Safety Resources for Women Travellers

Safety starts with the right mindset

While women have taken great steps forward in travel, representing two-thirds of all travellers, we are still having to confront the issue of personal safety when we travel. Safety starts well before you leave on a trip, in fact, for most women it’s an integral part of the planning process.

JourneyWoman has been leading the safety dialogue for almost 30 years, and even created the Government of Canada’s guide for solo travel for women, called Her Own Way, which is still in use today.  This page includes links to some of our most popular resources and tips from women who have travelled the world.With a safety mindset and planning carefully in advance, women can take active steps to prepare for any situation, at home or abroad.

The pandemic has made women’s safety even more important

“As a woman, being able to move about freely all over the world without having to worry about personal safety, is my definition of safety in the context of future travel.”

Unfortunately, the pandemic has negatively affected women’s safety, going far beyond secure accommodations and personal safety to include medical facilities, transportation and health and hygiene. It has also made us realize that safety isn’t just a travel issue; it affects women at home too.

We must commit to ourselves to honour those moments when we don’t feel safe and actively take steps to protect ourselves. To do that, we need a plan, and we need practice. A safety mindset is a start, but by learning self-defence skills we can be empowered to take control of any situation and move into a position of control.