Tips for (Women) Traveling Alone

Sometimes the idea of traveling by myself freaks me out (especially when I start thinking about things that could happen to me, but if you really think about it, bad things can happen to you anywhere, so I don't let those thoughts stop me) especially since there are so many reasons traveling alone is so much fun (I'll save that for another day).

So here my my tips if you're planning on travelling alone:

1. Always be careful

Be mindful of your surroundings all the time, even as you snap pics and instagram them.

I don't like crowds, so when I go to crowded places, I don't rush, and I make sure that there's no one in my personal space.

I also keep my valuables close to my body. So normally I have bulging pockets because I have a coin purse with pocket change (I normally carry around 100 usd or euros in my pocket with 1 or 2 credit cards only - more on that later), I also have my camera and my phone either in my hand or in my pocket.  This saves me from keeping on opening my bag - hopefully keeping pickpockets away from it as well, then I carry my bag always in front of me.

If you're walking alone at night,  and you're not sure if someone is following you, just stop somewhere with people, and let the suspected creepy follower overtake you. I really hate it when there's someone behind me, so the other day, instead of overtaking this guy who was walking so slowly,  I just followed him instead.  I think I creeped him out. He may have been using the same strategy as mine.

2. Dress simply to be able to fit in

The last thing you want is to stick out like a sore thumb. I normally dress in basic stuff that I can dress up or dress down at the blink of an eye.

Mirror selfie #ootd

Another mirror selfie #ootd

If the country I am visiting is generally safe, I wear my diamond earrings and my favorite H. Stern Ring. However,  if I am in a crowded touristy place where there are pickpockets waiting to find their next victim, I hide my earrings with my hair, and I turn my ring around so it looks like just a plain band, then I bring out my ratty coin purse (mentioned above) so it looks like all my money is already there. And if I'm carrying my Prada, I just consciously try to carry it with the brand facing me.

Earrings out photo at Le Bistrot Paul Bert
A reservations only restaurant in Paris

My ring when it's turned around looks like a wedding band.

My ring when it's not hidden.

Now, if I enter a store like Prada,  I put my hair up, turn my ring in the right direction, carry my bag right away,  and speak with confidence,  so even when I bring out my credit card from my ratty coin purse,  they don't cringe in front of me. Now, whether or not they judge you behind your back probably will depend on how much you spend in their store.  Hahaha.

3. On dealing with strangers

I have a creepy-person-meter. When my creepy-person-meter is on alert, I never make eye contact with the suspected creepy guy.  If your creepy-person-meter is correct,  they'll normally attempt to talk to you and they'll be pushy too. In situations like this, it's best to just walk away. But if you're stuck, for example,  beside someone in a bus, which totally happened to me in London and in Florence,  just pretend you don't understand a word. Even if it's English.

Here's how it works:
Creep: says something trying to be friendly but only succeeds in looking creepy...
Me: look at something else and shake head
Creep: japon?
Me: still looking at something else and shake head
Creep: chinois? Ni hao?
Me: you know the drill... if he still won't stop, keep shaking your head (remember you don't understand) and look like you'll scream for help.
***I swear, it works, I always do it.

Now,  if the guy is cute and your creepy-person-meter is not working,  then by all means,  smile and flirt.

4. On your valuables

I always keep mine in different locations.  I normally have the bulk of my money locked up together with my passport, then I have several hundreds and some credit cards in my handbag, then I also have what's in my coin purse in my pocket. This way, you don't have all your eggs in one basket.

5. Invest in a local sim card with a data plan

This is extremely helpful. Instead of asking strangers for directions, just Google it! It also comes in handy for checking out restaurant reviews before deciding to eat somewhere.

I never used a paper map. It was google maps all the way. 

Not just any simcard. It's tim card. (Italy Network)
I got a local sim with data plan everywhere I went.

And if you start going bonkers because you absolutely need to tell someone about the good looking restaurant owner guy, your friends are just a message away.

6. Make sure you have an in case of emergency number on you...  knock on wood,  but just in case.

I ordered mytags just before leaving Manila,
But the baller-ID bracelet was just hideous!

I jut replaced it with a leather bracelet from the mercato,
now it's pretty and very wearable

7. The most important tip is bring a good tripod. I just carry around my gorilla-pod so I can perch or hang it anywhere. Then I set my self-timer to 10-shots and I pose with different angles and I don't stop till I get a good picture.

You need 10 shots so you have time to run and pose.

Ready... Set...

Smile!

Hope these tips are helpful. Enjoy yourself because traveling alone is so much fun. Just saying.