20 Safety Tips for Female Solo Travelers
Solo travel is one of the most enthralling and liberating experiences. It provides a tremendous sense of accomplishment and proves you’re made of some pretty stern stuff.
Still, as a female solo traveler, you want to do everything you can to ensure safe passage to and from the destination of your dreams.
With a little bit of planning ahead which, let’s face it, is part of the excitement, you can rest assured that you’ve done everything you can to look after yourself and return home with a suitcase full of new memories that will live on in your heart forever. Here’s a good baseline to help you get started.
1. Splurge On Your Accommodations
The first and most important safety tip has to do with your accommodations. If it’s a choice between a 4-star hotel in a safe neighborhood and a 3-star spot on the fringe, splurge on all four stars.
You can make up the difference in other ways. For example, in 17 travel hacks to help you see the world without breaking the bank, we show you how to account for that difference by choosing which meals to splurge on, how to reduce luggage fees, and when to travel to score the best deals.
Without doubt, that sense of rushing home to your Airbnb after dinner while looking over your shoulder is sure to put a damper on your travels.
2. Wear a Money Belt
Sure, no one wants to admit they still wear a fanny pack. But, that’s not quite the same thing as a money belt.
A money belt is a very thin pouch you can wear around your waist, under your clothes. It doesn’t have to be bulky and ruin the lines of your look. It’s simply a place to store your passport, credit cards, and ID – the things you don’t want taken from your room or your purse.
When your most valuable documents are on your person the entire time, you put yourself at a much lower risk of losing your most essential items.
3. Select Guest Favorites on Airbnb
There are three general rules of thumb to ensure fairly safe passage to your Airbnb. The first has to do with the ratings on the Airbnb that caught your eye.
One of the best things you can do is immediately filter your results so Superhosts – or Guest Favorites – are the only things that pop up in your search.
These are tried and true accommodations that have been well-reviewed and earned the Superhost a badge from Airbnb.
4. Read Every Review on Airbnb
Yes, every review. This may seem cumbersome, but those reviews are going to tell you a lot more than the short description the host posted to their listing.
They’ll reveal how welcoming or accommodating the host was upon arrival, the speed in which they respond to messages, and the cleanliness of the space.
They’ll also reveal some of the finer details like proximity to other destinations, accessibility, and the safety of the area around the apartment or home.