Solo female travel safety tips: lessons from 15 years of traveling alone

Solo female travel safety tips from someone who’s been doing it for 15 years. From preparation to packing to dealing with unwanted attention.

Traveling alone as a woman: my experience

It started with a few days in Bordeaux. As a Dutch traveler, it was just a short trip, but it was the first time I had ever traveled alone. I was a little nervous, but mostly curious. What would happen? Would I feel lonely? Would it be safe? What I didn’t know was that that small city trip would be the beginning of dozens of solo trips. In the years that followed, I traveled to Australia, Peru, the Philippines, America, and throughout Europe. By now I almost always travel alone and wouldn’t have it any other way.

But I understand the doubt. In my Instagram DMs I see them passing by: messages from women who also want to travel solo, but don’t dare. Because of men. And yes, that’s an understandable concern. In this article, I’m going to be honest about it, not to scare you, but to send you off well prepared. Because traveling is too good to pass up.

Why traveling alone as a woman is so valuable

There is something I often see in women, and something I recognized in myself before I started solo traveling: we are more cautious. Maybe by nature, maybe learned, probably both. We think twice before going somewhere alone, we check if the route is safe, we wonder what others think. Men do this much less, or at least differently.

And this is precisely why solo travel as a woman is so valuable. Because every time you go anyway, even when you feel that doubt, you are training something. You learn that you can do it. That you can solve a problem when it presents itself. That you can handle a missed bus, a language barrier or a changed plan. Each trip makes you a little more confident. And that confidence doesn’t stay behind in your suitcase when you get home, you notice it in your daily life too. In how you work, in how you set your boundaries, in how you look at yourself.

That’s what solo travel has done for me. Not only showing me the world, but also helping me get to know myself better.

The preparation: how to get off to a good start

Good preparation is half the battle, especially if you are traveling alone for the first time.

Choose your destination wisely

Perhaps my most important tip: choose a destination where you feel safe, because not every destination feels equally comfortable when traveling alone as a woman. That’s not scaremongering, that’s just reality. And yes, that frustrates me too. I mainly go to countries where I know I’m most likely to feel safe.

Within Europe I usually feel fine, I travel very often to Portugal and Spain on my own, and last year I did a trip to Slovakia where I felt safe too. Further afield there are also plenty of great destinations, such as Australia, Costa Rica and Southeast Asia (I’ve been to Indonesia and the Philippines). Canada is another favorite, perfect for a road trip. These are all destinations that are easily accessible and have good infrastructure.

That said, I’ve also traveled solo to Mexico and Peru. Those are slightly different destinations, the difference is in how well you prepare and how alert you are. Do your research before you go. Read experiences from other travelers (preferably women), check travel advisories and see what locals are saying on forums or Facebook groups. Not to scare you off, but to give you a realistic picture.

Need some tips? Check out: 12 best solo travel destinations with tips and personal experiences

Choose your accommodation carefully

The place you sleep is your home base. I always pay attention to the location (is it a safe neighborhood?) and the reviews, specifically reviews from other women. If at all possible, I book a bed in a women-only dorm. I find it truly absurd that those are often more expensive than a mixed or men’s dorm. Pink tax for safety?

Despite that frustration, a good hostel is a great choice when you’re traveling alone as a woman. The atmosphere is often open, you easily meet other travelers and the staff usually knows what’s going on in the neighborhood. After a nasty experience in Arequipa, Peru, where I was followed by a group of men, I was so relieved to be able to go out with a few hostelmates afterwards. At least I wasn’t alone.

You can book a bed in a hostel through Booking.com or Hostelworld, where you can also read extensive reviews.

Let someone know where you are

This sounds corny, but it’s really important to let someone know where you are. I always send my itinerary to a family member or friend. Not by day, but the broad outlines. Where I sleep, how long I’ll be somewhere, when I’ll move on. Not as a control, but as a safety net.

I also always make sure I can be reached, or can reach someone. That’s why I love using an eSIM. It works the moment you step off the plane at your new destination. I always order mine through Airalo, use the code JACOBA4108 for a €3 discount.

Practicalities

A few more things worth arranging before you leave:

Get good travel insurance with medical coverage, for every trip, without exception. If you travel more than three weeks a year (weekend trips count too!), a continuous travel insurance policy is often cheaper. Check Insubuy for options.

Make copies of your passport and save them digitally, in your email or in the cloud. Download offline maps via Google Maps or Maps.me so you can find your way without internet. And always carry some local cash for emergencies.

What to pack when traveling alone as a woman

Your packing list doesn’t have to be drastically different from when you travel with other people, but there are a few things I always bring specifically because I travel alone.

A power bank. Your phone is your navigation, your communication and your safety net. Make sure it’s always charged.

Headphones. These can make it easier to ignore unwanted attention, you don’t even have to actually be listening to music.

Clothing that suits your destination. This is absolutely not about holding yourself responsible for unwanted attention, because that’s nonsense, but it is smart to adapt to local norms. In more conservative countries, I wear looser and more covered clothing, simply because I stand out less and feel more comfortable. I always pack a sarong anyway, which I can easily wrap around myself, and it doubles as a towel, picnic blanket or makeshift curtain.

A copy of your passport in your bag, separate from your actual passport.

Earplugs and a sleep mask. Sleep is sacred, especially in a hostel dorm.

Something you could use as a weapon if needed. This very much depends on the destination, but on city trips I sometimes pack a can of spray deodorant, and on camping trips I make sure I have a sharp knife within reach (I like this one from Opinel). I’ve never had to use either for that reason, but it makes me feel just a little safer.

On the road: dealing with unwanted attention

Let’s be honest: as a woman traveling alone, you will sometimes get unwanted attention. Sometimes it’s harmless and awkward, sometimes it’s annoying, and occasionally it’s truly intimidating. With my blonde hair, I stand out in some countries more than I’d like. Here’s how I deal with it.

Most people are just nice

This is perhaps the most important thing I want to say: 99% of the people you meet on the road are good, friendly people. The man who shows you the way, the market vendor who gives you a free piece of fruit, the fellow traveler who recommends a great place to eat, the locals who invite you in for tea, that happened almost daily when I was walking the Jordan Trail. These are the people who make your trip. Don’t let fear make you forget that.

Ignoring works best

Men yelling, whistling or making comments? I ignore it. I avoid eye contact, keep walking and don’t react. Responding, even negatively, is counterproductive. In situations where someone really persists, I start friendly but firm. If that doesn’t work, I get more direct: “I’m not interested.” Then the headphones go on and I grab my book. Sometimes they get annoyed. That’s their problem, not mine.

Give groups of men a wide berth

This may sound excessive, but I simply adjust my route if I see a group of men that makes me feel uncomfortable. Trust your gut, that feeling is there for a reason. Once in Madrid, I was looking for a street mural when a group of men along the road stared at me so intensely that I turned around. I felt so uncomfortable. I ducked into a lovely lunch spot nearby and quickly shook off that uneasy feeling.

Be cautious about going out alone at night

In many cities, I don’t go out alone after dark, or at least not far. I plan my day so that I go out for lunch rather than dinner. I’m not much of a night owl anyway, so it fits my natural rhythm. If I do want to eat out in the evening, I choose a restaurant close to my accommodation or ask other travelers from my hostel if they’d like to join me.

Watch your alcohol intake

A glass of wine on a terrace or at a restaurant is lovely, but when you’re traveling alone you want to stay sharp. Limit your alcohol if you’re still going to be out and about, especially at night. You want to be alert if something happens.

If you’re being followed

This has happened to me a few times. Once in Portugal, I noticed a man walking behind me and called my sister, just talking clearly, so he’d know that someone knew where I was. He disappeared. (Pretending to call works just as well.)

In Peru, I noticed I was being followed by a group of men. It might sound strange, but as a woman you develop an extra sense for this, you’re always a little on guard. I walked through a busy shopping mall to shake them off and made my way back to the hostel. Once there, I asked a couple of English guys if they wanted to grab dinner together. It turned into a great evening and helped me shake off that uneasy feeling.

Trust your instincts

If something doesn’t feel right, it isn’t. Leave that store, don’t turn down that street, don’t get in that cab. No explanation needed. In Mexico, a man called me a “bitch” for walking out of a shop where five men were staring at me. It didn’t bother me for a second.

The toughest experiences

I won’t sugarcoat it: I’ve had some genuinely unpleasant experiences too. When I was walking the Jordan Trail, there were two separate occasions where men tried to kiss me. The first time, a firm “no” was enough. The second time, I hit the man with my walking stick. Was that intense? Absolutely. Did it ruin my trip? No. I kept walking.

Milan is a city I don’t enjoy visiting anymore, it’s where I’ve been catcalled the most. That doesn’t say anything about Italy as a whole, but if a city consistently makes me feel uncomfortable, I simply go less. That’s a choice you’re allowed to make.

My personal solo female travel safety tips & rules

After years of traveling, I’ve developed a few unwritten rules for myself. These are the things I always do:

1. I research the neighborhood around my accommodation before I arrive. Is it safe to walk at night? Are there supermarkets, restaurants, public transportation nearby?
2. I don’t go out alone at night in unfamiliar cities, especially not on the first night.
3. I prefer lunch over dinner when I’m eating out alone. Everything feels less vulnerable during the day.
4. I always walk with purpose. Even when I’m wandering, I walk as if I know where I’m going. No hesitant staring at my phone on the street, I do that inside a café or shop.
5. I trust my instincts. Always. Without exception.
6. I let someone at home know where I am.
7. I consciously choose my destinations based on how safe I’m likely to feel there as a woman.
8. I always keep my phone charged and carry a power bank.
9. In a difficult situation, I head for a busy place: a mall, a café, a market.
10. I ask for help when I need it. Other travelers, hotel staff, a woman nearby, people are genuinely happy to help.

The mental side: dealing with doubt

“Are you really going alone?” It’s the question I get most often. Sometimes with admiration, sometimes with a hint of panic in the questioner’s eyes. Friends and family worry, and that’s genuinely well-intentioned. But it doesn’t mean they’re right.

The first time you travel alone is the hardest. The doubt, whether you can do it, whether you’ll feel lonely, whether it’s safe, is always there. But after that first time, you know: I can do this. And each trip after that gets easier. And more fun.

What helps: start small. A long weekend in a city nearby. Somewhere familiar, easy to get to, with good infrastructure. Bordeaux was my starting point. Maybe Lisbon, Berlin or Prague will be yours.

And when you come home, tired, fulfilled, full of stories, you’ll know that this is the beginning of something really wonderful.

Don’t let it stop you

Traveling is too good to pass up. The freedom, the new places, the people you meet, the version of yourself you discover when you’re alone and still out there exploring the world, it’s all worth it.

Yes, as a woman you need to be a little more alert. Yes, there are places and situations that are less pleasant. But the same is true at home. And staying home is always an option. But is that really the answer?

This summer I’m going on a six-week solo road trip across Canada. Just because I can. Because I want to. And because nothing beats charting your own course.