Advice for Women Travelers:
Health & Safety

Don't let concerns about safety keep you from traveling. Yes, you are putting yourself at risk for all sorts of things by traveling -- or walking out your front door, for that matter. There are oh-so-many things you can do to stay safe. And I believe learning to avoid risks while traveling will help you in your everyday at-home life as well.

Offering a list of cautions is NOT meant to scare women from traveling, and shouldn't make you think that traveling means feeling ever-restricted or continually afraid. It just means staying smart, watching your step, and avoiding risky situations. Again, I believe learning to avoid risks while traveling will help you in your everyday at-home life as well.

This part of my advice is the hardest to write, because I want to be realistic, but I also don't want to scare the bejesus out of you. Yes, I've been robbed abroad (pocket picked in Berlin). I've also been robbed in my hometown of Henderson, Kentucky. Sadly, such is life.

Remember that just because you are traveling within your own country does not mean you aren't at risk of theft -- or worse. I've pretty much decided that New York City isn't any more dangerous than Smalltown, USA -- dangerous and/or opportunistic people, as well as wonderful people, are everywhere. I have a British friend who went to Morocco recently and she never felt unsafe or particularly harassed, unlike when she visited St. Louis, Missouri two years before, when a hotel employee tried to break into her hotel room.

Regarding traveling abroad... Women from the USA are capable, independent, and grew up in a country where, for the MOST part, it is our right to do anything that a man can do and go anywhere that a man can go. Unfortunately, this is not how it is in many other countries. Other cultures may see this capable, independent attitude and lifestyle as "loose" sexually. This opinion is created/reinforced by television shows and films from the USA. Hence why extra precautions and a curtailing of your actions are sometimes necessary. But also note that, in some cultures, being a woman may actually be to your advantage: you might have access to women's society and friendship that is denied to men in Islamic cultures, for example. Or some men may be especially protective of you if you are their customer (and particularly if you are modestly dressed and making an effort to be respectful of their culture). The most important thing is to read as much as you can before you go to a particular country -- and seek out women authors as much as possible, because men can sometimes gloss over culural concerns that women need to be very, very aware of. Become aware of cultural differences, specifically that pertain to attitudes toward women (and American women). Lonely Planet books offers tips specifically for women, tailored for each country. I have found them very helpful specifically regarding their advice for women.

Here are my thoughts about health & safety for USA women traveling:

HEALTH

• Take all the medications you think you might need, and if you have prescription medication, make sure the bottles such is in are very well-marked and could not possibly be confused for narcotics. If you are going to a country where English is not the primary language, consider carrying a list of your medications and what each is for.

• If you are going to a country where English is not the primary language, have written down what the phrases are for conditions such as "I have a yeast infection" or "I have a urinary tract infection," or any medical conditions you get somewhat regularly.

• Call your health insurance provider and see if they will cover you for travel abroad. If not, you can get temporary travel insurance (check the Lonely Planet and Rough Guide web sites for more information and special deals, as well as AAA if you are a member).

• I have advice on preventing motion sickness in the section of this web site regarding transportation and accommodations choices.

• Never be afraid of being impolite if you feel that someone is stepping over your boundaries. And do not let ANYONE guilt you into doing something that makes you feel uncomfortable, whether it's coming into a shop or sharing a meal or talking to them. If someone calls your behavior insulting because you cut them off or walked away, too bad. By all means, talk to people -- talk to strangers! -- but know your boundaries, and don't ever be afraid of being impolite if you feel uncomfortable in any way.

• Be assertive. Never say "maybe" for buying something, for sharing a meal, for meeting later, or any other invitation when what you mean is "no." If you need to cut someone off or walk away to get the point across, DO IT.

• Do not assume that your fellow travelers are trustworthy merely because they are also traveling, even if they are on the same tour group as you. Lock your car, lock your door, and lock your bags, including your purse (except when you are checking in at the airport -- they will break your locks!).

• Negative experiences with men can happen from any culture or nationality. Never assume someone is okay, or not okay, simply because of his ethnicity or because of the country you are in.

• Just because a person is a Westerner doesn't mean he or she is any more trustworthy than anyone else.

• Never invite a male who is not a close, trusted, long-time friend into your hotel room, including hotel employees and food delivery guys. If they absolutely need to come in, put away your valuables, leave the door open, and stand next to the open door, in control of it, or in the door way, while they do what they need to do and leave. Most hotel employees will completely understand this behavior.

• When walking to your room in a hotel, look all around you. If there is a guy close behind you as you approach your door, consider walking right on by your door, or turning around suddenly and walking back the way you came. If you feel threatened, YELL.

• Always be aware of the people around you. Know who is behind you and beside you.

• Never walk alone at night unless there will be many other women walking around as well (and I don't mean hookers).

• If you have to wait for a bus or a train alone, particularly at night, either find a group to stand near, or stand in a well-populated restaurant or business until it's almost time for the bus or train to arrive. NEVER stand there alone listening to your MP3 player or walkman or whatever!

• Leave the revealing or form-fitting outfits at home, unless you are absolutely certain it's the cultural norm for where you are going and you will be with others the entire time.

• On a train or a bus, if you are with a friend or friends, all but one of you can sleep -- one of you needs to stay awake and keep watch and NOT listen to his or her MP3 player. I've known two people who woke up on trains to find their wallets or a bag gone, and have heard of it happening even more. If you are by yourself -- no sleeping, and no listening to your MP3 player unless you are absolutely certain you aren't going to miss something you need to hear (the announcement of the next stop, the sound of someone sliding your bag away, someone begging for help behind you, etc.).

• Avoid sitting or walking in empty areas (empty train car or an empty street), no matter what time of day.

• And... and... I'm going to say it again... don't listen to your MP3 player when walking around outside, when you are alone in a strange building, while on mass transit in a strange country, etc. I use my iPod only on long rides where I don't need to hear anything (like the stops) and the passengers around me aren't going to change much during the ride, or where I know all the passengers around me. I also use it on planes and, sometimes, while walking around a museum. But that's it -- listening to what's around me is not only something that helps keep me safe, it's also one of the most fun parts of traveling.

• I keep my wallet in one of two places: when using my cloth briefcase from REI (which is too thick to be razer bladed open quickly from the bottom), I put my wallet in a compartment that I can zip, then put a flap over the compartment that can be fastened twice (so that you can't unzip it without unfastening and then flipping up the flap), then carry the bag so that the compartment is facing inward, up against my body. Or, I put my wallet around my neck and shoulder (the wallet has a strap) and cover it with a light long sleeve shirt or jacket, then walk in such a way that I can feel the wallet up against my side. I keep a few bills or coins in an easy-to-reach pocket, for train fare -- if that were to get lifted, it wouldn't be a huge loss. That means I have to spend a lot of time to reach my money -- and that further means I need to be in a safe place before fumbling for such (never on the street). Also, don't let your guard down regarding your wallet in restaurants or bars -- those are prime times for pickpockets, as you are much more relaxed than on the street.

• In developing countries in particular, when you need to ask for directions on the street, ask women, couples or old people, or go into a well-populated shop or restaurant and ask an employee.

• I hate to say this, but I really do think, based on observation and conversations with others, that blond and red-headed women have more trouble in developing countries, or where the hair color is mostly brown or black. So think about ways to be inconspicuous despite your hair color (hats and bandanas are good).

• As a person from the USA, people in developing countries will assume that you are rich (and you are in comparison!). Don't wear anything that affirms your economic level if at all possible.

• Know how the phones work in whatever country you are in, and consider buying a phone card so you can make any local or international call you may need to at any time.

• Never let a budget keep you from staying safe. If you need to upgrade to a better hotel, or to first class on a train, in order to feel safe, do it. If you need to take a taxi to get you out of a bad area of town, do it.

• It's up to you on how you deal with "cat-calling." I ignore it on the rare occasion it happens. Actually, at my age, I'm beginning to be grateful for it on the rare occasion it happens...

• When in doubt about your safety at a bar, DON'T GO or LEAVE if you are already there.

• Lonely Planet guides usually say point blank if it's appropriate for women to go to bars in a particular country. Follow its advice!

• When you first walk into the bar, don't look for a place to sit -- look to see if there are women there, either as customers or serving. If there aren't, leave.

• Sit at the bar itself, and get your drinks directly from the waiter or bartender -- preferably, a waitress or barmaid.

• Do NOT accept a drink handed to you from someone else, even a friend of a friend, except the bar staff. If your refusal of such a drink is taken as an insult, too bad -- that person should know better.

• If you go with another girl, or a group of girls, agree on an easy-to-remember, no-questions-asked safety word, to be used if you believe you all need to make a quick exit, and you think being blunt about leaving could put you in danger. Consider a rehearsal!

• If you feel that you are in a country where you can safely go to a bar alone (and you've got some research to back this up), then go only early in the evening, and leave before it gets the least-bit late. Take a book to read, even if there's a game on the TV you want to watch (in which case, read it during commercials). Having a book is a statement that you aren't interested in being picked up, and a good buffer against creeps. FORGET THE IPOD. It cuts off your awareness of your surroundings in such a situation, and you just cannot afford that.

• Remember the line you've read so many times: "He seemed like such a nice normal guy, he was a friend of my friend there, he'd been so nice for the days he hung out with us, I can't believe he did this" etc. How nice a guy looks or acts is absolutely no indication of how things will turn out.

 
Also see:

general information and advice for novice traveling women from the USA

Suggestions for Women Aid Workers in Afghanistan (many of these tips are valid for travel anywhere in the world where the culture is more conservative/restrictive regarding women)

things to consider regarding transportation and accommodations choices, and advice on preventing motion sickness.

packing tips especially for women novice travelers.

the importance of complaining & complimenting.

my adventures in Europe, Africa, as well as road trips in the USA

links to resources to help women travelers

my page of helpful hints for camping with your dogs in the USA.

return to the broads abroad home page

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