27 Uncommon Safety Tips for Traveling Solo As A Female

When it comes to solo travel, the advice you hear is usually the same: “Stay in well-lit areas,” “Keep your valuables hidden,” or “Trust your instincts.” All great tips—but if you’re traveling solo as a female, sometimes you need strategies that go beyond the basics. And let’s be real, some of the best advice isn’t the most polished or politically correct.

I’m going to share some of my uncommon (and sometimes controversial) safety tips that you won’t often find in your average travel guide. These are real-world strategies I’ve picked up from years on the road as a solo female traveler, and a few of them which I had to learn the hard way.

NOTE: These tips are based on my experience traveling solo as a woman, they aren’t legal advice. Ultimately, it’s your responsibility to obey local laws and ensure your personal safety.

1. Book Accommodations For Two

The best safety tip for traveling solo as a female is to give the illusion that you aren’t alone. This is a common theme among most of my tips on this list.

When you book your hotel reservation indicate that there are two guests. Most hotels don’t charge by the number of guests, so it won’t impact your price, but it will signal that you’re not alone.

It’s unlikely that they’ll ask you for any information about your second guest, but if they do you can give a male name with the same last name as you.

This way, the staff at the hotel assumes you have another person in the room with you.

When they ask you how many room keys you’d like, say two. You can discard the second if you want, but it keeps up the illusion that you aren’t traveling solo.

“May I have two room keys please? My husband will be arriving shortly.”

2. Don’t Trust The Hotel Safe

This was one of the first lessons I learned the hard way. The hotel room safe is not a bulletproof way to keep your valuables secure.

On a trip to Iceland, I thought I was being diligent and promptly locked my passport in the hotel safe as soon as I arrived.

The morning I was departing, I went to unlock the safe and retrieve my passport. Nothing happened. The lock didn’t beep, no lights lit up… the battery was dead. I had no way of getting my passport out, and I was in a hurry!

That’s when I learned that the hotel staff has a master key to the safe.

All I had to do was call the front desk and within minutes someone was at my door with a key. 30 seconds later they had the safe open and my passport unlocked.

If the point of the hotel safe is to keep your valuables safe, but the only people with access to your room are the hotel staff… and they have a master key… what is the point?

I will say this – it’s better than nothing. But now I usually store my valuables in my suitcase, which I keep locked with a TSA approved lock.

Which brings me to my next point…

3. Decline Housekeeping Service

Is housekeeping a nice perk of staying in a hotel? Yes.

Do you need it? No. Put the privacy door hanger up as soon as you arrive and forgo having your room cleaned.

This way, there is no reason for anyone to enter your room during your stay. Not only does it prevent sticky fingers from finding your valuables, but it also prevents someone from noticing that you are, in fact, traveling alone.

TIP: If you’re in need of fresh towels, you can stop by the front desk or call and ask for some to be brought to your door.

4. Hotel Check-In Safety Tips For Traveling Alone As A Female

I have lost count of the number of times I’ve checked in to a hotel and the front desk staff has loudly announced my first name, last name, phone number and room number for anyone in the lobby to hear.

While on a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, I was checking into a Marriott in Key West and the man behind the front desk not only said my full name and phone number, but then proceeded to loudly announce my room number and explain that my room was on the first floor.

“Good evening Claire. I see you’re checking in for one person. Can you confirm your phone number is 111-111-1111? We have you in room 123 tonight. It’s a first floor room with a balcony.”

NOTE: Most hotels have a policy against this, but in my experience it is widely ignored. It’s also against Marriott’s policy, but as you can see they clearly don’t enforce it. I even went so far as to email Marriott about the incident… which was promptly ignored.

I used to shudder quietly, accept my room key, and head off to my room hoping that the ears that may have overheard weren’t filled with bad intent.

Now, I hand the room key back to the front desk agent and politely request that they issue me a different room number and this time not announce it aloud.

The room number is written on the key card envelope. There’s no need to say it out loud.

While it’s unlikely, this is the perfect scenario for social engineering. A bad guy could easily hang out in a hotel lobby listening for guest information. Once they have my phone number, name, and room number it’d be easy to make up a story about being a flower delivery person to get me to open my room door for them.

Just avoid this scenario entirely.

Now, when I walk up to the check-in desk at a hotel I say “Hi, checking in under [last name]. I’m happy to confirm the last 4 digits of my phone number, but please don’t mention my full name, phone number or room number aloud”.

TIP: When you book your hotel room, or at check-in, ask if you can have a room that isn’t on the ground floor. No need to explain why!

5. Don’t Trust The Lock On Hotel Doors

Always use the deadbolt on your hotel room door. Always. Even if you’re not sleeping, make it a habit to flip that lock over every time you enter your room.

The key lock on your hotel room door is not something you want to solely rely on. Not only can it be bypassed with a master key, but there are numerous stories I’ve heard from friends who had a random stranger walk into their room – not just the hotel staff.

It happened to my friend on a trip to Las Vegas a few years ago. We were staying at the Palazzo and in the middle of the night another guest came into her room while she was sleeping. He thought it was his room. It wasn’t. His key card shouldn’t have worked, but it did. Luckily, he was just as spooked as she was, and quickly left.

I think the number of hotel guests walking around with a room key that will unlock more than just their room is astounding.

The moral of the story is, use the dead bolt lock at a minimum. It’s also worth traveling with your own backup lock.

6. Exit Through The Lobby In The Morning

Most hotel lobbies have cameras. By exiting through the lobby in the morning there will be footage of what you are wearing that day, which could be useful to police in the event they need to locate you.

7. Fake A Phone Call

If you’re walking alone and feel like you’re being followed, or have a bad feeling about a taxi or Uber ride make a fake phone call.

You can either pretend to be on a call, or actually call someone you trust. Tell them that you’re excited to see them in a few minutes, your location (which cross-streets your at or other identifiable markers) and what you’re wearing.

“Hi Dad! Can’t wait to see you soon, I’m about 5 minutes away on North Main St and Lexington Dr. I’m wearing my pink sweater – you’ll see me right away!”

Even if there’s no one on the other line, the people near you now think someone is waiting for you and will notice if you don’t arrive. They also know where you are right now, and what you’re wearing.

You’ve just given them everything they need to know in order to get the police involved in a quick response.

8. Share Your Location & Itinerary

Safety tip #8 is really two tips: have real-time location sharing turned-on and make sure someone has a detailed itinerary of your trip.

In my case, these are usually shared with my parents. If I’m traveling in a country where I have a friend, or someone more local who might be able to help quickly if needed, I also share with them, too.

Google Maps and Apple devices allow you to share your real-time location (for free) with specific contacts. Anytime my Dad opens up his Google Maps app he can see my picture on top of my current location.

NOTE: While your phone uses GPS (satellite) connection to track your location, a cellular or internet connection is required in order to share that info with your contacts.

GPS connection works across country borders, but most cellular providers don’t include international data, which means you’ll need to upgrade your plan or install an eSIM so you can connect to the local cellular networks.

TIP: I also recommend downloading offline maps prior to your trip. This will save the map to your phone so you can access it without cell connection. It’s also great for saving on data usage, which can be expensive in other countries.

Before you leave, send your itinerary to at least one person (preferably two). It should include the dates of travel, flight numbers, hotel names and addresses, and any other important information that can help locate you if something awful happens.

It’s also a good idea to establish check-in times. If you miss a check-in, your emergency contact knows it’s time to call someone for help. I recommend checking in at least once every 24 hours if your traveling solo as a female.

9. Use Different Entrances

Most hotels have multiple entrances – use them all. Come in one, and leave out another.

It’s fairly unlikely anyone is following you, but if they are this is an easy way to lose them, and it takes almost no effort to do.

10. Print Copies Of Important Documents

Have multiple printed copies of important documents, like your passport photo, drivers license or ID, visa, etc. Store them in two different locations. That way, in case one of your bags is stolen, you still have additional copies.

These printed documents can be extremely handy in case your original documents are stolen. Imagine being in a foreign country and loosing your passport. How are you going to get home? Having a printed copy will help expedite your request with the local embassy.

In some countries, corruption is fairly common. While I was traveling in Mexico I carried copies of my ID’s as some of the police officers there can be corrupt (not all of them!).

If pulled over, I would give a paper copy of my ID instead of the real thing, which would prevent them from forcing me to pay a bribe in order to have my real documents returned. They have no leverage with a paper document.

11. Be Aware Of Local Health Risks

Depending on where you are traveling solo as a female, there may be local health risks to be aware of. The most common is contaminated water which can make you sick.

Another safety tip I learned the hard way, but water means all forms of water (including ice), and anything that’s washed in water (like lettuce in your salad).

While in Costa Rica, I was diligent about not drinking the tap water. For a week I escaped stomach issues like a pro, going so far as to brush my teeth with bottled water. Then, my final day there I ate a salad…

And the next morning I was the sickest I’ve ever been in a foreign country. And I also had a return flight I had to get on.

I made it to the airport (which is a very rustic airport, thatch roof, dirty floors) but I was violently ill. For the hour before my flight departed I was literally laying on the floor hugging the toilet.

That’s the most vulnerable I have ever felt while traveling. Luckily, I wasn’t alone that trip, but I was traveling with my partner who obviously couldn’t be in the ladies room with me. I was so weak and disoriented… and an easy target.

Illness isn’t entirely unavoidable, but it’s possible to mitigate the risk by doing your research ahead of time and knowing what to avoid.

12. Assume Your Wifi Connection Isn’t Secure

Don’t assume that most wifi connections are secure. This includes your hotel, cafe’s, etc.

Be mindful of what you log into while you’re traveling. Don’t log into anything that could be harmful if your password was leaked.

For this reason, I never log into my online banking unless I’m using a secure VPN.

13. Keep A Backup Credit Card Somewhere Else

Always keep one of your credit cards in a different location than the rest. That way, if your bag is stolen you still have access to money while traveling solo as a female.

14. Keep Your Phone Charged

Treat your phone like a lifeline – you don’t want to have a dead battery when you need to place an emergency phone call, or look up directions because you’re lost.

15. Wear a Fake Wedding Ring

It sounds old-school, but presenting yourself as “taken” can deter unwanted attention in some cultures.

Additionally, it signals that someone is waiting for you to check in or come home and will notice immediately if you’re missing.

Plus, it’s a great way to stop unwanted advances from men.

TIP: A cheap, simple band works—no need for a giant rock. Rings that are too blingy can draw unwanted attention.

16. Lie About Where You’re Staying

If someone you don’t know asks, never tell them your real hotel, hostel, or Airbnb. This type of questioning from a stranger is wildly inappropriate to begin with, and you don’t owe them an answer.

In my experience, the most believable lies are ones I’m already prepared with. I always have a fake answer prepped just in case I’m caught off guard.

What to say instead: “I’m staying with friends nearby” or “I’m just here for the day.”

17. Use An EarPod For Directions

One obvious sign that you’re a tourist is using your phone for directions while walking around, and having the audio queues play out aloud.

Instead, use one ear pod (only 1! leave one ear free so you can be aware of what’s around you) so the turn-by-turn directions aren’t audible for everyone to hear.

Not only can people around you not hear the directions, but you won’t need to keep looking at your phone screen to figure out what’s next – another sure giveaway that you’re not local, or are lost.

18. Carry Two Wallets

Have two wallets. One for real use, and one for show if you get mugged. I typically carry most of my cash in a hidden travel wallet, and enough cash for the day in my dummy wallet.

I was traveling with a friend in Rome a few years ago and she opened her wallet to pay one of the street vendors. He immediately clocked how much money was in her wallet and started asking for more, then literally followed us for several blocks.

Not only is this a good practice to thwart muggings, but using a dummy wallet without much money in it will make it easier for you to negotiate with street vendors.

19. Use “Body Language Armor”

How you carry yourself can deter bad situations before they even start.

I took a self defense course a few years ago, given by a retired police officer. He said the easiest way to avoid an attack is to be aware of your surroundings.

If you’re on your phone, or look distracted, an attacker knows they can get close to you before you’ll notice or have time to react. You’re an easier target. Don’t give them the element of surprise.

However, if you’re scanning your surroundings and signaling to people around you that you are aware of them, it’s much harder for someone to sneak up on you. In most cases, they won’t even try… they’ll look for an easier target.

20. Carry a Personal Safety Device You’re Willing to Use

Pepper spray, personal alarms, tactical pens—whatever you choose, practice using it.

I do this because in my state it’s illegal to conceal a weapon without a proper permit, and pepper spray is considered a weapon here – so, it has to be visible by law.

It also signals to people around me that I’m prepared and willing to defend myself. (and I also carry it because we’ve been attacked by off-leash dogs in the past and I want something I can get to quickly if it happens again)

I’ve also heard accounts from women traveling solo that the noise from their taser is enough to startle anyone following them. Again, this is an example of how having a defense device can thwart a problem without ever having to use it.

NOTE: Knowing local laws is extremely important with this safety tip for traveling solo as a female. Even in the US the laws are very different from state to state. For example, tasers are legal in some states and not others.

21. Trust Local Women—Not Strangers Offering Help

If you need help, ask a woman, preferably one with kids or other women around her. Women generally tend to help other women – because they’re empathetic to another woman who feels like she’s in danger.

That’s not to say men aren’t also able to help, and if it’s your only option you should take it. However, a man (or any stranger) who is overly helpful or has mysteriously appeared the moment you look confused or lost is not one you should trust.

22. Be “Rude” If You Need To

If you feel unsafe, do not worry about politeness. I wish I had learned this safety tip earlier, it would have gotten me out of a few sticky situations much faster.

A few years ago, alone in Rome near the Trevi Fountain, and just minding my own business I was approached by an Italian man.

He sat down right next to me, despite plenty of open seating where he wouldn’t have been in my personal space (red flat #1), and then proceeded to start asking me questions about my trip – how long was I here, who was I with, etc (red flag #2).

What I should have said was “those are personal questions, I’m not answering. Please leave.”

Instead, at the risk of being rude, I politely answered his questions with lies. I was traveling with friends (truth: I was alone), and I was meeting them for dinner in a few minutes (truth: I had no plans for the rest of the day).

What happened next was the most alarming thing of all.

He took out his phone, started a face-time call and pointed the phone in my direction. I glanced at his screen and could see I was clearly being shown to the person on the other end, but they had their screen blacked out and weren’t visible. ALARM BELLS!!

Too stunned to think clearly, I stood up and walked to a spot between two groups of tourists. There was just enough space for one person between them, so I sat down, thinking I was safe. My Italian stalker must have gotten the message I wanted to be left alone.

Wrong.

As soon as one of the groups left, and created an open spot next to me, my Italian stalker sat down next to me again.

I should have told him to leave me alone. I should have screamed and made a scene. But I was nervous I’d offend him (I cringe writing this, how insane that I was worried about his feelings while he openly disrespecting mine)

Instead, I jumped up and quickly ran to the nearest cab stand. I didn’t want to walk on foot for fear of being followed. I asked the driver take me a few blocks away – looking behind me to ensure he wasn’t following – until I was sure I was far enough away he couldn’t find me.

The moral of the story: your safety is more important than their feelings. If they’re putting you in an uncomfortable situation, they’ve given up the privilege of your politeness.

23. Know Important Numbers Before You Need Them

Before you travel, know the appropriate numbers for emergency services (911 in the US, but different globally), your countries local embassy, the local hospital, someone local you know who could help if you needed it, etc.

Store them in your phone so you can place a call quickly, and be sure to have them written down somewhere in case your phone is lost or stolen.

24. Don’t Overshare Your Itinerary Online

I get it—you want to show your travels on Instagram in real-time. But posting your exact location while you’re still there can make you an easy target.

I’ve been blown away by the tiny details people on Instagram have picked up on in my photos. Something as ridiculous as a park bench has caused people to immediately clock where my photo was taken.

It’s best to wait until you’ve left before you post anything online.

25. Learn a Few Key Phrases in the Local Language

Even basic phrases like “Help!” or “Stay away!” can make a big difference.

Plus, speaking a little of the local language can make you seem more competent and less vulnerable.

Every little bit counts. The less someone thinks you’re an easy target, the more likely they are to bother someone else.

26. Dress to Blend In—Not Stand Out

This isn’t about suppressing your style; it’s about strategic blending. If you look and act like a local, many people will assume you are one.

Being seen as an obvious tourist makes you a more appealing target because it’s assumed you don’t have a network in the area that can react quickly to a problem.

27. Expect Pickpockets Are Everywhere

Even if it’s not an area known for pickpockets, assume they’re there and protect your belongings.

If you’re holding your belongings in front of you, most thieves won’t even try to take what’s not theirs.

Again, it’s about not being the easiest target. You don’t have to get it perfect, you just have to make it more difficult. Let them move on to someone else.

If you’re at a restaurant, loop your bag handle through the chair leg. That way it can’t be scooped up by someone walking by.

While living in Madrid, I was riding the metro with a friend one day. He was explaining how pickpockets search for targets – what they look for, how they operate.

He was explaining that most pickpockets will wait until the subway has come into a station and everyone is unloading before they steal from you. The bustle of movement makes it less likely that you’ll feel their moves, and they have a quick exit to disappear into the crowd if you realize you’ve just been robbed.

Ironically, he had his backpack on his back (not his front), and as he was explaining this we pulled into a station and one of the men on the train picked the wallet out of his bag.

He noticed it almost immediately, but the doors were closing and he couldn’t get off to confront the man.

NOTE: Most pickpockets will strip the cash out of your wallet and then immediately get rid of it. They don’t want the evidence on them. If you’re wallet is stolen check the trash cans and bushes around you – it’s likely there.

In my friends case, we backtracked to the station and found his wallet (minus the cash) in the trash – lucky for him his ID was still in it, as well as his credit cards.

Essentials For Traveling Solo As A Female

✅ TSA Approved Luggage Lock (buy on Amazon)
Great for checked bags, but also perfect for locking items left in your hotel room.

✅ Portable Backup Battery Bank to Keep your Phone Charged (buy on Amazon)
Traveling drains your phone battery faster, bring this so you don’t run out of juice when you need it most.

✅ Portable Door Lock for Hotel Rooms or Vacation Rentals (buy on Amazon)
Extra security for hotel room doors which are easily broken into.

✅ Fake Wedding Rings (Set of simple bands) (buy on Amazon)
Not too flashy, but enough to signal someone is waiting for you to come home.

✅ Hidden Wallet (buy on Amazon)
Worn under your clothing to prevent theft. Keep extra cash and a backup credit card here.

✅ Personal Safety Alarm (buy on Amazon)
A loud siren that can quickly draw attention when you need help.

✅ Anti-Theft Travel Purse or Backpack (buy on Amazon)
Lockable zippers and RFID-blocking pockets make it easier to protect your stuff.

✅ Travel Scarf with Hidden Pockets (buy on Amazon)
Perfect for long travel days – keep your important things hidden and on you (just incase you fall asleep!)

✅ Travel Insurance (buy with SafetyWing)
Most US health insurance plans don’t cover you for things that happen internationally! I use SafetyWing for trips between one week and several months. One month in Mexico cost me $56!

Traveling Solo As A Female

Traveling solo as a female is one of the most empowering experiences you can have—but that doesn’t mean you should skip the uncomfortable conversations around safety.

Being street smart, proactive, and just a little bit skeptical isn’t paranoid—it’s powerful.

There are two main themes to these safety tips for women traveling alone:

First, giving the elusion that you’re not traveling alone can significantly decrease the chances of a bad encounter. Let everyone around you assume there are people nearby who are able to act quickly if something happens.

Second, even if it’s not perfect, making yourself appear to be a harder target can deter most problems before they start. Bad guys want a sure thing, an easy target. Give them a reason to look elsewhere.

And remember: your safety is more important than someone else’s opinion. Always.

Have a great safety tip for traveling solo as a female? Leave it in the comments below to help other travelers!