Women traveling the world, even solo, has definitely taken off over the years (pun intended)! 32 million single American women went traveling at least once over the past year and 1 in 3 traveled 5 times or more! [1]
We are just a couple of those women who clearly LOVE traveling, but safety is key!
We have never been the type to let “what-ifs” hold us back from what we really want to do, but we have to admit that there are certain considerations we have as female travelers.
Of course, men and women both have to worry about personal safety while traveling, but it’s important for women to understand that it is LIKELY that there will be some experiences that make you feel uncomfortable. It’s a sad reality, but it is still a reality.
For example, walking around Florence at night, a strange man pulled up beside us in his car to offer us a ride. We politely declined, but the man continued to yell from the car and follow us down the street. In an instance like this, we were glad to be in a populated area where we could enter a bar to escape that situation. This is certainly not the only time we have experienced something like this.
Luckily, the two of us are together most of the time, so that likely does help to deter some unsavory characters. This leads us into some tips we would like to share!
Fellow female travelers, keep these in mind:
Trust your gut:
If a situation is making you uncomfortable, listen to your gut! It’s easy to brush things off and chide yourself for overreacting, but it’s always better to be safe in a foreign country.
Go out at night with others:
If you’re traveling solo this may be difficult, but try your best not to be out too late wandering by yourself. In the past, we have made friends at hostels or hotels that would be willing to go somewhere with us if we asked.
Be familiar with your immediate surroundings:
Be familiar with the area around your hotel, or the area you are planning to visit, before going out. Your hotel's concierge or a female employee can mark any areas that you should avoid on the maps that they usually have at the front desk.
Be aware of the cultural norms surrounding women where you are:
Being in Europe is not the same as being in some parts of Asia or the Middle East. Make sure that you are at least attempting to “conform” to cultural norms of dressing so that you don’t mistakenly make yourself stand out.
This all may sound a bit scary, but the pros of traveling FAR outweigh these fears. As they say...
“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” - Unknown
We all have different boundaries and comfort zones, and none of this should stop any woman from traveling! Just keep these things in mind and be careful.
Get out there and make amazing memories, ladies!
-Nikki + Pam
[1] “50 Female Travel Statistics & Trends: Latest Research (2020).” Condor Ferries, www.condorferries.co.uk/female-travel-statistics.