Where would you recommend that your sister travel by herself?

 ...in response to a question I received from a woman who plans to travel alone.

My answer: Anywhere except a war zone!

Furthermore, let’s get a bit more specific, the majority of questions I receive from women in regards to travel are those about safety issues and for good reasons.

Take for example, when I was in Ghana, one of my travel companions had her shoulder bag snatched by someone in a moving car, she fell to the road, and bruised her hip. Another friend of mine stated when she visited France, a man followed her to her hotel and tried to make sexual advances. A third woman I met in Nicaragua complained that a man got into her cab and demanded that she pay for both of them and tried to go back to her hotel with her. I have also heard women complained about groping, having their stuff stolen etc...



Girl - Lake Nicaragua

 Though, I must say in my experience the world is not as dangerous as portrayed on television, the majority of people do not want to harm travellers but they are curious about you as much as you are about them. Providing you explore your curiosities while being security conscious.



In the mean time here are some basic tips for women, in addition to regular safety tips and necessities:

- Understand that you may loose some of your freedoms that you are accustomed to: style of dress, places you can go etc...Do your research before travel.

- If possible find another female traveller who is by herself and team up.

- Avoid going out at night alone, if you have to only travel using clearly marked license taxi cabs.

- more than likely if you are inviting a male back to your hotel he is expecting sex, therefore avoid compormising situations.

- Go with your gut feeling, if it looks suspicious, it probably is, get the hell out of there.

- Pregnant women and mothers with children are some of the safest people to ask for directions.

- Speak and appear confidently as well as friendly, at all times.

- Firmly say "no" in the common tongue, if you don't want something you are being offered or propositioned.

- Always misinform about where you are staying, when you leaving, who you are travelling with, and when you arrived.

~ bon voyage!