30 Safety Tips for Solo Female Travelers
Travel Info
1. Before traveling to countries or regions experiencing political unrest or frequent natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, typhoons, or tsunamis, closely monitor the latest local developments. In addition to checking news and safety advisories from your foreign ministry, try to search for the most recent traveler reports or even contact tourists currently in the area for safety advice. If you're already there, stay informed and cut your trip short if necessary.
2. Fully understand the local situation, including which areas have poor security and what common scams locals use.
Avoid Hitchhiking
Transportation
3. When hitchhiking in remote areas, avoid vehicles that look rundown or are severely overloaded. Try to avoid overnight long-distance buses. Do not take risks when road conditions are affected by severe weather such as heavy snow or rain.
4. Motorcycle accidents are quite common in regions like Nepal and Southeast Asia. Always inspect the bike’s condition before renting, wear a helmet, and be extra cautious when driving on mountain roads. The best option, of course, is not to rent a motorcycle and to avoid riding near them on the road.
5. Avoid taking motorbike taxis or regular taxis alone to remote places at night. If you must take a ride, ask your hotel or restaurant to call one for you. Prefer pre-paid taxis over hailing one on the street.
6. Try not to hire a private car alone. If unavoidable, note down the license plate number, driver’s phone number, and take a photo with the driver. Share this information with family or friends in the driver’s presence.
7. Don’t hitchhike just to save money on transportation.
Choose Reputable Accommodation
Lodging
8. Choose reputable accommodations. Look up traveler reviews online beforehand. Don’t just go for the cheapest option—opt for ones with good reputations and avoid those in overly remote locations.
9. For dormitory stays, prioritize rooms with personal lockers. Lock your camera, cash, and credit cards in the locker, or hide them under your pillow or beneath the covers while sleeping to prevent theft while you’re asleep.
10. Be cautious when strangers knock on your door. Even if they claim to be the hotel manager or staff, ask “What do you want?” before opening the door.
Personal Safety and Harassment
11. Keep a note of local emergency police numbers and the contact information for your country's embassy or consulate.
12. When participating in outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting, horseback riding, or diving, choose companies with good reputations and follow the safety instructions of your guides. However, if you feel the guide is unprofessional or lacks safety awareness, voice your concerns and, if necessary, cancel the activity.
13. When asked if you’re traveling alone, reply “No, I’m about to meet up with friends”; when asked if you have a boyfriend, unless you’re already interested in the person, say “Yes.”
14. Don’t casually reveal details about your hotel or itinerary to strangers.
15. Avoid being alone with unfamiliar men away from crowds. Empty alleys, closed shops, and even quiet temples or churches are places you should be cautious of.
16. Don’t walk alone on the street late at night.
17. Don’t go to bars or other entertainment venues alone, and definitely don’t drink to the point of drunkenness.
18. Be cautious about accepting drinks or food offered by strangers.
19. Pretend not to hear any harassment-related pick-up lines; there’s no need to worry about seeming “impolite.” Stay clear-headed about excessive compliments.
20. Traveling with local women or families can help shield you from much unwanted attention.
21. Carry a small personal alarm or a small bottle of mint mouth spray. It can freshen your breath and also serve as pepper spray for self-defense.
Financial Safety
22. Nowadays, many countries allow cash withdrawals using UnionPay cards, and most accept credit card payments, so there’s no need to carry large amounts of cash. Turn on SMS and WeChat notifications for card transactions to guard against fraud.
23. Divide your cash and keep it in several places. Hide large bills carefully, use a coin purse, and only carry enough cash for the day.
24. Be extra vigilant in crowded places like markets and buses. Wear your backpack in front or to the side and keep a hand on it.
25. Keep your passport and cash separate. If you carry your passport with you, store copies of your passport and visa in your main backpack, and save digital copies on both your phone and email.
26. Lock your luggage and bring a cable lock. You can secure your luggage to the overhead rack on trains.
Insurance
27. Purchase suitable travel insurance for your trip. For example, some policies cover outdoor activities such as rock climbing and diving, while others are tailored for “risky” countries like Iran and Myanmar.
28. Carry your insurance policy number and the 24-hour global emergency assistance number.
Contact
29. Before heading out, send your itinerary to family or friends, keep in touch with them, and let them know your whereabouts. If you’re going to areas without mobile network coverage, inform them in advance and let them know when you’ll be back in touch.
Intuition
30. After reading the above advice, do you feel the world is too dangerous and that it’s better to just stay home? In truth, there’s no absolutely perfect safety guide. All suggestions are just that—suggestions. Ultimately, you must make your own judgment, and the basis of that judgment comes from intuition formed through experience. The more you travel alone and encounter all kinds of people, the sharper your sense of danger will become. If something feels off, trust your gut and don’t push yourself.