Traveling alone can be a lot of fun. You get to go to fun places and see what you want on your own schedule. Many people think that the only way to travel is with others, but you can have a pretty great time on your own. However, traveling alone as a woman unfortunately comes with some dangers. Don’t let this stop you though – there are a few things you can do to keep yourself safe while still getting the most out of your trip. Here’s what you need to know:
Research the Area Before You Go
First, you should research the area you’ll be traveling to before you get there. Doing this will help you in a few ways. First, you can learn if there are any bad areas that you should avoid. Second, if you get lost, you’ll have more knowledge in the back of your mind to help you find your way. You can also look up where emergency services are, such as hospitals and police, so that you can get there if you need to.
Spend some time searching your intended area and write down the addresses of key locations, like where you’re staying, metro stations and police stations. Keep this written list somewhere safe, like in your pocket or purse. That way if your cell phone dies when you’re out and about you still have some information about where to go.
Avoid Traveling at Night
Wherever you go, and no matter how well you know the area, you should avoid traveling alone at night. Try to do as much of your traveling as you can while the sun is still up. Traveling in the dark is more dangerous for women and there are less people around who can assist you. If you do end up traveling at night, take some precautions. For example, stick to crowded areas or let someone at your hotel know where you’ll be. You don’t always want to avoid traveling or sight-seeing at night, so if you do end up going out alone at night, just be sure to take some extra precautions.
Check in with Family and Friends
Whenever you travel alone you should still let someone know where you are at all times. A simple text message to a family member or friend that you arrived at your destination, or that you’re back at your hotel for the night, can help keep you safe. If you regularly check in with someone, they will know when something is wrong since they haven’t heard from you. They can then reach out to authorities on your behalf. Not only will checking in with someone help keep you safe, but it will also provide some peace of mind to your family and friends back home who are likely a little worried about you traveling alone.
Learn Some Self Defense
No matter how many precautions you take you may still find yourself in a bad situation. If this happens, knowing some self defense tactics could save your life. Before you start traveling alone, it’s a good idea to take some self-defense classes in your local area. There are a number of different self-defense styles, so you just need to find one that’s right for you.
For example, you could take some classes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. According to Elite MMA, a provider of Jiu Jitsu in Houston, “Jiu-jitsu employs effective techniques that enable even a smaller, weaker individual to defeat a stronger opponent”. So, see what classes are available in your area then take a few before you head out. Hopefully you will never need to use these skills, but knowing them will give you more confidence to travel alone and keep you safe if something bad does arise.
Get Security Apps
Finally, there are some apps you can get for your phone that will help keep you safe. For instance, you can get apps that will track your GPS location and send it to someone else. With this app you wouldn’t have to worry about checking in with someone, as they could see your exact location at any given time. Or you can get apps that will connect you with local authorities. There are plenty of options out there, so download a few and try them out before you go. Then just be sure you have a fully-charged phone before you head out and bring a backup mobile charger just in case.
Make Safety a Priority
Traveling alone is a great experience that you want to make the most of. To ensure you get back home safe it’s important that you take some precautions, particularly if you’re a woman. By using the steps above you can lessen the likelihood of an unfortunate event and come back home having fully enjyoed your trip. Safe travels!