrying a portable charger like the one I brought on my 2,600-mile hike across the U.S. on the Pacific Crest Trail.
You should also make sure all your emergency contacts and digital medical card are up to date so that in an emergency, first responders can access potentially life-saving information. If you're unsure how to do this, find out how to update your emergency contacts and medical ID on your Android or iPhone.
4. Memorize Local Emergency Numbers
Familiarize yourself with local emergency contact numbers (i.e., police, ambulance) in case you need immediate help. In the U.S., you call 911 to contact emergency services. But this number varies from country to country (e.g. "999" in the UK and Ireland, "112" in Spain, "123" in Colombia).
5. Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is one of the smartest investments a solo traveler can make.
I learned this firsthand when, mid-way through a six-month backpacking trip, I had an unexpected medical emergency. Imagine grappling with kidney stones in a remote mountain community without reliable cell service. A kind local ended up taking me down the mountain to the nearest hospital, an hour and a half away. And thanks to travel insurance, I dodged a $10,000 emergency room bill.
Travel insurance doesn't just include emergency medical services; most plans will cover you in the event of theft, lost luggage or unexpected trip cancellations. I used World Nomads for coverage during my thru-hike, but I strongly recommend comparing various travel insurance plans to find the one that aligns with your needs.
6. Learn Basic Phrases in the Native Language
Memorize a few essential phrases in the local language if you need help in an emergency. It also wouldn't hurt to download a translator app if you want to converse more in-depth with locals.
You can also learn a language on the go for free with apps like Duolingo or Babbel.
7. Avoid Sharing Too Many Details
Avoid disclosing too much personal information with strangers. While most people, especially locals, are happy to help, tread carefully and consider intentions before sharing intimate details about yourself, where you’re staying, or the fact that you’re traveling alone with someone who may know more about you than you know about them.
8. Use a VPN
Using public Wi-Fi is almost inevitable when traveling. Public Wi-Fi networks, especially ones lacking encryption like WPA2, allow hackers to "listen" to data being transmitted over the network. Hackers can easily intercept and exploit this unencrypted data, leaving your personal information susceptible to theft. Before using a credit card online or checking your bank balance, turn on a VPN.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts data sent and received over a public Wi-Fi network, making it nearly impossible for hackers to steal your data, safeguarding your private information.
9. Know the Typical Scams of Your Destination
Be wary of anyone offering something for free, especially in bustling tourist areas. Common tourist scams include offering a rose or flower as a friendly gesture, only to demand payment once you accept it. Other scammers may offer to provide directions or carry your luggage, only to insist on payment for their services afterward.
Here's a list of the most common tourist scams to be aware of.
10. Buy and Learn How To Properly Use Self-Defense Tools
Consider carrying personal safety gadgets like whistles, pepper spray, or personal alarms (where legal) and practice using them before you need them.
11. And Actually, Take a Self-Defense Class, Too
Enrolling in a self-defense class isn't just a wise investment for solo women travelers—it's a valuable skill set for everyone to know. The unfortunate reality is that violent crimes can happen anywhere. Knowing how to protect yourself when traveling solo helps you manage dicey situations and gives you a greater sense of confidence.
12. Stay Prepared for Smaller Health Emergencies
Beyond having a good travel insurance plan that covers emergency medical services, you should also carry a small first aid kit in case of minor injuries.
13. Use GPS Tracking
Download apps that let your friends or family back home track your whereabouts. Polarsteps, Zonder, and Life360 are popular in the solo travel community.
14. Be Mindful of Cultural Norms
Never forget you are a guest in someone else's home. Respect cultural norms and traditions to avoid unwanted attention or misunderstandings. It only takes a quick Google search to learn about your destination’s local customs, cultural practices, and modest wear guidelines.
15. Pause Before You Post
Give people a chance to miss you! Avoid posting real-time location updates on social media. Allow a couple of days between postings. Sharing regular updates about your whereabouts, especially if your social media accounts are public, gives away your location and makes it easier for someone to find you.
16. Explore Possible Connections
If you know people in the place you're planning on visiting, make plans to meet up with them in advance. If you want to connect with other solo female travelers, consider joining a dedicated Facebook group to compare itineraries and coordinate a time and place to meet at your destination.
17. Leave The Family Heirlooms At Home
If you'd be devastated to lose it abroad, leave it home. Leave behind sentimental family heirlooms, valuable jewelry, pricey electronics, and luxury bags. If you can't imagine parting with these items, keep them close or locked in a safe in your hotel.
18. Secure Your Belongings
On that same note, protect your belongings during your solo adventures by putting locks on your luggage and stashing valuables in a hotel safe or discreet pockets in your bags. A lot of solo travelers choose to splurge on anti-theft travel bags like these.
19. Keep Copies of Critical Documents
Make and take copies of your ID, passport, debit and credit cards, travel insurance policy, visas and permits, and other important documents and store them separately from the originals.
20. Avoid Isolated Areas
Whenever possible, stick to well-lit and populated areas, especially at night. Even if it shaves off a few minutes of walking time, avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys or isolated places.
21. Don’t Use Headphones While Walking
It makes you less aware of your surroundings and signals a potential mugger that you probably have a smartphone in your pocket.
22. Pretend To Talk on the Phone
If you're walking alone and start to get a funny feeling, pretend you’re on the phone or call a friend. Shady individuals will probably avoid you, fearing you could tip someone off.
23. Stay Alert
Be aware of your surroundings. Don't get distracted by your phone when you're walking in an unfamiliar place. Maintaining situational awareness is one of the best ways to stay safe, here's how to get better at it.
24. Use Reliable Transportation
Opt for licensed taxis, rideshares, or public transportation recommended by trusted sources. Usually, your hostel or hotel will have this information on hand.
25. Understand The City Transit System
Public transit is a great way to learn more about a city and its layout. Before you go, find out how safe it is, how much fares are and how they are paid, and check the transit map against the city map to find out which routes you’ll take.
26. Download Offline Maps
Offline maps can be a lifesaver when you find yourself in areas with spotty internet or zero cell service. It's your go-to backup plan for uninterrupted navigation wherever you roam.
27. Avoid Routine
Vary your routines and avoid establishing predictable patterns to prevent potential stalking or targeting. Change locations, walking routes, when you exit and enter your hotel or hostel, and the cafes, restaurants, or bars you visit.
28. Stay Cautious At Hostels
Choose well-reviewed hostels with secure lockers and female-only dorm options, if available. Review the hostel's safety policies before booking. Research the neighborhood and be aware of potential risks. Trust your gut; don't hesitate to leave if you feel unsafe.
29. Maintain a Confident Walk
Walk confidently, head held high, and with purpose. This makes you appear more aware and less vulnerable. Carrying yourself with confidence can dissuade opportunistic individuals looking for easy targets.
30. Locate Your Nearest Embassy
Familiarize yourself with the nearest embassy or consulate for your country. Embassies offer helpful services for travelers abroad, like issuing emergency travel documents, safety guidelines and evacuation procedures during political unrest or natural disasters, and insights into local customs, laws, and traditions.
31. Practice Smart Hitchhiking
If you need to hitchhike, always use caution and trust your instincts. Take someone with you, tell someone where you are going, get the vehicle's license plate number, and keep your belongings with you and your phone on hand in case you need to call for help or ditch.
32. Learn Basic Car Maintenance
If renting a car, familiarize yourself with basic car maintenance, like tire pressure, oil levels, and battery condition. Check the spare tire and make sure there’s a jack and lug wrench in the trunk.
33. Buy A Multi-Tool
Carry a versatile multi-tool with a small flashlight, blade, scissors, tweezers, and other handy tools to help you make quick repairs or to use as a makeshift weapon.
34. Carry A Map
Carrying a map might seem touristy, but it can be very useful when navigating unfamiliar places. If you’re lost, step into a nearby shop and ask for assistance. If language barriers make communication challenging—you can simply point to your destination on the map, making it easier to find where you need to go.
35. Most Importantly, Trust Your Gut and Have Fun!
Wherever your path may lead, let common sense be your north star, but don’t let fear stop you from carpe-ing that diem. Solo travel offers a privileged opportunity for reflection and inner growth. Treat it as a personal odyssey that transcends geographical boundaries and fosters independence, resilience, and self-love.
