Traveling Alone as a Woman
Can be scary as fuck, obviously. Have you ever seen the movie Taken? That is probably an extreme version of what can happen but can happen nonetheless. When traveling alone as a woman there are a lot of things to consider: being aware of your surroundings at all times, who you talk to and meet, who you can trust, how much you can drink, the information you share with people, and dare I say it…. Men. And women know this…. This is not some new information that is groundbreaking and will magically make women safe when traveling. Also it is annoying af to be alert at all times when traveling somewhere new because you want to enjoy it and relax. Here are a few ways I travel safe when I am alone and still have a great time.
Never ever (and I mean ever) tell anyone you meet where you are staying. Sometimes it comes up in casual conversation with the person you sit next to on the plane. Majority of the time they are just trying to be nice and start a conversation, maybe tell you some good spots near where you are staying but it is always safer when strangers do not know where you are staying (hint, the movie Taken). My favorite thing to do is lie. You will quite literally never see that person again so you can make up any story in the world you want: “I am meeting my long lost twin for the first time and staying with them.” “I won the lottery and I am staying in a suite at the Ritz Carlton.” “I actually don’t know where I am staying, I am having a friend come pick me up and they said it was a surprise.” It is even ok to say you are staying in a certain area but you want to have peace of mind when going to your hotel or Airbnb every night.
Share your itinerary with someone you know and share your location. Although you shouldn’t tell a stranger where you are staying, you should tell someone. Either your partner, a best friend, your parents, etc. That way you know someone knows where you are on your trip and you have someone looking out while you enjoy your trip! My friends and I share our Lyft rides when we travel alone just to be safe. Nothing crazy has ever happened where we needed this information (thank God) but there is a peace of mind knowing someone always knows where you are.
Drink but not too much. This one is annoying because I love a few good cocktails when I travel but never when I am traveling alone. I mean you could drink alone in your hotel room (which I have drank a whole bottle of wine before in my hotel room on a work trip- don’t judge me) but that isn’t really fun or exploring the city…. I limit myself to two glasses of wine. Because after that, people (men) start approaching you, asking you personal questions, blah blah blah. You know how it goes. And if you are into that, do it! Just be careful. But I got my man, so I am good. When you are from out of town, locals notice for sure and a lot of people will take advantage- not just men. So I always find it better to limit the drinks so crazy stuff doesn’t happen and most importantly you remember what happens!
Have so much fun and be proud of yourself. Traveling alone is so rewarding. Having the courage to do something like that is a big deal. Although it is important to be safe, it is more important to have fun. You deserve this and you should be proud of yourself. Take all the photos, ask people to take photos of you, journal your experience, post about it, and cherish it. One day you will look back on that trip and remember how much fun you had and how much you grew as a woman. It is a wonderful feeling I hope you keep chasing!
