by Natasha Alexandria

Created on: August 02, 2009

Egypt is a beautiful country filled with mystery and wonder. From the moment you step off the plane, you know that you are in a country far different than your own.

I travelled to Egypt by myself at the age of 25. It was a life changing experience and I loved every moment of my 2-month voyage. For the most part, I found locals quite friendly, courteous and genuinely wanting to help me. Of course, ther eare some situations which I recognized as having the potential to be unsafe or uncomfortable with the environment. Below I have provided some tips for females who plan to travel to Egypt on their own, to do so safely and maximize their enjoyment.

1. Don't let the harassment get to you. Before you set foot off the plane, you need to accept that fact that you are going to experience harassment. It's pretty much a fact that a single female walking around is going to receive cat calls, begging and comments from locals. For the most part, this harassment will only be verbal, often commenting on your beauty in the hopes that you will buy something. In all the time I was there, nobody ever laid a hand on me inappropriately, no matter how vulgar their comments were. If you can't handle this, I suggest going to a different country. Ignore it, laugh it off, and just consider it part of the culture and experience of visiting this country. This attitude will put you in a better position to enjoy your vacation right from the beginning!

2. Wear a fake wedding ring. It's no secret that married women are typically given more respect in Egypt than unmarried women. Almost every market vendor, waiter and service provider asked me if I was married before starting any kind of business or negotiations with me. I eventually learned that it is best to answer yes even if your husband is not with you. Most of the time, they will look at your wedding finger to see if you are telling the truth. After buying a fake wedding ring, I was met with more respect from the locals, offered better prices and even received less verbal harassment.

3. Dress conservatively. While it may seem easy and tempting for us to broadcast our Western views of human rights by dressing in tank tops and short shorts, DON'T. Even with the hot, dry weather you will no doubt encounter in Egypt, don't show off more skin than you have to. Wear cotton pants and shirts which at very least cover your shoulders. You will attract much less attention to yourself and feel much safer while

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