Travel safety tips for solo female travellers

Extra ladies than ever are selecting to vacation alone “solo journey” model as they wish to discover the world and not using a pal or accomplice.

In truth, searches for “solo feminine journey” have seen a 495% uplift within the final month, in accordance with Wizz Air.

However, the principle concern many ladies really feel about travelling alone is security and ensuring that they don’t seem to be at risk when out and about in far off cities.

A whopping 50% of ladies reported feeling involved about being protected when touring solo.

Now, journey consultants at Wizz Air have shared their suggestions for staying protected which exploring the world alone.

Test them out under…

Pre-trip analysis

Make sure you do your analysis earlier than heading out in your first solo journey. Learn the critiques of accommodations or B&Bs you’re contemplating, to make sure the placement is protected and close to facilities equivalent to public transport.

If you’re travelling on a finances, it may be straightforward to disregard critiques in favour of saving cash, nevertheless you will need to guarantee there are many critiques out there, as this will provide you with a greater understanding of the place you may be staying.

If you’re a social individual, then staying in a shared room in a hostel is an effective way to make new buddies whereas nonetheless sustaining your solo traveller independence. Many hostels provide feminine solely dorms, supplied for the solo traveller and woman group in thoughts, so it’s advisable to hunt out locations that supply this.

Preserve valuables locked up

Nothing dampens a vacation greater than having your valuables stolen, so be vigilant and maintain your items protected. If you’re staying in a resort room, maintain your valuables locked within the protected, normally offered, to present you peace of thoughts.

If you’re staying in a shared room in a hostel then most will present lockers, so make sure you journey with a lock and maintain the important thing on you always.

Resorts are additionally not usually accountable for gadgets in your room, so in case you do have something notably precious then it’s advisable to depart them with the entrance desk.

A good resort will provide you with a written receipt that you’ve got left your items with them, which means in the event that they do get misplaced then they are going to be answerable for this.

Let family members know your plans

Give your pals, household and your self some peace of thoughts and allow them to know a tough itinerary of your vacation earlier than you go, so in the event that they don’t hear from you then they’ll know the place they need to contact.

If you happen to intend on going with the circulate and don’t have a particular plan in place, then a minimum of let family members know a tough thought and the place you may be staying.

We’re all responsible of not sending the required “I’m residence” textual content, so keep away from inflicting pointless stress and permit a belief member of the family to trace your location.

There are quite a few apps which permit family members to know your exercise, providing them peace of thoughts that you’re protected. If, in an emergency, they will’t find you then they’ll be capable of alert the required authorities.

Disguise in plain sight

To keep away from drawing consideration to the actual fact you’re a solo traveller, keep away from dressing like a tell-tale vacationer and, as an alternative, gown as merely as you may.

In truth, you must be aware of how locals are dressed that will help you curate your outfits. If you happen to discover locals protecting sure elements of their physique, for instance, then you must do the identical. Not solely will this make it easier to mix in, but it surely additionally means you don’t danger seeming disrespectful.

In an effort to mix in, you will need to additionally keep away from having something too precious out and about.

A pickpocket will spot your fancy digital camera or your new smartphone and immediately see you as a goal.

Whereas travelling with a cellphone or a digital camera could be unavoidable, there are methods you may conceal these excessive worth gadgets. Keep away from storing your digital camera in a devoted digital camera bag and as an alternative maintain it in a easy and unobvious bag.

Give your self a backup

Travelling solo means you need to be hyperaware of your environment however enable your self a backup. Within the occasion you turn out to be accosted by a robber whereas out and about, carry a dummy pockets on you at hand over and maintain money hidden in your individual.

Flat cash belts that are strapped beneath your garments can retailer money, playing cards and any valuables, or for a finances technique you may get artistic.

Use a tampon applicator as a makeshift pockets to maintain money hidden – it’s exceptionally unlikely a robber can be trying to steal a tampon.

Purchase an area SIM

As of thirty first December 2020, the EU guidelines on roaming fees not apply within the UK, which means the quantity your cellphone operator can cost you to make use of your cellphone in EU international locations is not capped, leading to probably exceptionally excessive payments.

As every cellular operator has a unique price for roaming fees, you will need to test earlier than travelling to see how a lot utilizing your cellphone on vacation might price.

Being too involved about utilizing your cellphone, in case of excessive invoice costs, means you’re placing your self at risk as you’re unable to contact anybody in case you really feel unsafe. Once you first arrive, think about investing in an area PAYG SIM card to make use of whereas overseas and make an observation of beloved one’s numbers and the emergency numbers of your vacation spot.

If you happen to intend on doing a variety of travelling this 12 months, then you must think about upgrading your present cellphone tariff to permit knowledge roaming, as it will prevent extra money down the road.

Let your financial institution know

In case your financial institution notices a seemingly random cost from an area bar in Spain then they might flag this as suspicious exercise and freeze your card. In an more and more cashless society, having your card and account frozen is probably the worst factor that may occur whereas on the primary day of your vacation, and may depart you in a susceptible place.

With this in thoughts, be sure you convey sufficient money to maintain you getting into case your card will get frozen, misplaced or stolen, and maintain the money hidden to keep away from dropping this too.

Let your financial institution know previous to going overseas to keep away from any misunderstandings and having to name up your financial institution whereas on vacation. This may be accomplished by calling them up or many banks will let you set a vacation in your account on-line.

Profit from your vacation

Solo travelling is likely one of the most gratifying issues you are able to do, with 38% of ladies anticipated to take a solo journey in 2022.

When you should make sure you take the required steps to remain protected whereas overseas, you must also take steps to make sure you take advantage of your vacation.

Ebook a tour

Reserving a tour, whether or not it’s a strolling tour of the town or an tour to a close-by hotspot, is likely one of the best and most secure methods to discover a brand new vacation spot.

Respected operators will give you particular itineraries, which means you may maintain family members again residence within the loop, and can normally be hosted by locals, providing you a real perception.

Reserving excursions or excursions as a solo traveller additionally permits you the chance to fulfill new individuals, probably even different solo travellers. Store round for the most effective deal out there, to keep away from paying greater than essential.

If you’re on a finances, many locations, particularly in style cities, have free strolling excursions dotted alongside the town centre, giving vacationers an area’s perception of the realm. Whereas they’re free, it’s typically anticipated to tip your information so guarantee you’ve gotten a bit of money on you earlier than you set off.

Select your vacation spot with intent

The great thing about solo travelling if it’s the good alternative to be completely egocentric! We now have all needed to compromise whereas on a gaggle vacation and do one thing we maybe wouldn’t have chosen to do ourselves however didn’t wish to look like a celebration pooper.

Take into consideration what you search for in a vacation; do you get pleasure from lengthy hikes or exploring a bustling metropolis, or maybe you simply wish to lay on a seaside and eventually learn that e book.