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Miscellaneous Safety Tips

As with all of the other Safety Travel Tips for Women, this list of miscellaneous tips should be read in conjunction with our more universal list of Travel Safety Advice and Travel Tips for Everyone. 

Let the Bag Go

Giving up your purse at knife or gunpoint is both frightening and maddening, but your life is more valuable than all the contents of your purse put together.  Don’t risk your personal safety by trying to fight off a mugger.  it’s usually  safer to drop or throw the bag and run away in the opposite direction.  In most cases, thieves will stick with the bag instead of chasing you down the street.  Try to locate a public area and notify the authorities immediately.   

Check in Periodically

Whether you are alone or traveling with a companion, you should arrange scheduled check-in times with family members and friends back home.  E-mail is probably the most convenient method, but you can also purchase local cell phones or mobiles with international coverage.   

It is also important that your friends and family members know the appropriate names, phone numbers, and e-mails for all of your medical tourism contacts.  This list should include doctors, dentists, hotel managers, local police stations, local hospitals, taxi companies, and tour guides. 

Send Taxi Information to Friends and Family

If you have a cell phone (and you should), you can send text messages to friends and family members every time you get into a taxicab.  License plate numbers, taxi ID information, and any other relevant information should be part of this message.  Keep in mind, however, that not all countries and taxi companies use Roman letters and Arabic numbers. 

Hotel Keys Should Never Have Room Numbers

Don’t stay at hotels that print room numbers on the actual key chains.  If you ever lose your keys (or purse), thieves will know exactly where you're staying and how to get into your room. 

For maximum safety, stick with hotels that provide electronic keycards.  Click here for a more thorough discussion on hotel safety.

Never Stay on the First Floor of a Hotel Room

This is wise advice for all travelers, but it is particularly relevant for lone female travelers.  Hotel rooms on the first floor are more vulnerable to “uninvited” guests. 

Have Your Key Handy

When you are approaching your car or hotel room, always have your key handy.  The few seconds it takes to rummage through your purse are all that an attacker needs to catch you off guard.