Maëlle Leggiadro
So you want to go solo travelling? It’s a wonderful idea, but if you’re a woman, it also brings its share of anxieties. One of the main questions that arises is: is it safe to travel alone as a female?
I’ve never gone solo travelling outside Europe, so the advice I’m about to offer might not be adequate if you are planning to go to places where cultures, lifestyles, and laws differ a lot from Europe. Although, I learned a few things during my travels, which could give you some peace of mind before taking a big leap.
Leaving home on your own, to go and explore what’s out there, can be stressful. Yet, I live between France and England and the truth is that I felt safer than I do at home in almost every place I visited (except for Vienna) in Europe.
You don’t have to share a room with men you don’t know if you don’t want to
One of the first worries that comes with going solo travelling is: will I really be on my own all the time I’m away? The answer is no. If you’re social and chose to stay in hostels, there’s a pretty high chance that you will rarely be on your own. I found hostels to be an amazing travelling option. They’re cheap, they’re safe, and, if you do a little research to pick the good hostels, the beds are comfortable, the rooms clean, and most have social spaces, such as common areas, bars, and kitchens, where you can hang out in with fellow. Hostels have mixed dorms, male dorms, and female dorms. My advice would be to book female dorms. You don’t have to share a room with men you don’t know if you don’t want to. All the hostels I went to had female dorms and my roommates became friends every time. Spare yourself from the worry of sleeping next to unknown men – they might be lovely, but they also might not be. I considered the bet not worth taking.
N.B: book your stay on the hostels’ websites, other websites charge you an extra fee!
Among the many necessary things to pack when solo travelling, something that I kept on me at all times was a personal safety alarm. It looks like a little key chain and I wore mine at my trousers’ belt handles. When you pull the string of the safety alarm it emits a loud siren-like sound – I tried it before I left and trust me, no one will come near you when the alarm goes on.
Furthermore, you might want to print your itinerary, your train tickets, emergency phone numbers, a copy of your passport, and hostels reservations. Just in case you can’t access your phone or lose your ID. You might never need those many sheets of paper but if anything happens, you definitely won’t regret carrying them around.
a little advice: learn some basics
‘Everyone speaks English anyway what’s the point of trying to learn another lan…’. Let me stop you right there because, no, many people do not speak English. Indeed, knowing English will generally allow you to speak to anyone and get your way around things, but I also found myself in situations where people had no idea of what I was saying to them. When I arrived in Vienna, I was lost in the station and asked a woman where the trams were. She stared at me with furrowed brows and said: “Speak German?” I shook my head. “Croatian?” No again. She mumbled something that sounded upset and walked away. So, a little advice: learn some basics. Just saying hello, thank you, asking for directions, or for the nearest shop or pharmacy can save you from some very awkward moments. Also, it’s always nice to show people that you’re trying.
when you’re solo travelling, the only person you can rely on is yourself.
Last but not least: have the time of your life, but don’t put yourself in dodgy situations. Don’t say yes to anything and everything. Try not to get dangerously drunk. Yes, you’re solo travelling and it’s fantastic, but you don’t need to go crazy every night, meet people every day, and do it all right here right now. I’m very guilty of this feeling myself: I have massive FOMO, love partying, and have a hard time pressing the pause button. The results of that were that I had an anxiety attack one night when going out because my body needed rest more than social stimulation, yet I didn’t listen to it. I was lucky to be with someone I could rely on that night but most of the time, when you’re solo travelling, the only person you can rely on is yourself.
So, keep yourself safe little adventurer and have a beautiful time, wherever you’re going.
Going on my trip of Europe was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve met incredible people, had an amazing time, got to know myself better, and I don’t regret a second of it. I’m sure you’ll feel the same.
Featured image courtesy of Agape less on Flickr. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
Maelle Leggiadro
Hi, I'm Mel. Or Nora. I have a thing for adventure, creative writing, cinema and coming-of-age stories. Some would say I'm fiery and I might be a helpless romantic - one of my favourite films is Romeo + Juliet and I loved Wuthering Heights. I'm always craving for more, paying attention to little details and unable to settle.