There comes a point when the urge to see the world becomes impossible to resist. There are places you dream about, there is music playing you’ve never heard, there are flowers growing you’ve never seen.
When you’re a single woman, going to far off lands and having adventures overseas can give you pause. Headlines and cautionary tales warn women to tread carefully once we cross borders.
Sure, traveling has its risks. So does crossing a street or hiding under your bed (ever swallow a dust bunny?). Traveling is an experience that enriches and fulfills us as nothing else can. Whether you head out for a year of trekking solo across the Himalayas, or take a day trip away from a travel group to kiss the Blarney Stone, there are common sense rules both men and women follow when they travel- and a few precautions which are exclusively for savvy Jane Bonds like yourself.
Location, Location, Location
The first part of having a safe trip is realistically appraising where you’re headed. You should know what areas are considered dangerous at night and understand a little bit about the culture. If you are going to tour parts of Africa, Pakistan or the Middle East, you should know you’ll encounter cultures with a very defined protocol for women. Do a little research on what is considered appropriate to wear and don’t try to start any new trends! Even what you consider normal behavior might be considered inappropriate- sustained eye contact can be seen as rude or flirtatious.
An excellent resource for sounding out the cultural norms of your location is Journeywoman, which has a breakdown of many different cities in addition to a search engine that lets you type in a location and pulls up any reference to that city within the site. This is a great jumping off point for investigating different areas before you get on a plane.
What to Wear
Experienced travelers know better than to wear expensive clothes or jewelry. Nothing screams "direct me into an alley and take my wallet" like a rope of pearls and a Frommer’s Travel guide. Things you might feel comfortable having out in the open like cameras and expensive cell phones should be used discreetly in developing countries. A large map is also a bad idea. The iPhone map application can be indispensable when you’re traveling, try looking directions up at your hotel and then draw out your route on a business card before you hit the street. Keep small bills in your handbag with the strap diagonally across your chest, and larger bills in a money belt or neck pouch. Don’t leave valuables like your passport in laying out in your hotel room. Its also good to have xeroxes of your passport and airline tickets in case they are lost and stolen.
When you’re traveling alone, your luggage can be a huge burden. Keep it small and keep it light – something you can carry on to the plane, stow overhead in trains, and throw over your shoulder easily.
Networking Like A Fox
Especially in small tourist towns, travelers can be seen as opportunities – innocently or malignantly.
Before you depart, let friends and family know about your travel itinerary. It’s a good idea to cultivate a Twitter feed so you can tweet where you are going and when you’re going to get back. Send a text off to a good friend if you’re headed out on an adventure – "zip-lining with Canopy Tours Monteverde at three! Back by five!" Before you leave your hotel to go anywhere, know how you’re getting there and how you’re getting back, and have cash ready and the number of a taxi.
Give the front desk a rough idea of your whereabouts. If you feel shy about telling them your plans outright, tell them you are expecting a call at a certain time and will be back by then from your activity. That’s the kind of white lie that lets them know to call the cops if you’re three hours late. This is doubly true if you’re going on a solo nature hike or to the beach. (And while we’re talking beaches – make sure they’re well marked, there are people in view, and you know the tide schedule). Smaller hotels are more aware of who their guests are and usually have better security for that reason. Its also a good idea to keep a business card from your hotel on hand so you can call them if you get lost.
And if during the ziplining and beachcombing you do find a friend- whether it’s a fellow American or a handsome local – don’t share your travel plans. Avoid going anywhere where it would be just the two of your alone. If you develop a new friendship, let the front desk and your friends know your plans in minute detail and leave a card with written out information about your friend-his name and physical description, where you’re headed, and when you should be back in your hotel room. And feel free to text a friend or twitter the same information. You may laugh about these precautions when you come home later safe and sound – but you’ll feel more confident and relaxed knowing they are there.
One way to keep from being lonely – or abducted – when you travel, is to contact friend-of-a-friends before you arrive. Your mom’s British pen pal, your roommate’s foreign exchange student friend- get internet or phone introductions and drop them postcards when you’re in the area. Write out your name and your hotel phone number, let them know you’d love to meet up or could use a recommendation of an activity in the area. This is a great way to meet locals and have adventures with people that have a connection you can trust.
If You Don’t Want to Go It Alone
Even Sacagawea had Lewis and Clark. Going with a group of friends somewhere is an epic way for a girl to travel. Taking a road trip with five guys or getting your cousin to pack her bags and head for Machu Picchu are ideal scenarios.
Maybe you want the structure of a well-planned journey without the headache of planning one. There’s literally hundreds of tours available exclusively for single people. Contiki tours, for those 18-35, has destinations you can reach by cruise and tour bus worldwide, with plenty of social activities within the travel group. If you’re outside that age bracket, try looking up all ages tours like Peregrine Adventures (peregrineadventures.com), or Nomad Tours. Travel tours can lead to lifelong friendships and relationships, and they pull from local knowledge and resources to provide you with an experience you can’t recreate on your own. If you’re drawn to traveling amongst other single ladies, Adventurous Wench and Wild Women Travel are two great companies that tailor exhilarating experiences to women.
Triumphant Return
When you return to your home, you can sustain your travel buzz if you’ve remembered to have your mail held at the post office or picked up by a neighbor. Getting someone to water your plants or winterizing your home if you live in cold climates is essential to enjoying your return. Cleaning your house before you go on a trip is a great present to yourself when you get back.
There’s no arguing you come back a different person after you’ve seen a new part of the world. More informed, more aware, and more alive. Many a travel author has been born from a woman who moved independently throughout the world– and many a tour guide as well. Share your experiences and get the word out there – that single ladies make most fun, flexible and fearless travelers.
