Publications
Partners
Travelling in a group, whether it’s with friends or family, is at times more exciting than travelling alone. When you’re in a group, you are able to share experiences and fascinating stories, and are open to suggestions put forward by others.
There may, however, come a time where you have no option but to travel alone. This can be unnerving for anyone, especially as a solo female traveller.
Here are a few things to remember when travelling alone:
Always carry emergency contact details with you
The most important thing is to be prepared. You never know what may happen, especially when you are headed out somewhere on your own. You should always carry reliable emergency contact numbers with you to ensure you are able to get in touch with someone if need be. Your emergency contact details should include close friends or family, both in the area and back home, as well as your local police station and a close-by medical practitioner.
Don’t go anywhere with strangers
A very important part of travelling alone is meeting new people on your journey. There is, however, a very fine line between meeting trustworthy new friends and meeting people who want to take advantage of you. Always trust your gut instinct and rather be on the safe side when it comes to new acquaintances. Where possible, try to ensure that there are familiar people present wherever you go. Do not go anywhere with someone you do not know, but rather meet in a public place to ensure your safety in this type of situation.
Look purposeful and confident
When away from your comfort zone and in an unfamiliar location, you should always try your best to look like you fit in and don’t stand out from the rest of the crowd. This way you don’t draw too much attention to yourself and you’re less vulnerable. A few tips for blending in include not wearing anything too flashy, not being stressed out, and not drawing attention to yourself unnecessarily.
Be cautious
It is better to be cautious rather than being naïve to what is going on around you. A few cautionary measures to take in to account include being street smart, not keeping large amounts of cash or valuable items on your person, avoiding dangerous or high-risk areas, and implementing general safety practices.
Let someone know where you are at all times
Never go anywhere by yourself if you haven’t let at least one person know where you are going. It is vital that someone is aware of your whereabouts should anything happen to you. Send a quick SMS, make a quick phone call or even leave a note for someone to say where you are going. Even if it’s your boss, neighbour or friend, it means that someone will know where to start looking for you should something go wrong.
For more interesting top travel tips or information on Workaway International, or if you are interested in joining the program, visit their website on www.workawayinternational.co.za or call (021) 671 8808.
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Do you have any tips for traveling alone? Tell us in the box below.
There may, however, come a time where you have no option but to travel alone. This can be unnerving for anyone, especially as a solo female traveller.
Here are a few things to remember when travelling alone:
Always carry emergency contact details with you
The most important thing is to be prepared. You never know what may happen, especially when you are headed out somewhere on your own. You should always carry reliable emergency contact numbers with you to ensure you are able to get in touch with someone if need be. Your emergency contact details should include close friends or family, both in the area and back home, as well as your local police station and a close-by medical practitioner.
Don’t go anywhere with strangers
A very important part of travelling alone is meeting new people on your journey. There is, however, a very fine line between meeting trustworthy new friends and meeting people who want to take advantage of you. Always trust your gut instinct and rather be on the safe side when it comes to new acquaintances. Where possible, try to ensure that there are familiar people present wherever you go. Do not go anywhere with someone you do not know, but rather meet in a public place to ensure your safety in this type of situation.
Look purposeful and confident
When away from your comfort zone and in an unfamiliar location, you should always try your best to look like you fit in and don’t stand out from the rest of the crowd. This way you don’t draw too much attention to yourself and you’re less vulnerable. A few tips for blending in include not wearing anything too flashy, not being stressed out, and not drawing attention to yourself unnecessarily.
Be cautious
It is better to be cautious rather than being naïve to what is going on around you. A few cautionary measures to take in to account include being street smart, not keeping large amounts of cash or valuable items on your person, avoiding dangerous or high-risk areas, and implementing general safety practices.
Let someone know where you are at all times
Never go anywhere by yourself if you haven’t let at least one person know where you are going. It is vital that someone is aware of your whereabouts should anything happen to you. Send a quick SMS, make a quick phone call or even leave a note for someone to say where you are going. Even if it’s your boss, neighbour or friend, it means that someone will know where to start looking for you should something go wrong.
For more interesting top travel tips or information on Workaway International, or if you are interested in joining the program, visit their website on www.workawayinternational.co.za or call (021) 671 8808.
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook
Do you have any tips for traveling alone? Tell us in the box below.
