Traveling Alone as a Female

The Dos and Don’ts of Traveling Alone as a Woman

Traveling alone can be scary, no matter who you might be. It is intimidating to go places when you can only rely on yourself– especially if it is a place you have never been, or if you do not speak the language. As a college aged student post-pandemic, it is extremely common to not have much experience traveling in addition to that. So, it can be helpful to have an understanding of what to avoid, as well as tips on what to do when you are traveling alone.

Preparing For Traveling Alone

One of the most important things that you can do before traveling alone is to prepare for your trip ahead of time. If you are going for a weekend trip in a country you have never been to or where you don’t speak the language, and you are going alone, you don’t want to end up at the train station having no clue where you are supposed to go next, or not knowing how to get out of a situation you are in. Sit down before your trip to plan things out– your transportation (whether you are flying, taking a train, or taking a bus), and where you are planning on staying. Also, make a list of the places you want to visit while you are on your trip, whether that be restaurants, bars, museums, beaches, or even just scenery, it can help to have an outline of the places you want to go so that you don’t feel lost once you get there. 

The important part of the pre-planning is so that once you get where you are going, you do not have to constantly be looking at your phone. This makes it so that you can more easily be aware of your surroundings, and also so that you can take in the views rather than walking with your head down. If you have a general understanding of the city you are going to also, it will be more difficult for you to get lost. When you are doing your pre-departure research, make note of a few notable locations that can help you get your bearings if you do happen to get lost.

During Your Travels

During your travels, make sure that you are remaining aware of your surroundings, and keeping all of your belongings on you. Don’t set down your bags to take a photo, and don’t put your wallet on counters when you are paying. This will ensure that you don’t lose anything, leave anything behind, or get something stolen. The last thing you want to do is get your wallet stolen while you are traveling alone, and then end up with no money. 

Depending on where you are going, do your research about the area. Some places are more known for pick-pocketers than others, but to be safe, do not keep your phone or wallet in easily accessible pockets. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions and talk to locals, but just make sure that you are paying attention when you are doing so, just as you would anywhere else in the world. 

Take lots of photos while you are traveling. Although traveling alone makes it more difficult to get photos of yourself (and asking someone to take a photo of you with your phone can be risky), taking photos of the places you went and the scenery you saw will be a great memory to look back on once you get home. 

Do not carry your passport on you if you can help it. If you know that you will not be going over the borders of any country that day, keeping a copy of your passport on you is better than carrying around your actual passport. The same goes for your credit cards– do not carry every credit card you have in your wallet. If your wallet gets stolen or lost, you will be glad that only one or two of your credit cards were in there rather than all of them. Additionally, if you are in Europe, you will not need your Driver’s License, so leave that behind at the place you are staying, as well, so it doesn’t get lost anywhere. 

When taking cash out of an ATM, go to an ATM that is connected to a bank rather than a freestanding ATM on the street. Typically you will need to swipe your debit card to get into the lobby of the bank, which makes it safer, and the doors will shut behind you so that you can safely take out money. In addition to this, the transaction fee is significantly less expensive if you withdraw money from a bank ATM. However, if you can help it, just take money out of your bank at home before you travel, because the currency exchange is more expensive in Italy than in the United States. Once you do have cash, do not keep all of it in one place, and do not carry all of it on you at once. Just like with your credit cards, if something were to happen, you will be glad that you have extra money to help you out. 

Don’t be afraid to tell people no. There may be street vendors that approach you trying to get you to purchase things, people may shove things in your face in an attempt for you to buy them (in Italy, this is common with flowers, jewelry, and small children’s toys). You can politely tell them no if you are not interested. There are also times that people might approach you and attempt to put jewelry on you, like a bracelet or necklace, and then once it is on, they will want you to give them money for it. Do not let them put anything on you that you do not intend on purchasing from them– nothing is free. Additionally, there may be people who stand outside of restaurants and try to get you to come in and eat. If you are interested in what they are serving, then by all means, stop in and try it out! However, these places tend to be more expensive and tourist traps, so beware of that before you sit down anywhere. 

After Your Travels

When you are done traveling, take time for yourself to refresh and do some self-care. Traveling can be stressful as is, but traveling alone adds another layer to it that can be hard on your body, mentally and physically. Be kind to yourself, and remember to be proud of what you accomplished! Traveling alone can be terrifying, but it is so freeing and opens your mind and heart to the world around you.

Article by Savannah Dawson for Easy Milano

Featured image by Astronaud ㅤ