travelling alone

I travel alone all the time for work. I love to travel alone! I have traveled the world alone for holiday and work before I married and did so without a problem. There are three rules to traveling alone... 1. Be informed 2. Be aware 3. Be careful Be informed means that you inform yourself of local customs and attitudes of the country you are visiting before you arrive. As an American women I always made certain I understood these and complied with any requirements. This included local dress requirements when traveling in parts of Asia and the Middle East. Just because they aren't your customs doesn't mean you shouldn't respect them. If you are not prepared to respect the local customs or practices than don't visit the country. Being aware means that you should remain vigilant of your surroundings and of the attitudes of those around you. I always check with my consulate to make sure that there are no issues in the country at the time I plan to visit. The consulate can tell you about crime in the country, any scams, or other things to watch for. Depending upon your travel budget rely upon your hotel for tips on tours, public transportation, and other ways around town. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times. One of the things I tell people all the time is to not go out "partying" to clubs in strange cities and drink too much. If you have to drink do it at your hotel. Finally be careful / be safe. Do not carry more money than you need for a single day. Do not carry your passport with you but rather keep it in the hotel safe. Do not carry all your credit cards, keep them in the hotel safe. Don't tell strangers where you are staying. Don't make it obvious that you are a tourist. Carry yourself with confidence. As a woman don't carry a purse over your shoulder! Give up style for safety and carry your money close to your body. As I said I love to travel alone. I have seen most of the US, Europe, and Asia on my own. Never had a problem and met a great number of really fine people in my travels.

This is from someone who regularly travels alone - by bus, plane or train. I've made it from Kuala Lumpur to Paris then Lyon all on my own and honestly, there is NOTHING to be worried about. All you need is just to keep your wits about you, be street-smart and aware of culture practices in the country that you're heading to. For example, be aware of pick pockets, and theft not to mention men who target single women. One practise women usually adopt is to inform hotel that you're expecting a male companion (it's sort of like a cover-up). Some women will even put on fake wedding rings. But all this doesn't beat the best method - don't talk to anyone unless you have to, even if they smile and wolf-whistle at you. Another biggie is that if you don't want to be stared at or picked up, dress like the local women. The last thing you want is to attract attention to yourself. If you're visiting Asian countries, be aware that in places like Northern Malaysia and some parts of Indonesia, wearing strapless and short SHORTS is a bad idea. Be/Dress modest(ly) when the situation/place calls for it. And oh, pick up a travel guide or get some more info from someone who has been to that country. This is a general tip that I give to both men and women. Looking like a tourist means easy pickings for pickpockets and etc. Know where you're going to avoid scams (very popular in places like Thailand where some guy walks up to you and says that this place is closed and bundles you to somewhere where you'll either have to buy something or pay him).

I have driven across country by myself several times. The thing is, you have to be aware of what is around you, who is around you, at all times. I kept my car doors locked when I traveled, and locked my car even if I was stepping in a store that I could see my car. I keep my cell phone handy, and if for some reason I had problems I would contact the state police. I also have AAA in case I had any type of car trouble. I have also traveled by plane across country, had hours of layovers to sit in an airport, but I keep to myself keep my bags within arms reach, and keep alert to anyone around me. I have never encountered any problems while traveling alone, and I have never been afraid to load up the car and hit the road for a roadtrip. There are times I am able to take my dog along, and just because of her size and bark, and she is very protective of me and 'her' car lol I feel safe with her along. Not any safer than traveling without her though. If you convince yourself you 'can't' do it, then you might as well just read about all the places you could have gone and seen. Or, you can convince yourself that you can go, and just start by practicing being alert to everything around you at all times.

Yes, there is danger in every place we go. But we ca stay away from danger if were alert. I have been to the UK to study, living in a foreign country is really hard but its all worth it in the end. It was scary for me. New things and new people. There's also the idea that i might be bullied by the english or indian, or other nationalities. But as days, months, years passed I have learnt and found out that it isn't really that scary to travel on my own, I even loved it! You just need to have the confidence, if we take extra care, know how to socialize with other people and show them respect as they will show you good as well..

why ? we see so many foreigners coming to our country singly and visit places.

You can and should try traveling alone at least once. Don't let fear rob you of one of your dreams. Do you go places alone in your city? There are just as many bad people there as anywhere else. Like all the others have already said you just have to keep your wits about you and pay attention to your surroundings.

Years ago it was fine for a women to travel by herself but in this day and age and all the things we hear happen to women and children I would not travel by myself. It is a good idea to travel with a companion. That doesn't mean that you have to do everything together. I would make arrangements with a friend and just explain to her/him that I would like to do things by myself but am afraid of traveling alone. I am sure that someone would take you up on your offer. Split the cost of the gas and if you eat in a restaurant it would be the same thing. Each pay for their own meal.

I spent just over a year traveling around the world. I met so many different people and stayed safe. When I got sick in and two weeks later fell down a drain in Malaysia other travelers helped me. I have been to the USA three times now and again I have stayed safe. My train was five hours late into Los Angles at midnight but with police around and a night bus service to Santa Monica I stayed safe. I was concerned the danger of crime in Nairobi in Kenya so I followed advice to not carry a hand bag or wear a watch. Nothing bad happened to me there. When I went to Guatemala I hid my money in five different places just in case. None my money or other valuables were stolen. The funniest time traveling alone was moment when I faced a language barrier at a bus station in Slovenia. I asked if anyone spoke English and a boy of 15 years old did. He helped me and then later in that trip I saw him and his dad again in Poland. I also had a misunderstanding in Bulgaria at a train station because of the language barrier but sorted the problem out eventually. There was a strange person hanging around that train station and I moved away from him a number of times. When I was in the Maldives I hired a bike and went over bridges to neighboring islands. I saw a stunning island and I pushed by bike on to a beach. There were a number of pretty little off shore islands and I began taking photos of them. Then a teenage boy attacked me and it was such a struggle to get away from him. Such incidents like that whilst traveling are rare but I have learned to not go to deserted beaches. I have been traveling for twenty one years and so that is only bad person that I have met. Traveling alone is great and I hope that you do it one day and have a safe time.

As long as you know how to defend yourself (you need not to be a martial arts expert), you can travel alone. It's nice to travel alone, one thing I can also advice you is to learn to see the goodness in everyone but do not be too naive to be fooled. Take care. Enjoy your traveling alone moments. :)

You might surprise yourself. I travel alone and I'm comfortable in my own presence. A few quick ideas. Keep your head up and walk with purpose and self-confidence. A person who expresses strength is less likely to be bothered by the wrong people. When I travel, I stay on the interstates most of the times and I take my driving breaks in the rest stops that are patrolled by the state police. I stay close to my vehicle, in case someone does approach me, I can get into my car and lock the doors if I'm spooked. Stay in touch with someone while you travel. On my last train ride, I called my family members as I traveled through the states where they lived. Not to go on and on, but there are more ways to increase your safety awareness. I know you want to explore the wonders of the world, but you can start by taking short trips until you're comfortable. Or are you waiting to meet some really hot guy to sweep you off your feet and whirl you around the world in love? lol

Hi!! Thats an odd screen name you selected.Never mind!! For me travelling alone is the most cherished thing.Be that a small or a long distance...I still like to travel alone. And it helps very much in enjoying my trips.I generally have business trips that requires travelling alone, and may be that has made the habit of travelling alone such that i do it even for my holidays.

I agree too. I will meet some crazy people along the way. I will have to take a few of my friends with me, just to be on the safe side!

What I am afraid of is "getting lost" in other place that is why I prefer to have someone when travelling in far places but I know i should soon overcome this because not all times, there will be someone who is not busy to accompany me. hehehe. Cheers!

Since traveling alone is a concern you can create or join a travel network. I have met many people from around the world by just networking via business or as I met on the road. Even now if as we speak and get to know each other we can one day network and if ever I wanted to visit the phillipines I would ask and contact you. So when you already know of someone whom you corresponded with or did business with it is easier to make plan and you really don't feel alone. You are visiting then someone whom you know. Most persons whom know you will take the time to show you their country. And if you don't like it go to the next place and visit someone else.

I think you should ask you boyfriend to company you. It will be romantic.

Don't know what it is like where you are from, but here in the USA, I am beginning to wonder if even going to the grocery store is safe to do alone. Seems more and more people are being abducted from parking lots, I used to travel between Ohio and Louisiana all the time by my self, I was never afraid, but now you don't know who to trust. I am afraid of breaking down on the road, and although we have cell phones now to call for help, how long will it take for help to come, and you never know who is pulling up to help you or hurt you. It is nice to travel alone where you can do what you want to do, but in todays times it is best to at least have someone else with you. Preferably a male. Maybe you could find someone that you would enjoy seeking out new places together and then you would not have to be alone. Going to a new place how do you determine who is safe to talk to and who is not. When someone tells you where something is at, how do you know they are not sending you to a place where you would be in trouble. It is sad that we can not walk the streets and be safe anymore.