Last updated on November 21st, 2022

FEEL EMPOWERED + CONFIDENT

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.

Top Safety Tips for Solo Travellers 

list of tips for solo travel

Safety Tips for Women: At Home + Abroad

Latest Articles

Women's Safety is Still an Issue

UN Women says 1 in 3 women are subjected to violence

Self-Defense Tips from an Expert

Lorna Selig shares her top tips to empower you

Staying Safe in Hotels

Women need their own checklist

COVID Resource Centre

Check local heath and safety requirements before you book travel

12 Things Every Solo Traveller Should Pack

Pack light, pack safe

Walking and Mobility Tips

Tips to avoid injury for the ‘slower-moving set’

RV + Road trip Safety Tips

Advice from experienced women RV owners

Planning for Natural Disasters

Tips to help you prepare for an earthquake or tsunami

What to Wear Guides

What you wear is an important part of safety.

Sex with Strangers

Tips for ensuring safety

12 Ways to Trick Thieves

Proecting your valuables on the road

Learn a few words in the Local Language

We’ll start with love… more to come!

Self-Defense Tips From an Expert

Let’s take back our power

Regardless of where we are, or what age we are, or whether we’re abroad or at home, we need to feel empowered and confident. Safety starts with the right mindset, using proven safety tips and common sense. The next step then is to empower ourselves with self-defense skills so that we can be ready for any situation, at home or abroad. We need not be victims. 

Tip 1: Find your voice: scream, yell and shout!

Tip 2: Fight, Punch and Kick!

Tip 3: Run like hell!

Women's self defense tips - run like hell, like this woman!

Tip 4: Manage Your Adrenaline

Calm tranquil mid aged old woman meditating breathing fresh air, serene mindful mature senior lady taking deep breath feeling no stress free relief harmony isolated on white grey studio background

Four Keys to Personal Safety 

Lorna Selig of Safe4 Life recommends four keys to personal safety to keep you protected and safe, regardless of where you are in the world, of how you’re showing up and what your environment looks like.  

#1: Be aware: Put the phone away, make eye contact, briefly, Trust your instincts, Walk confidently

#2: Establish and protect your boundaries: Step back. Walk around and go to the back of the line-up. 

#3: Confidence and Skills: Learn self-defense skills and practice them.

#4: Have a Safety plan: It should include fighting, shouting, running to safety, and breathing.

Watch the video of our self-defense training to learn more 

Destination-Specific Resources

Safety isn’t specific to a destination, but certain places require extra planning and preparation for solo women

Recognizing that safety is subjective, JourneyWomen recommend the countries below as more or less ‘safe’, based on their own personal experience.

Safety Tips for Morocco

6 Tips for Women Travelling Solo

12 Things You'll Find Difficult in Northern India

Be smart and follow your judgement

20 Things Women Should Know Before Visiting Jordan

Culture and etiquette tips

Preparing for a Solo Trip to Cuba

Be culturally correct in Cuba

20 Things to Know Before Visiting Turkey

Travel expert Sally Peabody shares her tips 

Hiking the Camino

Practical tips for solo women

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