Safety for Solo Travelers!
The Ideal
Ideally, you’d expect:
People will willingly give you directions and maybe even assist you in taking the right directions.
Converting money will be very efficient and no one will mislead you about the conversion rates.
Traveling by public transportation will be relatively easy if you use a map.
People will be nice and hospitable.
Laws apply and deter people from criminal activity in other countries.
You will have an easy time navigating from the airport to your hotel.
Your hotel will have washcloths and dryers and all the amenities that you desire.
People will know, speak, and read English.
The Reality
Unfortuantely, what actually happens:
Taxi drivers will scam you. They will up charge you anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds more.
Some currency exchanges will be much higher than ordinary. Some ATMs won’t work for your foreign cards as well.
Metros may not be in English or the language you speak, and even though this is kind of a given, there is sometimes an issue with having google translate. Also some metros have a very different way of rotating the stops around so that they aren’t in order; or randomly switching the direction of each side of the metro.
Some people will ignore you in the streets if you ask for help. This doesn’t apply everywhere, but I have witnessed this occur.
People will stare; make rude gestures; or awkwardly avoid you.
People will generally keep to themselves. Germany, Jordan, and a few other places have friendly people but other countries like France or Japan will be a harder time making friends.
Petty crime occurs almost everywhere and violent crime is possible in certain places.
Your clothes may get dirty from the environment or from clumsiness while you’re out and about. It happens to the best of us.
We often underestimate the weight of what we’re carrying. When you finally get off the plane, retrieve your luggage, and begin your venture to your accommodations, you may be surprised to find your luggage is unbearably heavy!
Some hotels and hostels do not provide wash cloths or body wash. Some only provide the very basic bed and bathroom.
People will not know English. Not only will they not know English, they’ll also not have any interest in you speaking their language incoherently to try to ask a question. (No shade or blame)
What You Can Do
There are some tips and tricks to make traveling safer:
Carry or wear a money belt. This is a small pouch that you wear under your sleeve or around your waist that can slide into your pants. This provides better protection from pickpockets.
Wear clothing that has zippers on the pockets or internal pockets to conceal your wallet better.
Carry only the cards you will actually use/need.
Bring Tide pens or extra clothing in case of an emergency.
Try to pack light. Try to bring 2-3 pairs of clothes that can be mixed and matched together to make more outfits.
It’s always best if you research whether Visa, Mastercard, or whatever brand of card you have is accepted where you’re going. Even if it is, there will be some vendors or stores that are cash only so it’s best to get a small amount of the country’s currency before you leave the airport. You can exchange or withdraw the money at your airport or their airport, just make sure you do this before arriving to your hotel. Some cities won’t have an ATM for you to use and some currency exchanges won’t be accessible due to the language barrier.
Taxi’s can be terrible and notorious for inflating prices on foreigners. Even in the USA this can happen. Try to use only prepaid ride-sharing services or metered taxis. If a metered taxi is switching the price, call the police.
Always bring your own toiletries. It is best to take these with you rather than buying them when you arrive as it can be more expensive in another country.
People will not patiently wait for you to get out your broken French, Spanish, Dutch, etc…Know your languages before you go.
People will have attitudes, stare, behave rudely, or even make a scene. C’est la Vie! There’s nothing you can do about this, just brace yourself for any reaction and remain calm.
No place is 100% crime free. Pickpocketing is an issue in many places in Europe. Stay alert and make sure you remain in safe areas at all times.
Try to be inside before dark;
If out at night make sure not to have any bags or large valuables on your person;
Make sure you have at least one headphone out or the music down to hear your surroundings;
Make sure to stay in the lit parts of the street; avoid alleys and dark walkways;
Do not approach or talk to the homeless;
Do not take rides or shelter from anyone;
Avoid protest as they can become violent;
Avoid large crowds unless they are festive;
Wear shoes that you can run in , if need be;
Let a loved one or relative know when you are leaving one place to go to another; (You can use the Companion app or for apple, you can send your location)
Give a loved one or relative your flight schedule;
Again, try to only go out when the sun is out and go in before the sun sets;
Keep your phone in your pocket or concealed in your pants;
Try to keep a straight face when walking at night;
Again, avoid carrying bags or purses, especially at night;
Let taxis or ride-shares drop you off a few feet before or after your destination; never give your actual hotel/hostel address;
Inform the police of any disturbances or crime;
Don’t tell people that you are traveling alone;
Do not tell people that you aren’t from the area;
Leave your passport in your accommodations unless needed for an activity. If you must carry your passport secure it within your clothes or something invisible to the public.
Do not start or engage in conversations on sensitive topics (religion, politics, race, etc.).
Don’t tell strangers your itinerary.
Sign up with the US State Department’s Smart Travellers Enrollment Program (this alerts the State Dept. of your whereabouts in case of an emergency).
Don’t leave your items unattended.
Do not consume alcohol or drugs with strangers. Try to maintain your sobriety.
Learn local laws. Some countries have specific regulations that may not be known outside of that specific region.
Familiarize yourself with the police station and embassy nearest to your accomodations.
Do not post your location or accommodations on social media before you arrive or while you are there. This may attract stalkers or alert people with bad intentions;
Avoid giving people too much personably-identifiable information. This is for protection against stalking.
Keep your distance when walking down a street with other people. Try not to make any physical contact and don’t let anyone follow too closely on your back. Try to keep 3-5ft away from everyone. In instances where this isn’t possible, try to keep your arms close to your torso, keep your wallet and phone in your clothes, and look at who you have standing around you.
Google your country/city, followed by “security” to view the current safety protocols and/or issues.
Download Google Maps offline.
Bring personal alarm.
Wear a ring or band on ring finger.
Keep a printout of your emergency contact, passport page, and ID on your person and/or in your luggage.
