by Anne StClair

Created on: March 22, 2007   Last Updated: December 03, 2010

A woman alone must take some safety precautions no matter where she is, and travelling alone to new places can be such a daunting idea to many women that they simply will not do it. This is unfortunate, because being a lone tourist can be a lot of fun, and it is a sure-fire way to meet a lot more people than you would if you were in a couple or a group. It is also a little irrational because generally you are in no more danger in a place you have never visited before than you are if you stay in your local area.

Here are some tips, many of which also apply to men travelling alone:

1. Never look like a tourist, and instead try to look as though you actually live in the place you're visiting.

This means not standing in the street looking at a map as though you are lost, and not making a big show of cameras and other equipment. This is because in many places tourists are viewed as being loaded with money, and also because people who look like they do not belong or are lost are more vulnerable. The combination of lost and loaded makes you a prime target!

2. If you have long hair, don't wear it loose or in a pigtail.

Women who are attacked from behind are usually grabbed by the hair if it is long, so it is safer to wear your hair up in a bun or clip.

3. If traveling overseas, never assume that someone you meet who comes from your country is going to be safe or honest.

It is tempting for women travelling alone to view fellow countrywomen or men as friends, but the sad fact is that they are no more (or less) likely to be friendly towards you than they would be if you met them in your home town, and they are no less (or more) likely to rob or cheat you than people who live in the foreign country. Some people take advantage of the imagined friendship.

4. If travelling in the US, always ask taxi drivers and hotel staff if there are unsafe areas around where you are staying, and avoid these areas.

This applies in other places too, but the US seems to be odd in that the unsafe areas are often very localized and you may be told things like if you turn left when you leave your hotel you will be safe, but if you turn to the right you will be entering a danger zone. No matter where you are travelling, ask the locals about the local dangers, and believe what they tell you.

5. Keep most of your money, vital documents and cards in a pouch or belt worn under your clothes.

Handbags and shoulder bags are prime targets for thieves and pickpockets, so do not keep your most valuable

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