Female solo travelling

Hermia

missprice wrote: »

Most of my traveling has been alone, in fact its about 5 years ago when I met OH and could go with someone. Happy alone, happy as part of a couple.
Am not picky and can plan stuff by myself, for myself and can also compromise with OH.
Lone traveling is different and females, sadly have to be more aware.
Hth

I have never actually felt that I was massively more in danger as a female traveller. I have never travelled to a country which is known to be terrible for women though. The rules I follow abroad are the same ones I follow at home (avoid certain areas, make sure my hotel room is secure, don't wander around in the middle of the night). I grew up in a city and am good at blending in so I probably am naturally quite street wise. The only thing I think women need to really think about is cultural issues as it can be more important for a woman to fit in than a man.

Tiddlywinks

Females travelling alone are not necessarily more vulnerable but it's all about perception.

Some may see you as 'easy pickings', desperate, lonely or even a prostitute all depending on their viewpoint - you just need to be mindful of the type of places you visit. You'll be treated differently if you are sitting alone in the hotel bar at 11pm wearing a little black dress, sipping a cocktail and in full make-up than if you are casually dressed and sitting in a cafe sipping coffee.

My top tips to women travelling alone...

1. Take a small doorstop with you in your suitcase. You can get small rubber or wooden wedged ones for a couple of pounds and they are light in weight. Place it on the inside of your hotel room door so that no one can open it whilst you are in the room.

2. When leaving your room, turn around and say something like 'bye, won't be too long' and leave the TV on.

3 For eating alone, take a book so that you can look busy if you feel conspicuous. At breakfast, doing a crossword looks normal.

4. Keep one credit card and a small amount of notes in a card wallet away from your handbag... so you have emergency money if you lose your bag.

5. Never have a ground floor room as they do pose a security risk.

Go for it and enjoy it.

Hermia

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Females travelling alone are not necessarily more vulnerable but it's all about perception.

Some may see you as 'easy pickings', desperate, lonely or even a prostitute all depending on their viewpoint - you just need to be mindful of the type of places you visit. You'll be treated differently if you are sitting alone in the hotel bar at 11pm wearing a little black dress, sipping a cocktail and in full make-up than if you are casually dressed and sitting in a cafe sipping coffee.

My top tips to women travelling alone...

1. Take a small doorstop with you in your suitcase. You can get small rubber or wooden wedged ones for a couple of pounds and they are light in weight. Place it on the inside of your hotel room door so that no one can open it whilst you are in the room.

2. When leaving your room, turn around and say something like 'bye, won't be too long' and leave the TV on.

3 For eating alone, take a book so that you can look busy if you feel conspicuous. At breakfast, doing a crossword looks normal.

4. Keep one credit card and a small amount of notes in a card wallet away from your handbag... so you have emergency money if you lose your bag.

5. Never have a ground floor room as they do pose a security risk.

Go for it and enjoy it.

I have a lightweight money belt that I wear under my clothes that I keep my cards, passport and notes in. I then keep enough notes and coins for that day in my bag.

I honestly think a lot of blokes would do well to try these tips. I certainly read enough hair-raising stories on travel forums from blokes who seem to think they don't need to worry about safety whilst travelling.

mum2one

As my username says mum2one - thats me - but pre mum stage and when DD was little I travelled a lot as a single traveller.

The bulk of mine were package holidays, done Tunisia, Turkey, Cyrpus, Dom Rep, Mexico.

UK - been on coach trips up to 5 day breaks, weekend breaks, caravan holidays, family based parks, through to B+B.

2 yrs ago was my last single trip as I went to Prague, for 5 days, I will be honest and say that felt a little bit different as always done package holidays, but I loved it, no-one to argue with, you do what you want when you want.

The thing that I did was take a wedding ring, (I picked up a really cheap one from Argos) as even if your out by yourself people just assume hubby in another shop etc.

A book - even people as a couple sit and read books around the beach.

It sounds daft but sometimes its common sense (meant in the nicest of ways) as some people (couples as well) leave their brains at the airport, my motto if I wouldn't do it at home, then I wouldn't abroad.

Your have an amazing time, xx

Richard53

One of my favourite books is 'Lois on the Loose' by Lois Pryce (Amazon). 30-ish single female rides a motorbike solo from Alaska to the tip of S America. After that, anything else seems a little tame The main conclusion that I got from the book is that, provided you keep your wits about you, travelling as a single female is perfectly doable and a lot of fun. She does the ring trick once or twice ("But where is your husband?" "Waiting for me on the other side of this border." "Ah well, you must go to meet him!"). Shame it's necessary in 2013, but it works.

Good idea about the hidden cash and credit cards, and the door wedges. If I'm going anywhere dodgy I take an old wallet with a couple of expired cards and about £10 equivalent in cash. If anyone tries to demand my money, they can have that. It wouldn't fool a professional thief, but might give you time to get away from a simple thug.

Also, have a read of this (recognising pickpocketing scams): don't let it put you off, but there is some eye-opening info in there.

Go for it, and good luck.

FBaby

I went away for 10 days alone to the Canary Islands when I was 26. I was quite nervous, never done it before, but desperate for a sunny break. I didn't go expecting to meet anyone, I was just planning on days of sunbathing, resting around the pool reading my books, and taking walks.

As it is, watching one evening some guys playing volley ball (purely because it was nice to watch them, no expectation attached to it), they came and talked to me. I ended up spending the rest of the holidays with them. They took me under their wing and treated me like a princess the entire time! They were fun, polite and I just had one of the best holidays ever!

However, I did also enjoy the first days on my own, not having to be accountable to anyone and just doing as I wish. Go for it and enjoy.

duchy

I am rather saddened that so many women still think women shouldn't travel alone. The OP is considering Dubrovnik not Saudi !

I've travelled extensively solo for both work and leisure and have found most foreign cities no more daunting or "dangerous" than say London, Manchester or Birmingham,,,,, It has a lot of advantages -you get to see what you want, when you want....and people are friendlier than they are with couples,

I get comments from friends saying "aren't you brave" which kind of makes me smile ...so lomng as you do your research and know which are the areas to avoid and like your own company it can be a great experience.

DigForVictory

Have a "disposable wallet", a cheap ring & a great time!

A couple of my schoolmates went though Saudi having a ball - they borrowed my cousin as the 'token' man - and thanks to their prep, he had his "astonishing holiday with penguins!" and enjoyed it.
If there are chaps out there willing to be told exactly how big a bribe, what to eat (& what not), & given strictly nominal control of a harem, there's loads of fun to be had. Little coz laughed hardest at the "Heathrow shot" - where his companions disrobed & posed for photos & his schoolmates were flat envious of a week with these two stunners - he'd not seen them "dressed Western" til then.

Voyager2002

Note that it is easy to find travel companions if that is what you want: there is a section of the "Thorn Tree" travel forum on the Lonely Planet web site that exists for this purpose. You might want to arrange a companion for the first few days (to stop people worrying) and then go solo once you feel confident about being there. Your choice!

duchy

The OP is a grown woman in her twenties not a child... if people want to worry about her that is up to them .....it isn't a reason to compromise her holiday plans getting stuck with possibly uncongenial random travelling companions.