This is a guest post by Gabrielle of
Gabrielle Rose Travel
. She will be writing a series of articles on traveling as a solo female traveler.
1) Have the courage to go alone
Take the first step and go out there alone!
People say you need to be brave to travel solo, but that’s not true!
You do need a drop of courage to take the initial leap, but on your journey you don’t need a great deal of it. The world is not as bad as the media portrays it! Don’t be a worst case scenario thinker! Generally, people are good, so don’t let negative thoughts prevent you from taking that trip alone!
2) Trust your intuition
This is such an important piece of advice… Trust your intuition!
Humans are born with an innate sense of intuition for a reason… It’s there to keep us alive! You will know if a situation feels wrong or right. Trust your gut!
3) Common sense
Practical tips often include things we have been taught since a young age. Don’t take drinks from strangers. Don’t walk alone drunk at night. Keep your money in a secure hidden place. These are practical tips that I would do at home anyway. Just because you’re on holiday doesn’t mean you’re in a safe bubble 🙂
4) Respect the culture that you are a guest of
Some countries have a very different culture surrounding how women should behave and dress compared to what we might be used to back home. Do some research before you arrive to a new country on how you should behave and dress.
Please take extra precautions when using dating apps like Tinder. Local people may have an entirely different opinion of what the app is used for: friendship, dating or just sex. So treat every situation with caution.
5) Tips for the sharing economy
Couchsurfing
: as a lone female, I would recommend staying with women or families. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you feel uncomfortable. I have heard stories about people using Couchsurfing as a form of online dating(!) A friend recently had a negative experience on there when she refused to meet up with a local man on the app. That being said, I’ve had some amazing experiences through Couchsurfing, and would recommend it to every traveler! It gives you the opportunity to live with local people who know the area… For free!! It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn about different cultures and lifestyles across the world! Couchsurfing relies on a review system, so check out the reviews before you decide to stay or meet with someone.
Hitchhiking
: in an ideal world you would do with with a buddy, but if you do hitchhike alone, try to avoid hitching when its dark. Consider having a bottle of pepper spray, just to use as a threat if things turn bad. If you’re in a vehicle, spraying it might be a bad idea since it will impair your eyesight too, so it’s better to use this in open spaces, and use as a threat whilst in a small space. Carrying a pocket knife is probably a bad idea since it can be turned against you.
6) Knowledge about your surroundings
Before you arrive to a new destination, figure out where you need to go. A useful app is MapsMe, which works offline, showing your GPS location even if you don’t have internet access. Download the destination within the app, and identify where you need to get to. This app is also really useful when using public transport or taxis. You can follow your exact location on the map through GPS, so if you have your destination on the map, you can tell when you need to get off a bus, or if a taxi driver is taking you on a wrong route!
7) Trekking
If part of your trip includes a trek, please consider either finding a group to do the trek with, or having a guide go with you for the trek. There have been some instances of lone women trekkers going missing in some regions. If you are trekking in the Himalayan range, there is a company called Three Sisters Adventure Trekking which specializes in woman guides for treks in the Himalayas.
Gabrielle left London in September 2016 and have been traveling the world ever since. You can read about her adventures at
Gabrielle Rose Travel
where she blogs about budget travel as a female.
