Should women travel solo?

Anyone, including women, can and should travel alone to international destinations.  I firmly believe this because I have traveled alone to many international cities such as Tel Aviv, Bangkok, Zurich, London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Montego Bay.

Through my experiences I have developed several tips to keep myself safe.  Here are my travel tips for a solo female traveler…

• When I travel alone, I make sure I have my guard up.  No one is truly safe in my book.  Don’t get me wrong, I have made friends all over the world due to my social personality but I know when to draw the line to make sure that I am safe.
• While I am traveling, I familiarize myself with the area where I am staying. I acquaint myself with the roads and certain markers, such as shops and restaurants that I can recognize just in case I get lost or need to tell a taxi driver where to drop me off.
• If I feel the least bit uncomfortable being around someone, whether it’s day time or night time, I make sure that I am around people who can see me and bear witness that I have was seen in a public place with them.
• We all like to go out and party with the locals or people that we meet but I never get intoxicated. There is always a limit.
• Always take a business card or brochure of the hotel or hostel you stay at just incase you forget the address.
• Make a photocopy of your passport and keep sensitive items in a safe (if there is one).
• When you go out make sure you keep your belonging on you.
• While on public transportation, keep your purse or bag in front of you.
• Never put your wallet in your back pocket or anything for that matter accessible to others without your notice.
• If you go out to party, have a secret stash of money for taxis, phone calls or anything that you would need in case of an emergency.
• Guard yourself like you would in any urban city in America and apply that when you travel internationally. Trust me those instincts will guard you.
• Also know that not everyone is your friend. Always use caution. I’m not saying not to enjoy yourself or not be friendly.
• As I stated earlier, I’ve made friends all over the world but trust your instincts. If a situation doesn’t feel right, then it’s not right!
• Further more, always let your family or close friend know where you are! With social networking such as Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and good ole email are many ways to let them know where you are.
• Lastly make sure to register with the State Departments to the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This program allows you to enter your travel information so the State Department can assist you in case of an emergency. It’s free to enroll to any U.S. citizen. Go to https://step.state.gov/step/

Don't forget to download my new app at socialtravelrapp.com.