Top 6 Practical Safety Tips for Solo Women Travelers

 

Travelling solo is an experience of a lifetime. So how do you go about it? Save up smart, plan well in advance and keep your wits around you when you set out on your journey!

Solo travel can be empowering and exciting. Venturing into the unknown alone broadens your horizons. It gives you a chance to see the world from a different perspective. It also helps you learn about yourself. But first, as a woman and a solo traveler, you need to make personal safety a priority. For this, you need an adequate budget that will ease your travel. It doesn't hurt to start saving even a few years beforehand, so that you build up a good sum for your travels. Investing in HDFC Life's savings and investment plans are a great way to make sure you reach that goal easily.

Once your finances are in place, you can begin to explore your solo travel options. Start with thorough research on the area you are planning to travel to. Know the weather – both expected and unexpected, pack as lightly as possible, and stay connected. Presenting six safety tips for women solo travelers:

Stay connected

It is important to keep in touch with loved ones especially when travelling alone. With modern technology, this is easily done. So before you leave home, make sure your mobile phone has roaming capabilities at your destination, or you have international SIM cards. Smartphones outfitted with GPS or online maps are also crucial to help you navigate in a foreign land. Location sharing can help in a sticky situation.

Keep others apprised of your daily itinerary regularly. When travelling alone into the wilderness, always let someone know when you expect to return as well as your exact route. As tempting as it might be, don't veer from your plan.

Research, research, research

In addition to checking up on the weather, make sure you understand local laws, customs of your destination and respect them. Wear appropriate clothing. When in doubt, opt for conservative. In addition to customs and etiquette, be aware of safety concerns. It can be a great experience to immerse yourself in the local culture. Know about cultural, religious or political events that might take place during your stay.

Keep your valuables safe

Stash money, credit cards and passport in separate places. Keep some money and credit cards in your wallet, and additional money and cards in a pouch. When sightseeing, carry only a photocopy of your passport, keep the actual one locked in your hotel safe.

Travel light

You should have a day bag into which you can fit all of your important items: passport, camera, medication, credit cards, smartphone, and photography equipment. Keep the rest of your luggage light. As tempting as carrying all your tech equipment might be, only carry what you need. You're more mobile and have less to lose when you pack light.

Stay safe

Ensure your lodgings are safe. Do a thorough research of the accommodation arrangements; ask for a room on an upper floor, near elevators or the concierge desk. Keep your door locked, with the security chain fastened. Be aware of the alternative exits. When you return at night, ask for an escort to your room if you are nervous.

Get, pack and go

Trust your intuition, and if it doesn't feel right, leave. Don't trust people too quickly. When needed, spend extra money on staying safe, and prepare for the worst. To make sure you don't run out of funds while you are enjoying the holiday, you need to plan ahead. If you have been following solo travelers' blogs for a while and know this is the path you want to forge, you can plan smart by starting to put aside some savings every month into an investment plan that will give you a neat sum after say, five years. That way, you will know much in advance the destinations your budget will allow. HDFC Life's savings plans will help you grow your investments steadily and even let you upgrade your destination, the hotels and even have spare funds to splurge on the shopping you know you will indulge in!

If you have built up a cosy amount with the right kind of savings, you can enjoy your solo trips better, treating yourself to an upgrade at every turn!

ARN: ED/02/20/18049