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[title]Ah, solo travel – while the prospect of organising, journeying to and navigating your way around a completely new place by yourself might seem a little daunting at first, pretty much anyone who’s done it will tell you it’s a life-changing experience (and we can vouch for that). With so many wonderful places to travel to in 2024, there couldn’t be a better time to buy that train ticket and book that hostel.
Solo female travel in particular has seen a huge surge in popularity lately, with more women than ever before jetting off to see the world alone. We recently published a guide to the best solo female travel destinations for 2024, from the ancient villages of Vietnam to the fjords, glaciers and beaches of New Zealand, in case you were after a little inspo.
As with any solo trip, knowing how to stay safe on the road is important. So, from the must-have gadgets and safety apps to the best ways to connect with other backpacking girlies while you’re out and about, here’s our guide on staying safe as a solo female traveller.
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How safe is it for a woman to travel alone?
Travelling can of course be dangerous, and it’s a sad reality that women still have to take significantly more safety precautions than men. However, no amount of scaremongering should prevent you from upping sticks and seeing that dream destination by yourself.
Plenty of women have tested the waters, which is why we’re here to alleviate any stress you might have and provide you with all the tips and tricks you need to stay safe on your travels.
Protecting yourself when travelling solo
Before you travel
Pack smart It goes without saying that if you’re travelling to a country with a different culture, you’ll want to brush up on the typical dress customs of the community – do they keep shoulders and knees covered, or is it pretty casual? Have a google before you go, just to make sure you’re not (literally) caught short.
Making copies of your flight details, travel insurance, visas and passport is a good idea, should anything vital be lost or stolen. It’s a good idea to download a map for the area you’re staying in should you lose connection, and keep a note of your hotel address incase you lose your phone. You could also pack gadgets like portable door locks and ‘cup condoms’ (for slotting over your drink). Personally, I swear by carrying an alarm – luckily I haven’t had to use it, but it’s always made me feel safer.
Download useful apps Another thing to do before you jet off is to download some apps that might come in handy. Tourlina is a women-only app for connecting with fellow travellers, and Backpackr is available for all genders. Plus, any Hinge or Bumble users will know that you can swap to a ‘friends mode’ to meet new people when you’re out and about – Hinge will even let you change your location so you can match up with some fellow travellers before you land.
You could also download some safety apps like BSafe and Glympse, which both live-track your journey to a chosen contact. The Red Panic Button app allows you to alert others of your situation whatever way you need, such as via a bulk SMS or a tweet.
On the road
Many solo female travellers swear by carrying a dummy wallet and a fake phone, which is a decent way to protect yourself against mugging. It might sound obvious, but I’ve found it useful to always carry a bank card as well as some local currency – not everywhere has a contactless card machine at the ready, nor will everywhere accept cash. Having both at the ready can cover you if you’re somewhere with little service and no working ATMs, or stood outside an airport at night, arguing with a grumpy cab driver who’s refusing to accept dollars even when the guide book told you they prefer that to pesos. Lesson learned.
What about accommodation? If you’re hostel-hopping and concerned about sharing with male travellers, every hostel I’ve ever stayed in has had a female-only dorm. That can offer some valuable peace of mind without compromising on local amenities or location. You have the added safety of your own room by staying in a hotel, but do make sure to read reviews beforehand (the same goes for tours and guides – better safe than sorry)!
Connect with other female travellers
As we mentioned above, there are plenty of apps you can download to connect with fellow travellers.
You could also join women-only communities on Facebook, where people who have been or are currently travelling share tips, tricks, recommendations and are down for a meet-up. ‘The Solo Female Traveller Network’, ‘gals who travel’ and ‘Solo Women Travelers’ are a few good places to start.
What’s more, plenty of hostels run events and meet-ups, be it a yoga session, a cocktail making class or a group night out. They can be great ways to exchange travel stories, find people to travel with or just mingle with some fresh faces.