There are hundreds of tips that I could wax on about for women traveling solo. However, so as not to bore you, I’ll keep it brief and talk about five things to keep in mind when you, dear woman, are traveling on your own. (And, guys, you can peek, too.)
1. Eat your big meal at lunch. By doing this, not only will you save some money as lunch tends to be cheaper than dinner, but you’ll also avoid going out during the time when lovers and families are enjoying their meals, potentially leaving you to feel lonely.
2. Buy clothes when you arrive at your destination. This is my new rule. When I went to India last January, I wore the clothes on my back and purchased clothes when I arrived in Bangalore. I swear. Well, I did have a few changes of underwear but I literally shopped for clothes when I arrived and wore those through the majority of my trip. It helped me to fit in and I have some great souvenirs now that I’m home.
3. Trust your gut. We gals are fortunate to have a sixth sense, whether it involves travel or not. If a situation doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t. Get out of it as quickly as possible and don’t worry about hurting anyone’s feelings. Listen to that instinct that you know so well!
4. Stay in hostels, bed & breakfasts, pensions or find a homestay. This will give you an opportunity to meet locals as well as other travelers. You’ll feel safer being around other people and you’ll make lots of friends along the way.
5 . Use a leg pouch for your cash. Rather than carrying a moneybelt or neck pouch (which thieves have become used to seeing), why not try a leg pouch. These work similarly to a moneybelt in that you wrap it around your leg and tighten it with the Velcro fastener. It will hold your passport, credit cards and cash. Just make sure you don’t wear it when you’ve got a skirt on, girlie.
I’d love to hear YOUR travel tips for the Wanderluster Tips page. Email me with your suggestions and experiences: beth at wanderlustandlipstick dot com
Happy Travels!
Yes, Beth…these are terrific suggestions! It’s better for your health to eat the big meal at lunch, anyway. But I also carry a supply of ziplock bags (Was there life before ziplocks?) so I can save leftovers from what are usually large portioins. It’s perfectly legal, though my children tell me it’s cheating. In Nairobi I remember an especially lavish breakfast buffet that had enough cold meats and bread to last the rest of the day. Since I don’t eat much for breakfast, I felt justified in taking a few slices. And this was in a small hotel, which I intend to visit next year en route Kilimanjaro.
Meg
Visit my website: http://www.megnoblepeterson.com
Hi Beth…great ideas! To add to your list, I always pack either a white, unscented bin liner (for longer trips) and/or a few small WalMart plastic bags (shorter trips). If you have anything wet, or rather funky clothes you haven’t been able to wash, put them in the bags before you pack for the trip home and the rest of your things (and your luggage) will be saved that “musty” smell. You can go one step further and throw in a couple of used dryer sheets to help keep things smelling fresh (and, well, it helps keep your clothes from getting static-y if you’re going to a drier climate). Thanks for all your great posts!
Nice blog and great tips!
If you’re in Spain I can confirm the lunch time meal will definitely be cheaper, and you can get what we call a medu del dia (menu of the day) which will often be 3 or 4 courses for only a few Euros.
Doggy bags aren’t too common here but don’t let that stop you asking for one to take your left-overs with you.