Paris
Travelling on my own is something I’ve been doing since 2008. It’s liberating and I love it! But, happy wandering aside, you have to be savvy when going it alone as a woman. Personal safety is everything and over the past decade of tripping around the globe toute seule, I’ve gleaned a few useful tips that have helped me avoid unpleasant situations, those dampeners that can ruin an entire trip. This post details a few of my security markers that I hope will be useful to any kindred soloists out there and enable femme explorers to go forth with confidence!
Do your destination homework
Forewarned is forearmed. Do your homework before you jet into a new destination so you’re au fait with what to expect and adequately prepared for the first (often inevitable) hustle. Don’t be thinking it won’t happen to you. Congested hot spots, famous landmarks and self service ticket booths at metro stations are just a few places where pickpockets and scam artists are particularly adept. Even seasoned travellers have been known to be duped in the most embarrassingly obvious ways, so do some research before your toes touch terra firma and if all goes to plan and you’ve your wits about you, you’ll avoid becoming a statistic.
Smart Bag
Appropriate accessories are key. Sensible, roomy bags that close properly are crucial for keeping sticky fingers out and your possessions in. That zip-less Louis Vuitton tote may look fabulous nestled in the crook of your arm but it’s an open invitation to thieves with deft digits! A well-sized bag that can comfortably hold your gadgets and DSLR without dislocating your shoulder, is the way to go. Personally I love my backpack, although style icon Ines de la Fressage, in her fabulous style bible Parisian Chic, says that backpacks are only good for grade schoolers. Nonsense. Backpacks are practical and perfect when you’re cycling, on a segway, or doing walking and hiking tours. You’re hands-free too which makes everything so much easier. Sling bags are a good option as well, worn with the zipper towards the front of your body.
Zips are friends!
Solo at a bar like Harry’s is perfectly fabulous
Bar culture is big and a woman on her women attracts attention. If I go to one, it’s usually in the early evening, before a show, not often for more than an hour or so. I have a few faves too, like Harry’s in Paris (for the best Bloody Mary’s in the EU! and the New York Bar at the Park Hyatt in Tokyo.
Assess your surroundings before ordering, in case you’re not keen to linger. At my age and stage, I’m not at a bar to meet people and unwanted attention can be an annoyance. Small deterrents that have worked for me include always wearing my wedding ring (my single gf’s often do the same), keep ‘very busy’ on my mobile and avoid making direct eye contact with anyone who looks a little too flirty. Oh, and if you’ve ordered wine, ask the waiter to pour it in front of you, for obvs reasons.
Apps not Maps
In that event of a “where am I?’ moment, don’t panic and whip out a map. Firstly, city maps, once opened up, are the size of a bath sheet, and your ‘undercover tourist’ cover is blown with one swift unfolding. Google Maps for the most part will get you where you need to go but please, if you’re going to be lost, do it with aplomb. Strut with fake confidence, stop for a glass of wine somewhere, check your route on your phone, get your bearings and if all else fails, ask! Except in Venice, where directions consist of a series of flailing gestures that are well intentioned but more often than not mean absolutely nothing. The upside of being lost is that you’re sure to stumble upon delightful little eateries, lanes and places that are off the tourist track, which tend to be the best places to uncover a new destination in any case!
Gadgets
Solo in Bellagio
Talking of phones, make sure yours is a smart one, like you. Before you leave the hotel, ensure it is fully charged, your battery pack too, which you must always have on you. Take a plug and international adaptor along as well, for good measure. Selfies are increasingly seen as being a tad lame, so when in need of proof that were actually there, scan the crowd and ask a decent looking person to snap you somewhere fabulous. You wouldn’t want a stranger absconding with your gadget. I mostly trust Japanese tourists because A) they’re always willing and friendly and B) know how to take great pics. And take care not to get too absorbed on your mobile, for any number of reasons, worst of which would be walking into a pole or falling into a canal, or becoming victim of a bag-snatch- grab simply because you’ve been too deeply engrossed in an endless scrolling sesh on Insta.
Local sim
Get an e-sim from Airalo or if you prefer the old fashioned way, pick up a local simcard at the airport and buy a decent WiFi package so you are never without data. The better the package, the less the likelihood of a connectivity fail. Packages are usually very affordable and and you’ll find most coffee bars/restaurants and such have complimentary Wifi anyway. Keep your own number, whichever way to choose to go; it’s easier that way.
ROME AIRPORT ALERT: beware of purchasing a simcard from Exactta Mobile kiosk inside Rome’s Fiumicino Airport- click this link
ATMs and Transport
Avoid drawing cash on the street, rather go into a bank- it’s safer and the charges are pretty much the same. Always have cash on hand for a cab, in those cities where Uber isn’t operational or is having a drama with local taxi operators, which is the case in more places than you’d think, like London, Barcelona, Texas, Italy and Denmark. Uber has also faced suspensions in Finland, France, Spain and the Netherlands. If you’re aware of these bans, make sure you have plan B which for me is generally a share-ride from the airport when I arrive. Talking of getting from A-Z, the subway/metro is always a simple and convenient way to go, is easy to navigate and a really well priced way of getting around. Trams are also great and run efficiently and frequently especially in cities like Paris, Zurich, London, Berlin and Lisbon. At night, I tend to use a reputable cab service (ask your hotel concierge or AirbnB host to recommend one). Getting lost after dark is no laughing matter.
And while we all like to be on our A style game, there’s no need to be too flashy if travelling solo. Leave the sparkly carats back home. Respect local traditions and protocols too before stepping into shrines, mosques and temples – don’t wear shorts or mini-skirts and cover your head and your bare shoulders. There are very strict rules in place these days. Carry a long scarf and sarong at all times if in a Muslim country, just in case you’re in a 40 degree heat wave and can’t face wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt in lieu of one such visit. And if you’re a blonde and in Turkey or Egypt, wear a cap and tuck in those tendrils. Trust me on this one.
On Lake Como Fun accessories (necklace by Pichulik) – but skip the flash diamonds…
Stranger Danger
Pretty as your biz card is, be circumspect about who gets one… (PS those graphics on mine were done by the increasingly famous Lucie de Moyencourt)
Don’t overshare your personal info with strangers. Be friendly but don’t give out your surname or hand over a biz card randomly, and never divulge your hotel address. We all know that you can be tracked via social media faster than Usain bolting out the starting blocks, and unless someone wants to personally hand deliver a pair of Louboutins to your suite, don’t blab about your holiday abode.
Emergencies and personal valuables
Have a copy of your passport on you at all times plus the hotel/Airbnb host and embassy numbers and addresses, written on actual paper! Leave all valuables in the hotel room safe and keep your suitcase locked – ‘housekeeping’ may decide to rifle through your goods and G-d forbid someone decides that those two-tone Prada brogues belong in their future.
Good manners will get you places
Always be nice to the ladies and gents at hotel reception. They’ll give you the lowdown on the best local hangouts where you won’t have to sell a kidney to have an espresso. And talking of hospitality, go for a more upmarket hotel (like Jules et Jim in Paris) as they are typically in safe, smart areas. An added bonus is that the thread count is always higher, the bathrooms divine and you’ll just be so much happier.
Travel smartly and you’ll travel safely. I wish you many blissful solo experiences.
PS- please do email me – allisonfoat@me.com – if you’re ever in a tizz. I mean that sincerely and will assist where I can. On the interwebs I’m @allisonfoat on Twitter and Instagram and Cape Town Diva on Facebook.
Until next time,