@@steel148 Heck, sure it is! Most people haven't acted like a tourist in their own town, much less their own country. Alone is alone for folks who aren't used to it; many haven't even gone out to dinner by themselves.
Good suggestion but USA kinda sucks for solo traveling especially California (where I'm from) Central America is pretty good tho kinda hesitant to start there but I have no clue where else I'd start l. My parents don't want me traveling solo but there's no one willing to go with me at list not on a budget.
As a solo female traveller, best advice I can give is talk to local women, any age, the more the better. What to look out for, what`s safe to do, where not to go, how to dress, etc. Can be the waitress, taxi driver, table neighbor,... Always stick to local women`s advice and don`t get cocky. They know best.
God bless you for this video. I have been so scared to travel alone as a woman but I LOVE to travel and explore. I am single so I have more of an opportunity to travel than my married friends/married friends with kids and I don’t want to miss out on what this beautiful world has to offer. Thank you so much for this. And I am looking forward to more of your videos and to reading other viewers comments on further tips!
you should get a BF to protect you that shouldn’t be hard…being in love with a man is one of the safest ways to travel and god how good it feels to be in a man’s arms….
Thanks for the tips. Solo male traveler here. I wish one day we'll live in a society where single women can roam around free without having to look over their shoulder.
We can! However; we need to use common sense and keep ourselves safe in the meantime. There are still certain places I would not travel solo - including the some places in the United States.
Excellent advice! Lifelong solo traveler here, even drove 5 hours to my aunt's three days after I got my driver's license at 16. (I was a farm kid so had been driving all sorts of vehicles since age 10, so my parents were fine with it. lol) I *heartily* agree about walking confidently, and would add that even if you never use it, everyone should take some style of martial arts or a defense class, or even a kick boxing exercise class or anything sporty -- it makes you more aware of and in control of your body, which will add to your visual confidence. ALSO my own tip... step into a store or similar to get off the sidewalk before looking at your phone or map, or acting like you don't know where you're going; you don't want to be a googly-eyed, confused tourist in plain sight!
I just started loosing my fear of driving after having my license for 2 months, but I need to travel across the country by September all alone to make it to the trade school I’m planning on going to. I will have to drive because otherwise I would have to sell my car as I don’t know any other way to get it across the country. I don’t know any options to safely sleep at night in the car. Where are the safest places to park?
@@Epictheargonian I don’t have a clue about sleeping in a car, though I have a ton of experience in a tent! 😁 In fact, if you can afford a simple state park campsite, a tent and something to sleep on/under, you’d be safer than in your car in some parking lot. Otherwise, if your rear windows are tinted, you could probably sleep in the back seat out of view. Also remember that if you’re going to drive through a large city, most have circular highways that bypass the most nerve-wracking center-city interstates where there’s lots of traffic and merging going on, so go around rather than thru if you can. And personally I like state rest stops instead of getting off/on exits, which can also be super busy. At a rest stop, you can have a little picnic and stretch your legs, and the restrooms are usually clean. Just take your time, don’t drive too many hours at a time, load up on good music, and take a little cooler so you can pick up sandwich stuff, fruit, carrot sticks and such so you’re not relying on drive-thrus- junky and expensive! That’s all my ‘mom’ advice, other than make sure you’ve got a car charger for your phone, and maybe use a gps that will alert you to bad traffic or wrecks. Oh, and keep your doors locked and check your tire pressure! lol Good luck on your new adventure, and have fun!!
On a lighter note, I took an unplanned trip to Peru (for r &r). We boarded the plane. I had the foresight to bring a sleep aid as it was several time zones away. The flight was delayed, but I thought, ‘no prob, early nap’. Took a something or other pill, got sleepy. The equipment was bad…had to deplane. We sat in the waiting area. Medicine effectively kicked in. I, having taken a social psychology class, had learned about ‘diffusion of responsibility’, knew I needed a sponsor. I asked two cute happy traveling buddies (girls, cos, ya know, safe) to make sure I got on the plane due to sleeping aid. They did, thank goodness, we boarded the plane en masse, incl me, got to Peru. Moral of story, don’t take sleep med until well in flight.
Guys!!! Please listen. These things protected me on an eight month back packing trip solo. She is right on, I seen some sad things happen to people. I arrived back home safe sound no problems. Follow the basics
The first point in the video reminds me of when I was in Rome alone in my early 20s (about 35 years ago) and sitting in the Villa Borghese gardens enjoying the view when a middle-aged couple approached me. They were very friendly and curious about me, sitting with me a while making conversation. They invited me for dinner at their apartment that evening. Something felt off, like they were too interested in me. I had to decline several times as they persisted. Eventually I was able to end the conversation and leave the gardens. I'll never know what would have happened had I accepted their invitation (maybe it would have gone fine), but I had to listen to my inner voice looking out for my safety.
Yes about trusting your intuition and not worrying about whether or not that will seem polite. For the most part, decent people will understand a woman not wanting to put herself in a compromising situation. If they start trying to pressure you by making you feel like you're being rude if you don't go along with them, or acting like you owe them an explanation, or making a scene to embarrass you for being so silly and paranoid; these are red flags and should only confirm that you're right for feeling like you need to get out of there.
A life long single, I have been doing international travel since college for weeks to months at a time every year (before Covid). I do not like alcohol, party, and staying out at night. Love sight seeing, nature, and museums. Used to dislike beach and hot weather (didn’t know how to swim and a bug magnet). Now I am retired and just learned free style swimming. Hopefully I can do water related travel in the future.
This is a must watch especially for female solo travelers like myself. Even traveling in my own country in Indonesia, I need to be kept reminded of all these stuff to stay safe. Different place, different culture. And the thing I am trying to always comply during my solo trip is to follow my intuition. Never experienced something dangerous though, but I am not gonna take any chances. Thank you for the reminder! 😊
Same , but from india It's dependant on places like southern side is more developed and female friendly, northern most side is a bit more patriarchal, I mean less women are seen staying out there
In case you weren't aware you can now get the doorstop/alarm as one unit. As soon as the door opens even slightly the alarm goes off while keeping the door from moving any further, `which means they'll likely be gone even before you fully wake to the siren. It also draws a lot of attention to you, which is exactly what you want right then. Awesome tips! Enjoy your videos!
These tips are great for first time travellers. Unfortunately I learnt the hard way and ended up passing out in a back alley in budapest (would not recommend) luckily someone who I was out with took me back to my hostel, but I was very lucky. It could have turned out very badly!
Just turned 21 from Los Angeles, but moved to Paris 6 months ago. Have been to 27 countries (15 solo) and going to another 10 more within the next 2-3 weeks. Great tips!
I am going on my first solo travel next month. First thing i did was look for the safest country, my choice was Norway. Hopefully it is really as safe as they say.
Tip on the dummy purse is great, I use that one myself. It is full of currencies that have lots of notes to the dollar, it's about a quarter inch thick with money that is probably worth less than half a dozen dollars. I would add though that if approached, throw the wallet/purse as far as you can, preferably with money spilling out of it. A thief will have the choice of going for the money or going for you. They should choose the former which will give you valuable space to then run.
I am travelling solo for 9 weeks now and haven´t met "people" or even talked to someone except the girl at the shop or the cleaning lady. And I love it.
One more tip is when someone asks you if you are traveling alone as a woman is to make up a fake husband or boyfriend. I've had this question asked so many times in Malaysia. It might be innocent curiosity but it's best to not make yourself a target.
Travelling alone as a woman many years I've only once felt scared. Yes, don't drink much and always let someone know your plans or where you are going all the time. Yes, avoid unmarked taxis of course. I always carry a whistle, and can of hairsray
I travel alot and I agree with you 100%... I do also think it's different when you are any other race than white. My friend and I recently got back from a trip and we noticed a huge difference between how she, who is white, and myself who is black were treated.
Definitely agree. I am treated differently (better) in many places because I'm white. It's obvious. It's uncomfortable and strange and I think it also takes a while to notice it when it's happening to you. I'd like to see a world where lighter skin is not glorified, because it's not good for anyone, but we have a long way to go in recognizing and rewriting those colonial norms. I'll be raising my son to know what privilege and real history is. I wrote a blog article somewhat covering this topic (to the best that I can as a person of my background) but I'm always open to learning and hearing more: www.bemytravelmuse.com/is-tourism-good-or-bad/
The first minute were you go into talking about trusting your intuition! Everything you said I was like YES. I traveled for the first time alone to Costa Rica and the entire trip I was having a great time people were friendly I felt safe it wasn’t until the second to last day I was a little too trusting and got myself in an uncomfortable situation. I was so worried about not being rude but something in my gut was telling me to gtfo of this situation. Finally I was literally terrified and luckily still in a public place I was able to leave the “situation” I wish I knew everything you were saying now. Love this video !!
I feel like intuition is like a skill that keeps getting sharper the more experience you get and you ultimately did the right thing! You definitely learned from it too!
All great points, expecially the advice about being intoxicated. The door stop is a good and a bad thing, i never had to use one and never crossed my mind to use one, but from a health and safety point, i would not recomment it, in case of fire, it would take longer to get out or for the fire brigade to come in and save you. My advice is always be confident even when sometimes you realize that you are going in the wrong direction (walking, bus, train, etc..), calm yourself, asses the situation and find a solution. Pack less and buy essential items on the road (you are helping the economy in the country that you are travelling). For example, i love to buy clothes, half of my wardrobe is from around the world, when i wear a dress or jumper it brings back beautiful memories.
Great video!! I would add standing up straight and walk with confidence!! Grew up in NYC and have actually had people tell me I walk like a cop, LOL!! Not sure what that exactly means but just walk with as much confidence as you can.
thank you for this video!! i’m a 21 yo woman and i’m hoping to start solo travelling soon once the borders starts to open more :) i’ve been a little nervous because i’m asian and the world hasn’t been kind to us 🤣🤣🤣 but this video helped me a lot!! i love that you mention trusting our own’s instincts since i’ve never heard it from any other video ♥️
hey im 20 and looking to start traveling too lol im african amercian and i think we are both subjected to a certain degree of hatred, but im still optimistic. Enjoy your trips!!!
Come and visit Europe, we have no problem with Asians here. And most of the countries here are safe for solo young lady. There is a lot of beautiful places to discover. I am going solo to Portula and Spain in a month. So, enjoy your solo travels, it is amazing and I love it. 🙂
On the money backup, make sure you call the bank to let them know you are traveling. I did this for those same countries where your transactions were marked as fraud and had no issues. Also, make sure your bank doesn't send you a new card while traveling. Lol happened to me in Alaska and luckily it was near the end of the trip and I could pay for some times with PayPal. That was a nightmare.
I am SO scared to solo travel, but I just turned 30 and feel like I'm missing out on all these beautiful places. THANK YOU for sharing this, amazing information!
Babe let’s travel together girl hehe I’ve been wanting friends that I can travel with. I’m also 30 have no kids etc. let me know so we can start getting to know eachother hehe
Tip 1: dont hike alone, especially without experience in sharp, high mountains, especially full of wolf, bears and other animals, especially at night, moreover with opened food to be spotted from distance as free bloody party Tip 2: dont eat or drink from strangers, when alone or you may be kidnapped, even raped - they use special substances, to forget, just like marihuana does.
@@Bemytravelmuse YES!! I've always been a solo traveler and hiker, and when people ask if I'm scared of bears and snakes, I always answer that the only think I worry about is someone breaking into my truck at the trailhead. (I do a lot of hiking here in the US, and local riff-raff everywhere are prone to break into vehicles in/near parks.) Besides, once you get a mile down the trail you rarely have to worry about a bad guy -- they're usually too lazy to walk that far. hahaha
I love the idea of a doom jam and a personal alarm. As a woman who lives and travels by herself, I never travel without these items. I consider them my bodyguards! Lol! This was a great video! Everyone should watch this before they travel. The same tips apply to the United States as well as abroad. Be diligent but enjoy life! This is a big beautiful world. Let’s enjoy it! 💕
Thank you for this video. I’ve been wanting to travel for sometime but have always been hesitant about the issues you’ve brought up. Safety is a major concern for solo female travelers, so this was very helpful. Thank you.
VIATOR has fabulous day trips in just about every major city in the world. I use them to get out and away sometimes if I'm tired, as a solo traveler, of navigating the system. It's like a day off from your mostly solo experience. Going to Cadeques from Barcelona is fabulous!!
For Europe, a small pocket knife can get you in a lot of trouble. Be careful, especially in big cities. There's a loooot of police looking lately. (Esp. Rome, Paris, Amsterdam etc.) But what is usually always okay is a small pocket knife that also has a screwdriver, clippers, corkscrew etc. I don't know what exactly there called, but if there's a hundred other things to pull out and the blade doesn't lock automatically, you're usually good to go.
I travel solo, but I'm a guy and I've only ever been to first world countries, so the only tip I could really relate to was the sim card one. Great video 👍👍
I'm planning my first real vacation this year and although its not out of the country (I'll still be in USA) I will most likely go on this vacation alone so im nervous but I deserve this trip and don't want keep waiting for someone to accompany me. Plus this will help me learn to be even more independent and adventurous. Your video still helped thank you!!
For self defense, if you can't carry a weapon, just find the nearest, sturdiest rock that can fit comfortably in your hand and carry that around. You can simply discard it back to the earth when you no longer need it. I do this while I'm hiking.
Thank you for these tips! Want to travel myself and YES to Rule #1! I lost count of how many times I've been saved by my gut! Plus, LOVE your simple but EFFECTIVE ideas for staying in a hotel room alone!
I have travelled with a group, boyfriend or single nothing happened had fun, went nightclubs, beach, trips, walks, etc but always have cash with me, invited to locals restaurant s, very positive helps if talk to locals or advise If live alone it's easier as use to doing things It's your travel
Travelled many countries by myself never really had a problem but always took notice of what the locals told me, was always aware of my surroundings, didnt go out at night. Had an incident when I had to travel through a Middle Eastern country for transit, two men come and escorted me off the plane as women dont travel by themselves in their country, asked if I had anything to cover my cothes I was wearing jeans lucky I had a full length trench coat which i used, they took me to a ladies only rest room told me not to leave, then come and escorted me onto the plane when it was ready, was safe but will not being going through that country again. I know a female who went by herself to a Middle Eastern country, went alone to the pyramids and found a tour guide there - a man who volunteered to take her around, he then said he would take her to a local restaurant for dinner she agreed, the hotel staff told her not to go but she went. He picked her up from the hotel passed the restaurant they were supposed to be going to and took her to a remote house where he kept her in a locked room for several days abused her, got her key and got all her things from the hotel, on the day she had to fly out he took her to airport kept with her until she had to board gave her her passport finally and she left. She was so happy to get back to her country that she told the police they virtually said they couldnt do anything about it, took a while to recover from it she now trys to block it all out just says she was lucky not to be killed.
Wow that's so messed up, poor girl but she must have done ZERO research before going to Egypt because girl.. I thought everyone knew it's tricky for solo women there and under no circumstance should you contact these men any more than what's absolutely necessary.
Couldn't agree more with the first one. I ended up getting robbed at gunpoint having to cancel all my bank cards and living homeless until I could get home not to mention dislocating my shoulder 10 miles away from the nearest town. Was a damn good party though.
Wow! As a fellow world traveler I can tell you've traveled as well. I would agree that the number one tip is to follow your gut. If you don't feel comfortable it's ok to grab your sh#t and go. No explanation needed to anyone. Best tool to have when traveling anywhere, included in the states.
I’m planning my first solo trip to Turkey and these tips really help! I’m also glad to have seen the comment about being forthcoming about whether or not you’re alone - I was wondering how I would navigate those conversations with people.
I have a photo of me with my daughter’s husband and his three brothers. Her hubby at 6’2” is the baby of the bunch. If I think a situation warrants it, I flash this photo up on the phone and say that I am supposed to be meeting my boys here, have you seen them, they must be right here somewhere….
Turks are very protective of women and want all visitors to have a great time and be safe. I hope your trip goes or went well. Don't hesitate to ask for help (English is fine) if you feel uneasy. I lived in Turkey for four years and visited 20 plus times in the past. Iyi yolculuklar! Happy travels!
Great Video I agree with you 100% in your top 10. bad alcohol/drugs in Alcohol - especially men have to be aware of this since thet often think it only can happen to women
What also might be a tip, is to take a small can of hair spray with you. Since pepper spray is illegal in a lot of countries, this might function as an alternative. Might not be as effective, but still unpleasant.
This is really informative…I’ve made some bad judgement issues over the years in foreign countries… fortunately no major issues but my pride and a little bit of money was lost…I travel alone due to necessity and you gotta keep your wits about you…
Hi Kristin, you need to know how speacial you are. You glow beauty and a great person to watch on your travel journey. I am also a solo traveller and have now visited 80 countries and have been on all 7 continents. Keep up the great work!
Male in my early 60s. I am totally spontaneous - with the occasional reserved lodging. I have been doing solo trips forever. Hikers and climbers are friendly and safe (anywhere it takes a little effort to get to is good) I have only had two scary situations that I backed away from. Yes trust your intuition. Camping, car camping and the occasional hotel / airbnb is a nice mix. I almost always don’t drink or one drink. Nicer restaurants are a good choice in the evening. Women certainly have more concerns. I am more concerned about the wildlife, weathe and landscape (bolders, falls, etc)
Whether traveling or just in your local bar always watch your drink. That's a great tip! There's nail polish out now that changes colors if something has been slipped in your drink. I was roofied in my 30s and something really bad happened so please be careful!
Great info, new sub and new solo traveler here. I've done 3 familiar cruises (did them numerous times before on the same ship), but I'm planning to travel to Europe and SE Asia on my own in the near future. Ty very much!
I arrived at a beach town of Goa, India after dusk after a day-long trip by changing 4 buses. There was a blackout and it was pitch dark. I wanted to go to my hostel ASAP, so I checked with Google maps on the phone and it was sort of a walkable distance. And being the cheap penny pincher I am, I started off right away, not bothering with autorickshaws. I did not spot any anyway. Little did I know that it would be a deserted route among fields...with my batteries dying. I was juggling between my phone's flashlight (my manual one was inside my backpack) and Google maps in darkness with barking dogs all around me. There were a zillion dogs running to me barking their tails off and then instantly backing up. That night I was so lucky to be not mauled by those dogs.
Always pretend that you are traveling with your boyfriend/ husband or with a larger group of people. It is better to be safe than sorry. Do not accept alcohol or food from strangers and certainly do not go anywhere by yourself at night! Take taxis only recommend by hotel staff etc...
One of my all time favorite trips was slovenia and city of Ljubljana, after a beautiful julian alps hike - did with as part of a tour, not on my own. i love to travel and this past year has been soul sucking. im looking to ease my way back in and have solo travelled before but prefer to go with others depending on the situation. unfortunately most friends cant / wont travel so looks like my next trip will be solo. i've been researching the best "safe" area to go for a week/less depending if domestic or not with a nice mix of hiking/ access to a city. i love that mix. my fav location are generally nordics - i always feel so safe and its gorgeous. wondering if you think there is a similar vibe anywhere in the states - i know the weather will be different, and nowhere near as many tall blondes! thanks for the channel, very helpful advice
I’m planning my solo trip now, your tips helped a lot. I’m very careful with details. My plan is Europe since I didn’t have the chance for few years to go back. This video is helpful, small details makes big difference. Thanks.
So far I've been to five countries alone, all within Europe: France, Germany, Greece, Ireland and Czechia. I want to branch out to Peru and South East Asia though.
It is sad that having to be precautious with drinks and knowing there is people having sinister motives hidden behind generosity is an issuue, but after 8 years travelling I realise it is more common than you hope. A few things that may assist in acting on the side of caution. If someone offers to buy you a drink, go with them to the bar, that way you see the drink being made or opened and you take away the opportunity for tampering. if maybe you come back from the bathroom and someone has a drink for you and you dont want to appear rude or ungrateful by refusing, either you can "accidentally" ash a cigarette into it, drop it or knock it over.
T hank you so much for sharing! This is the first time I saw someone on TH-cam who has visited Zambia, I bought a package after someone took my wallet in Holland. Lessons learned
I stumbled on your video and enjoyed it! The one tip that I may have trouble with is the going by myself at night since I love stargazing. But if I have a rental car and pull into a turnout or trailhead away from civilization and step out of the car and turn all lights off, then I would love to see what’s called a class one Bortles sky on a new moon night. That’s the darkest sky possible. Do you have any special advice for stargazing enthusiasts who travel solo?
Great video! Since my husband passed away in 2020, I now have no choice but to travel alone and these tips are very good to remember? Do you have a video that lists down the countries that you felt were more dangerous to visit alone than others? Thank you!
Hi Bennie, I've personally never felt completely unsafe in any of the countries I've been to, but I'd probably avoid countries known to be extremely sexist and/or are currently at wars. I've been to really remote places like Kyrgyzstan, spends months traveling in Africa and did several backpacking trips completely off the grid and never felt unsafe.
The dummy wallet idea is genius! That's one thing I've never thought of doing before. I love solo travelling and can't wait to vlog my time in SE Asia :)
Thank you for this video. I'll be going to the Yucatan next may and I'll be by myself. I've watched tons of videos on where I'll be so that helps. Thanks for the encouragement.
These are all really good tips! I am getting nervous because I have to move from the main land to Hawai'i by myself because my husband is military and I am super nervous. I have never lived alone before and I don't know anyone there. I will definitely be using what you said lol
Lol Hawaii is not a place to worry about this stuff at all. I've lived there since I was a kid. You should be scared of California, NYC, and Chicago. The mainland is way scarier.
This is an amazing video. As a woman and from the UK 🇬🇧. We ate pretty much safe , but now I am ready to travel even further "ALONE" this video has helped me thank you so so much . ❤
If you've never travelled alone before. My suggestion is try your own Continent first.
That’s no fun.
@@steel148 Heck, sure it is! Most people haven't acted like a tourist in their own town, much less their own country. Alone is alone for folks who aren't used to it; many haven't even gone out to dinner by themselves.
Not a bad suggestion
Good suggestion but USA kinda sucks for solo traveling especially California (where I'm from) Central America is pretty good tho kinda hesitant to start there but I have no clue where else I'd start l. My parents don't want me traveling solo but there's no one willing to go with me at list not on a budget.
Unless you're Australian 😂
As a solo female traveller, best advice I can give is talk to local women, any age, the more the better. What to look out for, what`s safe to do, where not to go, how to dress, etc. Can be the waitress, taxi driver, table neighbor,... Always stick to local women`s advice and don`t get cocky. They know best.
God bless you for this video. I have been so scared to travel alone as a woman but I LOVE to travel and explore. I am single so I have more of an opportunity to travel than my married friends/married friends with kids and I don’t want to miss out on what this beautiful world has to offer. Thank you so much for this. And I am looking forward to more of your videos and to reading other viewers comments on further tips!
So glad you found what you needed!
Hey, where to next???
you should get a BF to protect you that shouldn’t be hard…being in love with a man is one of the safest ways to travel and god how good it feels to be in a man’s arms….
@@dr_corrupt1014 😂😂😂 She’s better off alone! Men aren’t worth the hassle!
Never stop exploring and dont be afraid
I really admire, that you travelled to 60 countries alone. You are my role model.
Aw thank you
Thanks for the tips. Solo male traveler here.
I wish one day we'll live in a society where single women can roam around free without having to look over their shoulder.
We can! However; we need to use common sense and keep ourselves safe in the meantime. There are still certain places I would not travel solo - including the some places in the United States.
Having a dummy purse is so smart! Great tip, thank you :)
For sure!
Excellent advice! Lifelong solo traveler here, even drove 5 hours to my aunt's three days after I got my driver's license at 16. (I was a farm kid so had been driving all sorts of vehicles since age 10, so my parents were fine with it. lol) I *heartily* agree about walking confidently, and would add that even if you never use it, everyone should take some style of martial arts or a defense class, or even a kick boxing exercise class or anything sporty -- it makes you more aware of and in control of your body, which will add to your visual confidence. ALSO my own tip... step into a store or similar to get off the sidewalk before looking at your phone or map, or acting like you don't know where you're going; you don't want to be a googly-eyed, confused tourist in plain sight!
I just started loosing my fear of driving after having my license for 2 months, but I need to travel across the country by September all alone to make it to the trade school I’m planning on going to.
I will have to drive because otherwise I would have to sell my car as I don’t know any other way to get it across the country.
I don’t know any options to safely sleep at night in the car. Where are the safest places to park?
@@Epictheargonian I don’t have a clue about sleeping in a car, though I have a ton of experience in a tent! 😁 In fact, if you can afford a simple state park campsite, a tent and something to sleep on/under, you’d be safer than in your car in some parking lot. Otherwise, if your rear windows are tinted, you could probably sleep in the back seat out of view. Also remember that if you’re going to drive through a large city, most have circular highways that bypass the most nerve-wracking center-city interstates where there’s lots of traffic and merging going on, so go around rather than thru if you can. And personally I like state rest stops instead of getting off/on exits, which can also be super busy. At a rest stop, you can have a little picnic and stretch your legs, and the restrooms are usually clean. Just take your time, don’t drive too many hours at a time, load up on good music, and take a little cooler so you can pick up sandwich stuff, fruit, carrot sticks and such so you’re not relying on drive-thrus- junky and expensive! That’s all my ‘mom’ advice, other than make sure you’ve got a car charger for your phone, and maybe use a gps that will alert you to bad traffic or wrecks. Oh, and keep your doors locked and check your tire pressure! lol Good luck on your new adventure, and have fun!!
On a lighter note, I took an unplanned trip to Peru (for r &r). We boarded the plane. I had the foresight to bring a sleep aid as it was several time zones away. The flight was delayed, but I thought, ‘no prob, early nap’. Took a something or other pill, got sleepy. The equipment was bad…had to deplane. We sat in the waiting area. Medicine effectively kicked in. I, having taken a social psychology class, had learned about ‘diffusion of responsibility’, knew I needed a sponsor. I asked two cute happy traveling buddies (girls, cos, ya know, safe) to make sure I got on the plane due to sleeping aid. They did, thank goodness, we boarded the plane en masse, incl me, got to Peru. Moral of story, don’t take sleep med until well in flight.
omg, this is giving Modern Family!!!
Omgg 😅 good thing you found help🙏🏽 your experience reminds me of the “modern family” episode something similar happened to one of the couples 🥹
Guys!!! Please listen. These things protected me on an eight month back packing trip solo. She is right on, I seen some sad things happen to people. I arrived back home safe sound no problems. Follow the basics
The first point in the video reminds me of when I was in Rome alone in my early 20s (about 35 years ago) and sitting in the Villa Borghese gardens enjoying the view when a middle-aged couple approached me. They were very friendly and curious about me, sitting with me a while making conversation. They invited me for dinner at their apartment that evening. Something felt off, like they were too interested in me. I had to decline several times as they persisted. Eventually I was able to end the conversation and leave the gardens. I'll never know what would have happened had I accepted their invitation (maybe it would have gone fine), but I had to listen to my inner voice looking out for my safety.
Yes about trusting your intuition and not worrying about whether or not that will seem polite. For the most part, decent people will understand a woman not wanting to put herself in a compromising situation. If they start trying to pressure you by making you feel like you're being rude if you don't go along with them, or acting like you owe them an explanation, or making a scene to embarrass you for being so silly and paranoid; these are red flags and should only confirm that you're right for feeling like you need to get out of there.
This‼️
A life long single, I have been doing international travel since college for weeks to months at a time every year (before Covid). I do not like alcohol, party, and staying out at night. Love sight seeing, nature, and museums. Used to dislike beach and hot weather (didn’t know how to swim and a bug magnet). Now I am retired and just learned free style swimming. Hopefully I can do water related travel in the future.
This is a must watch especially for female solo travelers like myself. Even traveling in my own country in Indonesia, I need to be kept reminded of all these stuff to stay safe. Different place, different culture. And the thing I am trying to always comply during my solo trip is to follow my intuition. Never experienced something dangerous though, but I am not gonna take any chances. Thank you for the reminder! 😊
Same , but from india
It's dependant on places like southern side is more developed and female friendly, northern most side is a bit more patriarchal, I mean less women are seen staying out there
In case you weren't aware you can now get the doorstop/alarm as one unit. As soon as the door opens even slightly the alarm goes off while keeping the door from moving any further, `which means they'll likely be gone even before you fully wake to the siren. It also draws a lot of attention to you, which is exactly what you want right then. Awesome tips! Enjoy your videos!
These tips are great for first time travellers. Unfortunately I learnt the hard way and ended up passing out in a back alley in budapest (would not recommend) luckily someone who I was out with took me back to my hostel, but I was very lucky. It could have turned out very badly!
Can’t say I’ve been perfect either. Glad that you were OK!
If something bad had happened to you this innocent person would have been accused for attacking you. Try to be more responsible next time
It amazes me how many people go to tropical places and don't bring bug spray or sunscreen! You can see them red as a lobster, scratching themselves
Just turned 21 from Los Angeles, but moved to Paris 6 months ago. Have been to 27 countries (15 solo) and going to another 10 more within the next 2-3 weeks. Great tips!
Anything else you'd add to the tips given here?
Yes please tell
Must be nice
10 countries in 3 Weeks?? Wow
I hate drinking alone 😂 feels weird being intoxicated alone
lmao fr i feel so odd
🗣Don’t make me drink alone! 😂
I am going on my first solo travel next month. First thing i did was look for the safest country, my choice was Norway. Hopefully it is really as safe as they say.
Tip on the dummy purse is great, I use that one myself. It is full of currencies that have lots of notes to the dollar, it's about a quarter inch thick with money that is probably worth less than half a dozen dollars. I would add though that if approached, throw the wallet/purse as far as you can, preferably with money spilling out of it. A thief will have the choice of going for the money or going for you. They should choose the former which will give you valuable space to then run.
I am travelling solo for 9 weeks now and haven´t met "people" or even talked to someone except the girl at the shop or the cleaning lady. And I love it.
One more tip is when someone asks you if you are traveling alone as a woman is to make up a fake husband or boyfriend. I've had this question asked so many times in Malaysia. It might be innocent curiosity but it's best to not make yourself a target.
Agreed. How about wearing a wedding ring - but check the country/ culture that it's on the right finger.?..
Travelling alone as a woman many years I've only once felt scared. Yes, don't drink much and always let someone know your plans or where you are going all the time. Yes, avoid unmarked taxis of course. I always carry a whistle, and can of hairsray
I travel alot and I agree with you 100%... I do also think it's different when you are any other race than white. My friend and I recently got back from a trip and we noticed a huge difference between how she, who is white, and myself who is black were treated.
Definitely agree. I am treated differently (better) in many places because I'm white. It's obvious. It's uncomfortable and strange and I think it also takes a while to notice it when it's happening to you. I'd like to see a world where lighter skin is not glorified, because it's not good for anyone, but we have a long way to go in recognizing and rewriting those colonial norms. I'll be raising my son to know what privilege and real history is. I wrote a blog article somewhat covering this topic (to the best that I can as a person of my background) but I'm always open to learning and hearing more: www.bemytravelmuse.com/is-tourism-good-or-bad/
Same when i visited Sri Lankan. It was very uncomfortable i wanted to be invisible lol
So sorry to read that
The first minute were you go into talking about trusting your intuition! Everything you said I was like YES. I traveled for the first time alone to Costa Rica and the entire trip I was having a great time people were friendly I felt safe it wasn’t until the second to last day I was a little too trusting and got myself in an uncomfortable situation. I was so worried about not being rude but something in my gut was telling me to gtfo of this situation. Finally I was literally terrified and luckily still in a public place I was able to leave the “situation” I wish I knew everything you were saying now. Love this video !!
I feel like intuition is like a skill that keeps getting sharper the more experience you get and you ultimately did the right thing! You definitely learned from it too!
Oh lord! Girl I’m so afraid of this traveling alone. I’m thinking about going to Jamaica solo in August.
@@staceywilliams1863 You can do this!
@@Bemytravelmuse I’m going, girl! I’m going Aug 24-31! Can’t wait!
At least your OK now that must have been so scary 😨. Always trust your gut instinct 😉 x ♥ and be safe on your next travels .
All great points, expecially the advice about being intoxicated. The door stop is a good and a bad thing, i never had to use one and never crossed my mind to use one, but from a health and safety point, i would not recomment it, in case of fire, it would take longer to get out or for the fire brigade to come in and save you. My advice is always be confident even when sometimes you realize that you are going in the wrong direction (walking, bus, train, etc..), calm yourself, asses the situation and find a solution. Pack less and buy essential items on the road (you are helping the economy in the country that you are travelling). For example, i love to buy clothes, half of my wardrobe is from around the world, when i wear a dress or jumper it brings back beautiful memories.
Good point! I don’t actually use a door stop myself but many women over the years have commented on my blogs saying they do.
Great video!! I would add standing up straight and walk with confidence!! Grew up in NYC and have actually had people tell me I walk like a cop, LOL!! Not sure what that exactly means but just walk with as much confidence as you can.
Agreed! Good tip
thank you for this video!! i’m a 21 yo woman and i’m hoping to start solo travelling soon once the borders starts to open more :) i’ve been a little nervous because i’m asian and the world hasn’t been kind to us 🤣🤣🤣 but this video helped me a lot!! i love that you mention trusting our own’s instincts since i’ve never heard it from any other video ♥️
always trust your gut and safe travels 🙏❤️✈️
hey im 20 and looking to start traveling too lol im african amercian and i think we are both subjected to a certain degree of hatred, but im still optimistic. Enjoy your trips!!!
Hey, I’m 27F. You looking for a travel buddy??
Love asians ♥️
Come and visit Europe, we have no problem with Asians here. And most of the countries here are safe for solo young lady. There is a lot of beautiful places to discover. I am going solo to Portula and Spain in a month. So, enjoy your solo travels, it is amazing and I love it. 🙂
On the money backup, make sure you call the bank to let them know you are traveling. I did this for those same countries where your transactions were marked as fraud and had no issues. Also, make sure your bank doesn't send you a new card while traveling. Lol happened to me in Alaska and luckily it was near the end of the trip and I could pay for some times with PayPal. That was a nightmare.
I am SO scared to solo travel, but I just turned 30 and feel like I'm missing out on all these beautiful places. THANK YOU for sharing this, amazing information!
Babe let’s travel together girl hehe I’ve been wanting friends that I can travel with. I’m also 30 have no kids etc. let me know so we can start getting to know eachother hehe
@@saritaelizondo3696 I'm also 30 with no kids :)!!!
Try Iceland. It is very safe for the solo female traveller.
Also 30 with no kids !
Tip 1: dont hike alone, especially without experience in sharp, high mountains, especially full of wolf, bears and other animals, especially at night, moreover with opened food to be spotted from distance as free bloody party
Tip 2: dont eat or drink from strangers, when alone or you may be kidnapped, even raped - they use special substances, to forget, just like marihuana does.
I hike alone all the time and love it. I think it can be done safely. Unprovoked wilderness animal attacks are rare.
@@Bemytravelmuse YES!! I've always been a solo traveler and hiker, and when people ask if I'm scared of bears and snakes, I always answer that the only think I worry about is someone breaking into my truck at the trailhead. (I do a lot of hiking here in the US, and local riff-raff everywhere are prone to break into vehicles in/near parks.) Besides, once you get a mile down the trail you rarely have to worry about a bad guy -- they're usually too lazy to walk that far. hahaha
I love the idea of a doom jam and a personal alarm. As a woman who lives and travels by herself, I never travel without these items. I consider them my bodyguards! Lol! This was a great video! Everyone should watch this before they travel. The same tips apply to the United States as well as abroad. Be diligent but enjoy life! This is a big beautiful world. Let’s enjoy it! 💕
From someone who has traveled alone a lot, this is great advice!
Wow.. thank you! Definitely important to experience life and not just live with fear!
Thank you for this video. I’ve been wanting to travel for sometime but have always been hesitant about the issues you’ve brought up. Safety is a major concern for solo female travelers, so this was very helpful. Thank you.
Welcome!
I’ll be traveling with my sister this year. First trip without my parents or other older adults. This video will help me, thank you for sharing
VIATOR has fabulous day trips in just about every major city in the world. I use them to get out and away sometimes if I'm tired, as a solo traveler, of navigating the system. It's like a day off from your mostly solo experience. Going to Cadeques from Barcelona is fabulous!!
For Europe, a small pocket knife can get you in a lot of trouble. Be careful, especially in big cities. There's a loooot of police looking lately. (Esp. Rome, Paris, Amsterdam etc.) But what is usually always okay is a small pocket knife that also has a screwdriver, clippers, corkscrew etc. I don't know what exactly there called, but if there's a hundred other things to pull out and the blade doesn't lock automatically, you're usually good to go.
Swiss Army knife
@@Bemytravelmuse yeah, exactly that. Thank you💕
I travel solo, but I'm a guy and I've only ever been to first world countries, so the only tip I could really relate to was the sim card one. Great video 👍👍
I'm planning my first real vacation this year and although its not out of the country (I'll still be in USA) I will most likely go on this vacation alone so im nervous but I deserve this trip and don't want keep waiting for someone to accompany me. Plus this will help me learn to be even more independent and adventurous. Your video still helped thank you!!
Hell yeah! 🤙🏻
Bro your not even leaving your own country, how tf is that "traveling"
Don't walk alone with earbuds
behave
For self defense, if you can't carry a weapon, just find the nearest, sturdiest rock that can fit comfortably in your hand and carry that around. You can simply discard it back to the earth when you no longer need it. I do this while I'm hiking.
Thank you for these tips! Want to travel myself and YES to Rule #1! I lost count of how many times I've been saved by my gut! Plus, LOVE your simple but EFFECTIVE ideas for staying in a hotel room alone!
I have travelled with a group, boyfriend or single nothing happened had fun, went nightclubs, beach, trips, walks, etc but always have cash with me, invited to locals restaurant s, very positive helps if talk to locals or advise
If live alone it's easier as use to doing things
It's your travel
Travelled many countries by myself never really had a problem but always took notice of what the locals told me, was always aware of my surroundings, didnt go out at night. Had an incident when I had to travel through a Middle Eastern country for transit, two men come and escorted me off the plane as women dont travel by themselves in their country, asked if I had anything to cover my cothes I was wearing jeans lucky I had a full length trench coat which i used, they took me to a ladies only rest room told me not to leave, then come and escorted me onto the plane when it was ready, was safe but will not being going through that country again.
I know a female who went by herself to a Middle Eastern country, went alone to the pyramids and found a tour guide there - a man who volunteered to take her around, he then said he would take her to a local restaurant for dinner she agreed, the hotel staff told her not to go but she went. He picked her up from the hotel passed the restaurant they were supposed to be going to and took her to a remote house where he kept her in a locked room for several days abused her, got her key and got all her things from the hotel, on the day she had to fly out he took her to airport kept with her until she had to board gave her her passport finally and she left. She was so happy to get back to her country that she told the police they virtually said they couldnt do anything about it, took a while to recover from it she now trys to block it all out just says she was lucky not to be killed.
😔
Wow that's so messed up, poor girl but she must have done ZERO research before going to Egypt because girl.. I thought everyone knew it's tricky for solo women there and under no circumstance should you contact these men any more than what's absolutely necessary.
I'd like to know which countries these situations happened in so I can avoid them.
good advice. If you're not careful you could get hurt or really get a wrong impression about a great country.
Couldn't agree more with the first one. I ended up getting robbed at gunpoint having to cancel all my bank cards and living homeless until I could get home not to mention dislocating my shoulder 10 miles away from the nearest town. Was a damn good party though.
Which country/city?
Wow! As a fellow world traveler I can tell you've traveled as well. I would agree that the number one tip is to follow your gut. If you don't feel comfortable it's ok to grab your sh#t and go. No explanation needed to anyone. Best tool to have when traveling anywhere, included in the states.
To be honest, if I were to travel by myself, I wouldn't even think about drinking at all.
I’m planning my first solo trip to Turkey and these tips really help! I’m also glad to have seen the comment about being forthcoming about whether or not you’re alone - I was wondering how I would navigate those conversations with people.
Lie if you feel like it’s safer to lie!
me too when are you going?
@@akaylaqueeley-brown4125 July and you?
I have a photo of me with my daughter’s husband and his three brothers. Her hubby at 6’2” is the baby of the bunch. If I think a situation warrants it, I flash this photo up on the phone and say that I am supposed to be meeting my boys here, have you seen them, they must be right here somewhere….
Turks are very protective of women and want all visitors to have a great time and be safe. I hope your trip goes or went well. Don't hesitate to ask for help (English is fine) if you feel uneasy. I lived in Turkey for four years and visited 20 plus times in the past. Iyi yolculuklar! Happy travels!
Wear an imitation simple gold wedding band. Shows your married, and it’s not flashy and even if you’re mugged it’s no big deal to lose.
Great Video
I agree with you 100% in your top 10. bad alcohol/drugs in Alcohol - especially men have to be aware of this since thet often think it only can happen to women
Thank you for this video , I've yet to travel solo especially outside the States. However, I find your vlog full of knowledge and wisdom!
Aww thank you! Feel free to check out my blog, too! All of my solo travel tips are in there: www.bemytravelmuse.com
What also might be a tip, is to take a small can of hair spray with you. Since pepper spray is illegal in a lot of countries, this might function as an alternative. Might not be as effective, but still unpleasant.
Or mosquito repellent. Deet is also unpleasant
@@Bemytravelmuse good one too!
This is really informative…I’ve made some bad judgement issues over the years in foreign countries… fortunately no major issues but my pride and a little bit of money was lost…I travel alone due to necessity and you gotta keep your wits about you…
Hi Kristin, you need to know how speacial you are. You glow beauty and a great person to watch on your travel journey. I am also a solo traveller and have now visited 80 countries and have been on all 7 continents. Keep up the great work!
Oh my gosh thank you! I might be crying a little 🥰❤️🙏🏻
I've made some of these mistakes when l travel alone.
We've all been there!
Girl I'm about to travel for the very first time this year - and solo
Woohoo!
Same hereeeee
@@vale9801 we got this 🤣🤗
@@allynated HOW DID IT GO FOR YOU
Male in my early 60s. I am totally spontaneous - with the occasional reserved lodging. I have been doing solo trips forever. Hikers and climbers are friendly and safe (anywhere it takes a little effort to get to is good) I have only had two scary situations that I backed away from. Yes trust your intuition. Camping, car camping and the occasional hotel / airbnb is a nice mix. I almost always don’t drink or one drink. Nicer restaurants are a good choice in the evening. Women certainly have more concerns.
I am more concerned about the wildlife, weathe and landscape (bolders, falls, etc)
Whether traveling or just in your local bar always watch your drink. That's a great tip! There's nail polish out now that changes colors if something has been slipped in your drink. I was roofied in my 30s and something really bad happened so please be careful!
I’m only going to another state for literally 24hrs but just very nervous. Glad to find some tips.
You can do this!
Great info, new sub and new solo traveler here. I've done 3 familiar cruises (did them numerous times before on the same ship), but I'm planning to travel to Europe and SE Asia on my own in the near future. Ty very much!
Short, sweet, and a great deal of info/ideas I never thought of. Thank you!
Highly suggest getting a travelon brand bag
Genius tips, especially the door jamb, personal alarm and dummy purse.
Excellent! Informative, practical and easy to follow!
I arrived at a beach town of Goa, India after dusk after a day-long trip by changing 4 buses. There was a blackout and it was pitch dark. I wanted to go to my hostel ASAP, so I checked with Google maps on the phone and it was sort of a walkable distance. And being the cheap penny pincher I am, I started off right away, not bothering with autorickshaws. I did not spot any anyway. Little did I know that it would be a deserted route among fields...with my batteries dying. I was juggling between my phone's flashlight (my manual one was inside my backpack) and Google maps in darkness with barking dogs all around me. There were a zillion dogs running to me barking their tails off and then instantly backing up. That night I was so lucky to be not mauled by those dogs.
Always pretend that you are traveling with your boyfriend/ husband or with a larger group of people. It is better to be safe than sorry. Do not accept alcohol or food from strangers and certainly do not go anywhere by yourself at night! Take taxis only recommend by hotel staff etc...
One of my all time favorite trips was slovenia and city of Ljubljana, after a beautiful julian alps hike - did with as part of a tour, not on my own. i love to travel and this past year has been soul sucking. im looking to ease my way back in and have solo travelled before but prefer to go with others depending on the situation. unfortunately most friends cant / wont travel so looks like my next trip will be solo. i've been researching the best "safe" area to go for a week/less depending if domestic or not with a nice mix of hiking/ access to a city. i love that mix. my fav location are generally nordics - i always feel so safe and its gorgeous. wondering if you think there is a similar vibe anywhere in the states - i know the weather will be different, and nowhere near as many tall blondes! thanks for the channel, very helpful advice
Go to Tucson AZ. Look up the Hilton Conquistador. Unlimited hiking and outdoor opportunities in the area.
Hats off to you solo travelers. You're so brave 👏🏽👏🏽 I think I'll be scared all the time if I go alone
Great video 👍 Awesome Tips 😁🙏 best part is you're travelling because of life experience not making and posting flashy foto🍀🌻🙏 Thank you very much 🤗🥳
I’m planning my solo trip now, your tips helped a lot. I’m very careful with details. My plan is Europe since I didn’t have the chance for few years to go back. This video is helpful, small details makes big difference. Thanks.
ugh I loved this! so inspiring & smart! ❤️
So far I've been to five countries alone, all within Europe: France, Germany, Greece, Ireland and Czechia. I want to branch out to Peru and South East Asia though.
It is sad that having to be precautious with drinks and knowing there is people having sinister motives hidden behind generosity is an issuue, but after 8 years travelling I realise it is more common than you hope. A few things that may assist in acting on the side of caution. If someone offers to buy you a drink, go with them to the bar, that way you see the drink being made or opened and you take away the opportunity for tampering. if maybe you come back from the bathroom and someone has a drink for you and you dont want to appear rude or ungrateful by refusing, either you can "accidentally" ash a cigarette into it, drop it or knock it over.
Another tip: if you need a taxi, ask your hotel or airbnb owner to call one for you. They have companies they trust and use regularly.
that's a good one!
I never thought about that when I solo Travel to Tampa Florida earlier this year does that work with Uber as well
Thanks for the tips. Great information! Traveling solo to Southeast Asia soon. I will definitely use this advice.
I’ve been single for a couple of years now. I have the time and money to travel , but just think it would feel weird going by myself. I hope I do it.
So... 1. Listen to your intuition... 2. unless you are intoxicated. Then don't listen to your intuition.
good advices. It's always interesting to listen to you
Aw that’s wonderful thank you
T hank you so much for sharing! This is the first time I saw someone on TH-cam who has visited Zambia, I bought a package after someone took my wallet in Holland. Lessons learned
I love number 1. Best advice. Please be considerate of the culture
Beautifully said Love n light XOXO 😘
God bless you for this video. It's an encouragement.
I stumbled on your video and enjoyed it! The one tip that I may have trouble with is the going by myself at night since I love stargazing. But if I have a rental car and pull into a turnout or trailhead away from civilization and step out of the car and turn all lights off, then I would love to see what’s called a class one Bortles sky on a new moon night. That’s the darkest sky possible. Do you have any special advice for stargazing enthusiasts who travel solo?
I recently found out about a door jammer with an alarm that sounds when door is attempted to be opened !
That sounds like a good item to have along!
Where was it from? Amazon?
Great video! Since my husband passed away in 2020, I now have no choice but to travel alone and these tips are very good to remember? Do you have a video that lists down the countries that you felt were more dangerous to visit alone than others? Thank you!
Hi Bennie, I've personally never felt completely unsafe in any of the countries I've been to, but I'd probably avoid countries known to be extremely sexist and/or are currently at wars. I've been to really remote places like Kyrgyzstan, spends months traveling in Africa and did several backpacking trips completely off the grid and never felt unsafe.
@@Bemytravelmuse Thank you, that is very nice to know! I am always very careful since any kind of glitch really ruins a whole trip.
Great video, some useful, sensible tips.. sometimes it not all fun and games!
The dummy wallet idea is genius! That's one thing I've never thought of doing before. I love solo travelling and can't wait to vlog my time in SE Asia :)
It's also smart to throw the wallet away from you and take off in the other direction.
I'm just learning about traveling and also have been sobar for 6 years. It's nice to hear that traveling sobar is a thing lol
For sure! Congrats on 6 years
I wish I had the courage to travel the world alone as you one day
Hey, great video! Thanks. I appreciate your content as well as you just getting right into the video. Really helpful info.
Thank you so much for making this video!! I am a 22 year old woman and I want to start traveling solo soon.
I agreed with you. If it's Thailand, it's quite safe. Indonesia, you should becareful.
I limit myself to two drinks with dinner. I do NOT accept drinks from anyone PERIOD. ❌❌❌
Thank you for this video. I'll be going to the Yucatan next may and I'll be by myself. I've watched tons of videos on where I'll be so that helps. Thanks for the encouragement.
I love Yucatan! You are going to have a blast. Enjoy your trip!
These are all really good tips! I am getting nervous because I have to move from the main land to Hawai'i by myself because my husband is military and I am super nervous. I have never lived alone before and I don't know anyone there. I will definitely be using what you said lol
You can do it!!
Lol Hawaii is not a place to worry about this stuff at all. I've lived there since I was a kid. You should be scared of California, NYC, and Chicago. The mainland is way scarier.
This is an amazing video. As a woman and from the UK 🇬🇧. We ate pretty much safe , but now I am ready to travel even further "ALONE" this video has helped me thank you so so much . ❤
Excellent advice. Thank you so much .
Great advice, took notes, decoy wallet, excellent!!! Thanks