Safety Tips for Women Traveling Alone

Anyone who travels alone can benefit from knowing these safety tips.
By: Susan Breslow

Don't just bring your passport -- bring a copy of it as well. And keep them in separate places when you travel.

There are women who are fearless travelers who eagerly venture out alone into foreign lands where comforts are few and services undependable. There are women who go where they know no one and may not even speak the language. If you're this type of woman traveler, stop reading now and go sharpen your Swiss Army knife.

I'm not among the dauntless. I daunt easily. When I travel, I appreciate comfort, security, and peace of mind. Otherwise, I'd never leave my house. But I do, and so should you — without worrying unduly about your safety.

If you who have a desire to see the world without putting yourself in physical, emotional, or financial peril, consider my safety tips. Several are borne from experience:
1.Before I leave home, I photocopy the credit cards I'm bringing, front and back, and leave a copy with a trusted friend. I also make two copies of my passport, one for the friend and one to keep with me. I stash it in a different place than where I keep the actual passport.

2.When I check into a hotel, I ask for a room near the elevator. I don't like long hallways, especially dark ones.

3.Once inside, I always double-bolt the door. If your room doesn't have a working lock, change rooms.

4.I check the bed for bedbugs.

5.If there's an in-room safe, I use it. If not, I lock my suitcase every time I leave the room.

6.If a strange man enters an elevator and I'm the only person inside and I get a strange vibe, I step outside and wait for the next elevator.

7.When I'm economizing on food, I'll shop at a local grocery for sealed items. I'm not a fan of street food, although most of it is perfectly fine. One place I'll never eat from again is a store that has a steam table in the back. Trust me on this.

8.When I take public transportation, I'm very careful about where I keep my money. I don't want to give money to pickpockets. Or, for that matter, street urchins.

9.If I'm going to a place where the water is bad, I don't order salads or drinks with ice cubes. And I don't drink the water. In some poor countries even bottled water is unsafe as places will refill and resell.

10.Unless I meet up with a friend, I do my exploring during daylight.

Have I missed out on experiences by being so safety-conscious? Most likely. But by observing these rules, I've also lived to travel another day.