Have you ever noticed that if you are a female and you mention wanting to take a solo trip, the first reactions you usually get are: “Wow, you’re brave,” “Be Careful,””Aren’t you scared?” or “Man, I wish I could do that.”

I understand the concern, but I wonder, is ‘worry’ the first thing that comes to someone’s mind when they ask a man why HE travels solo?

Solo travel can actually be quite wonderful. Solo travel means that your plans consist of only the things you want to see, the places only you want to eat at, and no crazy drama with your travel mates. As women, we need to speak up and share these wonderful stories we have, so others will understand the joys and be inspired.

There IS a distinction placed upon SOLO FEMALE travel. Although this is not a new concept, we use these words to stress the differences women face when traveling.

Women are targets when we are alone.We constantly get harassed and approached. There are so many reports of women being attacked, raped, and murdered when traveling abroad. I don’t say this to be a Debbie downer, I say it to keep us aware! THIS is the reason that people ask us why we are traveling by ourselves.

I can’t help but wonder, do we stop living our lives because of fear, or do we educate ourselves, take all necessary precautions, and venture out anyways!? I say the latter!

I am a big feminist and I believe that women can, and should, do everything that men do. It’s not our fault if someone assaults us. Nothing we do should justify someone wanting to hurt us. However, I also know reality and I believe that we should educate ourselves to make smart choices! Read on to hear a few good travel hacks.

15 Solo Female Traveler Hacks
You Should Know

1. Carry a ‘decoy wallet’ in your backpack or purse. Keep a few bucks cash and some empty gift cards in it to make it look real.
2. Don’t keep all your money in one place: Think boots, bra, phone case, and even a hidden pocket in your headbands!
3. Learn simple, but necessary phrases for the countries that you are visiting: If you’re going to Spain or Argentina, learn a few Spanish phrases before you take off.
4. Watch your street cred: When you need to review a map, pop into a nearby store or restaurant instead of on the street.
5. Walk with confidence and SMILE. Show that you aren’t some ‘vulnerable person’ and besides, being friendly may be the ticket to new opportunities or upgrades.
6. Wear a wedding band. Some other travelers swear by wearing a simple wedding band to prevent unnecessary attention. I feel that it won’t stop anyone who really wants to harm you, but I put it in the list because maybe you’d find it helpful anyways!
7. Carry the business card of your hotel or hostel with you. Especially if you are going somewhere you don’t know the language; you can just point to the card.
8. Scan your documents: Scan your passport, id, flight confirmations and upload them to Google Drive. Saves you in a pinch if you misplace them and you can give someone access to your itinerary for safety reasons. My favorite tip!
9. Buy good travel insurance– this goes for any traveler!
10. Seize the Daylight! Not only do you get better photos, but it may be safer to walk around in the morning/day alone. (This by no means says don’t enjoy nightlife, just take advantage of the day!)
11. Watch Your Drinks when going out ALONE to a nightclub because you have no backup. Drink as much as you like, but be aware of your surroundings.
12. Talk to People! Talk to your bus drivers, hotel concierge, and the people at the restaurant you walked into. You never know if they will invite you to a home-cooked family meal.
13. Take a self-defense class:  Before your trip, plan to take at least 1 self-defense class to prepare yourself. Bonus tip: Bring a friend to make it more fun.
14. Don’t let anyone deter you from traveling alone. You do you, boo!
15. Enjoy the trip: Take as many selfies as you want without getting embarrassed and share your stories with other female travelers to inspire them.
    

    You can do it girlfriends!

Ask people to take photos of you, don’t be shy! ❤

Your turn!

Do you have any great hacks or tips for solo female travelers? I’d love to know about them in the comment section below!

Spot you soon,

Red

Follow me on Twitter: @spottheredhead and Instagram: @spot_the_redhead and say hello 🙂

Pin this so you won’t lose it ❤