I wrote a post a few months ago about traveling when there are safety concerns, and in light of the recent attacks in Paris, we as travelers might be facing those fears more than ever. It seems the world was a relatively safe place to explore a few years ago, but the truth is, anytime you travel, you are facing some new dangers. That’s part of the adventure—it’s something you have to accept when you are choosing to leave your comfort zone in order to see and experience something new.
As female travelers, we face more dangers than our male counterparts. We have more to worry about, usually. For years, a woman traveling alone was considered an oddity. Even today, when curious female friends ask me if I am planning on traveling alone and I say yes, they shake their heads.
“I could never do that,” they say.
But they are very wrong. They could. More than could. They can. We all have our fears and it’s understandable that this might be one of them for some. But it’s a reminder that sometimes we must step out of what’s comfortable and easy in order to do what we really want to do.
What if you are a female traveler thinking about heading out on a solo journey for the first time? You should know that there are plenty of safe locations throughout the world where you can give solo travel a try. Talk to friends and family and see if they have any recommendations for you or a locale that they think would be a good initial start to your adventures as an intrepid female traveler.
The world still is a very safe place—you just have to make sure you are choosing the right locations and that you do your research before you leave. Traveling alone (or traveling in general) is always a bit of a risk, but with a little preparation, some gumption, and an idea of what you are doing, traveling solo as a woman is more than a possibility right now. To not take advantage of some of the opportunities available would be a shame—we might get to the point when traveling isn’t so safe.
What has been your best experience traveling alone as a woman? Have you had a good experience? What are some ways we women can prepare for taking on the world as solo travelers?
Image courtesy of srilanka_ladyboat.