Sarah’s Solo safety tips
I went on my first podcast today! I’m pretty sure I was a rambling mess, but I had so much fun chatting with Charlotte (@itsyourlifepod) about my love of travel, why I moved to London, and my tips on solo traveling as a female. Public speaking was something I wanted to work on in 2024 & so I really appreciated being able to come onto the podcast & hopefully can improve for future opportunities!
In our podcast conversation, one question Charlotte had asked me was around feeling safe while traveling solo. Even though women are traveling solo more than ever, so does the worry of being at risk. Its so unfortunate that as females we have to be on alert & worry about things like theft, assault, or the worst, being snatched abroad. In fact, Eric Mower did a study of 400 women who said 2 in 5 female travelers had unwelcome interactions while traveling. Moreso, only 15% of female travelers feel extremely comfortable traveling alone.
All that being said, there are some key things I do every trip to ensure my safety & peace of mind.
Give your itinerary or share your location with friends or family
Never say you are traveling alone.
Tell the hotel desk that your parent, friend, or partner is meeting you later, so you need two room keys.
Choose your transportation mode correctly.
Personally, I stop taking public transport after 10pm and take a cab instead.
Make copies of documents & email to yourself
Buy travel insurance
This is one that I’m guilty of not doing, but depending on the type of trip you are going on could save you. Most insurance policies don’t cover for injuries/hospitals abroad, so lets say you broke a leg skiing in Salt Lake City, or caught a bug in Thailand, it will cover your medical expenses & ensure you get the right care.
Have some cash in the country’s currency
Research the area where you are staying
While its more expensive, I choose not to stay in hostels & look up the area to ensure its in a safe neighborhood. Also, choose the countries you go to alone wisely. There are a few countries even I don’t feel comfortable going to alone.
Learn a few key phrases in the language of the country you are visiting
Don’t dress like a tourist
When I was living in Rome, they said they could spot Americans because we wore workout clothes & short shorts. Also if you are going to conservative countries, dress respectfully & within their customs.
Check over your room
Not only checking the bed for bedbugs, look around for cameras- lampshades, the TV base or two way mirrors. Also if you want another layer of peace, you can buy additional locks from the inside or use a hanger for a makeshift one.
Don’t let the hotel say your room number out loud
This seems like a give , but you would be shocked how many times I’ve had to ask for a new room & not to say the number out loud. If they give you grief, say its a privacy/safety issue.
Use your intuition
As females, we know when we get a sense something doesn’t feel right or the vibes are off. Always better to be safe than sorry.
Again, I don’t want to freak anyone out! Solo travel can be so fun & these are just precautions that you can choose what works to feel comfortable and worry free during your trip. I want women to feel empowered to travel alone, because it can be such an amazing experience! The best part of solo travel for me is that I do feel more confident in myself after so please don’t let the fear be what keeps you from getting out of your comfort zone!
Need an extra boost to solo travel? Read my post about the benefits of solo travel HERE.
Sincerely,
Sarah
Follow me on instagram @sincerelysarah.co for travel tips, stories, and reels!P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to get more updates on future travels and tips!
