If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be- Maya Angelou

Traveling alone is a risky but also an exciting and rewarding endeavor. If solo travel is done with the right amounts of care, attentiveness, and enthusiasm it can lead to thrilling and life-enhancing experiences. Junior year is when many students may take time abroad to experience and gain breadth during their undergraduate college careers. Because studying abroad can be such a life-changing experience, it can also be simultaneously frightening and exciting. To get the best travel experiences, one must be aware of their immediate surroundings and weigh the risks to their wallet and health during their personal odysseys. 

I have traveled and studied in regions of the world that are often considered to be dangerous for women, especially if they are alone. In the back of my mind, I am reminded of how important it is to be alert while traveling to remote regions. I recount a few travel tips that I learned through my own mistakes and observations as well as from fellow travelers. I hope this post will help you learn from some of my missteps and travel smart. 

If you are an adventurous young woman ready to take on the world and explore your host country, here are a few tips to travel safely as a female college student. 

Research the host country

Understand the country and culture you will be studying in. Make a note of the countries language and culture and understand their religious practices beforehand. I found the Culture Smart guides to be a great source of information to start with. Reading blogs by other women who have traveled there is also a great way to gain insight into the place and even on how the locals treat foreigners. I also recommend learning a few key phrases in the local language and understand basic customs before embarking on your upcoming sojourn!

For example, before I traveled to Cambodia, I researched the history of the Khmer Rouge and how that turmoil affected the people so that I would not be labeled as just another ignorant tourist wanting to walk through Angkor Wat. This research changed my itinerary and led me to visit a killing field site and talk to locals willing to share stories with me about their experiences during and after communism.

On the other hand, I also would have never got to experience the delight of having an egg coffee in Hanoi until I did some background research on Vietnamese food culture! It was a life changing experience for me as someone who always wrinkles their nose at the smell of coffee. After this experience, I always make sure to try something new on every trip because, in the end, it is only me that is getting in the way of seeing the world.

曾经沧海难为水，巫山不是云。（孟子）

One who has seen the world doesn’t stop at small things (Mencius)

Accommodations

Try to balance accommodations by relative feeling of safety while getting a richer local experience. That is, don’t be afraid to spend more on accommodations to be safe, but don’t be afraid to stay away from the tourist zones so that you do not miss out on the rich local culture that is commonly sanitized in the touristic zones. In Vietnam, I booked an Airbnb in a rather sketchy back alley where the locks had been recently broken… Another time, I found lodging in a room of strange men in a hostel that only provided co-ed sleeping arrangements. Although nothing happened to me, these situations made me realize that I needed to include personal safety into my travel budget. It only takes one bad incident to ruin a trip or a life. This is why I research accommodations and prepare alternatives before reservations. Being cheap is not worth it when it comes to your safety. Always listen to your gut instinct!

Here is a juxtaposition of an accommodation and prison tour experience I had in Vietnam. Aren’t they eerily similar?

Self-protection

In some countries, it is illegal to bring pepper spray or any kind of weapon. To keep me safe, I bring a keychain that can also be used as a knuckle weapon. It looks harmless and keeps my mind at ease if I am walking alone along a sparsely populated street. Nonetheless, one should never walk by yourself late at night. No exceptions, it’s too risky!

Another way to keep your body safe is to be alert and stay out of sketchy, underpopulated areas that you are not familiar with. Common sense and developing the ability to stay street smart is the best self-defense. When in a new place, do not call attention to yourself or wear outfits that are too revealing. On a trip to Central Asia, a few of the female travelers I met seemed flustered by the unwanted attention they were getting with local men. These female travelers were wearing clothes that would not receive a second glance in the United States but could be perceived as somewhat scandalous in the local culture. Always know about the country you are traveling to and be sure to dress appropriately.

“Wedding” rings

I recommend you wear a wedding ring or a simple band during your solo travels. It is a simple trick that can discourage unwanted flirtation depending on the country you are in. During my travels, I have had a few uncomfortable situations with taxi drivers asking about my love life and if I wanted a local boyfriend. Quiet recently I found that wearing a wedding ring reduced some (but not all) of those discomforting taxi-cab interrogations. It is also a helpful method for redirecting unwanted male attention at bars, dance clubs, karaoke, and other social activities. Now I never travel without it!

Travel in groups, where possible

It is best to travel in a group of people that you can trust and rely on because of the safety in numbers concept. When traveling to more remote regions of the world, it is nice to travel in groups just in case someone gets sick, injured, or needs support. Traveling in groups saves money, but I also recommend that you choose your companions well. In some cases, certain travel companions may think more about their own needs rather than others in the group and can sabotage the trip with selfish and insensitive actions. 

The American author, Ernest Hemingway once said, “Never go on trips with anyone you don’t love.” After coming across this quote, I do wonder what kind of tales Hemingway has concerning the trials of traveling in groups to come up with such brilliant yet critical advice. Nevertheless, I do think that it is good advice to adhere to when thinking about potential travel partners.

Share your itinerary

Before embarking on any trip, be sure to share your itinerary with friends, family members, and local hosts. Sharing is a precaution just in case something unexpected happens. It is important that loved ones are able to easily locate you and know your whereabouts. I send my family an email itinerary containing my lodging, potential tours, and transportation information, as well as a brief description of where I plan to be on certain days. Before I traveled to Uzbekistan, I sent my parents a copy of my Uzbek visa, plane tickets, and hotel bookings. This helped me feel safe before embarking on my expedition. It also gave my parents peace of mind knowing that if anything were to happen, they will know where to begin looking for me. As the famous saying goes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. 

If you need the extra assurance for protection, you can always write down a wish for safe travels at a temple, just in case.

To be continued…

Banner image of Sake barrels at Meiji Shrine taken by me in Tokyo, Japan.