Solo woman traveler safety – sightseeing safely

Solo woman traveler safety – Part 2: sightseeing safely

In a another post, I covered how to be safe as a solo woman traveler as related to hostels/hotels.  Now I’ll cover the sightseeing part.

First, take a couple of hotel business cards with you. This gives you a way to show someone where you need to go even if you don’t speak the language (and you can track if you are being taken the right way by putting in the address in your phone and seeing where you should go).

Do your research before traveling, so you know which areas are most likely to be “bad”, and try to avoid going out at hours of the night where you’ll stand out to opportunistic thieves. Also, search online for the common crimes and scams for the area so you are alert to them.  You can also ask your hotel staff about the areas you want to visit.

Use technology in other ways too. Before going anywhere on your own, look it up on your phone. This way you can always look confident and like you know where you are going. I’ve gotten through areas where everyone is being approached simply by looking at my destination and walking without even glancing at the shops/people around me. Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

Keep valuables on you unless you have access to a safe in your room or at the front desk. (You can also take a travel safe like this one from PacSafe  with you in some cases). Click the link for more info and several size options that are available. They are fairly expensive, but nice to have if your room isn’t as secure as you’d like

Have a secure purse or money belt to wear when you are traveling around town. Have a theft-resistant purse/bag (I often use this one from the Travelon series).

When you are out on the streets, do not have headphones on. Make sure you are paying attention to your surroundings. If you have headphones on you often can’t hear what’s going on around you, which leaves you more tempting a target.

Know the local laws and customs to not run afoul of them. If you stand out as a tourist, you may make yourself a target for those who prey on tourists who don’t know the local “rules”.  Be friendly with people but be cautious. Trust your gut.

As usual, whether traveling alone or with others, it’s smart to keep some cash and cards in another location than your wallet/purse, and I recommend one of these money belts  – this is an updated version of what I have and it comes with bonus RFID sleeves which are always a good thing. Click on the picture for more info.

Remember what keeps you safe at home, and continue to behave similarly. Don’t drink too much or do drugs. Don’t leave your food or drink or belongings unattended. Trust your instincts.

Safe Travels!