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| BATANES. I connected with other travelers in going around Batanes to cut costs. Photo by Aleah Taboclaon |
1. Consider your destination very well. Take baby steps.
If you haven’t traveled on your own before, it makes sense to go slow. Choose a local destination first. You don’t want the stress of traveling solo be exacerbated by being in a foreign country.
Start local. See whether you like solo travel and how you will deal with the challenges of traveling on your own.
2. Read up on your destination
Use the most recent guidebooks, like "Lonely Planet." Read travel blogs. Find out as much as you can about your destination.
Don’t focus only on the attractions in the area. Search for stories written by solo female travelers. What was their experience in that area? Were there any safety issues for solo female travelers? How did they deal with it?
3. Come up with a tentative itinerary
What solo travelers love is the flexibility of their schedule. Unlike those who travel with a group, they can change things at a moment’s notice.
If it’s your first solo trip, however, you might want to have a structure at the beginning. Once you’ve gone solo, you will know what kind of traveler you are, whether you’re the type who needs to have an itinerary or if you’re more into doing things on the fly.
Creating an itinerary also serves another purpose. You need to give a copy of it to friends or family members who can keep track of your whereabouts. Keep in touch regularly with them when you’re on the road.
Let them know of any changes in your itinerary, and include the names of hotels where you’re staying.
4. Book your accommodation in advance and arrange to be picked up if you are arriving late
Arriving in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar city can be a safety risk, so make sure you arrange things in advance.
If there’s no pick-up service, you can spend the night in the airport, as it would be much safer there.
5. Connect and reach out to other travelers you meet along the way
Solo travel can be expensive, which is why staying in hostels or guesthouses is a good idea. Aside from being cheaper, it gives you more opportunities to find travel buddies with whom you can split costs.
Remember, going solo doesn’t mean shunning the company of other people. In fact, you’ll meet more people when you are traveling alone than when you’re traveling with others.
Solo travel can seem scary, yes, but once you take the first step to independence, you will realize how liberating it can be!
6 safety tips for women traveling solo
Here are some measures I have tried in my travels and that some experienced solo Filipina travelers also take:1. Follow the usual safety measures as when you travel with a group – and more
Actions like keeping your money in different places and securing your passport and having a photocopy of it are even more important when you’re alone and may not easily be able to get help if something untoward happens.
Aleah Taboclaon, who backpacked Europe for 70 days by herself and is now traveling in India solo as of writing, also recommends keeping a scanned copy of your passport in your e-mail for additional security.
2. Research, research, research
NON-NEGOTIABLE MUST-HAVES. Most of the safety tips for travel in general, like keeping your passport and other valuables in a secure place, still apply to solo travel.
This step will help you determine first if it’s safe to go to the country or city you’re planning to visit, plus the security measures you need to take. Researching can protect you from scams and crimes which may be common in some areas.
For example, Aleah says she would have fallen for a scam when she was in Bangkok had she not researched in advance. “My tuktuk driver told me the Grand Palace was closed that day,” she recalls, when in fact it was not. In this type of scam, the drivers then usually take unsuspecting tourists to establishments where they will be forced to make expensive purchases.
3. Respect the culture
DRESS PROPERLY. Respect the culture of the place you’re visiting and wear the proper attire.
There are some countries, for example, where wearing short skirts or plunging necklines are not the norm and may draw attention. This especially applies to temples or other places of worship. So dress appropriately also to avoid calling unwanted attention to yourself.
4. Take extra protective measures
'MAKE NOISE' WHEN NECESSARY. As an extra precaution, you can bring security items like pepper spray.
Inform at least one person you trust about your location. Also, bring contact information of the person to call in case of emergency with you wherever you go. Keep a back-up of the important numbers in your phone book as an insurance in case your phone gets stolen.
You can also bring items for additional security. Gael Hilotin, who travels mostly solo around the Philippines and in Asian countries, recommends bringing a whistle or a pepper spray to attract attention when you’re in trouble.
5. Use your common sense and trust your instincts
Here are more detailed tips on how women can stay safe on the road:
Always be alert and don’t leave yourself vulnerable through actions like getting absorbed in your map in a public place. Don’t easily disclose to strangers information like the accommodation you are staying at, or that you are traveling alone. Be mindful of your food and drinks, especially if you are hanging out in bars where other people might slip something into it.
And, don’t get drunk!
Above all, trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, get yourself out of that situation as fast as possible, as what Lilliane Cobiao, who traveled solo around the world for 14 months, advises. On the other hand, if your gut tells you it’s right – though it may be against your logic – you may actually need to listen to it. I’ve accepted travel invitations from some strangers which led to some of my most memorable experiences.
6. Know your limits
LOOK AROUND. You don’t need to go far to have an adventure. The Philippines has more than enough beautiful sights for a quick solo trip.
While solo travel is about getting out of your comfort zone, don’t do things which you feel you may not be able to handle or would rather avoid. Prime Sarmiento, who has been traveling solo around Asia Pacific and North America, says she prefers to go to places where English is widely spoken. As a woman, she also avoids countries which she feels has a “strong culture of machismo” and thus may not be too safe for women.
What are you waiting for? Why not plan a solo adventure and set off? It does not have to be a long trip or overseas. You can actually start small, with just a day or overnight trip here in the Philippines.
Even round-the-world travelers like Lilliane Cobiao say they started out with short, easy trips. You can do it, too!
