Safe Solo Travel for Older Woman

Honestly, you will in all likelihood be safer on your European vacation than you would be in any American city. Your biggest risk would be from pickpockets or opportunistic thieves if you are careless with your money or phone. Read up on how to reduce your isk of theft ot vulnerability to scams. Start here: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/theft-scams

Get a money belt, neck pouch, hidden pocket or equivalent and use it. Be mindful of your surroundings, and situational awareness IS a thing, but something often forgotten by the easily distracted. As a senior woman I have had no particular concern for my personal safety anywhere I've visited in Europe. But I'm also not wandering the back streets in the wee hours either.

How do you define an “older” woman? I travel throughout Europe during my vacations alone and I’ve been doing so for over 30 years.

Ditto define older.

Been traveling throughout Europe and places like Havana solo since Nixon was President . Villages, towns, major cities.

Honestly I’d feel unsafe in downtown LA before I felt unsafe in the cities you’ve mentioned.

What unnerves you about Interlaken or Luzern?

I can understand that we are often concerned about what we don’t know. But you will be delighted. Probably your (my?) biggest problem would be putting something down and forgetting it. Physical safety will not be an issue.

I travel solo and here are some of the things I do regarding safety.
1) Communicate my plans or any change in plans to my children.
2) Communicate daily through either an app or texts with my children.
3) I use the same situational awareness that I use at home. If something makes me feel uncomfortable, I leave that location or situation as quickly as I can.
4) I am willing to spend to get out of difficult situations. If I was planning on taking the bus somewhere, but something happens that makes that less desirable, I am more than willing to take a taxi.
5) I avoid going out alone too late at night. This one isn't too hard for me because I am usually ready for bed fairly early.
6) I sign up for the STEPS program https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/step.html
7) I ensure that I have adequate medical evacuation coverage (Medjet)
8) I have back up resources to my resources.... Apple wallet as well as physical credit cards, etc.
9) Service on my cell phone.

I have been to the two places you expressed concern about. You should be just fine in both of those locations. I had a good time in both places and there was nothing that ever made me uncomfortable as a solo female traveler.

When I travel alone I wear a whistle on a chain around my neck. I have blown it twice in Italy, the pickpockets ran away both times and the wallet taken (not from me) was dropped. I pulled it out another time in a train station for the guys scoping-out people to see and the pickpockets moved past me and continued to scope-out other easier targets. Be aware of your surroundings and make eye contact. I doubt you will have any trouble. Have a wonderful time. J

It's natural to feel nervous when traveling solo. As women, we spend a large part of our lives learning how to be safe. We also can't control when we are nervous, but we can control our reactions to them or our ability to override the nerves somewhat by being prepared. I naturally feel safe traveling to the US cities that I visit regularly, because I know that city, culture and how to get around. It's also important to get out of our normal safe zone to broaden our horizons, IMO, while keeping our systems in place.

Carol now retired has excellent suggestions (as I use these as well). I'd also add: Don't be afraid to be rude and remove yourself from a situation that makes you nervous or is causing your gut some issues. Listen to yourself, not others in the moment.

The other suggestion I have is to have your key to the hotel or room handy or out before you approach the building or room. Don't delay at the door fishing for your keys.

When I was traveling in my 20's guys would follow me around (Italy I'm talking to you!). I don't have to worry about that any longer now that I'm retired and not so cute. LOL. On the other hand I have to be aware that my age, and alleged perceived weakness because of it, might make me a different type of target and prepare accordingly. All this awareness, and I still enjoy speaking with strangers, etc. I'm just aware.

It sounds like a wonderful trip. Enjoy.

Great advice already. I also:
- make it a point to walk with purpose, looking up and around so I don't look like an easy target
- keep my hands free to help with balance
- never wear ear buds when out and about - stay alert
- wear a pendant inside my clothes with a US contact person and their telephone number
- plan my route whenever possible, to avoid standing on the corner looking lost
- if you get that prickle on the back of your neck, obey it and get out of your situation
I do these things to stay comfortable, but I agree with the others who've said you likely will feel quite safe.
Have a wonderful trip!

I use public transit in my city. Maybe that keeps me alert to my surroundings compared to driving everywhere. But I rarely consciously make safety decisions when traveling, other than the obvious or practical. I've survived 60+ years so just trust what Inprsctice at home.
In some places, I am more likely to use my money belt, but often that is in developing countries or known areas for pickpockets.
It wasn't mentioned, but understand a money belt is for deep security. It goes under your clothes and stays there. Pack some cash for the day and one credit card into your secure purse. I recommend a cross body bag with a zip top..and ideally, a flap over the top as well.
You may need your passport for hotel check in, in which case keep either the real passport or a colour photocopy in your purse. Other days, put it into your money belt or hotel safe.
As mentioned earlier, I find a lot of people more uneasy when they haven't done enough self research. Knowledge gives you confidence. Read, research, and consider watching travel vloggers on YouTube to become visually familiar with places you will be going to. Start with Rick's videos and go on from there. I have used them to find out how to go through customs into Vietnam while on a ferry, or how to move through airports that are new to me. I read seat 61 website for all things trains, and he often has video footage of routes. Rick shows how to validate train tickets in Italy, and ai have seen great videos on using the vaporetto in Italy. Any question or uncertainty you have can most likely be answered on YouTube.

I have to be honest. I’m 63 years old and I’m responding to this sitting in a café in Paris. And I do none of these things that other people are discussing. Maybe as I get older, I will but right now I don’t.

Now, I admit that my risk tolerance may be higher than a lot of of you. For years, including currently, I have traveled on my own for business. While it hasn’t been to Europe often, it’s been all over the country. I guess that has given me a certain confidence in my ability to handle what gets thrown at me. To me, going to Europe is no different than going to a town two hours away from where I live for business. Probably the only real precaution I take, is an excessive security for my passport and back up credit cards. I have had to have a credit card Overnighted to me in Europe because I lost my debit card and I needed a credit card with ATM abilities and it was done in 24 hours. I’ve also had to have this done in the United States. my suggestion is before you go, figure out what coverage your credit cards have, and what they will do for you in the event of an emergency. Sometimes you have to ask, they don’t always volunteer because the people you’re talking to when you call don’t necessarily know everything, but if you say I need a new credit card when can you get it to me they’ll look and go oh I can get it to you tomorrow in Paris

My only real difference when I travel to Europe is I do leave a copy of my passport with my partner so that if I have to I have to get a new one he can email me my passport information to help the US Embassy get me back on my feet. I once brought a group to Europe, and one of the women lost her passport and I discovered that was key. I also have a copy of it on my phone but having someone sitting at home with a physical copy makes me feel a little better.

Actually, I lied above, I said going to Europe is no different than going to a town two hours away from me. And the truth is sitting here at 10 PM on a Saturday night in Paris at a café having a glass of wine, I feel a lot more secure than I would in US. sad but true

@ Carol. My guess is you do the same things on your trip that you do at home, but you may not realize how much situational awareness you use every day because at our age it is pretty much second nature. People screaming, shouting, getting angry near by? You are out of there….

I often travel solo, in the US and in Europe. I'm in my mid-fifties. I don't know if other people have this same experience, but I find that walking alone, and walking like I know where I'm going, seems to make me look like a local. Add a pair of earbuds and it's practically foolproof. LOL. Touts in front of tourist restaurants, groups of teens with a "petition", panhandlers, the ladies who want to put a friendship bracelet on you, etc. etc. I walked up the steps of a metro station in Rome once. There were five or six teenage girls hanging out on either side of the steps giving everyone the once over. They looked as if they were waiting for someone to approach and surround, to distract and then pickpocket. I was alone and they didn't give me a second glance. These kinds of opportunistic folks leave me alone while honing in on the groups of three or four, walking slowly, holding a guidebook or map and looking lost.

I don't think I have ever once felt unsafe solo in Europe. I don't believe you will have any issues where you are going.

I've traveled the world as a solo female traveler and will say I love being in my 50s rather than 30s traveling simply because more men leave me alone now-no catcalls or slide ups:)

My safety tips
1)Use a cross bag that isn't too big-I usually take one that fits my umbrella and a small wallet. No need for any extra security-just make sure any zippers are facing inwards towards you.

2)Anytime I dine, purse is always on my lap-not underneath table or chair.

3)Public transport is fine, but don't be cheap if you feel unsafe or want to take a taxi home late at night. Sometimes I get tired and just want to get home. Sometimes a taxi is worth the splurge.

4)Never tell a taxi driver/Uber you are here alone. I always say I'm meeting friends/my tour/my family at such and such.

5)Always have a phone and data plan-Google maps has saved my bacon numerous times when I got lost. So much better than the old days when you had to try and read a map.

6)Unlike others, I have felt unsafe in Europe especially walking alone at night. DON'T discount these feelings and if necessary walk in a more well lit street. I see many folks dismissing people who may feel unsafe in Europe by saying Europe is safe. No city is 100% safe and unfortunately women are an easier target. If it feels wrong to you, get yourself out of the area and don't be afraid or embarrassed.

7)You will be surprised the number of solo female travelers in Germany. The only places I felt like being a woman traveling solo was an oddity is Spain because most Spanish females tend to go out in groups-I rarely saw a solo female that wasn't going to/from work. That said, you will also probably be talked to more on any walking tours. I found traveling by myself people were more likely to strike up a conversation with me versus being with my family.

Enjoy it-I travel both alone and with my family and while having a travel companion can be great-sometimes it's nice just to be able to do what I want to do without discussions.

For me, the main thing is making sure I plan for the redundancy in payment options that I have when traveling with my husband. IE, don't keep all your eggs in one basket. Some cash and a card accessible, some more hidden somewhere else and a final emergency card deep in the suitcase. Everything else is about the same as at home. I spent a week driving around the southwest US last year and a week in Paris this year - never nervous - took the metro back to my hotel late at night alone, had dinners out etc... While on the driving trip I gassed up the car more often than I do at home so that I would not have to stop for gas somewhere odd or late at night. Both trips I used a very small crossbody bag with a little travel wallet that clips into the bag. I can't think of anything else I did differently.

For those planning solo trips to Spain, unlike Heather, I just spent nearly three weeks solo female and never felt uncomfortable or a "stand-out". I did see other solo females at various sites. No one treated me any differently than I have been treated in many past trips as a solo female - business or pleasure. Spain felt no different to me than any where else I have traveled in Europe or Asia.

Not disputing your experience, Heather, just that mine was different! Always possible my experience was outside the norm and yours was more typical.