Being a woman is never easy – not in school, not at the job and not at home either. But when you are a female traveller, it always seems that more dangers lurk in the dark than in the case of male travellers. Indeed (and unfortunately), our world is not yet accustomed to the idea that women have the same status as men – and for this reason, too many of them are still insecure over their powers.
If you are a woman and if you want to travel the world, the last thing you should do is be scared. Seriously, accidents can happen at home too, if you think of it and although it is completely undesirable, there is absolutely nothing to guarantee you that you’ll never suffer any kind of incident in your home town.
With that being said, follow your dreams and see where they will take you. Even more, take the following tips with you and you’ll feel safer and happier with your choice at the same time!
Go on a Chic Retreat
There’s nothing more fun than visiting a boutique hotel and having a girl’s weekend away. Where you stay has a big impact on how your trip feels and boutique hotels are the perfect place for a little luxury, to relax and to enjoy yourself. Chic Retreats are the perfect place to stay and a great foundation for a wonderful holiday.
Be Informed
A confused traveller is a sure target – but a confused woman traveller is an even surer target anyway. To make sure you don’t make yourself a huge sparkling sign saying “rob me”, never leave home without checking out with a map (twice or three times), before making sure your phone is fully charged and before learning your route by heart. Avoid taking out maps in public, as they will show that you are not a local (and this could make you a target for the robbers and pickpockets out there) and, if you really need to ask someone about something, always mention that you have to meet a friend there (and always ask people who seem trustworthy).
Know the Culture
If you are visiting the Middle East, Asia or parts of the world that may have a culture completely different than the European-American one, make sure you get to know the cultural issues before you land on your destination. Make sure you know what not to do to get people here angry and make sure that you know very well what a woman’s status here is. For instance, visiting the Middle East most likely means that you won’t have to wear a veil, but dressing decently is probably something you may want to do here out of respect for the people who follow their traditions (and again, to make yourself a less sure target for the “bad guys”).
Follow Your Gut Instinct
Meeting a cute guy at a bar or at the hostel’s main room will probably feel like one of those movie romances, but you should still follow your gut instinct. Common sense goes a long, long way when it comes to keeping yourself safe and you should definitely follow it! Yes, that dubious hotel is probably not the best place for travellers (and even less for women travellers) and yes, walking alone at night on that dark street is not a good idea either. If it doesn’t feel safe and good, don’t do it because you will definitely not miss out on anything great!
