If someone was to approach me and say that I shouldn’t be travelling on my own because I am a woman, I would not be happy. But when I hear horror stories or see statistics revealing the extent to which women (and girls) are at risk, I become more infuriated.

But I also firmly believe that women should be able to exercise the same freedoms as men, even though there are more obstacles. Therefore, I have put together a list of precautions that I will be taking to ensure that I stay safe. Some of these precautions specifically concern women’s issues, although others concern factors that relate to everyone.

This way, I would say that this post is for all travellers, regardless of gender or age.

1. Conduct research before making concrete plans

Research countries that you wish to visit before planning on visiting the country. If a serious conflict is occurring in the country, then, unless you are an investigative journalist or an aid worker/volunteer, personally, I would strongly suggest staying away. 

Of course, the safety levels across countries will vary. There is also variety between different indexes. It’s also true that some areas of certain countries will be safer than others. This is all good to bear in mind before deciding your rough plan. 

I would recommend the ‘Solo Female Travel Safety Index’ as a good starting point. This is a credible resource that incorporates data from governmental bodies, think tanks, and solo female travellers who have recently visited the country. Solo female travellers also rank the countries my multiple factors, as you can see below.

One factor to bear in mind is that the data is incomplete. Through no fault of the creator, instead it is simply because some public bodies have missing data, and not every country has been ranked. Moreover, it is good to consider that although data is a great starting point, it might not be fully accurate. For example, we know that many incidents are underreported, including cases of sexual violence. 

There are also plenty of travel content creators who reveal how safe they felt in a particular location. I would especially recommend engaging in the content if it is recent and if it is longer form, so you gain a strong insight into different areas of safety. Also, if you know someone who has recently been to the place, then talk to them!

2. Research the country again before visiting

I know it’s a pain, but before arriving, there are a couple of things to be aware of. 

a) The public transport and good taxi companies: Goodness me, the number of times I have arrived somewhere new (and I’m talking about the UK now) and have not known which bus to get or which taxi company to call. Once, I was waiting for a whole hour, and that was partly because my Uber didn’t show up and partly because I was at the wrong part of the train station. Someone even approached me and asked me if I was okay. 

You might be a lot more street-wise than this (I am notoriously terrible); nevertheless, in a different country, it is going to be completely new again. I’d find out which bus to take or roughly how to navigate public transportation. Meanwhile, Uber doesn’t yet exist in every country. Therefore, I would spend time researching which companies are safe to use, particularly if you are arriving in the dark. 

b) Look into common scamming techniques: I am not certain, but researching might not alleviate all risks. However, in some areas, companies or individuals may employ specific techniques. Just familiarise yourself and remain vigilant. 

c) Educate yourself about local customs: For example, there are many countries where dress codes vary significantly from the UK. In some places, it may be considered disrespectful to wear certain Western clothing. 

Part of this is just respecting other cultures, and after all, you are not at home. 

Moreover, wearing something that distinguishes you will make you stick out like a sore thumb. Which could make you more susceptible to scamming or mugging attempts. Sorry, tough love. 

One more thing, be aware of phases and behaviours that are considered rude or may be found upsetting by others. For example, it is advisable not to mention the war to locals in Croatia as it occurred recently and could upset people. If in doubt, look it up and remain stum.

3. Emergency Contacts!

Ensure that you have easy access to any emergency contacts! You can open out your phone and easily find them. Yet, fill out your passport with them. If you are travelling with friends, if you meet someone who you trust whilst travelling, or if you trust, say, your hostel manager, or someone at work or on a placement, then exchange emergency contact details. Also, fill out the list on your passport and keep a copy, just handy in case. 

Additionally you can let people know in advance roughly where you are and what you are up to, depending on the level of trust and your proximity. You can even download a tracker app so that emergency contacts can see your location. I know it sounds a bit over the top, but once those precautions are in place, then you’re all set.

4. Learn emergency phrases in foreign languages

Yep, it says what it says on the tin. If you’re bummed, at least you’ll be able to communicate that to those around you.

5. Lie!!

It’s lovely to be both honest and trusting of others. But solo travelling (particularly as a woman) is probably one of the few situations where you can lie without being immoral! If the cab driver seems particularly interested in where you are going, just say that you are meeting your family, friends, partner, etc. Honestly, they don’t know you, so it’s fine, even if they have pure intentions.

6. Have multiple bank cards and emergency cash

The last thing you want to happen is for all your money to go in a flash. Instead, it is wise to spread your money across multiple cards and keep them in different locations, so if one goes missing, at least you have the rest of your money. Additionally, if you have savings, consider opening a savings account. This goes for anyone in general, but then, if you lose everything, at least you have your savings.

Emergency cash also comes in handy because credit cards are less commonly accepted in some locations.

7. Use some common sense

I know this sounds harsh, but some matters are a matter of a mixture of common sense and personal opinion. 

I know I won’t be travelling alone in the dark if I can avoid it. Unless I am somewhere, that is really familiar. And if I do need to, I will get a taxi. Also, I will be hiding valuables. 

Also, don’t get too drunk if you are alone or with people you have only just met in an unsupervised setting (or a supervised one you don’t yet know well enough to trust). Although, it really is a matter of discretion. The more I trust someone or trust a place, the more likely I will be to drink more and enjoy myself. But, yeah, it’s just about aware. 

Whoop, you have gotten to the end of the post! I have used multiple sources for this post, which are listed at the bottom of this page.

What do you do/avoid to stay safe when travelling? I would be interested to find out in the comments. And, if you enjoyed this post, then please subscribe for more solo female travel tips, sustainable travel and personal posts.