The Female Traveler - Safety Tips for Women on the Go!

By webmaster on Jul 7, 2007 in Travel-and-Leisure

Author by : Gail Leino

Women do a lot of traveling today, as much as men. They travel for business and for pleasure and expect to receive the equal liberties given both genders in many countries. Unfortunately there are still those who see the lone female traveler as an easy mark or victim. If you happen to be a woman thinking about traveling in a foreign country you need to take extra precautions.

� Try not to travel alone

This piece of advice is somewhat useless since you may have all ready decided to go it alone, though it bears mentioning. It may not seem right or fair, but simply having a male companion along or by traveling in a group you will save yourself a lot of trouble in certain places. Consider the simple issue of money. Taxi drivers and bartenders may be less likely to overcharge you if you are with someone who can back you up if you think you are being taken.

� Avoid danger zones

Danger zones are places where you are more vulnerable to attack or robbery. Always take public transportation and avoid taxicabs if possible. The operator could be a crook looking to overcharge you and many taxi cabs are the sights of robbery and rapes in foreign countries. In some European countries there is a different view on what is and isn�t sexual harassment. In Southern Europe men can be aggressive in pursuit of a woman and have a hard time taking �no� for an answer. In places like Spain and Italy, men are known to �pinch� the buttocks of women. Don�t smile too much, don�t talk to strange men. If you are in a crowded place try to keep your backside to a wall and should someone take liberties with you be firm and tell them �enough.� Take on a strong confident approach and don�t give any sign of encouragement. Don�t go out at night and avoid dark alleys.

� Be aware of your surroundings

It pays to know where you are, but try not to be seen in public looking at maps. If you must though then you must. Take any directions from strangers with a grain of salt, perhaps it is best to look for an authority for assistance. Never let anyone off the street offer to guide you to your destination.

These precautions taken in liberal doses with the general guidelines for tourists will aid you greatly in staying safe on your trip to foreign place.

Gail Leino is known throughout the internet world as Mrs. Party. She has become the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies with clever themes. Her simple party planning approach demostrates how to use proper manners while teaching etiquette with organizational skills. She shares lots of interesting fun facts. See travel vacations for information on exotic destinations.

[tags]vacations, travel, safety, con artists, visit, woman, women[/tags]