SABIRA MEHRIN SABA, FOUNDER OF WANDER WOMAN, SHARES IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS FOR SOLO FEMALE TRAVELLERS.
Traveling has remained more of a dream than a reality for women because of safety and security concerns. We are prone to blame societal norms and patriarchy – which are certainly hindrances – but if we dig deeper to unravel the core reason, we’ll find that the perception of safety is the key challenge for a woman to explore the world.
As a Bangladeshi woman myself, who has travelled solo across multiple continents in her 20s, I want to burst the bubble that no place on earth is ever safe. Yes, I am pointing out the 10 top lists that we eagerly look up to find the safest destinations on earth for a solo female traveller. While safety concerns are valid for all genders, women need to be more vigilant and prepared for potential risks when visiting unknown destinations. With my years of experience and expertise on curating tours for women, I share a few tips and some information that would minimise these risks and ensure safety as a precaution.
CHOOSE VERIFIED TRAVEL COMPANIES
For women, it’s crucial that they choose accommodations that are highly-rated across multiple booking platforms. It’s wise to read every single review given by past travellers to understand their experiences and gauge whether enough safety precautions exist on premises. Travel agencies who would book the tours for a woman must be experienced and should diligently look into the location, transportation and guides who will be female-friendly.
FOR WOMEN, IT’S CRUCIAL THAT THEY CHOOSE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ARE HIGHLY-RATED ACROSS MULTIPLE BOOKING PLATFORMS.
KEEP EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Before embarking on a trip – be it solo or in a group, it’s important to create a list of emergency contacts ranging from legal authorities, security concerns (police, hospitals, doctors, etc.), travel agent’s representatives, to hotel’s contact numbers. Travellers must share the contact number they’re using at their destination right after arrival and ensure that friends and family members are well-tracked.
POWER UP YOUR PHONE
For every traveller, their phone is their first asset for any support – be it navigation, photography, connectivity or research. Hence, phones must be connected well to the internet and be constantly charged to make sure it works as emergency support in the face of danger. People tend to neglect this crucial tool in trips.
FOCUS ON CULTURAL APPROPRIATION
For every destination, a traveller must first read up on the culture, lifestyle and fashion consistent with the social norms of the destination in order to explore the region in a safe manner. Learning basic foreign languages for communication, taking notes of the closing times of stores, knowing the dress code for certain areas and being aware of common street scams practised on tourists are critical safety factors that should be heeded before embarking on a tour.
BEFRIENDING A LOCAL IS A PLUS!
I understand that it might be a tough move but no one understands a destination better than its local residents. You may get in touch with the locals via communities or friends that could help you to avoid risky areas, activities and occurrences. An added bonus would be if local people could accompany you or connect you with fellow travellers.
I always recommend people to be, or at least act confident when they are lost or troubled in tours. It’s easier to scam or take advantage of someone foreign or clueless than someone who is fearless in terms of body language. However, if seeking help from strangers is a need of the moment, then one must give the benefit of the doubt. Samaritans do exist! Always guard up with an open mind to explore the world and experience a beautiful trip.