In an interview with IANSlife, Rashmi Chadha, founder, of Wovoyage, a women-friendly travel startup, says, “Planning a getaway as a solo female traveler in India can be an exhilarating, empowering, and somewhat daunting experience. If you, too, are planning your very first solo trip, keeping certain hacks in mind can be pretty useful”.
1. Destination Matters: Prepare For The Country You Are Traveling To
Read about the country or the city you are traveling to. Complete your research and prepare for your travel accordingly. This is the age of the internet and you can read blogs or watch vlogs which can provide great knowledge about a particular place and help you plan a perfect trip. Download audio tour apps, Google translator, and the country’s most useful travel applications.
2. Go Local: Blend in, and Learn The Local Language And Culture
It’s always better to gel with the locals as people become friendlier and you get a better experience. See if you can learn how to say some basic words like thank you, sorry, ask for water or directions, etc. in the local language which can help you connect with the locals and even find your way back to your hotel in some situations.
Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.
Gustave Flaubert
Learn how to blend in – it means dressing and speaking like a local whenever necessary, which can give you a chance to know the place more intimately and make the experience more wonderful.
3. Be The Early Bird: Book In Advance
Neverland in a country without booking your stay. It gives you your first direction after stepping out of the airport. Even book your transfers from the airport to the hotel to avoid putting yourself in a stranded situation.
Find the best solutions to get to your hotel from the airport online and book it. Find and book your city tours online days before the date of travel. You might get better deals online than you will get on the spot.
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.
Martin Buber
4. Feel Empowered: Book Local Tours With Female-Run Firms or Women Guides
Women are more comfortable with other women, it’s always safe, a bit more trustworthy and what would be better than women empowering each other?
There are many women guides available in every city. Look for tours operated by female guides and book them beforehand. Look for homestays provided by women, sometimes you might get a chance to book tours provided by those homestays and get to experience the city in the best possible way like a local.
5. Choosing Accommodation: Women-Only And Women-Friendly Accommodation
Besides traveling with precaution, where you stay during the vacation is pivotal to your safety. Women-only accommodations are an option and offer not only a safe ambiance but are also managed by an all-female workforce.
There are women’s dorms in hostels that you can book or you can look for hotels that have a women-only floor. You can ask for special requirements while making a reservation and book the room according to your needs. Look for centrally located and accessible places that can solve your how-to-reach problems.
6. Prioritize Safety: Always First!
Trusting your instincts and your intuition is a powerful tool. Learn to trust it and make decisions based on your gut feelings; it’ll mostly save you from any major unwanted inconvenience. Next, equip yourself with self-defense knowledge and personal safety strategies to protect yourself in various situations. Lastly, stay prepared by having a list of emergency contacts and essential information readily available.
“Roads were made for journeys, not destinations.”
Confucius
So, dear women solo travelers, remember that the world is your oyster, and each journey you undertake is a step toward self-discovery and empowerment. Embrace these hacks, trust your instincts, and embark on your solo adventures with confidence. For more hacks & tips, check out other related articles on our website.