Advice for the solo female traveler

Tallulah, why are you less concerned about the UK part of your trip then the Swiss one? The Swiss behave much better than the English and it's a much saver country for solo females than the UK...

Hi Tallulah, I'm a 21 year old female and I traveled for 5 weeks last year around europe by myself. I never had any problems, in fact I was suprised at how safe europe is, sometimes even safer than where I live. It's important to take percautions, wear a money belt in hostels ect... but you really should have no problem! If you can try to make an effort to speak the local language and the people will respect you more, I can only manage a few french words but found that in Paris most people spoke even a little english, a least more than my french. Have fun!

My French is far worse than "pretty poor", it's pathetic. It consists of about 25 words that I learned from the Rick Steves phrasebook. And ten of those words are 1 to 10! But we did just fine in Paris and the French-speaking part of Belgium. So don't worry about that too much. As long as you know the standard polite phrases (please, thank you, etc.) and can ask in French "Do you speak English?", you'll go a long way. Preceding that with "I'm sory, I don't speak French." will take you even further. As Andreas noted, Switzerland is even safer than the UK. If you're from Toronto, your big-city senses should be able steer you away from trouble. Plus, looking at your description of your trip, it doesn't sound like you'll be alone for much of your trip.

Hi Tallulah, Well I will be 25 this summer when I take a 6 week trip to 7 countries and 10 cities, most of which alone. I'm not really worried about it. Maybe I should be more worried, but I have my luggage locks and my money belt and my neck pouch and my camera strap with metal and my good-quality messenger bag and I'm just going to go and try not to worry about it too much. The one thing I'm a bit worried about is the ATM issue - because I see a lot of people suggest that you should go in pairs and have one person stand behind you looking around and all that, which will obviously be a difficult thing to do alone, but I figure I will just figure it out when I go. Another really good suggestion I've seen is to get a disposable camera and use that for when you want to ask people to take a pic of you - if they run off with it, oh well. All the things like common sense, knowing the good and bad neighborhoods in the city, just be smart, etc., and it sounds like there's no need to worry!

Go and have a great time! I'm a 57 year old woman who has no fear of traveling along. Be aware of the same things you would in this country and pay attention to your surroundings. Take a French/English dictionary if you're worried and just point to words/phrases if necessary. There is a huge benefit to traveling solo. With other people, you have to compromise on what to see and when to see it. By yourself you can stay as long as you like and move along if something doesn't really interest you. (I'm an avid reader who didn't get to see the British Library because of my companions. On my return trip I went alone and got to stand in front of the Magna Carta for as long as I wanted. It was a great lesson learned.) Also, you'll be surprised how many people you'll meet who are also traveling alone. Traveling with others can be wonderful but traveling alon is a great adventure!

Teena, what you said is pretty much why I am doing most of my trip alone!! I'm a picky person by nature, and traveling will be no different for sure, and I'm also a picky eater and have lots of goals for things I want to get out of my trips. I'm actually a little more worried about the part of my trip where someone else will be with me than the part where I'll be alone! LOL!!!

I always travel alone. I feel really safe in Europe and do things there I wouldn't do here. My family also doesn't like it but I have never had a problem and have never felt threatened. My French is pretty awful but I do have the basic phrases and always use a smile. I have found the french pretty forgiving if you at least try to speak a little of the language with a smile. I was in Nice last year and virtually everyone I came across spoke english so I had no problems. I also find the trains fine but do pre book a seat and go first class. If you look pretty confident and walk with purpose you should be OK. Attitude has a lot to do with it. I also make sure I know how I am going to get to my hotel from the train or plane. A lot less stressful and also you're not hanging around a terminal screaming tourist. I'm sure you'll be fine - you are going to great places - just enjoy.

I agree with everyone who has told you to go ahead & have a great time. I'm 64 & have been traveling by myself for over 20 yrs. My first few trips were to the UK which is super easy. However in the London underground, I did have my wallet taken from my purse even tho the opening flap was against my body & the purse strap worn across my body. I didn't even feel it happen. Luckily, I follow Rick's advice & used a money belt. The thief didn't get much & I learned a good lesson.
I've been to Paris 9 X by myself & the only French words I know are the polite ones. I always use them before making a request. Also, I pick & choose who to talk to. If I need help, I'm more likely to ask someone who isn't rushing by.
Traveling by yourself is great. I began doing so because my husband didn't want to go & now I prefer it to traveling with someone.

Hello. I am going in 2 weeks on my first trip to Europe. Like you, I am a woman and I am going alone. I get the same things from friends but my family does not say much to me because they know how independant I am.
I love travelling solo. You can do what you want when you want. And you can always strike up conversation with others. I have been all around the US by myself and never had a problem.
Just make sure that you take the necessary precautions. Don't walk down narrow, dark side streets at night. If a man bugs you, ignore him and walk away. And be on your guard, don't put yourself in a bad situation. Sorry, didn't mean to sound preachy. Just be confident in yourself and most importantly Have Fun!!!

I'm also a single woman traveling alone. If I had to wait to have a male companion to travel, I'd never get outside of my own state. :) You will be safe, as long as you take basic precautions, and have a fabulous trip. Don't be afraid to start up conversations with people and make new friends along the way.

Here is a confession.
To tell the truth, that is why I am going alone - I want to conquer my fears. I am by nature a very fearful and careful person, scared all my life of everything. For many years, I couldn't even go to the movies alone. When I was in my mid 30s, I started to realize that I WANTED to spend time alone. Very weird thing - wanted to be alone, but at the same time afraid of it, too. When the want grew bigger than the fear, I started going places by myself. Usually, I am very nervous and anxious before setting out, but once I am on the road - to the movies or a foreign country - I am not only fine, I am very happy! It is not that my fears got smaller, but the more often I overcome them, the better I feel. At 42, I am finally growing up;)

Hi Tallulah,
I traveled solo in Europe many years ago. I was living in Germany and flew to Ireland for a week, traveled to France and all over Bavaria and Austria.
You'll be fine as long as you take standard precautions that any traveler (solo or not) should take:
-- use a money belt (as well as the other keep-your-stuff-secure tips on this website)
-- be aware of what the unsavory parts of town are (hotel/hostel employees can tell you where to avoid, esp. at night)
-- be wary of any too-friendly people who approach you offering "help" (esp. when you're not having any kind of obvious problem)

Have a great trip!

Tallulah
Check out the free publication the Cdn Gov't puts out called "Her Own Way". It's pretty good, written by women for women. Also check out Journeywoman.com.
Some tips are:
Consider wearing an inexpensive wedding band (no diamonds) An old ploy but still relevant. It implies that a man might be close by. Not that I'm saying you need one. But... Yes, even in 2007.
Be general in your details. Use your initial, not first name at hotels etc. Cover your luggage tag face. Use a business address or email never your home address. Always carry a hotel business card incase you get lost. Always have cab fare. Ask a woman for help. Ask a Police Officer on the street. Go to a Police Station, Hospital, Fire station or 3 Star plus hotel for directions. They can call you a cab and probably will speak English. Use their WC. It will be off the Lobby and clean. Don't get caught short. Always use the WC when you can.

If you wouldn't do it here in T.O don't do it abroad...

Echo flight attendant on "Her Own Way"...my wife used it when she started travelling a lot on business. You can find it on line at http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/pubs/her_own_way-en.asp. Brilliant quote in there from the editor of Journeywoman.com....."To stay safe when travelling, if strangers ask me what I do for a living, I tell them I’m a policewoman."

My daughter is going alone in June and is 17 1/2. She is meeting an exchange student that lived with us in Washington 10 years ago. Our exchange student will be meeting my daughter in Zurich. My only concernis the 1 1/2 lay over in Philadelphia on the way over from Seattle. My daughter is smart but not really seasoned as a traveler so this should be quite the learning and fun trip for her. Her mom thinks I'm nuts to have bought the tickets. What do you guys think? Total time is about 15 hour from Seattle to Zurich.

Joe,

I traveled to France, Italy and Amsterdam on my own when I was 16. I think if your daughter is reasonably street-smart and not uduly naive, she will be perfectly fine and it'll be a great experience for her.

I have a 16 year old daughter and I think the one pitfall with teenagers is that they think they are invincible and are really ready to trust people. Well, trusting people may be a good thing - I would just tell your daughter to trust people as long as she's not putting herself unduly in danger (i.e., great to chat with people in cafes and public places, but don't go home with them - type of advice).

I actually think you are smart to be allowing your daughter to have this experience, even if you'll be biting your nails a bit as a parent.

Thank you all for your advice and shared experiences. My trip has morphed into something I never expected. I will now be spending July in UK and all of August in Switzerland. Getting to Switzerland is unnerving me a bit, what with having to find my way to the Lyon train station from CDG airport, but somehow I will manage. I have a studio for the month in Fribourg and am both excited and scared. Discovered I had bought the wrong luggage, and ended up buying Rick's recommended backpack. Am eager to see it when it arrives. This will be an amazing experience and I hope to turn a lot of that into articles for newspaper and magazine. I will keep all of your recommendations in mind when I write. Thank you all, and safe journeys on your travels.

Tallulah,

Here is the website to plan your trip from CDG to Paris Lyon. http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais

In doing a preliminary search, it appears you take the RER (Metro?) from Charles de Gualle in the direction of Saint-Remy-les-Chevreuse to the Chatelet-les-Halles station and then change RER lines to th the direction of Boissy-Saint-Leger, which will take you to the Gare de Lyon.

Double check it yourself though. There are two different aeroport charles de gualle start points (one is for RER and the second RER-TGV). I don't know the difference for where you'll need to start, but it should be one or the other.

I'm going to Italy by myself for three weeks in September. Italy is too important to me to travel with others! :-)

Here are a couple of good books that I recommend about women traveling solo:

Wanderlust and Lipstick by Beth Whitman (she also has a website: http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/)

Solo Traveler by Lea Lane