Traveling Alone as a Woman: 7 Advice You Should Ignore

When I first Alone as a woman When I was on the road, I had an uneasy feeling – but at the same time a huge feeling of freedom. Friends, family and even strangers constantly wanted to give me "well-intentioned tips" on how to behave best, where to go and what not to do. Some advice sounded reasonable at first glance, but I quickly realized: In reality, they only make traveling more complicated and rob you of a piece of joy.

Travelling alone as a woman It can be incredibly enriching, but it is also full of myths and prejudices. Many tips that you encounter again and again are based on fear or outdated ideas – not on real experience. Today, after a few years travelling solo through different countries, I can say: much of it is simply nonsense.

Here are: Seven Advicewhich I hear again and again – and which I consistently ignore.

Advice #1: Better find a male travel buddy right away, then you are safe.

I've probably heard that a hundred times. But honestly, I don’t need a male bodyguard to discover the world. When I travel alone, I trust in my gut feeling, adapt where it makes sense – and that’s enough. In addition, I alone met the best people who would probably have escaped me with a "travel buddy".

Advice #2: Buy a ring and put it by your hand, then the men leave you alone when they see that you are married.

I've tried it. Result: no one is interested. If you are disrespectful, a ring will not stop you. Much more effective is to be confident and clearly show where its limits lie.

Advice #3: Wear ugly clothes only so you don’t stand out.

Should I dress up seriously just so I don’t stand out? No thank you. Sure, I pay attention to the cultural context and respect customs, but I want to feel comfortable. Traveling is also freedom for me – and that includes not squeezing myself into clothes that don’t suit me.

Advice #4: Eat only in restaurants where there are many tourists, local places are too risky.

That would be too boring for me. My most beautiful travel memories often depend on small, inconspicuous places where locals have led me. Of course I look where I go, but eating only in tourist restaurants would take away half of the experiences.

Advice #5: Never make spontaneous plans, everything must be organized beforehand.

I’m not a fan of planning every minute. Sure, a basic framework gives me security, but the most beautiful adventures usually happen unplanned – when I suddenly sit in another bus or follow a tip from locals. This is what makes travelling so exciting!

Advice #6: Avoid unnecessary courtesies.

This advice is a mystery to me. Courtesy has opened doors for me so often – whether it was a smile at the bus stop or a short "thank you" in the local language. Being friendly does not mean being naive. It's just respectful.

Advice #7: Never take the public bus, taxi is safer.

In many countries I have seen the opposite. Being on the bus is often much cheaper, safe and on top of that a little adventure. I remember overcrowded minibuses, in which I was tightly squeezed, but immediately came into conversation. Taxis can be practical, but safer? Not necessarily.

What advice you can safely forget, have you already received? Write me in the comments!

Frequently asked questions about traveling alone as a woman