What are some tips u can give for a female who travels alone?

Answer 1

Depending on your method of transportation and destinations, you might want to consider carrying a firearm, pocket knife, or pepperspray. Keep in mind that firearms and pepperspray require you to have a permit.

Answer 2

Always keep your doors locked (car and hotel room). If a maintenance person needs to be in your room, block the door open. Stay at hotels, not motels (outside entrance to your room).

Keep a charged cell phone with you when driving, and belong to the AAA or some sort of road assistance agency. That way you'll have one number to call if you have an emergency.

If possible, don't drive after dark. If it's wintertime and dark comes at 6:00 p.m., then get off the roads by 8:00 or so.

If your car does break down, DO NOT GET OUT. Stay in the car with the doors locked and the windows rolled up. If it's hot, you can crack them an inch, but not enough for someone to get their hand through. If a stranger asks if they can help, tell them that you have called the police for help, and they should be there in a few minutes. A story about a boyfriend or husband who has gone for help will probably not be believed. Criminals ARE afraid of the police.

And, for anytime you're alone - be aware of your surroundings. Get your car keys out and ready before you leave the building. Walk tall and look like you know what you're doing. If you have a lot of shopping to do, make several trips to your car with packages. Don't be encumbered by 10 bags you're carrying. Criminals look for an easy target. Don't be one.

Answer 3

Carrying a gun can get you in a lot of trouble with local police. A knife, however, is a different story. Even if you're caught carrying a dagger with a 7" blade (which is relatively easy to hide and plenty lethal), the usual response is to seize the weapon and let the person go. The same goes for less lethal weapons like Mace
(legal in some states and not in others). In any case, you should carry a weapon.
If you have to use it, the best strategy is not to threaten your opponent with it. If you've never used a weapon in combat before, you'll be susceptible to trash talking dominant males. Just whip it out and use it. Sneaky, but effective.
If you're hitch hiking, don't take a ride with more than one male in a car. And, contrary to popular belief, the driver is very vulnerable to being attacked.
Never let yourself get tied up. Never, never, never.
If traveling abroad, hold your passport very close to your heart. You'll need to show it on a regular basis, but don't let anybody 'hold' it for you.
Traveler's checks are a very safe way to transport cash, as are credit cards. Keep your cash in a place most people wouldn't think to look for it if they're in a hurry.
Sanitation can be a real problem, especially in Asia, Africa or South America. Take a really adequate supply of tampons, as they may not be available for periods of time. Sanitary towellettes are also a good thing to carry, as many toilets in the Third World are nothing but holes in the ground over which you have to squat (with no water to wash up afterwards). Get all your immunizations. Never trust the local water in the Third World; it's a good idea to carry idodine tablets to purify drinking water. It's safer to drink Coca Cola (the highly acidic liquid kills any bacteria and is bottled under international standards) or beer than it is tea or coffe (which is hardly ever boiled long enough to kill Hepatitis A virus). Don't trust the ice either.
As for the food, be prepared for weird recipes and strange spices. This is part of the fun of traveling, but stay away from raw food. In India for some time we lived on roasted peanuts.
Youth hostels, or if you're older, elder hostels, are fun, cheap and safe places to stay.
If you come down with diarrhea while traveling, it's probably dysentery. Get antibiotics for it fast.
Finally, cover your legs and arms if traveling outside Western countries. It's also a good idea to carry a Berlitz language guide so you can at least try to express yourself politely in the local language. It's easier than you might think.
Good luck! Traveling can become a really addictive hobby.

Answer 4

Don't go out alone after dark in strange areas, stick to well-lit places, make sure to carry a purse that sits flat against your body (they even make them with reinforced straps, so that they're almost impossible to steal), don't carry a weapon unless you're willing to risk having it used against you. Having travelled both internationally and domestically within the US by myself, I always make sure to lock all the locks on hotel room doors and push a chair under the door knob, don't leave my drink unattended in bars, don't accept rides from strangers (even in foreign countries, this holds true), and travel as lightly as possible. You don't want to be lugging 50 pounds of suitcase through the airport if you can help it. One carry-on, a purse, and a rolling duffel are all you really need for up to 2 weeks of travel. Good luck and bon voyage! :)

Answer 5

A holiday? I thought you had a new job, were you fired already?
If you do go traveling, in some cultures it might be wise to dress more modestly, also often when you travel alone you will meet other women that would be happy to "double up" with you on some outings.

Answer 6

bring something with you like a book or crossword puzzle or something so you don't make eye contact with people. usually if you look busy ppl will leave you alone. bring a cell for sure. if it's by plane you don't have too much to worry about as long as your purse is secure just keep an eye on your stuff. but if it's by like grey hound or something like that, try to stay around the attendants or something keep in plain view.

Answer 7

have a cell phone, make sure your family and friends know your alone, have a check in system set up meaning call in every few hours to someone, pepper spray, lock all doors, dont carry a huge purse or a purse at all if you can help it. good luck and be safe.

Answer 8

Carry a spray bottle filled with bleach. Mace works but bleach blinds for life. Other than that, have fun!

Answer 9

I have traveled alone, many times, since the age of 18, in the USA, England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria and Alaska.

Always "stay in contact" with your family and friends, by e-mail or telephone. In third-world countries, be careful where you travel, during the day and night. Always give family/friends a status report, on where you are, where you are going, with whom, and what time you expect to return to your hotel.

Give them contact information, for anyone you meet on your journey, that may ask you to travel, with him or her. When you return to your hotel, call family/friends to let them know you are in your room.

The more detailed information you give them, the better they can communicate with police and authorities if you become a “Missing Person."

Don't look at this as an invasion of privacy, it's to keep you safe and alive!

Never go anywhere with anyone you don't know. If you drink alcoholic beverages in public, watch your drink!

When you arrive/leave your hotel, if possible, make eye-contact with someone at the front-desk, to ensure, someone at the hotel, is aware of you coming and going. Try to make verbal communication with hotel staff.

In some countries, you can purchase International telephone cards, for calls to the USA. Satellite telephones, are available for rent in the USA, for use in other countries, it is expensive, but may be worth it, for peace of mind for you and your family. SAT phone can be used in the USA.

From what I understand, SatPhones, work anywhere, as they run off satellites. I am not familiar with "sat phone" companies, but many are listed online, many used ones are available. If you decide on a "sat phone," make sure you can use it in the countries where you will travel. Thoroughly research satphones.

If you drive, make sure you rent a current model car with a full tank full of gas. Try not to drive at night, too many things can "go wrong." You don’t want to run out of gas, or have a flat tire, in the middle of an unfamiliar city. Maps, don't forget maps of your travel areas.

If you travel by bus or train, make sure you have up-to-date timetables of the various systems. Make sure the timetables give you enough time to "get back to your hotel," at a reasonable hour. The more safety measures you have in place, the better you and your family will feel.

When I travel, I wear a "money-belt" under my clothes. I also carry a purse that I keep around my neck (to avoid pickpockets) but don't keep much money in it.

Finally, before you leave the states, look online for the addresses of the American Embassies and Consulates, in the countries you plan to visit – in case something goes wrong, they can hopefully, intervene on your behalf.

If you have to get out of your car at night, for food, ladies room, etc., park your car as close to the door of a well-lit restaurant/gas station, as possible.

Keep two large Mag-Lite flashlights with batteries (and extra batteries in your car, where you can easily access one or the other.

Keep a bottle of water in your car. Keep a go-bag in your car.

Always carry two cellphones, your regular cellphone, as well as, a disposable one, in case your regular cellphone does not work.

Enjoy your travels.

Answer 10

You certainly have a nice pair of pins!