A Girl Who Travels the World

Is it hard to be a solo female traveler? I guess it depends on who you ask. For me, it’s not. (Girl travel, power!) Though many are afraid to travel alone, but I’ve rather enjoyed my solo adventures around the world. So, I might be an odd case. I guess you could say that I am “a girl who travels the world”.

Safety While Traveling Alone

I think the most important part about being a solo traveler (especially a female traveler) is being aware of your surroundings. You, of course, want to be safe as you can be traveling around, especially when you are alone, as there’s no one else with you to look out for you. So, you need to always be aware. Even if you don’t know where you are going, you need to LOOK like you know where you are going. People target those who look alone, confused, and as if they don’t know what’s going on around them. So, the easiest thing you can do to protect yourself is to look like you know where you’re going. Then, take the time to slip into a store to review your map or your directions instead of doing it publicly as you’re walking around looking lost.

Another safety “must” is to never give away too much information until you really trust someone. While going out, you are likely to meet other people who are also traveling or locals who are very friendly. If you feel safe with new friends, then that’s great! Make friends and have fun! But only hang out in public places with these people until you really, really trust them. (Don’t just meet them and take them back to your hotel or go to their flat. That’s not safe.) If you make plans to see them again, don’t give them your hotel information. Instead, meet them at a public spot like a coffee shop to start your adventures. You just can’t be too careful with people you don’t know well. While most of them are very friendly, there are bad people out there. This isn’t meant to scare you, it’s just meant to make you think twice before giving away too much information. After all, if you are traveling by yourself, you do need to look out for yourself, as there’s no on else with you who has your back.

The Benefits of Being on Your Own Adventure

Scary stuff aside, there are many benefits to being an adventure girl! You share your schedule with no one, so you can go anywhere you want to go on your own time. If you oversleep, you’re not letting anyone down but yourself. You’ll surely have to ask people to take pictures for you, and that’s actually a blessing because it can get you talking to strangers from other cultures you’d otherwise never speak to. When you’re responsible for only yourself, somehow you have a different experience, and it can be even more enjoyable than traveling with friends. I traveled all through Angkor Wat by myself with a hired driver, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience as I soaked in the temples so much more than I would have had I been chatting with a friend. You really get to experience every tiny detail without distractions.

I’m not saying you should be the next Laura Croft, but try having your own solo adventure once in a while. Be a girl who travels the world unapologetically, and you just may learn to see this world in a very different way.