Women exploring on their own inevitably face some additional safety concerns. Single women can often stay in hostels which offer single rooms that lock from the inside or in religious organizations with single-sex rooms. It is a good idea to stick to centrally located accommodations and to avoid solitary late-night treks or metro rides.
Always carry extra cash for a phone call, bus, or taxi. Hitchhiking is never safe for lone women, or even for two women traveling together. Look as if you know where you’re going and approach older women or couples for directions if you’re lost or feeling uncomfortable. Generally, the less you look like a tourist, the better off you’ll be. Dress conservatively, especially in rural areas. Wearing a conspicuous wedding band can help to prevent unwanted advances.
Your best answer to verbal harassment is no answer at all: feigning deafness, sitting motionless, and staring straight ahead at nothing in particular will usually do the trick. Persistent aggressors can often be dissuaded by a firm, loud, and very public “Go away!” in the appropriate language. Don’t hesitate to seek out a police officer or a passerby if you are being harassed. Memorize the emergency numbers in places you visit, and consider carrying a whistle on your keychain. A self-defense course will both prepare you for a potential attack and raise your level of awareness of your surroundings (see Personal Safety). Also, it might be a good idea to talk with your doctor about the health concerns that women face when traveling.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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