9 tips for women traveling alone

Women travel for many purposes- to pursue business opportunities, discover new frontiers, or just to rest and relax. But when it comes to security, there a huge difference between women traveling alone and men traveling alone. But with the right caution and strategies, women can enjoy a safe solo journey. Check these tips out:

1. Get inspired: Read good books written by solo women travelers sharing their experiences and giving practical tips. If you know any solo women traveler, talk to them and ask all your questions and seek valuable tips and ideas.

2. Know your destination: The more you know about the pace you are traveling to, the more prepared you can be for the tour. Abstain from visiting a place with high criminal rates. Know about safety and security, economic and political environment, customs, local laws and cultural norms.

3. Make friends with women travelers: Whether in the hotel, in the market or the local transport, try striking up conversations with the local women. Traveling alone is a great time to reflect and also to widen your social network. Reach out to other travelers and locals. Know about their cultures, lifestyle, food habits, etc.

4. Pack light: Since you will be traveling alone, there will be no helping hand to haul your luggage. So it is advisable that you take only the things that are absolutely necessary. Packing light will also help you to move quickly from a place, in case you sense danger.

5. Carry books: Books can be great dinner companions. It can help you enjoy your solitude and help you feel less lonely. But abstain from packing too many books. They can be heavy and take up too much space. Carry one or two books. Some hotels have a swap library case that allows travelers to choose a book and leave one.

6. Carry food: Nothing heavy. Crackers and cookies will do. This will spare you from venturing out at night alone, in case you get hungry. It will also save your money.

7. Look out for a friend: Look out for someone, another solo woman traveler if possible, with whom you can use and thus split up your rental car, guide or even hotel cost. She can also be a good companion and also help you feel safe.

8. Expect to pay more: Single rooms many often cost more than double beds. This can be really frustrating that you have to spend more on a solo tour than a couple tour or when traveling in a group. Keep that in mind so that knowing it later does not spoil the fun of your tour.

9. Tour with travel agencies: There are many travel agencies that arrange for solo tours as well. Try to find out one from your locality. If you are traveling to Russia, you need not worry. I recently went there with a travel agency. There are many agencies in Russia that arrange for individual tour.

Stuart is an author and a travel enthusiast. He has written many articles on traveling to diverse locations. In this article he gives tips on solo women travel tips.