How to Stay Safe as a Solo Female Traveller

May 17, 2025
One Comment

As a solo, female traveller, safety always comes first. That doesn’t mean you should be scared to solo travel as a woman, just prepared. Here is exactly how to do that and how I keep myself safe on every single trip I take.

I have now been solo travelling for over three years and recently visited my 35th country. Solo travel to me is one of the best ways to experience a new destination as you are truly enveloped in the trip, from planning to booking to navigating when you get there. I have met some of my favourite people while solo travelling, learned incredibly life lessons and seen so much of our beautiful planet.

The thing with staying safe as a solo, female traveller is that unfortunately we have to follow some “rules” no matter where we go. From the preparation stage to throughout the trip, safety comes first. That doesn’t mean you need to constantly watch your back

So, here is a collection of all my favourite affordable destinations for solo, female travellers. In all of these, I have met many other female travellers and often made so many new friends. Leave a comment with your favourite destinations to solo travel 🙂

Table of Contents

How do you protect yourself as a woman travelling alone?

1. Do your research before you go

Solo travel sometimes requires a little more prep work than trips with friends and family, but it is worth it so stick with me here. First, research the country or destination you are planning to visit. What do the government websites say regarding safety? Travel advisories are a good indicator of safety in terms of people and environment. Though many countries in e.g. South America will sound a little scary when only looking at government websites. Check out my top solo, female travel destinations for 2025 here and my top affordable places here.

It is hence good to check other sources, from social media to blogs to news. I have found Facebook Groups such as “Travel Girls” and “Host A Sister” great sites to get more information on a place, especially from locals living there. They will also often offer to show you around, which is a plus.

Then research safety for women specifically. Some countries are okay for men but not necessarily solo women. Next check out things like currency and how to pay there, dress codes, any political unrests, public transportation, common scams and vaccination requirements. All of these need to align and you need to be comfortable that you can navigate them for you to head to a new country.

Information is key for you to prepare and stay safe. Using all of this knowledge will allow you to plan your itinerary – sometimes not every single second of every day needs to be planned for a trip. I am a big fan of having leeway in how long to spend where. But a basic itinerary and plan should exist before you get on a plane.

2. Choose the right accommodation and know the area

Choosing the right accommodation is a very crucial step to staying safe in a new destination. First of all, use your itinerary to know where you will need an overnight stay. Then, research that place – what are the safe areas, where do tourists specifically usually stay?

Once you have found your area, go to Google, Booking and Hostelworld and search for accommodation. You are looking for places with good reviews in the right area. Make sure to check if any of the reviews are from women specifically or solo travellers – sometimes there aren’t and that’s a big red flag to me. AirBnB is also a good option in some countries. For that, I always make sure it is a female host, especially if I’m only renting a room.

You also want consistently good reviews across several platforms, so the ones mentioned and then maybe also Trip.com and Tripadvisor. Some accommodations sound great on Booking but then have weird reviews on Google, hence check them all. Some red flags are people talking about stuff being stolen, no women leaving reviews, bedbugs and any negative comments about staff. A huge red flag for me is also when a hotel responds rudely to complaints – it’s unprofessional and will probably affect you if something goes wrong.

3. Share your itinerary with trusted people and check in regularly

When you are travelling alone, someone else needs to know where you are. Someone you trust. That same person should be the one that you check in with at regular intervals, whether that is daily or weekly really depends on where you are headed and what you are doing.

For example when I solo travelled South America, I sent a quick “I’m ok” message to my mum every night and also had informed her in advance of where I would be when. I’d even go as far as sharing your accommodation details when possible, just so in case of emergency your trusted person knows exactly where to find you.

If you are going to be in an area with no data or WiFi for a while, make sure to send the tour company and itinerary to that trusted person. The more information they have, the better! Solo travel is mostly safe, but you do need that support system in place for when things don’t go to plan.

4. Ensure you buy the right travel insurance

There is a saying in the travel community that if you can’t afford the right travel insurance, you can’t afford the trip. Travel insurance is SO important as travelling is inherently unpredictable.

I have used mine quite a few times, for example when I had to go to hospital in Bolivia for altitude sickness or got really ill while working in a surf camp in Portugal.

Obviously you always hope you won’t need to use it, but it is still a necessity to have. Make sure your travel insurance covers the types of activities and altitudes you are going to encounter in your trip, as well as add on any equipment insurance you may want/need. I also personally always pay a little more to get rid of the excess as it usually pays off within one claim.

Travel insurance I would recommend for solo, female travellers:

True Traveller Insurance

I have used these guys for most of my trips and had a big claim with them once and it went flawlessly. I had my money back within 24 hours. They also cover quite a few activities and are great for backpacking trips that span several countries, so I can only recommend them.

5. Trust your gut

As women, we often grow up being told not to make a fuss and not to inconvenience other people. I’m sure a lot of you have heard of Ted Bundy – he exploited exactly that kindness and politeness of women to find his victims.

If at any point while travelling someone makes you feel uncomfortable or you feel unsafe, get out of that situation no matter what. If it means kicking up a fuss, screaming, kicking, asking other people for help so be it. Your safety is of upmost priority.

I urge you to trust your gut! I have only once not followed my gut and I was lucky it didn’t end worse than it did. Another lesson I quickly learned: Money returns, life doesn’t. Do not put your safety on the line to save money or get your money’s worth! No matter the tour booked or flight to catch, if you can’t get there safely at the time, you don’t go.

6. Never tell a stranger you are travelling alone

Whenever I get the question “Oh, are you travelling alone?” and it is not another girl I met at a hostel or someone I know, I lie. “No, my friend is just over there buying snacks” or “Ah no, my boyfriend is currently getting us tickets” or “No, I’m just walking to meet my friends” – anything like that will do.

This is especially important out on the street, but also if you are staying in a hostel and get a weird feeling from the person asking. Some female travellers go as far as wearing a fake engagement ring, I have personally not felt that it was necessary yet.

Be mindful that scams or worse are also often run by women, so don’t trust any stranger. Also don’t try to be too nice – if a scam is run by a women, they will often try and go down the empathy route. Be respectful but watch out for yourself first.

7. Safety gadgets for solo, female travel

Phone strap:

A phone strap is one of the things I always carry with me, right on my phone. It not only protects it from falling but also from drive-by robberies etc. My phone is super important for my safety when solo travelling, so the strap ensures I don’t lose it one way or another.

Personal Safety Alarm/Whistle:

Both of these items are for the same reason: to make as much noise as possible during an emergency and scare away a potential attacker. A whistle can be carried around the neck though some say you may be too panicked to use in an emergency. A safety alarm usually has something you pull and then makes an incredibly loud noise.

Power Bank:

Your phone is one of your most important safety features when travelling, so always carry a power bank to ensure it doesn’t die. I personally love this one as it charges my phone several times.

Flashlight or Headlamp:

I always carry a headlamp with me for emergencies or when I go camping, hiking in the early hours, etc. It isn’t something I use much, but it’s been so useful when needed and really doesn’t weigh much.

Secure Cross-Body Bag:

In my opinion and experience, a cross-body bag is the most secure bag to keep on you with your valuables. It is difficult to remove and you can keep it at the front, meaning no one can get to it without you noticing. I always wear the Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag, but you also find similar bags here on Amazon. An additional safety tip is to have a small carabiner to secure the zip to the strap.

Padlock:

A padlock has many functions when travelling. If you are carrying a lot, it can secure your bag with the most valuables in it. If you’re staying in hostels, you will need it to secure your locker or suitcase. If you’re checking luggage, you may want to lock it.

8. Apps to download

Google Translate

On Google Translate, you can directly download the language spoken in the country you are travelling, meaning you won’t need data to use the translation function. This is crucial, especially when travelling in non-english speaking countries.

Life 360

This is a popular location-sharing app for those who want that extra layer of security. In case of emergency, your loved ones will know exactly where you last were.

Uber/Lyft/Local Taxi Rideshare App

Download rideshare apps prior to your trip as they will be crucial when public transport isn’t working or you get stranded somewhere. Uber works in almost any country but some countries have cheaper alternatives that are worth downloading, like InDrive for Peru.

I have found WhatsApp the best way to stay in touch with friends and family while away.

VPN

A good VPN while travelling is important for many things. It protects your data, especially on public networks, allows you to access content that may be restricted in other countries and also ensures you are able to avoid varied prices for e.g. hotels and flights based on location. I use the Thunder VPN app.

Revolut/Wise

Revolut has been a lifesaver regarding currency exchange and paying in any country. Wise does the same thing. You get a really fair exchange rate and are able to pay and get out money for no extra fees, which has been great. I’d recommend to get the physical card as not all countries have systems to tap your phone.

9. Packing list as a solo, female traveller

Here are the most important things to pack as a solo, female traveller:

Safety gadgets as discussed above
A first-aid kit with essentials but also country specific medication (e.g. altitude sickness tablets in Peru)
Universal Travel Adapter and chargers
Earplugs, sleeping mask and inflatable neck pillow (for sleep anywhere)
Passport, Driver’s License, Visa Documents, Boarding Pass, Credit Card, Phone (essentials)
Hand sanitiser or wipes
Feminine Hygiene Products (not all countries have the same)
Solid Shampoo, Conditioner and Soap (to save on liquids – I love Lush’s products)
Microfiber Towel

10. Finalise your trip preparation

You have done all this research, now it is time to prepare. That means getting any health checks and vaccinations that you may need. Making sure your passport and visa is up to date and correct. Figuring out how you are going to pay in this new country and exchanging some currency for when you first arrive there. Make sure you have pre-booked your first few nights of accommodation. Packed all of the necessities and are able to carry your backpack for extended periods – don’t overpack! Have your travel insurance set up for the duration of your trip.

11. Tips for walking around a new city

Here are just some final tips for when you are in your new destination. One is to always have your valuables in a crossbody bag and ideally that bag hidden underneath a jacket, when possible. I would recommend to never wear BOTH earbuds when listening to music – you always want to be able to hear what is going on around you.

Another tip is to watch the locals and adapt. This isn’t as weird as it sounds. Each country and even city has a different flow and different things to be mindful of. By watching the locals, you will quickly figure out what it is and not stand out as much.

E.g. when I visited Santiago de Chile, no one had their phones out so I also didn’t have mine out and played directions over my headphones. I later learned it was due to the many drive-by robberies they had had. In general, having your phone out too much signalises you are a tourist so try and look up every now and then and look confident 🙂

FAQ about Solo, Female Travel

How do I deal with loneliness while traveling alone?

When I first started solo travelling, meeting people felt super difficult. Even in hostels, everyone already seemed to be in their little groups and I was struggling. I remember being on week 3 of my Australian East Coast trip and calling my mum sobbing because I felt so lonely.

The more I solo travel, the more I have learned about loneliness and making friends. First of all, I am much more comfortable being with myself now. If I don’t find anyone to hang out with, that is okay. FOMO is sometimes still there, but I always remind myself that I am doing my best.

I usually do meet other people though. A good way is booking hostels with activities as it is SO easy to meet others during say a trivia night or a city tour. Another great way is choosing a female dorm – I often find myself bonding quicker with the girls in there. I also use Bumble BFF. That may sound awkward but I have met some of my now closest friends on there and it has been so great while travelling, especially if I am longer in one place. Finally, Facebook Groups – there are hundreds of travel groups out there and so many other solo travellers just waiting to meet you!

Sometimes though, loneliness prevails. Over the years I have learned that when the feeling refuses to leave, it is my time to go home. It’s a sign from my body that I need a break from travelling and constantly meeting new people. I need familiarity and my family. And that’s okay! Trust me, it took me a while to learn this but stopping a trip early is not failure, especially if it has already been a few months.

What are the benefits of solo travel as a woman?

I have grown immensely as a person since I have started solo travelling – in my overall confidence, trust in my own abilities and also people skills. Making friends used to be hard, now I am very comfortable talking to new people and have met so many of my closest friends while travelling. The best part about the people you meet while travelling is that they have a similar mindset to you and also often a lot to share about their own culture and traditions, meaning your worldview opens up a lot.

Travelling solo also means I get to choose where I go when, I can change plans last-minute and if I don’t like something, I will simply leave. These are all things you can’t do as much when travelling with another person. In addition, you get a lot of time for self-reflection but also to take in this new destination. I have noticed that I experience a place much more intensely when I am solo travelling, compared to when I am with e.g. friends.

Overall, I think solo travel truly changes you as a person. Once you have navigated a new country by yourself, you feel like you can do anything. I would recommend any woman to solo travel at least once in her life! Learn to trust yourself and that you don’t need anyone else to do things for you. Obviously it is nice to have someone else to rely on, but solo travel teaches you that it is not necessary – and that will change your whole perspective on life and relationships.

How do I choose affordable but safe accommodations?

The first thing I do when choosing accommodations in a new destination is research the area. Which areas are safe for tourists, especially solo travellers. There are usually lots of resources about these things. If you are unsure, you could also reach out to accommodations for advice.

Second, I usually stay in hostels or hotels that are rated well amongst solo-travellers. This is so I can meet other travellers but also so I know that the location is good etc. Hostel dorms are usually your cheapest option though some countries also have affordable AirBnBs – for those I always make sure it is a female host.

Reviews are crucial!! Check several sites such as booking, Google, Tripadvisor, etc. Some red flags are people talking about stuff being stolen, no women leaving reviews, bedbugs and any negative comments about staff. A huge red flag for me is also when a hotel responds rudely to complaints – it’s unprofessional and will probably affect you if something goes wrong.