I’ve traveled to over 30 countries.
I’ve dealt with catcalls, 24 hour train rides, dog attacks, endless begging, and more.
Just stay smart and remember to enjoy the ride.
For example, even as I struggled my way through India, I also had an incredible time there.
I sat and wrote for 15 minutes, and then I noticed something a bit disturbing.
Around me stood six Indian men.
Suddenly, I noticed how alone and unprotected I was.
Then I made my way back to my hotel.
The next day, I went out alone, again.
This time, I paid attention to what was going on around me.
And, of course, I was dressed modestly, as I had been told to do.
The same goes for the other places on this list.
But women who want to travel here should take the necessary precautions.
She recommended that women wanting to travel to Egypt alone stay in Dahab or Zamalek in Cairo.
She also suggested that they bring modest clothing so as not to draw unwanted attention.
Despite its beauty, women may have difficulty traveling alone in Turkey.
“Morocco,” my mom said, “is the most colorful place I’ve ever visited.”
For women traveling alone, Morocco isn’t without its frustrations.
Lauren Juliff ofNeverending Footstepsechoed this sentiment in her blog.
Despite the difficulty of traveling in Morocco, it’s still a country worth visiting.
And it’s possible for you to enjoy your time there, if you’re smart about it.
Guatemala
I will never forget going to Guatemala when I was 20 years old.
I walked the colorful, bustling streets with the wide-eyed wonder of a first time backpacker.
Those were some of the best weeks of my life.
But solo traveling is very different, and Guatemala has high crime rates and an unstable government.
Women traveling to Guatemala should take precautions and stay in areas with other tourists.
The drug cartels and crime stopped many Americans from going there.
But things have changed.
But don’t get too swept up in the excitement of Brazil.
It’s not completely safe for travelers.
This includes robberies, sexual assault, kidnapping and just overall crime.
Driving in Brazil is also not recommended.
Roads aren’t maintained, people drive fast and some places don’t have street lights.
That’s just an accident waiting to happen."
If you do get attacked, she wrote, “Forget the fancy self-defense moves.
Give them what they want.
You won’t win.”
India
I’ve traveled to over 30 countries, and India was by far the most difficult.
Not just for a woman traveling alone, but in general.
The trains were packed with people.
And beggars surrounded us wherever we went.
While traveling there proved challenging, India also taught me more than any other country I’ve visited.
And the possibilities for exploration are endless from doing yoga at an ashram to visiting the magnificent Taj Mahal.
If you’re determined to go to India, be prepared.
China
If you visit China, myriad experiences await.
Just verify you bring a Chinese speaker with you or figure out your travel plans ahead of time.
OnSomething In Her Ramblings, Anita Sane shared the challenges of traveling in China and not knowing the language.
She said that navigating the country could be difficult, especially in places where no one spoke English.
“China is not an easy destination for solo travel because of the language barrier.”
However, most of the accounts of female travelers to Iran speak of warm hospitality from the Iranian people.
InHeart My Backpack, Silvia Lawrence shared a similar story.
That was just the beginning.
Luckily, we became friends with a woman named Trisha who cooked jerk chicken for us every night.
I never felt unsafe just frustrated that we were hassled so much.
And women traveling alone are hassled even more than we were.
Dian Emery onGirls Getawaysuggested that you chat, but don’t give them too much information.
She added that you may not want to admit you’re traveling alone.
“Your biggest hassle will be from the Jamaican men wanting to ‘romance’ you.
It will be pretty persistent, but in a non-threatening way.
Just tell them you have a husband or boyfriend, and they should respect that.”
you’re free to’t let your excitement for traveling cloud your judgment.
It mainly comes down to approaching situations the same way you would back home."
Use your best judgement, pay attention, take care of yourself, and enjoy exploring!
