Tips for Solo Female Travelers to Be Safe on a Trip by Yourself

911 Numbers Around the World: bit.ly/EmergencyNumbersWorldWide How to Use Offline Maps: bit.ly/HowToUseOffLineMaps If you need details about my travel solo gear from this video: My sweater: bit.ly/43R0UmH (size L 5'8" size 10) My anti-theft crossbody bag: amzn.to/3HaaqYQ Carry-on: amzn.to/3uCgs1N Tote bag: bit.ly/LaurieToteBag Clips for zippers: amzn.to/4aZDjoh Band protect passports: amzn.to/3uAEgTH Hidden money belt RFID: amzn.to/3HWcDHE Bra clip hidden: amzn.to/49CDxQZ (2024 better version) Rubber door stopper: amzn.to/42F1tk7 Door stopper with alarm: amzn.to/3uxDoPK Hotel camera: amzn.to/48f4NUj Light for zipper: amzn.to/4bBGhj1 Watch jewelry: amzn.to/3HXuqOX My rain coat: amzn.to/3UBz2BT Red blouse: bit.ly/47jwXgW Jeans: bit.ly/46fsCdU

Terrific tips, Laurie. On a business trip to London, I was out walking in SoHo one evening. I was told this was safe; however, a man started following me. Realizing he wasn't going away, I walked over to a couple near me and quietly asked them to pretend they knew me, and why, said my name. Which they immediately and enthusiastically did: hugged me, addressed me by my name. The guy took off. This is a safety technique I highly recommend when in sudden danger.

I am a 72 year old grandma and I always travel alone and have a great time!

Another tip I use for navigation, put an AirPod or other wireless earbud in only one ear and make sure your hair covers it - then get your directions going on Google maps, but put the phone up and just go by the audio from Google Maps - no one will know you’re using the navigation, you only have one ear plugged, and you are still 100% visually aware of everything going on around you and don’t have your head buried in your phone.

I was in NYC last week and my room was very close to the elevator. A man had entered the elevator on a lower level room and pressed a floor above mine. At my floor, I got out and walked past my room and waited until the elevator doors closed to be sure he didn't step off behind me. Im sure he was perfectly kind, etc. but you just never know! Be safe fellow travelers! 😊

Great video! An additional tip: Be aware of group of thieves (2-3 people) walking around near you in a “friendly” manner, for example in an airport, they are very clever in pulling “tricks” to distract you… One time, upon landing in Madrid and leaving customs, I stopped for coffee and this person out of nowhere, pointed at the floor and asked me if the “piece of paper” on the floor was mine to distract me while another person took my purse, hid it in a shopping bag, and left with it calmly walking…When I panicked, the person was asking me “is everything OK?”, to give plenty of time for the person with my purse to escape… So unfortunately you got to be aware of “very nice people” trying to approach you….

At about 12:30, Laurie talks about being aware of your surroundings. I used to teach personal safety while in law enforcement. One thing I talked about is the traffic light system. The green light means you are going about your day but not paying attention to your surroundings. Yellow light means you are going about your day but aware of your surroundings. Has that car behind you been behind you for awhile? Making all the turns you are making? If you aren’t sure, hang a U turn. If the person behind you does the same thing DO NOT GO HOME! Instead drive to a police station or an open door and call the police. Try to get as much information about the car as possible. Same thing if you are in a store or out walking or running. Red light means something has caught your attention and you need to act. Strive to always be in yellow mode - enjoying your day but aware of your surroundings and who is near you.

Tip - don't call any pizza place/restaurants from flyers that may be slipped under your hotel door or check with the front desk to confirm it is a legitimate place. Someone could know you are alone as well as potentially hurting you financially if you give your credit card/debit card number to them when you call. Great video of tips and tricks.

I often travel alone. I have a strap that goes over my head and is attached to my phone. It can be adjusted to be long enough that I can still carry my phone in my cross body bag. I think cross body bags are a must. I also pack a door stop to use in my hotel room. When I am walking at night I try to find a family to walk behind or just in front of, so I look like I am with the family. I use packing cubes when I travel and hide money in the cubes and between the bars of my suitcase under the lining. The joy of hiding money is when you pack for your next trip you find money you forgot about.

I've travelled to 65 countries as a solo female. The most challenge was India where I actually did not feel safe. The rest of the countries were fine. I usually use public transport in Europe from airports. Most European cities have a metro which for me personally feels safer then getting into a taxi - enclosed space with a man. I prefer a public metro with lots of people and which has lots of cameras on it

Great tips . I always book my room for 2 occupants when traveling alone just in case the hotel employees have loose lips.

No. 1 Always walk as if you know where you are going, with purpose. No.2 ask directions only from a policeman or a person behind the counter of a reputable store. No.3 keep your phone out of site, plan your route before you set out for the day and remember it. We were safer before cell phones, never distracted. no.4 learn to dress like a local not a tourist. 5. Sort and fold your cash in useable amounts such as 50 euros, and never pull out a large wad. Solo female traveller for 50 years and never had a problem following these rules.

Great tips, Laurie! I have been a solo traveler on multiple business trips and your recommendation for checking hallways is perfect. I’ve had many times where I felt like someone was following me to my room and I would just say “oops” out loud and quickly turn around like I forgot something. Here is my tip - whenever possible do NOT take stairs in the hotel, you can get caught by someone very easily with no quick escape or exit.

My sister is a very open but socially unsavvy person, and on our last trip to the UK, she posted things on her social media like “Waiting at Heathrow to return home!” or “Picking up souvenirs for my girls”. I had to tell her to not do that - that flight from London to the west coast would give bad actors plenty of time to burgle her home. She thought I was just being the bossy big sister, but I’ve noticed that she now waits to post until she gets home.

I'm going to start using that hanger hack. On a past cruise the young man who cleaned my room would tap ever so lightly on the door. While I was pondering if I had heard something verses something on the TV, the door would suddenly swing open. Needless to say, his intrusions led to embarrassing moments. My favorite traveling hack is to sew pockets inside my pants. I keep some cash in the outside pockets. The inside pockets have my passport, credit cards, and large bills. When I need to remove something from the inside pockets, I go to the restroom.

Some very good tips! I am widowed, so I travel alone quite often. I am an American, but have lived in a heavily tourist visited city in Europe for 11 years now. I use cross body bags daily and usually keep the bag toward the front of my body. I use RFID covers on my credit cards and bank cards so no one can electronically pickpocket me. I have a door stop alarm. It has been set off by housekeeping, but happily not by someone breaking in. When I pack it, I simply take the battery out of it and put them together in a plastic bag. That way there is no danger of it going off accidently during the flight. When getting money at an ATM in a foreign country, decline the conversion rate it offers. It will be worse than what your bank gives you. I have never once been a victim of crime in a foreign country. This includes Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, Czech Rep, Belgium, Israel , UK, and several others. I hope that never changes!

I would say an underrated tip is to try and not look too... wealthy. I mean, its not a guarentee but whenever I travel to London from the very rural place I live, EVERYONE looks richer than me, and I think to myself 'if I were looking for someone to rob, I wouldn't choose me, I look dirt poor'. Absolutely on your vaction you should look nice, but do you really need to be dripping in diamonds and designer labels?

I learned this decades ago; when little kids run towards you, swarm around like little bees (as a distraction), like a general, I just shout in their language "Police!". They're all gone within 60 seconds. Works evertime.

Im in my sixties and love traveling by myself for example eastern Europe and Turkey. A small group of young people attempted to pick pocket my back pack. It was only hearing the zip opening that alerted me, I swung around, swore loudly and grabbed the boy, maybe not the best of ideas! My lesson, do not look at my phone while walking!

Also look for recent youtube videos about common scams that thieves use in the country you are planning to visit. This helped us in Italy when walking in the Piazza della Signoria. Behind us we heard an armload of books falling and people talking loudly. I remembered the video showed that this is a common distraction to get people to look away so that they can more easily steal their bag. In general it's a good idea to steer away from any commotion when traveling.