Top 5 Safety Measures for Lady Travelers

Guest post by Lisa Fantino

The travel map of safety has changed in the last 10 years and women traveling solo should be more cautious than ever.  Now, that doesn’t mean staying home in an ivory tower but it means exercising more discretion when making some travel choices.

Here are the top 5 measures lady travelers should take for their safety:

1. As independent as you might be, always tell someone where you are going.  It sounds adventurous to hop a train or a plane to nowhere but the reality is that bad things can happen along the way and it’s best to tell a friend or relative your travel plans.  In the alternative, make friends with the concierge or front desk clerk and let them know your plans for the day.
2. Try not to look like a tourist.  Leave the fanny-pack and yes, the backpack as well, at home or in your hotel.  Nothing screams “I am new here” more than fanny-packs and back-packs.
3. Always carry a cell phone.  Most US cell phones will now work overseas and vice versa but check with your carrier first and make sure that your account is set up properly to send/receive international calls, as well as global text messages.  Failing that, you can always rent a cel phone from a car rental agency, such as Autoeurope.com or a local outlet for dispose-a-phones.
4. Ask for a hotel room on an upper floor and away from the elevator.  These rooms tend to offer more security from those with nefarious intentions trying to prey on lone women travelers.
5. Locate the nearest embassy in your host country.  If you’re American, the closest place for aid is a nearby U.S. embassy.  Trust me when I tell you that there is nothing that gives you more comfort on foreign soil than seeing a man in uniform when he’s a U.S. Marine.

Buon viaggio a tutti and stay safe out there!

Lisa Fantino is an award-winning journalist and attorney and the creative force behind Wanderlust Women Travel and now Wanderlust Weddings.  She also writes travel features for MNUI Travel Insurance and blogs as Lady Litigator.

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.