Female Travel Safety Advice: Listen or Ignore?

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There is always talk in the media about the safety of female travelers. 

One side says it’s not safe for women to be traveling on their own. The other side says that women have just as much of a right to travel as men and shouldn’t be persuaded to stay home by the fear-mongering media. 

There seems to be a lot of female travel safety advice doled out to women, and while some advice is useful and sound, some. . . not so much.

We’ve sorted through some of the more controversial safety advice for female travelers so you’ll be better informed when traveling. Plus we’ve added some other safety tips for staying safe as a solo female traveler.

Women’s Travel Safety Tips: Listen or Ignore?

Sometimes common female travel safety advice can be controversial. . . While you should always do what makes you feel the safest, here are a few tips that may not always work out in your favor and what you can do instead to stay safe as a solo female traveler.

Wear a Fake Wedding Ring

This is the most common advice given to solo female travelers and it’s controversial at best. In 2012, the Canadian government even released an official travel brochure for solo female travelers in which they recommended this. As you can expect, this caused a bit of controversy.

This advice is not always given by the women who are actually traveling. 

Will a wedding ring keep someone from harassing or attacking you while abroad? Probably not. While in some cultures, seeing a wedding ring may keep men from harassing you, in others it could put you at risk for theft, even if it is fake.

On the other hand, some expert female travelers swear by the fake wedding ring tactic. Mariellen Ward of Breathe Dream Go tells people that her husband is Indian every time she visits India: “It changes the relationships with people I meet, and it makes me feel safer, part of the ‘Indian family.’”

Our Advice: Instead of wearing a fake wedding ring, you could learn a few key phrases in the local language. For example, “Please leave me alone” or “I’m going to meet my friends.”

I also recommend taking note of the local dress. If the culture is more conservative and you’re wearing short shorts and a tank top, you’re going to get unwanted attention whether you’re wearing a ring or not. And it never hurts to carry a whistle or personal security alarm that emits a loud noise if someone is getting a little too close for comfort.

Only Stay in Well-Known Hotel Chains

Many people prefer to stay in well-known American hotel chains while they are traveling overseas. I can see the appeal in this. These hotels are typically in safe areas and are easy for a cab driver to find. 

But they aren’t immune to problems. 

There have even been instances of American hotel chains being the target of bombings. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t stay in hotels or that you shouldn’t travel. Rather, you should always be aware of your surroundings.

Our Advice: Instead of only staying in well-known hotels, try staying in local guesthouses or bed and breakfasts. You will be able to experience more of your destination’s culture as well as spend less money. It’s a win-win situation.

Only Travel in Groups or on Tours

My friends and family always ask whom I’m traveling with and are put at ease when I tell them I’m going with a tour. I don’t believe that you always need to go with a tour group to stay safe as a solo female traveler, but sometimes leaving the details to the professionals can wind up in your favor. 

For example, I traveled with a tour group in Croatia and am planning a tour in Turkey because I will feel more comfortable not having to worry as much about language barriers and meeting people. But this is not a hard-and-fast rule. There are plenty of places that you can travel safely to on your own.

Our Advice: If you don’t want to travel with a tour but want to still meet people, I recommend staying in hostels or meeting up with locals through groups like Meetup.com.

Only Stay in Tourist Areas

You can get robbed anywhere. The most well-known scams and robberies are in well-tread areas like Rome’s Spanish Steps (rose scam, anyone?), Barcelona’s La Rambla, and Porto’s waterfront, as Kristen told us. In my opinion, staying only in touristy areas makes you more susceptible to theft or assault. Don’t let fear prevent you from getting outside of the central area.

Our Advice: If you’re interested in seeing more of the city, but don’t want to wander on your own, look into day walking tours led by locals. Having a resident wander with you is much safer and just as fun!

While there is a lot of controversial female travel safety advice out there, there is also a lot of good female safety advice that we recommend following.

Sometimes Telling a Little White Lie is Necessary

While I don’t condone lying for the sake of lying, there’s something to be said for exaggerating your circumstances. 

If someone’s bothering you, it doesn’t hurt to say, “I’m waiting for my husband” or “I’m late to meet my friends.” If someone asks if you’re traveling alone, I don’t recommend saying yes, and definitely don’t tell strangers where you are staying. 

Esther finds that telling little white lies while traveling is an important and acceptable part of women’s travel safety. Here are some little white lies she recommends telling:

1. Don’t tell people you’re traveling alone! Say you’re meeting a friend the next day. There’s no reason for other people to know you’re alone for your entire expedition. In certain situations, you might even want to say you’re waiting for your husband to get rid of unwanted attention. 
2. Don’t give too many details about your job. With technology these days, it’s incredibly easy to do some detective work and find your entire profile on the internet. If someone asks, be polite and tell them your profession but don’t tell them the name of the company or business you work for. Say you’re a business person instead of saying you’re a Financial Reporter for J.P. Morgan in New York!
3. Don’t give too many specifics about your whereabouts. There is no need for a stranger to know details about the hostel or hotel you are staying at or even your itinerary for the day. While it’s appropriate to talk about what sites you have seen or ask questions about sites you want to see, you don’t want strangers to know your exact whereabouts.
4. It’s okay to pretend you don’t know something. For example, if someone asks for help with an ATM or a metro machine, be careful that they’re not trying to scam you. It could also be a distraction so someone else can pickpocket you. While you may want to help someone who is struggling, be cautious, especially if they are insistent that you are the one to help them and not anyone else. In these cases, it’s fine to say you don’t know and play the clueless card.

Ultimately, every situation is different and you should use your best judgment. Esther explains that while she is an incredibly optimistic and trusting person and has a hard time seeing the worst in people, white lies don’t hurt when traveling in a foreign place. It’s not to say you can’t share any personal details, just don’t be entirely specific or alter the story a little to ensure you don’t become a target. 

Packing Light for Your Personal Safety 

As if we needed another reason to pack light! There are so many benefits to packing light, however, you might not have thought about the safety aspect of it. Here are some reasons why packing light can help you stay safe as a solo female traveler:

• With fewer bags to keep track of, you can ensure that you always know exactly where all your valuables are. Especially things like your phone, cash, and room keys. Losing any of these items could put you in a less than ideal situation.
• Carrying a big suitcase (or multiple suitcases!) makes you instantly stand out as a tourist and a target for theft or other crimes. By only bringing a small carry-on bag you can blend in more with everyone around you.
• With only a small and easy to carry bag, you are more mobile. This means that if you find yourself in a situation that makes you uncomfortable you can get out of it with more ease than you would be able to if you had a large cumbersome suitcase.
• By only using a small bag, you can keep your belongings with you on public transport and not worry about them getting stolen.

If you are weighed down by your luggage and just can’t seem to pack any lighter no matter how hard you try, you may need our help. Baggage Freedom Express can help you travel for a whole week in only a personal item sized bag or even a handbag!  

More Female Travel Safety Advice

Here are a few more female travel safety tips to keep in mind while you are traveling:

• Dress appropriately for your destination. While you might be totally comfortable wearing a short dress or shorts back home, in more conservative countries, this might make you a target for harassment.
• Always keep your valuables close to you.
• Choose safe transport. It’s a good idea to prebook your transport from the airport to your hotel. Once at your hotel or hostel, you can ask them which transport options they recommend.
• Drink responsibly. If you are traveling alone make sure you drink responsibly and always keep your wits about you. 
• Share your location with family and friends. Make sure someone always knows where you are and has an idea of your plans for each day.
• Never leave your food, drinks, or belongings unattended.
• Choose a female host if you are CouchSurfing or staying in someone’s home on Airbnb.
• Trust your gut! If you get a bad feeling about something, trust your gut and get yourself out of that situation.

Safe Places for Women to Travel Alone 

While nowhere is 100% safe, if you are worried about your safety as a solo female traveler, there are some safer countries that you can travel to.

The safest country in the world is Iceland and it has been since 2008! If you’re looking for safety and want to experience natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and unique architecture then Iceland might be the place for you.

Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland) are generally safe places for women to travel alone. They all rank among the 25 safest countries in the world.

Some other safer options for female travelers include New Zealand, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, and Portugal.

Female Travel Safety Tips and Resources From HPL

At HPL, we never want you to stop traveling due to safety reasons. However, safety is a real concern and you should always be prepared. Check out our other resources for staying safe as a solo female traveler.

• Why Women Travelers Need Insurance
• Common Travel Scams and How to Avoid Them
• 15 Small Splurges with Priceless Safety Perks
• Packing for Your Personal Safety While Traveling
• Stylish Theft-Proof Travel Clothing for Women
• Woman’s Guide to Safely Using Rideshare Apps

Related Reading

• The Art of Solo Travel by Stephanie Lee – This Indie Travel guidebook tells you everything you need to know about traveling alone for the first time.

Have you ever worn a fake wedding ring while traveling? Would you follow any of this advice? Do you have your own tips to recommend? Sound off below in the comments!