My qualifications for writing this piece? I’m a 21 year old girl and have been travelling both alone and with friends for three years now. Make no mistake, the good, great and beautiful experiences have far outweighed the bad, scary and sobering ones. However, I have definitely made some mistakes which have tainted some great memories for me so I thought I would share my experiences. Most of these pointers will be very obvious so I apologize for that now!
1) There is safety in numbers.When you are travelling alone you will very often meet fellow travellers; in hostels, in cafes, in bars, on buses… really wherever you are looking for them. If you spot another traveller, go and say hello! It’s one of the scariest things to do when you’re travelling alone, but trust me, they will probably be even happier to speak to you. Of course, trust them no more than you would anyone else. When you are with other people though, the opportunity for crimes or attacks against your person diminishes considerably. Being with other people is no guarantee of complete safety however. Whilst travelling in Morrocco I met an Australian girl of about my age who had had her bag snatched whilst walking down the road with three men. Being with other people though will generally not only lessen the likelihood of an attack, but will enhance the experience for you. Don’t be afraid, go and introduce yourself!
2) Wear an across the body shoulder bag. Buy yourself a zip up shoulder bag with a long strap. Make sure that you wear the strap across the body and always keep the bag zipped up. It is virtually impossible to snatch a bag which you are wearing in this way. If you must carry important documents or a lot of money around with you, wear them in a secret bag underneath your clothes. I personally wear a very thin wallet which is tied around the stomach underneath my top.
3) Don’t show a lot of skin. Some of the biggest mistakes I have made have involved going out with not enough clothes on. Going out and dancing in third world or developing countries is categorically not the same as doing so in the UK. Going out wearing mini-skirts or low-cut tops only invites trouble. Once whilst out in Cuzco in Peru I wore a very short dress, the sort I would think nothing of wearing out in England. However, I then spent the whole night trying to deflect unwanted attention. Many local people will be offended by revealing clothes, especially in very religious countries. Trust me, it is not worth the hassle. Cover your legs down to the knee, and make sure your top isn’t too low at the front or the back.
4) Be aware of your surroundings. Never let yourself wander off into lonely places, or with people you don’t 100% trust. Keep your wits about you and try to always be absolutely aware of where you are, who you’re with, and where you could run to if you needed. I find it very easy to daydream as I walk around and then find myself in an isolated spot with no one else around. Be streetwise. I’m not a practical person but I have had to make myself learn for the sake of my safety.
5) Fake confidence. It’s a sad fact that people prey on victims. If you are wandering around looking confused and lost then you will be the first target for a crime. Keep your head up and walk with a sense of purpose, even if you’re not exactly sure where you’re heading to. As a solo female traveller, men will try to talk to you. If you feel comfortable stopping and chatting for a few seconds then do so. If not, then don’t slow down. Usually a “no thank you” will deter even the most persistent pesterer. Even if you are panicked, do your best not to show it. You will get a lot less hassle if you look like you know exactly where you’re going and what you’re doing.
6) Always bring a map. When arriving at a new area I always buy myself a coffee, sit down and familiarise myself with a local map. Make sure you know where your hotel is and ensure that you have the address written down in your bag so that you can show taxi drivers if you need to. Knowing the area will add to your confidence and will also mean that you can fix in your mind everything you would like to see. I try not to get my map out as I’m walking around as this will make it obvious that I’m a tourist, therefore attracting petty crime. If I really feel that I am lost I try to sit down somewhere and spend as long as I need scouting out the area.
7) When in doubt, find a lady. Growing up in the UK, I was always told to find a policeman if I was very lost. However sometimes this is easier said than done. There is an additional problem depending on which country you are travelling through. In many countries the police force are corrupt and they cannot be completely trusted. Some of the worst hassle I got whilst travelling through South America was from policemen themselves – a very sad but true fact. So if you feel unsafe or lost, find a kind looking lady to speak to. Of course, just because they’re female doesn’t mean you can trust them. However they are statistically less likely to try to do anything to harm you. Seek women out if you need any help and cannot find a policeman.
8) Trust your instincts. If you don’t trust someone or feel comfortable in a place, leave immediately. Don’t worry that you may appear rude and don’t feel that you have to justify your actions or make excuses for yourself. If you don’t feel safe, put yourself first. It doesn’t matter how lovely a person is being, or how beautiful a place is. If you feel even the slightest bit of discomfort, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as you can. I’m a great believer in trusting in the feeling you get from someone, or from a place. Take care of yourself!
9) Photocopy all your documents. If for some reason your documents do go missing you will need to visit the embassy of the country you are travelling through. The whole process will be made a lot easier if you have photocopies of all your important documents. This means your passport, your visa, your insurance documents and all your flight details, as well as all other important documents. Keep them in a safe place and ensure they’re not with the original documents. Most hostels and hotels will have a safe so use this facility!
10) Enjoy yourself. Don’t be too scared to let loose and have fun. Constantly worrying about whether you’re safe will spoil the experience for you. Make yourself and your experience your main priority and take care of yourself! Trust yourself and enjoy yourself.
Of course, there are so many other tips that you can use to keep yourself safe. But these have been the main things I have used to take care of myself on my journey. Safe travels!
