“Aren’t you afraid?” is the question all women traveling alone hear at some point or another. And while I have run into the occasional scary situation while traveling alone as a woman, generally speaking, most of the places I’ve been to are far safer than home. 

Still, it’s always important to be aware of your surroundings and prepare yourself for scary situations, even if they are unlikely.

Here are some safety tips for solo female travelers. 

Research the Destination

When you’re off on a solo adventure as a woman, it’s important to think about the specific safety concerns that the destination might have. Checking out the local culture, customs, and safety concerns specific to the region can really make your trip more secure and enjoyable.

Don’t Look Lost

Most tourists are easy to spot a mile away and there’s not much any of us can do about that. But the tourists who look lost or uncomfortable are easy targets to pickpockets, scammers, and worse. Even if you are lost, stay calm and look confident.

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

Again, this varies based on your location, but generally speaking try to keep phones, wallets, and passports out of sight unless absolutely necessary. Don’t set them down somewhere they could be easily grabbed, like a cafe table or a train seat. 

If Anyone Asks, You’re Not Alone

If a stranger ever asks if you’re traveling alone, the answer is always no!

It’s one thing if the question is coming from a fellow solo traveler trying to make a buddy, but unless you fully trust them, don’t let people know you have no support network nearby. 

I always say that I’m on my way to meet my (often fictional) boyfriend. This usually wards off unwanted attention.

Share Your Itinerary

Keep a friend or family member informed about your travel itinerary. Share details such as accommodation addresses, transportation plans, and contact information. This ensures someone knows your whereabouts in case of emergencies.

Don’t Be Afraid to Be Rude

I took a women’s self-defense class in college, and this was the first thing they told us. If someone is making you afraid, do whatever you have to remove yourself from the situation, even if it means being rude. Getting home safely is always a priority over someone’s feelings. 

Carry Something for Self-Defense

At home, I take pepper spray everywhere I go, but outside the U.S. it’s often illegal to carry. So find some sort of alternative.

I know people who carry a heavy water bottle and make sure it’s full whenever they go out at night. Some of my friends place their keys in between their fingers for “Wolverine knuckles.” Others carry around hairspray and plan to use it as pepper spray if need be. 

Bring Your Own Lock

You can buy a portable lock on Amazon for about $15. Just attach it to your door before you go to sleep, and take it off the next day. I take mine whenever I’m planning to stay in shared accommodation or hotels in areas prone to break-ins.

It’s cheap, it hardly takes up any suitcase space, and it gives peace of mind.

Wait to Post

Wait until you’ve left to start posting about the trip online. Is it paranoid?

Maybe.

But I don’t like publicly advertising my location! 

Besides, what else is there to do on the flight home besides editing all the vacation pictures?

Get Anti-Pickpocket Gear

Whether you opt for a money belt, fanny pack, or even a scarf with hidden pockets, find someplace to store your valuables where they can’t be easily swiped.

And speaking as someone who lived in Spain, you really don’t keep your phone in your pocket if you’re going to a place known for pickpockets, like Paris or Barcelona. I know someone who got her phone stolen four times this way.

Make Copies of Travel Documents

If your passport gets damaged or stolen, it’s important to have backups of important travel documents. I like to scan and bring printed copies of plane tickets, passport pages, visas, etc. And, since I’m prone to losing everything, I keep my papers together in a travel document organizer. 

Don’t Carry More Cash Than Necessary

Blame the type-A personality or the anxiety disorder, but I like to prepare for the worst. Part of that means not carrying more cash than I’m reasonably going to spend that day. If someone grabs my purse, I want to be sure that I still have enough cash to get through the week.

Bring More than One Card

This is a lesson I learned the hard way. Regardless if your card is stolen, your bank suspects fraud, or an ATM eats your card, you never want to be caught in a foreign country without access to your money. For this reason, always have a backup card. 

Trust Your Gut

Undoubtedly, the most important tip on this list is to trust your gut! If you get a bad feeling, it’s probably for a good reason. At the end of the day, I’d rather be overly cautious than end up in a sketchy situation.