Traveling solo can be fun, but if you’re a woman, chances are you may have been warned against taking excursions on your own. Traveling off the beaten path by walking unfamiliar streets by yourself, talking to strangers and hitchhiking can seem adventurous and exciting; but can a woman do these things and still stay safe?
Solo female travelers on a tight budget may also run into safety problems by having to stay in cheap accommodations in suspicious locations, or they may find themselves stuck in a bad situation they can’t get out of because they have little money for transportation.
I’ve comfortably taken trains and planes by myself, of course, but the only time I’ve ever really explored alone was when I let myself get lost wandering around Boston. I had a map and a cell phone, it was daytime and I lived (albeit temporarily) only a couple of miles away. I knew I wasn’t really in any danger, but the streets were pretty deserted and even then I knew I would have felt better if I’d gone roaming with a friend.
Exploring solo is something I wish I were more comfortable doing; something like, say, wandering the streets of another country with no direction in mind. I imagine adventures like this must be safer for men, but I guess that’s something you’d have to ask of the guys.
In
this Q&A published in
The New York Times, a woman gives her perspective on traveling solo. After reading, I wasn’t very convinced of anything she said; her ideas were nice but I didn’t really feel like I was given any advice of substance.
To read the Q&A, click here.What do you think about women traveling solo? What do you think about the advice in
The New York Times article? Have you ever traveled solo before?
Comments (156)
Women should be allowed to explore the outside world sometimes I know the living room can be big and scary but come on someone has to vacuum and clean and you can't really stay in the kitchen all the time and I mean we gutta have ya in the bedroom sometimes.
I'm a female and I plan to backpack Europe alone. I'm not afraid of what's out there. But then again, I've also had 12 years of Taekwondo under my belt and self defense knowledge. My best advice is to be aware of your surroundings and use common sense, obviously.
I used to go hiking by myself all the time as a teenager and young adult, but of course back then it was a lot safer too; nothing like today! I still travel by myself sometimes, but most of the time my son is with me.
I hope to gain something, being independent and interested in the world I don't see myself being held back just because I might travel alone. I mean yeah I'm a bit worried... but that shouldn't factor in that much.
Women should be able to travel alone, sadly this is not safe. Even in our back yard we can get hurt. The danger increases in different cities, states, and countries. It would be nice if women could feel even 99% safe alone. But there are men [and women] out there looking to harm others. They will tend to target women because usually they are weaker [biologically].
I know I would be scared to travel alone.
@bluntcrayon@xanga - has martial arts ever worked in a real-life situation for you? i wanted to do martial arts at 1 point, before website after website told me 90% of the time- literally90%- it doesn't work in reality.
@a12906@xanga - it really depends on the experience of the martial artist. you can't just take a couple of classes and go out and just take anyone on. i guess martial arts have trained me to become quicker with my senses and have made me a lot stronger than your average female. i'm also relatively fit (i've been slacking) and play a lot of sports. i have been able to throw a lot of guys down three times my size.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2508560/OAP-gives-burglar-two-powerful-right-hooks-to-the-face.html
here is a story of an old man who used to be a boxer. he pretty much beat the crap out of the kid who tried to stab him and was robbing his house. i think his training did help a tad.
i do agree that the likelihood of a woman being attacked is significantly greater than a man though.
I am all for women traveling solo but I know in some places people would try to take advantage of a solo woman...why take the risk,
TAKEN.
Didn't anyone see that movie? Come on :)
Seriously, though, it depends on the woman. I would be fine traveling alone. So wuold many girls I know. Others.... not so much.
No. Here is Islam's persepctive on women traveling alone. I wouldn't feel safe traveling by myself without my husband but that is just me. Hadiths are in brackets. Hadiths are sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Taken from Muharramat Forbidden Matters Some People Take Lightly by Sheikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid.
.A woman traveling without a mahram
Bukhari and Muslim reported from Ibn Abbas(Radia Allahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah(Salla Allahu Alahi Wa Salaam) said: "A woman should not travel save and except with a mahram."[Muslim] This is a general instruction for all types of travel including that for Hajj. A woman traveling without a mahram encourages corrupt people to prey on her because of her weakness; at the very least, her honor will be harmed. This prohibition applies also to a woman traveling by plane, even if-as is often claimed-one mahram sees her off at one end and another mahram meets her at the other. Who is going to sit next to her during the journey? What is technical problems should divert the plane to another airport, or the flight is delayed. What if...? There are too many stories of things that went wrong. For a person to be considered a mahram, he must meet four conditions: he should be a Muslim, over the age of puberty, of sound mind, and male as per the hadith narrated by Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri(Radia Allahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah(Salla Allahu Alahi Wa Salaam) said: "No woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day should travel a distance of three days journey or more unless her father, son, husband, brother or other mahram is with her." [Muslim] Yet in another Hadith the Messenger of Allah(Salla Allahu Alahi Wa Salaam) said:"It is not permitted for the woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel one day's distance without the presence of a mahram." [Ibid]
Yes, you can. I've met plenty of women who initially traveled alone in Europe. However, they were able to meet other people along the way and were able to enjoy their vacation without having to worry about their safety.
I don't even feel safe walking around my own city at night. There has been an upswing in muggings recently, and last year a girl was raped very close to campus.
Perhaps in groups it wouldn't be too bad. I would be wary of traveling by myself though.
Its okay for women to travel alone as long as you know where you going and always have a presence of mind. Just always make sure you have a gap year insurance for emergency purpose.
Meh. I'm not really a fan of anyone traveling alone, regardless of gender. It's really always safer to have a buddy, I think.
I don't think I would feel comfortable traveling alone just because I have S.A.D. Also, I would want to share the experience with a close friend. It would be a lot of fun to travel to Europe with someone!
I have traveled alone a lot of times! In america traveling alone is so easy- just have your cell phone and a map and always be aware of your surroundings (meaning a 15 feet in front, side and behind you)
I traveled in Amsterdam, France and Brussles by myself. over seas is a little more tricky because of the language barrier but here is what I suggest. If you go out at night- stick to heavily tourist populated area's, Again always be aware of your surroundings. Keep your wanderings to the daytime. I emailed my family regularly and let them know a tenative schedual such as which hostel I was staying at- what city I would be in. Carry cash in your shoe and in a conceled money pouch. Don't do a lot to draw attention to yourself, like try to blend in, meaning dress like the locals. I can not tell you how many times a local would come up to me and start speaking in their langauge and I would say "Sorry, I don't understand" and then they would laugh because they realized I was a tourist. Follow your gut instinct. IF something doesn't feel right or slightly uncomfortable LEAVE. Humans are the only animals that ignore their "6th danger sense"
And lastly- I know this sounds weird but anytime I was not in a crowded area and a person was walking towards me I would bring my hands up to my face ( like act like I was putting my hair behind my ears) Because that puts you in am more favorable position if you were to be attacked (with your hand elbows up you are able to use gravity and force to bring them down against your assailant)
Now Musilmmom brings up a good point- I am now living in the middle east, and I would HIGHLY suggest that you only travel in the middle east with a male escourt, I mean it is sticky to even be here and traveling with another female. This has just been my experience but I have had more strangers (men) come up to me in a more sexual manner then any other country I have been too. I asked my husband why that is and he said because westerns are seen as easy floozies. Nothing bad has happend but I am just saying to travel here alone.
That all being said- Traveling alone is fun, and totally worth it.
Lol, "women should be ALLOWED to travel alone," .. I didn't know there was any legislation against it...
I think it's one of those things where once you've done it, it gets easier and easier, but many people are uncomfortable with it merely because it's not yet in their comfort zone. I don't drive, so I think hours of exploring my city on bike/foot helped me accumulate a better sense of independence than some - and I've safely explored Amsterdam, London, Brighton, Toronto, Los Angeles, and Brooklyn alone and at odd hours, even. I have to admit that anything after 11 occasionally turned out sketch, twice when I was living in the chinatown of Brooklyn and I would be out late at night, on the phone so my roomates weren't bothered, I was approached by people who thought (or hoped? or were just reallyreally desperate?) I was a prostitute, whaaat? I was wearing like, flannel pants and a sweatshirt! Stuff like that has happened a few times where I've been semi followed by creepsters, but it's usually via stuff like just being outside at 3am.
Over all, though, I lovvve traveling alone! It's so freeing! You really learn a lot about yourself, and get to see a lot, too! I just came back from L.A. and one of the people I was staying with was like "...You've been here a MONTH and I've lived here my whole life, and I think you've seen more of L.A. than I have!" ....I was happy. :) Break down those boundaries, people!
I'm fine traveling alone tbh.
I've never had a problem with traveling alone... in fact, I prefer it because I can do whatever I want.
I don't need anyone to give me the "right" to travel alone...
anyway in terms of safety it's sad to see that so many men are not able to control themselves/their penis when they see a woman alone.
I'd love to travel alone through europe...
I've only ever traveled by myself, and mostly I have had wonderful experiences.
I enjoy traveling by myself, I've never been greeted with hostility, rather sometimes I'm treated as an oddity....
Solo travel is fantastic, you've just got to remember to use common sense.
yes
I was attacked whilst in France and will probably never travel alone because of it. I was with a French friend of mine at the time and even between the two of us we were quite helpless. I feel that being absolutely alone would have been even worse. I now have much less confidence in my ability to protect myself and realize that I definitely need a back up. I also have much less confidence in 'common sense' because I WAS using common sense the entire time I was abroad and it didn't keep me from being attacked. If you're traveling alone, please realize that common sense can only protect you so much.
It only takes one incident to change ruin your vacation and possibly change your life.
I think any woman who goes on a trip alone needs me to be there as a bodyguard. Why not? Just pay for my ticket and don't forget about me at the bar.