Safety Tips For Women Traveling Alone

Embarking on a solo adventure is an exciting and fulfilling experience for any traveler. You get to step into the unknown and learn about new cultures, see beautiful places, and embrace your independence. These trips also come with unique challenges and risks — especially if you're a woman traveling alone — but you shouldn't let that stop you!

With a bit of extra preparation, you can navigate virtually any destination on your own with confidence and ease. You'll want to take the same precautions just as you would at home: Stay alert, watch your drink, avoid walking down an unfamiliar street alone at night, the usual. However, there are several additional things you can do to increase your safety as a solo female traveler, from planning ahead and reading reviews to protecting your privacy and staying connected. Whether it's your first trip or you're a seasoned pro, these safety tips for women traveling alone will help you stay safe so you can focus on enjoying the journey.

Feeling prepared as a solo female traveler goes a long way. Look into the best neighborhoods before you book your accommodation, learn about the most common scams to avoid, and find out what local women usually wear so you can blend in. Achieving cultural chameleonism will make you feel more confident when navigating a new destination alone.

Your research doesn't have to stop when you arrive, either. Speak to other women you meet about their experience or ask locals if they have any advice. Learning about the place you're visiting also gets you excited for the adventure ahead and is a great way to learn about hidden gems you might not stumble upon on your own.

While it may seem like overkill, check the federal government's list of current travel advisories for serious safety concerns, such as political unrest, risk of disease, or high instances of crime. The U.S. Department of State uses a four-level scale to convey the current risks in every country around the world. Visiting a destination with a Level 1 or 2 advisory is nothing to worry about, but you may want to reconsider traveling alone to a country rated as Level 3 or 4.

Having some extra money set aside for emergencies can be a lifesaver in unexpected situations. For example, if you arrive at your accommodation and it's in a bad neighborhood, doesn't have a lock on the door, or you get a bad feeling for any reason (Always trust your gut!), you can use the emergency fund to move somewhere that doesn't give you the heebie jeebies. It lets you make safer choices when traveling solo, such as opting for an Uber rather than public transport when you arrive at a new destination after dark.

Keep the emergency fund separate from your regular budget — pretend it isn't there so you're not tempted to spend it on other travel expenses. Having a bit of cold hard cash and some money in an accessible bank account means you're covered in any scenario, and it's wise to split it between your carry-on and checked bags in case the airline loses your luggage. While they're not exactly chic, a money belt is a great way to keep cash on you but out of sight.

Staying charged keeps you connected, informed, and safe wherever you go. Make sure you pack a powerbank and bring a universal power adapter so you can always use your phone. This is especially important on long travel days or in situations where you won't have reliable access to a charger, such as visiting a remote village or embarking on a multi-day hike. Update family and friends regularly so they're aware of your location and upcoming plans.

Whether you need to call an Uber, look up directions, translate something, or contact someone in an emergency, knowing your devices are charged will give you peace of mind. It's not just a great safety tool — you also need to keep it charged so you can access money-saving apps for your trip! But remember to close your apps regularly and use low power mode to preserve battery. Running navigation apps, scrolling social media, and watching videos can drain your battery quickly, so make sure you avoid using them unnecessarily when you're away from a reliable power source.

As a solo female traveler, it's safest to keep your travel plans and any details about where you're staying private when meeting new people. Sharing it with strangers can put you at risk, even if it feels harmless or comes up in conversation naturally. Someone may use it to follow you, show up unexpectedly, or break into your room when they know you're out exploring. You can always provide vague or general responses about your plans without giving anything away that might compromise your safety.

It's important to remember that no one you've just met needs this information, so if they're pushing for you to share it, that's an even better reason to keep it to yourself. You should always prioritize your safety, so dip into that emergency fund if you have to and move to a different accommodation if that feels like the best option. If you're staying at a hotel, there are some clever hacks you can use to add extra security to your room.

Who doesn't love sharing the highlights of a trip on social media? There are a few reasons you should always think twice about geo tagging your posts, but even if you don't explicitly tag your whereabouts, it's best to wait until you've moved on to share your location online. Photos in easily-recognizable destinations are especially risky and can give others an idea of where you are. This is especially important to consider when you go to snap a photo of your luxe beachside villa or the unique mural at your hostel because it plainly indicates where you're staying. Your friends will still be envious in a couple weeks, so wait to post until you're home safe and sound or a thousand miles away exploring a new destination.

Keep your fellow travelers in mind with this tip, too. Always ask new friends if they're ok with you posting their photo and tagging them before you upload it to social media so they can stay in control of their own safety.

Knowing where you're going is an essential part of staying safe when traveling alone as a woman. If you look lost, you can easily become a target for scams and people offering to "help." Fortunately, there are tons of ways to access maps when you're traveling, and you don't even need to be connected to the internet. Apps like Maps.me allow you to download maps and use them without data or Wi-Fi. Google Maps also has a feature where you can select a custom area to download and use the map offline.

That said, being able to see real-time maps is also pretty nice. Getting an international travel eSIM is great because you can activate it right when you arrive, which makes navigating public transport or calling an Uber and accessing your accommodation details so much easier. This is such an important safety tip when you're traveling to a remote area or somewhere with spotty cell service, as having a reliable offline map can reduce stress and save time in an emergency. Plan routes ahead of time whenever possible so you can avoid unsafe neighborhoods and feel confident in where you're going.

This is an easy, clever, and potentially life-saving strategy for women traveling alone. A code word is a discreet way to communicate that you're in serious trouble or simply feeling unsafe without raising suspicion or making a scene, potentially putting you in further danger. This can be useful in a range of situations from being held hostage to being on a bad date. A good code word is easy to use in a regular conversation without flagging suspicion but not so common that your emergency contact might miss it.

Consider choosing something specific but random, like a fruit or vegetable you hate, the color and model of travel equipment you don't use, or a reference to a family member or pet you don't have. Make sure you discuss this with your emergency contact (or contacts) before you leave and remind them every now and then. Having this in place might feel overly cautious, but it provides peace of mind, knowing you will likely never need to use it but have a silent lifeline in case something goes wrong. You'll feel reassured when you're the trusted code word holder for someone else, too.

This may seem like a given, but there are a few specific things to look out for when choosing accommodation as a woman traveling alone. Most reservation platforms, including Booking.com and Airbnb, let you filter reviews with keywords, but even if the site doesn't yet have that feature (looking at you, Hostelworld), you can use the "find" function on your computer — usually Ctrl+F or command+F. Look up words like female, solo, and safe to see what other travelers are saying.

The location and neighborhood are important considerations if you plan to walk anywhere, especially after dark. And you should avoid the first floor when staying at a hotel, so consider requesting a different floor in your booking notes if possible. If you're traveling on a budget, many hostels offer female-only dorms, which is another great way to feel more comfortable traveling alone.

Dressing like a local doesn't mean you have to compromise your personal style, and doesn't necessarily mean you have to dress conservatively, but it's all about being situationally aware. Blending in with the locals helps you avoid attention that might mark you as a lone female tourist and make you a target. Even in destinations where your skin or hair color makes you stand out in a crowd, you'll appear more informed, confident, and aware of your surroundings by dressing similarly to local women, which in turn increases your safety.

In more conservative regions, wearing loose clothing that covers your shoulders keeps you aligned with cultural norms and will help you blend in. It's also much more comfortable if you're visiting in the height of summer! Pack some versatile pieces you can layer — a scarf or shawl can even come in handy in countries like Italy. This is a good example of why it's important to research your destination before you get there!

Wearing a wedding band, whether you're married or not, makes it look like you're not traveling alone. Of course, lots of women travel without their partners, but this small accessory can act as a deterrent for unwanted attention.

Keep in mind you probably don't want to wear anything too flashy. A big ol' rock, even if it's just zirconia, might pique the interest of pickpockets, leading to you losing more than just your ring. And if you're going somewhere with a hot climate, you should avoid wearing fake jewelry. Unlike real gold or silver, the materials tarnish easily and can sometimes leave a green residue on your skin. Silicone wedding rings are becoming an increasingly popular option for travelers who would rather wear a low-cost and comfortable placeholder while they're on vacation. They're inexpensive and can make you feel safer as a woman traveling alone.