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More Women Than Ever Are Holidaying Solo, But Here's How To Do It Safely

More Women Than Ever Are Holidaying Solo, But Here's How To Do It Safely

Who says women can't travel the world all by themselves and still stay safe?

Emma Rosemurgey

Emma Rosemurgey

Nothing screams female empowerment like saying 'f*ck it' and taking yourself off overseas for a bit quality time with yourself and it turns out that more and more women are doing exactly that.

A recent poll found that 15 per cent of adults have travelled alone in the last 12 months, compared to 12 per cent the year before and just six per cent back in 2011.

Women in particular are embracing their freedom and travelling overseas to de-stress, gather their thoughts and generally chill the heck out because nothing says peace like being in a lovely Italian restaurant enjoying some authentic carbonara with sun-kissed skin and a good book.

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While it's incredible that so many women feel empowered to take themselves off on the journey of a lifetime, it's also so important that we make sure we stay safe - because we'd hate for anything bad to happen and spoil all the fun.

After scouring the internet and reading about all the bad ass women far and wide who are promoting solo travel, we've put together the top five tips that keep popping up over and over again.

Let people know your itinerary.

This sounds like a fairly basic one, but whether you're travelling around south east Asia or northern Scotland, the best thing you can do is let your loved one where you're going to be and when.

We're not talking about producing a military minute-by-minute itinerary of your whereabouts, but god forbid if your phone died and you weren't able to let your loved ones know you're fine - at least they'd have an idea about where to look to get in touch with you.

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Dress like a local.

This is a tip that has cropped up time and time again from female, solo travellers and while it does make us feel super uncomfortable that women should have to dress in a certain way (hello, it's 2018) just to keep themselves safe, there's no denying that it can definitely come in handy.

"One of the best lessons I learned traveling alone over the years is how to blend in, and that means dressing like a local when necessary," Y Travel blog explains.

"If that means covering your hair, cover your hair. Or wear long sleeves or loose clothes, etc. It's important to do some research before traveling and check out what the local customs are.

"It's often good to not draw attention to yourself on the road if you want to be left alone."

Don't tell anyone where you're staying.

While you're away, even when making new friends, no one needs to know where you're staying.

If you want to meet up with people you've met while away, agree to meet in a public place or even better at a landmark to avoid any potential vulnerable situations.

The vast majority of time this is nothing to worry about, but it's definitely not worth taking the risk.

As Adventurous Kate explains: "When you're traveling in a new destination, and especially when you're traveling on your own, it can be tempting to join up and find a tribe. Sometimes these tribes turn into lifelong friendships.

"It's not rude to be cautious. Take things slowly, and if someone earns your trust, that's when you depend on them."

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Make the most of day trips and organised activities.

Yep, this does sound a little bit like going sightseeing with a bunch on pensioners but no matter where you travel, there's bound to be organised day trips that can show you the sights in the safest way possible, while giving you the perfect opportunity to meet other people on the road.

Only take what you need.

Obviously this applies to women and men but it can so tempting to pack your brand new iPhone and your top of the range camera because you need to be prepared for every Instagram-worthy moment.

However, the more gadgets and cash that you carry, the more you have the potential to be stolen from you. Make sure your accommodation has a secure lock up and keep your valuables there.

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Topics: Life News, Real, travel