15 Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers

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Hands down, one of the biggest hesitations keeping more women from traveling solo is the possibility of harm. Not that traveling itself is inherently more dangerous. I mean…being a woman, femme, or existing in a non (white) male body IN GENERAL is a constant and exhausting battlefield. But still, the thought of anything unpleasant happen to you while traveling because you were simply alone and a woman is an understandable deterrent- regardless if it’s just as likely to happen at home. So, to help alleviate some of the anxiety women may have around traveling alone, I’ve come up with some top tier safety tips for solo female travelers!

But wait, THERE’S MORE.

Not only did I include my own personal tried and true techniques, but I also asked other women travelers around the world for their best safety tips for solo female travelers. We all have different perspectives, upbringings, and even obstacles that the world hurdles our way. So you’re getting a wide variety of advice that you may not have heard or thought of before! You might just learn something new. Plus, because I constantly need people to laugh at my jokes or else I will literally perish, my preferred method of travel is not solo, so it’s always good to have suggestions from people who mainly travel solo!

If you’re already comfortable traveling solo, then it’s a great list to pass on to another fresh traveler to help them on their journey.

This is going to be a somewhat long post, so let me just break down what you’re getting yourself into. I’ve divided these safety tips for solo female travelers into four sections of safety: lodging, transportation, social, physical, and psychological. In my experience, those are the aspects of travel safety that I focus on. AND, it’ll help keep things a bit more tidy and organized. If you are more concerned about one thing over another, you can head straight to that section.

Okie dokie, let’s get started.

Lodging Safety

Ah yes, lodging. It is the home base of your travels, so you definitely need to ensure you feel safe where you lay your head. While there may be differences of opinions whether you should splurge or budget for this aspect of travel, one thing lodging definitely needs to be is SAFE.

Picking Reputable Hotels

by Martha from May Cause Wanderlust

While you may be able to budget by staying in Airbnb rentals, hostels or even camping or couch surfing, staying in an established hotel carries an unmatched level of peace of mind. There are several safety benefits in staying hotels when travelling solo, and one of the primary benefits is double-locked doors. Every room will have locked doors which require a key. And most will also have a bolt or a chain lock that can only be opened from the inside as a secondary measure, especially in global chain hotels.

Another safety feature that hotels possess is having a second point of entrance security. Not only is your individual door locked, but there is also another boundary at the hotel entrance, which also comes equipped with video surveillance and at least one guard or employee at the front desk. Booking a hotel with 24-hour reception is an extra added benefit, not only because they can recommend their favorite spots around the city, but also because they are available to help you at any time.

To keep costs low, aim to look at budget hotels from global brands (such as Hampton Inn, Residence Inn, Holiday Inn – basically anything with an “Inn” lol). Sign up for their free loyalty programs to save even more money by using reward points and discounts. Or, use a hotel booking website, like Hotels.com or Booking.com, that offer loyalty programs that work across multiple hotel brands.

Temporary Refuge in Hotels and Businesses

by Nina Clapperton from Nina Out and About

If your spidey-senses start tingling, like if someone has been walking behind you for a suspiciously long time, or is following you after making lewd comments, or has otherwise made you feel uncomfortable – pop into the nearest hotel or business.

Seriously.

Even if you’re not staying there, hotels have a reason to keep the location safe: it benefits their income. So they’re almost always willing to lend a hand. Since hotels are basically everywhere, or at least the areas you are likely to be in as a tourist, it’s also easy and convenient place to find when needed. You can even visit a hostel in a pinch.

As noted previously, they will most likely have security or at least an employee who can help ensure that the stranger danger has passed. They’re also a safe place to sit and wait for a while if the person is not passing on as needed. The employees can advise on the best course of action, and even help you get a cab back to your hotel if needed.

Don’t worry about feeling intrusive, the interaction will go something like this. You’ll pop in, speak to a representative with the smallest line (or the person manning the doors), and ask them for help. Say that you are alone walking to X location and someone is following you or making you feel unsafe. It’s that easy.

Even if you feel as though you are overreacting to shadows because you’re on your 8th murder podcast of the day, it’s better to be safe than sorry. In contrast, do NOT seek refuge in a bathroom or try to outrun the person; for one you can end up cornered with no alternative exit, but it also puts you in a position where there are no other people to see or help. Lodgings can have multiple uses besides just sleeping!

Securing Your Belongings (and Yourself!)

by Peta of Exit45 Travels

Keeping your valuables safe and secure is something most travellers have had concerns about at some point or another in their travels. The large majority of people travel with their phone, laptop, camera, passport, and even more valuables if they are traveling while working remotely. And that’s exactly the kind of valuables that are prone to getting lost or stolen.

Aside from duct-taping your valuables to your chest when you go out to explore, you can just as easily leave them behind in your lodging. If you’re staying in a familiar chain hotel, you’ll probably feel comfortable just leaving it in your room with no extra precautions. But if you’re staying somewhere a little iffier, or in a shared lodging space, you might want a little extra peace of mind.

The two best items to secure your belongings in your room are the Pacsafe Portable Travel Safe and the Pacsafe Retractable Cable Lock. The brand has a fantastic reputation amongst travelers for their anti-theft technology, quality and durability. With the travel safe, you can put all of your small valuables (passport, jewelry, credit cards, etc) in the travel safe and secure it to a heavy fixed structure. If you are out and about on the town, the cable lock is a great way to easily attach your day bag to your chair, beach umbrella, or even your seat on a bus or train.

Another great thing to have, even for the most secure of lodgings? A door stopper. It’s one of the safety tips for solo female travelers that is often overlooked, but having a wedge door stopper is an easy peace-of-mind item to give you extra security once you are in your room for the night. It also comes with an alarm that goes off when pressure is applied. You should definitely try it out at home before you take it on a trip with you, as you will need tools to get the battery in.

Transportation Safety

Transportation can always be a cause of frustration and anxiety for travelers. Especially abroad, when you may not know the local customs or culture around transportation. The number one reason – you have to give up a certain amount of personal control. For transportation safety tips for solo female travelers, we’re going to focus on suggestions that will make you feel comfortable and secure when getting from point A to B.

Screenshot Car Reservation Details

Car rentals are a hit and miss. Sometimes, they’re great and really want to give you the BEST customer experience possible and exceed your every expectations.

Other times…well, they’re not so great.

In general, the not so great run-ins with car rental companies involve them trying to upsell you on additional (and unneeded) features. If you are a woman, they might even push EXTRA hard. Even if you reserve and lock in your price in advance, they may charge you the current (higher) rate, tack on “seemingly mandatory” car rental insurance, and claim additional service fees.

Don’t let them get away with it.

If you reserve your car in advance, screenshot the reservation page. Often, car rental buildings have notoriously terrible signal and WiFi. That’s intentional. Pull up your screenshot that confirms your locked-in price, and be sure to note if your reservation includes all fees so they don’t try to over charge you. Also, take pictures of your car AND manually check that all the hubcaps and door handles aren’t loose before you drive off, because they’ll try to charge you for that too.

And yes, I’m speaking from personal experience.

If you’re in the market for a travel credit card, I highly recommend you take a look at the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. It doesn’t work for everyone’s level of travel, AND it has a super expensive annual fee. BUT, it is the only travel credit card that offers primary car rental insurance (meaning they won’t report anything to your personal car insurance!!!). It has given me incredible peace of mind when renting cars because now I can decline any and all added “insurance” by the rental company.

Opt for Women-Led Tours and Guides

Sometimes, the most exciting way to explore a new country as a solo traveler is to join a group tour, or hire a personal driver. It certainly cuts down on the headache, but being in an unfamiliar group of people – or 1 on 1 with a driver – can be a source of worry for a lot of women. In that case, one of the best safety tips for solo female travelers is to seek out women-led tours and personal drivers.

While anyone of any gender is capable of harm, women led tours are often more accommodating and considerate to the needs of women and femmes, and have experienced global misogyny of their own while traveling. I had multiple friends hire personal drivers (specifically in Jordan, though it could happen anywhere) and experienced their driver sexually harassing and/or assaulting them. Despite what their ratings might be, definitely cross-check any personal driver you hire with other solo female travelers.

A simple google search could help you find tours that specialize in that country, but I would also like to shout out a few of my favorite women owned tour groups. Note that some tours, while woman led, may have co-ed participants.

• The Roaming Republic
• Escaping NY
• Broke Ass Girl Travel Tours
• REI Women Adventures
• One Girl Wandering Tours
• Go Jolley

Rideshare Safety

This is one of the biggest safety tips for solo female travelers in the modern age, and one that recently went viral when my friend Ciara from Hey Ciara shared one of her experiences of almost getting into the wrong Uber. And that Uber driver was INTENTIONALLY trying to deceive women and pretend they were their Uber driver.

Whenever you use any kind of ridesharing app, ALWAYS run through the following checklist:

• Verify the license plate. If it does not match, DO NOT GET IN THE CAR.
• The driver should also verify who YOU are. They will have your name and maybe an identifying marker (number, color, etc) that will match on your app. They should verbally say your name to confirm, do not tell them first.
• Ask them THEIR name. Compare with their profile picture.
• Send your location tracking to a trusted friend.

You can also opt to look into local rideshare apps that cater to women riders. Many cities have them specifically for their area, and can give you a little extra peace of mind. If you prefer public transit, some countries even have women or family-only passenger cars on the train.

Sharing Real-time Location with Close Contacts

by Three Week Traveller

Similar to the rideshare reason, sharing your real time location with close family and friends is one of the best safety tips for solo female travelers. ESPECIALLY if you are traveling to multiple cities/countries over a long period of time. It is also useful for road trips and any situation where you may be moving around a lot and may be too busy to communicate regularly.

Programs like Google Location Sharing works great (and easily accessible), but the feature comes in many phones now as well. In any worst case scenario, your last known location can be viewed by the trusted person you share your location with. It also shows when was the last time (timestamp) the location has been refreshed.

If you go with the Google Location Sharing option, all you need to do is open the Maps app and click the menu (your photo bio) then add the email address of the person you want to share your location with. Email addresses don’t have to be Gmail. If you forgot to turn off the location sharing, Google will email you once in a while to remind you which sharing is still active. And if your location hasn’t updated in a while (or whatever your planned pace is), your close contacts can reach out to you just as a precaution.

If you are leaving the country and do not have an international plan, consider picking up an international SIM card at your destination or using a pocket WIFI like KeepGo so that you can stay connect without worrying about conserving your mobile data.

Social Safety

Traveling alone doesn’t mean you have to BE alone. One of the most rewarding parts of solo travel is the freedom to meet and interact with so many new people. And you SHOULD try it out. But, at the same time, it could also be the most cause for concern. STRANGER DANGER, am I right? This portion will cover safety tips for solo female travelers as it relates to social settings and engaging with other people.

Not revealing your solo status

by Soujanya from The Spicy Journey

One of the most helpful safety tips for solo female travelers, and solo travelers in general, is to not reveal to anyone that you’re travelling alone.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but think about it. Let’s say you’re taking a bus within a city, or that you’re sitting in a park by yourself, and a stranger strikes up a conversation with you. Great! That’s what traveling solo is all about right? Meeting new people? But, just like at home, you don’t really know a stranger’s intentions. Instead of immediately following up with a “hi, my name is ___, i’m all alone in this city and no one is keeping track of me :)” maybe…instead…opt for something more vague.

Say that you are here in the city/place with some friends, but they are still asleep after a long night so you’re waiting for them to be up and join you here. Or, you could even say that you’re travelling in a group, but wandered off to see another place and that you’ll catch up with your group shortly.

By letting them know that there are people who are aware of your whereabouts and are expecting to see you soon, you’re adding a layer of safety. Yes, people will be curious and there are genuine connections to be made, you don’t have to treat everyone like the next Netflix docu murderer, buuut…as some general safety tips for solo female travelers, it’s always best to keep your wits about you. Once you solidify their good intentions and have more info on them, thennn you can progress to your next level of friendship. Plus, there are less sketch ways to meet other travelers abroad than trusting randos in alleys to walk you home.

No matter what anyone’s intentions are, the general take-home for safety tips for solo female travelers is to never take risks with your safety and security.

Delayed Posting on Social Media

This is one of the more recent safety tips for solo female travelers with the introduction to social media in our daily lives. Even if you aren’t a mega influencer – PEOPLE BE CRAZY.

When you are traveling alone, don’t update your social media in real-time. Don’t share your dope itinerary with dates to the masses. Don’t update your stories with location tags while you’re still there. Avoid giving too many details about your immediate future travel plans or whereabouts. In fact, don’t even post pictures from your hotel room balcony because PEOPLE ARE DETECTIVES out here. Especially when its opened up to the masses.

The exception is like, your personal Facebook page or private Instagram where you can control the number of people who would see your location. Why?

Best intentions scenario: Random followers who genuinely enjoy your content will just…show up where you are and want to join you. Now, this might not inherently sound like a red flag, but imagine feeling pressured to stick around someone because they sought you out.

Not-best intention scenario: Instead of a well-meaning person, an ill-meaning person may pop up. Either to randomly troll, or just an everyday hater trying to ruin someone’s day. It happens. And I am nottt trying to get jumped on vacation, okay??

Even more sinister…well, you can probably imagine worst-case scenarios all on your own. So, just to sum it up for safety tips for solo female travelers, and social media safety in GENERAL, keep it vague and delayed until you are HOME.

Keep Your Assets Close

by Alison from Exploration Solo

One of the general safety tips for solo female travelers is to be very vigilant of your surroundings. Specifically, pickpockets and pickpocket adjacents. Pickpocket adjacents – meaning credit card fraud and identity swipes. With only one pair of eyes, it can be tough to look out for.

These days, pickpocketing isn’t just limited to someone snatching your bag. Though, that still applies as well. In fact, your credit cards don’t even have to leave your bag to get digitally “snatched.” Many credit cards have Radio Frequency Identification that allows you to make purchases with a tap instead of having to swipe. If this is the case, your card information can be stolen with a reader in close proximity.

The good news is that thieves should not be able to retrieve your information for identity theft. At least, from this alone. The bad news is that they can purchase items and create a headache for you and your credit card company. And in the middle of crowded streets and passerbyers, you may not even notice until they’re trying to cop $40 worth of Chipotle catering. Not cute.

Cash is physical, and with that, comes a bullseye on your back. Every country has situations where tourists loosely carrying fistfuls of cash may become a target for scammers, tricksters, and…well, muggers. Showing a little extra money might even get you up-charged at businesses because…they can see you can technically afford it. It’s hard to talk your way out of these situations, especially alone.

To combat this, consider getting these two very useful products. The first would be an RFID blocking bag and/or wallet. The second would be a wallet that has separate compartments. Ideally, you may be able to find one that has both aspects. The RFID blocking provides extra protection against anyone trying to digitally swipe your credit card information. By having a wallet that compartmentalizes to separate your cash and avoid showing all of your money at once. If you’re just reaching for your sunglasses, you don’t have to flash your wallet in the process. And, if someone does manage to get their fingers into one of the compartments, they won’t take all of your stash.

For extra protection, you can wear your crossbody bag under your jacket or shirt. A few great options for these items are below:

• The Flex Bag (cute crossbodybag with compartments)
• Leather Wallet with Zipper (RFID wallet)

Enjoying Nightlife Responsibly

by Victoria from Guide your Travel

Navigating nightlife is always a source of concern for female solo travelers. You want to let your hair down, have fun, and attend some wild parties while traveling, but how do you also ensure (to the best of your ability) your wellbeing and safety as well?

The easiest safety tips for solo female travelers wanting to enjoy nightlife? Avoid going out by yourself if you can by finding new friends to go with you, or joining an already established group. Staying in hostels is a sure-fire way to find new people, specifically other women, to accompany you on a night out.

Pick lively hostels, or even party hostels, if you’re planning on going out a lot. Try to hang around the common areas and room a lot in the first few days to make contact with. You can also join local Facebook groups (every town usually has an expat or traveler Facebook group with tips and friendly people eager to hang) and set up a night out. You can also meet other solo travelers at lounges or the restaurant bar, and if you feel comfortable with a few of them, continue the night as a group to look out for each other – not one on one.

And it might go without saying, but safety tips for solo female travelers who choose to go to a bar or club alone, be aware of your drinking, never take a drink from someone else, and never leave your drink unattended.

Physical Safety

Your physical safety is probably what first comes to mind when you think of safety tips for solo female travelers. How do you protect your body from PHYSICAL harm? We’ve gone through all the other safety tips for solo female travelers, and they all accompany some aspect of physical safety as well. While anyone can be harassed or attacked, but statistics show women are more than three times as likely to be physically assaulted or harassed walking alone than men, and the assault on women is more likely to turn violently physical. So it’s no wonder that physical safety tips for solo female travelers is among the top questions asked.

Know Your Self-Defense Rights

Growing up as a women, or even femme-presenting, you know that the world does not have your back when it comes to ensuring your physical safety. As an unfortunate result, you have to take it upon yourself to ensure your own physical safety. We are engrained to stay vigilant at home, by carrying mace, holding our keys between our knuckles, taking self-defense classes, and always noting if someone seems to be on our same path for too long.

But what happens when you leave home? Are you still able to legally defend yourself if the worst happens?

One of the top safety tips for solo female travelers is to always know your rights to self-defend as a visitor. MOST places allow physical self-defense with “reasonable” force. But the limit of reasonable varies. Are you in a country that permits the use of weapons or objects as self-defense? Is pepper spray illegal? In destinations that allow individuals to carry firearms – could you shoot an intruder with a knife? Do you have a duty to self-retreat?

For added peace of mind, especially if you will be in a destination for an extended period of time, just know what your self defense rights are in your destination. In terms of packing for your trip, check with the airlines on their policies. For example, in the USA, pepper spray and tasers are allowed in checked luggage as long as they are secured and packed correctly. However, sharp keychains and key blades will probably be confiscated if you try to take them in your carry-on.

Traveling whilst Disabled or with Chronic Conditions

by Elvy from Elvy’s Blog

The biggest safety tips for solo female travelers who are disabled is to be mindful of both accessibility and the social interactions, as both can have an affect on your physical safety. If you are alone and fall while in the bathroom or hotel room, and you are physically unable to get up or get back to your chair, you may risk being stuck for an extended period of time.

It’s always helpful to make yourself and your access needs known to the staff in the unlikely event that you have a fall or accident and need to call reception for assistance. On that note, always keep your mobile phone charged and on your person/nearby. This precaution also extends to other scenarios where your physical body might be challenged, for example during an activity on a group tour, and you may need support. Ensure your method of transportation (whether public or private) can accomodate your access needs, which may involve notification ahead of time. Having a plan in place goes a long way for your peace of mind.

Other parts of these safety tips for solo female travelers revolve around equipment or medication. Traveling with a wheelchair…can come with its dreaded moments, like getting off the plane and realizing your wheelchair has been completely damaged and is unusable. It could also mean the airline has lost your medication, or you have a flare-up on vacation. You might be traveling with food allergies and experience a bad reaction.

Wtf do you do in that situation?!

This completely depends on your individual needs, and it may mean you need to get in touch with a local disability service or health provider, which means your pre-travel checklist might include jotting down the local numbers for those services. It’s important to think about this before you travel alone, as sometimes it could mean the best solution would be taking a flight back home. Just ensure you keep hold of all your documents, record, take pictures, and pursue compensation or reimbursement for your time and finances with the responsible party if appropriate.

The reality of having a disability and travelling solo sometimes means you are forced into making hard decisions that prioritise your physical needs, so mentally preparing yourself for hard decisions, like leaving your destination, should they arise is helpful.

Walk with Confidence

by Alanna from the Great Ocean Road Collective

Like most things in life, one of the fundamentals of safety tips for solo female travelers is having confidence. When you have confidence you will seem like a seasoned traveler, who is not naive to scams or unsavory characters. You may even be mistaken for a local resident.

When you walk with confidence, you won’t be seen as a target. Walking with your head up and with long strides indicates that you know where you are going. If you are not sure where you are heading while in the midst of exploring, stop to collect yourself in a cafe or store. Reorient yourself or ask the attendants as opposed to standing dazed, alone, and visibly confused in the streets.

Plus, when you walk with confidence, you actually feel more confident too. Published studies have shown that closed body language increases stress levels in the body. While you should always stay vigilant, but it might help you enjoy your trip a little more when you exude confidence. Fake it until you make it. And, if you already struggle at home with self-confidence, traveling can help you build it for yourself. Traveling solo will expose you to new challenges and obstacles, and you WILL learn how to deal with them on your own.

You got this.

Hiking

by Taylor from Nomads in Nature

One of the number one safety tips for solo female travelers, especially while hiking, is to not go off the grid.

Use the Cairn app to let your selected contacts know where you are going, your exact location in real-time, and when you plan to be back. The app will automatically notify those contacts if you are not back when estimated. In addition, the app lets you download offline maps so you can view your location without cell service or wifi. The app also lets you see where other people had cell service while on the hike.

You can test the app out fully for 30 days to decide if the app is worth it before subscribing. The contacts you select to notify while using the app do not need to download the app to be notified or see your location.

Pro tip- make sure to bring a portable charging pack and charging cable with you on hikes so running low on battery isn’t a worry.

Psychological Safety

Outside of your physical safety, securing your belongings, and ensuring you don’t end up on the wrong train headed in the wrong direction, traveling alone can also bring up some unexpected mental anxiety. What if you do everything “right”, but still can’t fit in? What if you look “too different”? As much as you want to like travel, how can you prepare in the event that it might not like you back at times? The following safety tips for solo female travelers are meant to ease your mind about societal expectations and what to do if/when you hover outside of them.

Baby Steps

Honestly – it might take some time to get your mind in the space to prepare for solo travel. That’s okay. AND, that’s normal. If you are someone who can dive into new things head first, more power to you, but that isn’t the right path for everyone. You can slowly ease your way into traveling alone, and being comfortable with yourself outside of your daily routine is one of the biggest safety tips for solo female travelers. Even beginners.

Start by taking yourself out on dates in your hometown. Figure out the kinds of activities you would enjoy during a trip…by doing them at home. Solo. Go to museums, join a cooking class, check out a nearby hiking trail, attend a cultural event or comedy show. Most important – GO OUT TO EAT BY YOURSELF. Be very comfortable with this, because it’ll alleviate a lot of solo travel anxiety in the future.

When you feel like you’re ready, keep pushing yourself with day trips to nearby cities. And then weekend trips farther away. And finally, leave the country. Leave the continent.

Leave your comfort zone. Solo travel is still just as incredible an experience if you choose to work yourself up to it.

Hold Yourself Appropriately

by Miry from Miry Giramondo

One of the important safety tips for solo female travelers is to be sensitive and respectful of cultural dressing. Now, that isn’t in an oppressive “DO WHAT THE PATRIARCY SAYS” or “WELL WHAT WAS SHE WEARING” kind of way, but it’s not cute to be disrespectful to other communities.

Do some research on the country and sites you plan to visit, if not to simply learn more about the place, but to at LEAST avoid making a fool of yourself. In some cities, public spaces like malls or buses may ask you to leave if you’re wearing booty shorts and lingerie for tops. Regardless of your own faith, spirtuality, or religion, respect the dress of temples, mosques, and spiritual places. Don’t try to slip off your hair cover at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to get a Instagrammable shot – it’s cringe.

As much as we all love a good butt shake, hold off on twerking at painful historical sites. Imagine accidentally drinking water out of a fountain that you’re supposed to wash your hands in. Check yourself before you wreck yourself and stay informed on the regional culture.

Avoiding Scams

by Jenny from Traveling Party of Four

Scams are a common worldwide problem that travelers face. Heck, even that residents in their own city face. That said, one of the best safety tips for solo female travelers when it comes to avoiding scams is to do a little investigative work.

Particular scams are more prevalent in certain countries, so you can research these scams by using Google and reading about experiences that other travelers had in those places. A great place to find those experience? In travel focused groups on facebook, and from travel bloggers! Knowing what to expect and what to look out for before visiting is key to avoiding scams.

In general, some of the most common scams include taxi drivers not turning on their meter, or declaring the meter is the price PER person (in shared cars). Always be sure to confirm the price and payment before accepting the ride. There are also scams that include someone reaching out to hand you something, and when you instinctively take it, they perform a service like a palm reading or massage and demand payment for it.

While most scams are generally harmless (physically anyway), they can shake you a bit, so it’s always good to have a heads up about them.

Navigating Discrimination

by Emma from Invincible Woman On Wheels

Surprise. The discrimination and systemic exclusion you may face at home does not magically disappear when you travel. Sorry. But, that shouldn’t discourage you from traveling since, again, it happens at home too. However, it can definitely impact the way you travel, especially since those experiences may make trusting people and their intentions very difficult.

These “stranger interactions” are not always completely avoidable, but if you’ve ever been called a racial slur on the street, or denied entry to a building due to lack of elevators, you know how quickly it can shift the mood of the day. Will you have to spend your entire trip wondering whether if you’ll have to hear moans and grumbles while the bus extends its ramp? Or have your plane neighbor roll their eyes when they see you walking down the aisle towards the row. How do you to avoid the stress and mental exhaustion?

One of the biggest aspects of mental safety tips for solo female travelers is to know what you can and cannot control.

Disabled women are twice as likely to be assaulted or harassed as non-disabled women, and that is something to take into account if you are a disabled traveler. If you may need to rely on others to help you onto public transportation (who COULD use that as an excuse to harm you), try investigating if their are alternative routes to that would not require public transportation.

Even when people do not have harmful intentions, their reasons for approaching you and talking to you can be intrustive, vulgar, and downright offensive. Intentions do not matter if they result in the harassment of disabled travelers, BIPOC travelers, LGTBQA+ travelers, and travelers of varying religions.

Look into local groups and programs that center diverse perspectives that you could join and not feel singled out for being different or not blending in. They could probably also help you navigate the city in a more comfortable way.

Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers: Conclusion

Wow, this was a lot longer than I initially anticipated, but I feel like we covered a lot of great safety tips for solo female travelers! I want to give a special shoutout to all the lovely bloggers who so graciously collaborated with me on this post by offering their own best safety tips for solo female travelers.

Definitely check out their accounts and give them a follow as well! You’ll probably end up booking a trip just from inspiration on their blogs alone haha.

From lodging safety to protecting your physical and mental wellbeing (and everything inbetween), I hope after reading these safety tips for solo female travelers, you feel more equipped to set out into the world. Did I miss any of your tried and true tips? Do you have any additional questions or concerns? Drop them in the comments below!

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