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Whether you are planning your first or tenth trip as a solo female traveler, staying safe is always something we should be aware about. Here is a list of tips to stay safe as a solo female traveler.
Your intuition is so strong. So DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT ignore bad feelings around people or things. Odds are your intuition is true. And that negative feeling you are feeling when talking to that stranger is telling you something! Don’t ignore it!
Your instincts get better with time and experience too. So, as you’re traveling and constantly meeting people, you’ll start to understand and see the bad in people versus the good. Figuring out how to read your own intuition is so important to stay safe as a solo female traveler.
I like to get to a new city in broad day light just so I know there’s people out and about. Even if it means a more expensive flight to get there during the day, PAY THE EXTRA MONEY. Don’t risk your safety to save a couple of bucks because it isn’t worth it.
Arriving to a new city in broad day light will help you get a grip on what the city feels like. Since it’s a new place, it’s better to look lost when trying to figure out how to get to your accommodation in the broad daylight versus at night. I also like the safety of knowing that there will most likely be people/tourists walking around during the day too.
If you don’t feel comfortable sightseeing alone, then join a group tour. A lot of cities have free walking tours, or your accommodation might have their own. You can meet friends and get the lay of the land with the help of a local guide.
You can also ask your tour guide about where to go and where not to go. All cities have good and bad parts and it’s good to be aware of those parts of the city. Knowing these places is so important to stay safe as a solo female traveler
Whether that’s a yoga class, a salsa dancing class, a kickboxing class, or a cooking class, etc. Join a class where you can meet new friends and maybe even locals. Meeting new friends will keep you from being alone and will make you feel more safe as a solo female traveler.
Meeting locals is a great way to get to know a city. And it’s even better if they offer to show you around! Or you can just make new friends in the class, that way you won’t be alone if you want to sightsee together of if you do decide to do nighttime activities like going out.
Depending on where you are in the world, there are different taxi or ride rideshare apps. Uber, Lyft, Grab, and myTaxi are just a few of the apps I’ve used while traveling but be sure to do your research!
If you don’t want to use public transport, using a taxi app is good because it requires both the driver and the rider to put in their information. Most apps also let you send updates to a trusted person to make sure you arrived safely. Most also have an emergency button in case things do turn south!
Using a taxi app is easier to communicate with drivers who might not understand English and can ensure you get to the right destination!
Unless you feel 100 percent confident on your public transportation skills in this new city, I’d try to avoid it! Public transportation during the day is a whole different story, I even recommend using it during the day. But at night I feel like more sketchy people come out. LOL.
I’d rather pay a few extra bucks using a taxi app if it means safety!
There are a lot of hostels that are safe for solo female travelers. I like using Hostelworld to book all my hostels because there are endless amounts of reviews and you can compare hostels to one another so easily.
I know, sometimes hostels have a negative connotation, but I almost feel safer in a hostel with people than I do alone in an Airbnb. Whenever I’m in a hostel, I always end up making new friends with my bunk mates or other people staying in the room. We usually end up sightseeing, eating, and going out together too! The girls in the pics above are a few girls I met in my hostel and we hiked a mountain together literally the next day.
If you don’t feel comfortable sleeping in a room with other people, most hostels have private rooms too! And you can still get that hotel feel with the hostel community vibe.
If you plan on going out when you’re traveling solo, make sure you know your limits!! Sure, a drink or two is fine, but don’t get belligerent drunk. It makes you an easy target for creeps at the bar.
And watch your drink at all times! From it being made to when you’re drinking it. You never know if someone might slip something in there so just be aware of your surroundings.
If you don’t know your limits or don’t feel safe or comfortable, then don’t push it. Don’t risk your safety for a couple of drinks at the bar.
I know, I know, you’ve heard it from everyone ever. But it’s true! Don’t walk alone at night because it makes you look like an easy target.
If you do find yourself walking outside at night, walk along main roads and busy streets. Or even if you see a family or a couple walking your same direction, try to walk close to them. But flash them a smile so you don’t look creepy or like you’re stalking them. You’re safer in numbers.
You don’t need to wear them. You don’t need to flaunt them. Wearing expensive and flashy jewelry just makes you a target for people.
Now obviously, I’m not trying to scare you. For the most part people won’t just attack you. But for that one person that is trying to steal, they are looking for people who look like they have money.
Leave your valuables at home!
What you wear can say a lot about who you are or where you are from. Try to wear something that a local would wear so you blend in with everyone else. In the picture above, I’m wearing a sarong which are super popular in South East Asia and are very common to wear!
Try not to wear revealing clothing. And I hate saying that because I love using clothes to express myself. But unfortunately, there are creeps that exist out there. Most of the time no, but they do exist. To avoid awkward and uncomfortable situations, try to blend in as a local as much as you can.
Do your research before getting to a new place. Map out how you’re going to get to your accommodation. Figure out what apps you need to download. Research what areas are the safest to stay.
Doing your research before you arrive will help you feel much more comfortable once you do arrive! Things might not always go as planned, but knowing the basics of a new city will make it easier to overcome this unplanned obstacles that always end up happening!
And there you have it. Your ultimate guide to female travel safety and 12 tips to staying safe as a solo female traveler. Happy travels! 🙂
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Check out some of my favorite tools and companies I actually use when I travel.
Need a Bank Account for Life Abroad? Wise is the best option for travelers, study abroad students and expats. I use it as my everyday checking account since it lets me hold and spend in multiple currencies without getting hit with a bad exchange rate every time I cross a border.
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Please Don't Forget Travel Insurance! Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. I never go on a trip without it. My two favorites are:
Need a Flight? I personally love using Google Flights to track prices and compare dates before I commit, the flexible date view alone has saved me a lot of money. Skyscanner is another great search engine to find cheap flights because it searches sites and airlines around the globe, so you know no cheap deal is being left on the table.
Getting Around Southeast Asia? Book your buses, trains, and ferries with 12Go Asia. One search shows you every route and price, so you're not digging through ten different local booking sites.
Need a Place to Stay? Book your hotel with Expedia, where I start looking, especially when I want to bundle flights and stays together. Hotels.com is my backup when I want to compare prices or I'm chasing their rewards program for a free night.
On a Tighter Budget? Hostelworld is where I go for hostels. It has the largest inventory out there, and you can search for dorm beds or private rooms depending on what you're after!
Want a Free Way to Travel? Try TrustedHousesitters! You look after someone's home and pets while they're away, and in exchange you get free accommodation (minus the subscription fee). It's a great option if you're traveling long term and want to cut costs. I personally use this as a host and a sitter, and it's truly great!
Need Inspiration or Just Want to See What's Out There? Go Guides is a solid resource for destination guides, must-see landmarks, local markets, best beaches, and things to do, browsable by place or by theme. It's a good stop whether you already know where you're headed or you're still looking for your next destination.
Check out my full packing gear guide for everything I bring on international trips, or browse my favorite travel finds on Amazon for quick links to it all.
Check out my full resource page for every company I use when I travel. I list them all in one place so you can go from planning to booked without digging through old blog posts!
Hey there, I'm Angelique!
I'm a Filipina-American, Chicago native living abroad and running my online design agency from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Over a decade of traveling in, and yes, I still pinch myself. With family split between the US, UK, and SE Asia, travel has always been part of my story. This blog is where I share the honest side of living and traveling abroad, the places I explore, my best study abroad tips from personal experience, and the little hacks that make this life actually work. Glad you're here, friend!
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