Safety & Meeting People

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One of the biggest questions about solo travel is safety, especially whether or not it's safe for a woman to travel alone. We've talked with dozens of men and women who travel solo, all around the world. Do they have problems on the road? Yes. But do they think that, on the whole, traveling alone is safe and worthwhile? Yes, on both counts. Which is part of why they keep setting out on their own, especially the ladies.

Meeting people is a great thing to do, even when traveling alone, and in fact solo travelers may have an easier time of meeting people, as it's easier to approach one person than it is a group. Here are some tips for meeting people:

Find people in your hostel and go on a shopping/cooking excursion.
If you're new to an area, seek out other travelers (at hostels, popular cafes, etc.), who seem in the know. Just keep your wits about you as you get to know people.
Don't be afraid of locals – there can be great friends to be made.

Of course, it's not a perfect, safe world, and you have to keep on alert and be on the look-out for the not-so-nice people of the world. Here are some tips for the male and female solo traveler alike:

Educate thyself. Travel writer Marybeth Bond has traveled alone, quite extensively, over a good part of the world. Her advice, as seen in Dawn MacKeen's "Women's dilemma: Is solo travel worth the risk?" is "for most solo women travelers, negative encounters with men will come in the form of cat calls, dirty looks, pinches and lewd remarks. If you're going to travel alone, you should be prepared to encounter these. And you should educate yourself before leaving on your trip, so that you know how local stereotypes and perceptions of women may affect you – and how you can minimize the risks."
Embarass the hell out of them. For both men and women, if someone is constantly accosting you, or seems potentially threatening, draw attention. Talk loudly. Shout. Laugh and scream, do something crazy; draw public attention to the person's inappropriate behavior.
Dress for the culture. If the women traditionally wear long skirts, you probably don't want to jump out in your halter top and short shorts. Long skirts and trousers are the best travel gear. Educated yourself on local customs, and try your best to fit in. You're less likely to get unwanted attention – and probably more respect from locals – by respecting their culture, even if different from yours.
Wear a wedding ring. Buy a simple ring and put it on your wedding ring finger. If someone starts to bug you, point out that you're going to meet your husband at the bus station, or your wife at a cafe.
Leave! In her article Going Solo, Anita Culp points out "If something makes you angry, just remember: you don't live there, you can leave anytime, and you'll never have to deal with this again!"
"A single degree of paranoia can be useful", says David Savage in his story Lone Female. "Traveling is not about purposefully putting oneself at risk. It is about putting oneself in places that are new, with people that are different and absorbing the lessons the experience has to offer. However, a traveler cannot always control situations or avoid risk.... Consider where you are and who is around. Don't leave yourself isolated with a stranger. Listen to your gut instinct."

These are just a few tips, but what they boil down to is think, be aware, educate yourself, and don't be afraid to do what's necessary to keep yourself safe.

Article added on March 02, 2005

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