As a frequent solo female traveler and a global adventurer who often travels as a couchsurfer or hitchhiker, the most frequently asked question I get is about safety.
Perhaps it’s ignorance that breeds fearlessness, or maybe it’s because I’ve always held this belief: I choose to trust strangers, and I believe most people are kind. I feel that when there are no conflicting interests, most people have good intentions. I’ve always firmly believed that the world is like a mirror — you treat others how you want to be treated. As long as I remain upright, not greedy for small gains, and treat others with an open heart, sharing my stories and being genuine, they’ll sense my kindness and trust and will also be happy to share theirs. I don’t know if their true selves might have other sides, but as long as they didn’t harm me or treat me badly while I was with them, that’s enough.
But after incidents like the “Elisa Lam case” and the “India gang rape,” recently many post-85s and post-90s kids have often sent me private messages asking: aren’t you scared staying in strangers’ homes while traveling alone? How do you handle safety issues on the road?
It can’t be denied that in any big group, you’re bound to find all kinds of people, and you may inevitably encounter some during your travels. Although such incidents are rare, you shouldn’t all follow my reckless ways. I think it’s still necessary to remind inexperienced young women.
If you have to (or enjoy) traveling alone, please carefully read the following tips. ― In my book *Those Adventurous Dreams, I’ll Go Crazy with You*, there’s also a story about a thrilling experience ― the chainsaw killer. Sometimes risks do exist, so it’s still important to keep in mind some basic common sense.
1. Couchsurfing Travel
1) When choosing a host, carefully review their profile. See whether they have an open attitude and if their self-introduction is detailed. Most importantly, check other users’ reviews of them (couchsurfing websites have a rating system similar to Taobao’s). If there are negative reviews, do not contact them at all.
2) Once you’ve connected with a couchsurfing host, it’s best to also connect with a backup host and let them know someone else has already agreed to host you, but you’d love to grab a coffee or go out with them if they’re free. At the same time, tell your original host that you’ve contacted a few other hosts who might join you for a drink or sightseeing — ask if they’d like to meet them too. This way, you can make more friends in one city, and in case of emergencies, you’ll have someone to turn to.
3) Search online for a hostel near your accommodation, so you can move out quickly if something goes wrong. According to reports, in the case of the woman in Hong Kong, she had already endured multiple harassments from the Moroccan male host before being assaulted — such as him playing music and trying to teach her to dance. She could only stall by saying she needed to go online to look for her next accommodation. So, in such situations, it’s best to find a chance to back off or seek help. Actually, if something feels off, you should just leave right away.
4) As a woman, when staying with someone of the opposite sex, be confident and composed. Pay attention to your image and behavior — don’t give the impression that you’re trying to flirt with them or do anything that could easily be misinterpreted. If you expose too much skin, dress provocatively, or act inappropriately, don’t be surprised if others start having ideas. If you feel the situation turning sour, you should decisively leave and find another place to stay.
2. Take Basic Precautions While Traveling
1) It’s not about not trusting others, but about not easily trusting those who are overly enthusiastic or offer you extremely tempting freebies. To put it plainly, if you’re not greedy at all, scammers won’t succeed.
2) Keep your wallet safe. In crowded areas, try to wear your backpack in front.
3) When you arrive in a new country or city, it’s best to ask around and find out which areas are unsafe and which are safer. In Western countries, such as the U.S. and Mexico, many major cities have good and bad neighborhoods. Even locals are cautious about wandering into the bad areas. Once, in Nanning, Guangxi, I was careless and stayed in a bad area — supposedly a district rampant with thieves — and ended up having my phone stolen the next morning while having breakfast.
4) When visiting countries with a strong or rough local culture, never go out alone at night. Without company, avoid going to bars or other entertainment venues, and don’t stir up trouble. It’s best to skip gatherings that seem off, such as sketchy marijuana parties. In my book *The Couchsurfing Journey of a 35-Year-Old Single Woman*, I wrote about being unknowingly taken to a marijuana party — it was quite a surprise. It’s great to maintain curiosity, but also pay attention to your own boundaries.
5) Even during the day, avoid taking photos or answering calls on the roadside with a DSLR camera or smartphone. Don’t wear expensive jewelry or flaunt items like iPhones or iPads on the street. Vietnam has many motorbike snatchers, and it’s easy to get robbed on the roadside. Several of my travel companions or friends I met along the way were robbed or had things stolen in Vietnam and Cambodia. Mexico is also dangerous — one friend was listening to music on an iPad in a busy area when it was snatched directly from her hands, and during the struggle, the thief stabbed her palm with a knife. These electronics are very easy for criminals to resell, often earning them several months' wages.
6) Try to separate your money, and keep bank cards and ID separate. Carry some small change as well.
You can use an invisible wallet to hold larger amounts of cash and keep it in a concealed spot on your person, while using a smaller wallet for daily expenses. That way, if you’re robbed, handing over a bit of cash might satisfy them. Some robbers get upset if they get nothing and may resort to violence.
If confronted by robbers and you can’t protect your wallet or camera, try calmly pleading with them to leave your memory card and passport. After all, these items aren’t useful to them but are incredibly precious to a traveler.
7) Keep your phone on 24/7 (for emergencies) and memorize the local emergency number.
3. Issues Particularly Faced by Women
As a woman, you may face additional troubles such as harassment or sexual violence. In such cases, it depends on how you personally handle and respond.
1) Staying in a dormitory-style hostel is better than a regular guesthouse, or go to backpacker hubs where most residents are travelers, making it relatively safer. Of course, if you can afford it, staying in a nice hotel is also a good option. From a safety perspective, female travelers are generally better off sharing a dorm bed or multi-person room rather than booking a private room.
2) Private Car Hire: Try not to hire a car alone. If you must, ask the driver for their phone number right when you get in, and if possible, take a photo with them. These are good precautions. Call a friend in front of the driver and share the license plate number and other details. Ideally, chat casually so the driver hears and understands a third party knows your whereabouts.
3) Overnight Trains/Buses: Try to board early and sleep in the upper bunk if possible. Avoid sleeping in the last row — the front is better. The seat next to the driver is the ideal spot. It offers more space for securing your belongings and doesn’t involve squeezing with too many strangers, making it safer for solo female travelers.　
4) When taking the subway at night, avoid going to the last carriage to prevent potential risks. Try to avoid taking trains late at night. Safety conditions can differ drastically between day and night. A place that feels safe during the day may change after dark, so always stay alert at night.
5) Carry pepper spray or an ultra-high-frequency alarm. Though a woman can’t physically overpower a man, these items can serve as deterrents or buy you time to escape.
6) When traveling, avoid wearing revealing clothes or doing anything that might be easily misinterpreted. Cultural differences may lead some to misread your actions as flirting or suggestive. If possible, dress in a more gender-neutral style.
7) Don’t dress too flashy or wear expensive jewelry.
8) Don’t eat anything from an unknown source, don’t drink opened beverages or alcohol offered by strangers, and don’t go anywhere with strangers...
9) Wear a ring and tell unwelcome strange men that you’re married and waiting for your husband.
10) What should you do if you encounter someone with sexually violent tendencies? Try to stay calm, use words to downplay their desire and divert their attention. Violent resistance isn’t ideal—it might only provoke the man’s animal instincts or warped psychology.
11) What should you do if you face unavoidable sexual violence?
It’s said that the correct answer in the training curriculum of female soldiers in field combat units is—bring a dozen condoms!! Maybe when you can’t resist, doing your best to protect yourself is the best strategy.
But life is a reasonable adventure, and death will eventually come to everyone. So, I still wouldn’t overthink it too much. As for you, I’ll still pass on these suggestions.

                                                -------Reposted from @流浪的猫猫9's Weibo post