TRAVEL

10 Essential Tips for Traveling Safely as a Women

I love to travel and live for adventure. Still, it pays to be careful, safe, and prepared when traveling, especially as a woman. (Dear Daughter)

Image created by “AI tool Microsoft Bing Image Creator powered by DALL·E” — the author has the provenance and copyright.

Dear daughter,

Travel is awesome. There is nothing better than a good adventure. Seeing new places, meeting new people, living on the road. At least for your old man. As fun and exciting as travel might be, it’s not without its dangers.

Some people live in crippling fear of other countries, filled with prejudices and scary stories in their heads. Most of it is nonsense. Having said that, things can go horribly wrong while traveling, especially for a pretty young lady like yourself.

Being naive is not a virtue — it’s stupid!

I always encourage you to be bold but smart! It’s not different when it comes to traveling. Always follow these ten rules while traveling, and you’ll have avoided 99% of all potential dangers. Covering the basics, you can now focus on having fun.

10 must-know tips for safe traveling as a woman

1. Always keep your personal documents, phone, keys, and money on your person. Don’t leave them in hotel rooms, tents, or cars. These represent what you absolutely need when in a foreign country or just outside your house. Everything else is replaceable.
2. When traveling, divide your money into at least two or three places. Perhaps something in your pocket, bag, suitcase, or car. If one gets stolen, you still have something left.
3. Create copies of your documents, such as your ID, passport, driver’s license, tickets, etc., and keep them somewhere separate but safe. I suggest keeping copies on your phone and in your bags. Should you lose your documents, these will be lifesavers when you go to the nearest embassy.
4. Don’t show off your wealth when traveling. Dress down, not up. Don’t wear expensive items on your person or use expensive phones or cameras that could attract unwanted attention. There are plenty of desperate people out there. Don’t paint yourself as a target. There is no upside to showing off while traveling.
   I will also add that you shouldn’t walk around like a lost little victim. Sharks can smell blood, and people with bad intentions smell fear! When traveling in foreign countries, especially less developed ones, cover up and don’t entice the animal instinct in men you don’t know. Do your best to blend in. Try to be safe and not sexy when prying through the “jungle.”
5. Always let someone know where you are when traveling, especially in more remote places, and have a way to reach the outside world. Everyone doesn’t need to know where you are (like social media followers), but someone always does. I volunteer.
6. If possible, don’t travel alone, and always have someone to call on when traveling. Solo travel is overrated and presents a whole new set of dangers and difficulties, especially for girls. Always know who to call if you need help. It’s an easy precaution, but it helps enormously when unexpected things happen — and they will happen.
7. Avoid large crowds at touristy spots, as they are full of pickpocketers or worse. Crowds are a powder keg of potential trouble. Always have an exit strategy.
   Keep your money, documents, and keys as tight to your body as possible, under your clothes. Don’t make the job of thieves any easier. If it gets really crowded, like on subways, wear your backpacks or bags in front, not back, and be mindful of unwanted eyes and hands.
8. Be open to meeting new people, but don’t trust anyone fully. Roughly 1% of people are sociopaths, and they don’t wear a warning sign on their foreheads. You can’t just trust that everyone has a good heart and is predictable.
   If anything “feels off,” get the hell away! Trust your gut. Don’t put yourself in potentially dangerous situations where you end up alone with strangers. Always choose exposed, public places to meet new people. Have fun, but play it smart.
9. Don’t walk into dark, empty alleyways, especially at night and in cities. Just don’t. That’s where and when bad things tend to happen. You’re much safer walking around in well-lit main streets with more people. This will save you from 99% of all nightmarish stories.
   Use referred taxi services, and preferably don’t travel at night alone, especially using public transportation. The night may be intoxicating, but it’s also full of dangers.
10. Do your research before you go into a new country! Find out all you can about local customs, rules, and regulations. Research what to see and places to avoid. Cover your basics:

• How to contact the police? What’s the emergency number?
• Where are the hospitals? What insurance do you need, and would you have to cover the medical bill yourself?
• Are there any additional documents you need when entering or exiting the country, such as visas, green cards for insurance, carne de passage, permits for importing and exporting your vehicle, or required vaccinations?
• What’s the local currency, and what’s the current exchange rate? Where can you exchange money?
• Which parts of the country are safe, and which are not recommended for tourists?
• What’s the situation with water, food, and sleep? Is the tap water drinkable? Do people often get sick traveling there?
• Pack your essential medicine according to the expected health issues for that part of the world. If nothing helps, consult the local physicians or pharmacies.
• Ideally, talk to people who have traveled to your destination before. They might have some tips and tricks that could come in handy.

If you take care of these basic things when you’re traveling, you’ll be just fine. It’s a simple list that covers all the important topics.

Life is an adventure

Unpredicted things do happen, and travel is the most unpredictable of all. It’s what makes it so fun and exciting. Don’t shy away from these challenges; face them head-on and make some preparations before you embark on your journey.

Whatever situation you may come across, keep a level head and a calm mind. Never panic. Everything is solvable, and you will figure it out. People are generally nice, and they will help you. That’s one of the first lessons we usually get from traveling, and it’s an important lesson.

So when unexpected, unwanted things happen, take a few deep breaths, calm down, and only then start figuring out how to solve the situation. With a clear head. Analyze the problem as best you can, then start chipping away at possible solutions. Brak any large problem into small, actionable pieces, and keep going.

At first, it’s a scary proposition, but with experience, you’ll learn that things always resolve themselves. No matter how dire some situation appears, there is always a way to fix it — one way or another. It may not be the perfect solution, but it will keep you moving or get you home.

I hope this post didn’t frighten you or discourage you from traveling

That was not my intention. I just want you to be safe and smart about it. There is nothing I recommend more than traveling, especially when you’re young, flexible, and free. You will gain valuable insights, deepen your understanding of the world, and, most importantly, grow.

Ironically, these unexpected situations often push us out of our comfort zone and show us who we really are and what we’re capable of. They teach us to adapt to different situations and environments and solve problems on the go. They also make for the best stories when we come back home.

Ships are safest in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for. — John A. Shedd

So, my darling, go out into the world. Open yourself up to new challenges, environments, and people. Life should be an adventure! Just be smart and safe about it, like I know you are.

Love, Dad!

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You might also like these letters I wrote to my daughter:

Never Allow People to Push You Around and Influence Your Decisions

Dear Daughter, Don’t Stare at the Obstacle — Look at Where You Want to Go

Dear Daughter, Don’t Fear Change — Learn to Love It

Dear Daughter, What Good Is Worrying About Things Beyond Your Control?

Dear Daughter, So You Want to Become an Activist?

All of the linked articles are also available on Medium, but they are behind a paywall. Everything I write on Medium is also available on Substack, and it’s free for all.