Travelling for Ladies

Girls. Gals. Ladies. Women. Travel is good for the heart, mind and soul – explore this beautiful world of ours at every opportunity!

We are extremely fortunate to live in a country with precious little discernible difference between the sexes. Obviously women are still slightly more protective of their physical safety than men, but this is largely an instinct.

Travelling is everyone’s right, but in a new place, it is important to keep aware of any local differences in culture, customs or the way women are treated.

Ask your travel agent or if they have any pertinent information about women’s safety in the area you are visiting. Some parts of the world are perfectly safe to wander about it at all hours, others are best explored in daylight, still others require specific clothing or behaviour. Trust the local and expert information. In a country your are not familiar with, is not the time to be making a political or social statement that may have a bearing on your safety.

Stay aware of your surroundings 

By all means enjoy a glass or two of something delicious with a meal or as you watch the sunset. Make sure you buy your own drinks and watch as they are prepared. Never allow your judgement to be so impaired that you are unable to stay vigilant about your safety.

Tell people where you are going

Even if you are going off for a run, it is best to let someone (even the hotel concierge) know when you are going and how long you expect to be. Take your mobile phone with you and stay in touch if your plans change.

On the subject of mobile phones, keep yours well charged and remain aware of your surroundings. Phones are stolen every day in broad daylight when people are so focused on the small screen that they fail to see what is happening around them. Keep a firm hold of it and keep it close to your body. However, if you are ever mugged or challenged for your phone, it is replaceable. You are not.

Keep an eye on the crowd

Festivals and street gatherings are rich sources of travel stories. Large groups can present a danger if you are not aware of the atmosphere. Make sure you are never in such a tight group that it would be hard for you to remove yourself. If you ever ‘feel’ the mood of a group changing, you are probably correct. Remove yourself discreetly.

Walk with purpose

Make sure you know where you are going and walk like you do. Confidence is a powerful thing. If you look lost or tentative, you may open yourself up to unscrupulous people. Keep your bags and belongings close to your body and never walk around holding cash openly.

Be loud

If you ever find yourself feeling threatened, speak up, boldly. A lot of opportunists are just that, and will back down if they encounter strength.

Behave like you normally would

If you lock your doors and close your windows at home, the same applies when you are away. Don’t be fooled by a relaxed holiday atmosphere. If you normally wouldn’t walk home alone at night, don’t do it in a strange place.

Take note of taxi numbers and names and be open about it. Text a friend and tell them the number or take a photo of the identification in the car.

Spontaneity is wonderful while travelling. Never miss an opportunity to do something fun and new, provided you have taken reasonable safety precautions and someone knows where you are.