10 Safety Tips for Fearless Solo Female Travelers

Travel Light

A typical travel-day wardrobe for me consists of sneakers (usually my trusty KangaRoos, not only for their comfort but also because I use the shoe's zippered pocket as my secret stash for extra cash), lightweight pants with a couple of zippered pockets, a conservative top, and a cheap watch. My pockets contain my hotel key, a credit card, a mobile phone, and deliberately arranged cash (smaller denominations on the exterior portion of the roll). That's it!

If I know I'll be shopping that day, I bring along a backpack or messenger bag and stuff my purchases inside, instead of walking about the city with several shopping bags—a sure sign that you have money to spend.

If you must carry a purse, unclutter and only carry the day's essentials. Organizing the bag's contents will prevent you from having to dig through it.

Be Careful on the Beach

If the beach's siren song beckons you to take a dip, don't be afraid to heed the call. The fact that you have no one to watch your stuff on the shore shouldn't deter you, as long as you take a few precautionary measures to keep from losing your shirt—literally.

If you know you'll have the opportunity to go for a swim in your destination, plan accordingly and invest in waterproof gear to protect your valuables. I've used Loksak products in the past with much success; I've even inserted my phone into a Loksak waterproof bag while snorkeling. Though there are many options on the market, stick with watertight reliability as opposed to affordability.

Much more important than your possessions: Protect your life. Only swim sober, heed beach safety signs, and only get in the water if others are around.

Arm Yourself

I took a basic self-defense class before going on an overseas solo trip, which made me feel emotionally and physically equipped to take care of myself. Some of our readers have also suggested carrying a defensive "weapon" like an umbrella, a walking stick, or tightly folded newspaper, which is sound advice.

Keep Your Phone Hidden

While there are a great many useful travel apps you can employ for mapping, translation, and general destination overviews, avoid unwanted attention from would-be muggers by keeping your phone out of sight.

Before leaving your accommodations, map out the route to your next destination in your head. If the way is too complicated, write it out on paper. If you prefer a map, circle your destination, fold the map into a small square that fits in one hand, and avoid spreading out the full-sized map before your face (this marks you as a target).

Buy a cheap watch for your trip and use that, instead of a phone, for time-keeping purposes.

Plan Your Evening

There’s no need to curtail your evening plans, but do take certain precautionary measures. Either plan to party near your hotel or cab it to your accommodations at the end of the night. Don't walk down poorly lit streets. Only take drinks from bartenders and keep the cocktail within sight. Keep your full senses about you, and avoid getting drunk.

Learn Important Phrases

While learning to say "where's the restroom?" in the local language will help alleviate your bladder, it won't be effective when you need emergency assistance. Learn phrases like "help," "call the police," and other such potentially life-saving terms. Knowledge is power, and so is assertively getting your message across—even if with an accent.

Phone Home

Call home. Or email. Or Facebook. Or update your travel blog. Whatever method, regularly check in with a loved one back home with your whereabouts and upcoming activities, because, let's face it, whether on the road or at home, incidents happen.

Leave Your Valuables at Home

While losing a passport or wallet can turn a pleasant vacation into a time-consuming and expensive ordeal, those items can be replaced. Your grandmother's engagement ring, however, cannot. Leave at home any item—regardless of what it is—that you'd be devastated to lose.

Know Your Surroundings

It's not uncommon to find cheaper rates for flights that arrive in a destination at, say, 1:00 a.m. While that may be perfectly safe in certain parts of the world, it's not a good idea if late-night transportation isn't readily accessible. Don't assume cabs will be easy to locate at ungodly hours upon arrival at the airport or train depot. Instead, coordinate an airport transfer or look into the destination's late-night public transportation.

When researching accommodations prior to a trip, don't solely base your decision on the hotel's rating and cleanliness—also research the neighborhood's safety.

Use Common Sense

Be sure to follow these common-sense safety tips:

• Don't make it widely known that you're traveling alone.
• Trust your instincts. If your gut's telling you something's amiss, remove yourself from the situation.
• Avoid looking like a tourist, and in particular like a lost one.
• Have your wits about you, and always be aware of your surroundings.
• Choose your clothes and travel bag wisely.
• Try not to draw too much attention with your wardrobe.

Readers, do you have more safety tips for the solo female traveler? Leave them in the comments section below.

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• Surefire Ways to Get Mugged on Vacation
• Best Ways to Carry Money While Traveling
• 11 Things You Need to Know Before Going Someplace New