Tips for Women Traveling Alone

Tips for Women Traveling Alone

The past three decades have seen a marked increase in the number of women traveling alone, not just here in the United States but across Europe, Asia and South America. The practice has long lost even a hint of its old stigma and the travel industry is actively creating new tourism opportunities for women who want to see the world solo.

For all that progress, women traveling alone do face certain challenges they wouldn’t encounter as part of a couple or larger group. Here are some factors to bear mind before you consider going it alone.

Pack Light: Aside from the fact you’ll have to carry your stuff yourself, you’re less likely to lose something if there are fewer things to track of. Also, consider using a backpack instead of suitcases to be able to come and go more easily.

Plan But Leave Room for Spontaneity: Don’t schedule every minute of every day. Schedule a few key things that you want to do most but leave room in your schedule for spontaneity. Sometimes you’ll find out about events at the last minute or meet new friends who invite you to do something with them. If you are flexible in your schedule, you won’t have to say no to these unexpected adventures.

Connect with Your Peers: There are lots of social media groups for women who enjoy traveling alone, and they’re a great place to connect with like-minded people, whether you’re looking for advice, opinions or even someone to meet up with while traveling. It’s a fine way to make new friends and gain insights from other people’s experiences.

Do the Research: It’s important to know the basics of a place’s culture and history before you visit. We should all respect the local cultures of the places we go, and in order to do that, you first need to understand it. Should you tip? If so, how much? Is it expected or considered rude to haggle with shopkeepers? Are you expected, especially as a woman, to dress a certain way in certain areas? These are all questions you should know the answers to before you arrive.

Stay Safe: When traveling alone as a woman, you do need to be safe. Don’t tell strangers where you’re staying, and always listen to your instincts when deciding how much to share with the people you meet. If someone’s asking a lot of questions and making you uncomfortable, remember that you do not owe them information about yourself. You also shouldn’t post your every move on social media. There will be time to share all those Insta-worthy pictures when you get home or have moved on from a place.

Ring On Your Finger: Buy a cheap ring that can pass as a wedding band before you leave home. This helps ward off unwanted attention from men. it’s gross that women have to think of things like this, but it does help.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.