Times & Places to Avoid

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Late at Night

Late in the evening can be unusually dangerous for many female travelers.  Not only is visibility poor, but alcohol consumption can also create many problems, whether it is the female traveler who is drinking or the would-be attacker. 

If you absolutely must travel at night, stick to well lit, crowded areas, carry a flashlight and cell phone, and never accept rides from non-metered taxis. 

Early Morning

Oddly enough, early mornings are notoriously dangerous as well.  Before 7 a.m., most city streets are relatively empty, and lone women are easy targets.  Again, if you absolutely must travel in the early morning hours, try to stay with crowds (if there are any), always carry a cell phone, and use common sense. 

Parking Lots

You probably won’t find yourself in too many parking lots when you travel abroad.  However, just know that unattended parking areas are frequently the scenes of violent crime, so always use caution, especially at night.   

If you are driving, be sure to check the back seat before getting in, and it’s a good idea to have your keys out before you even reach the car.  Rummaging around in your purse renders you temporarily vulnerable to surprise attacks. 

Try to Arrive during the Day

When people usually book flights, they focus on price and convenience, and not so much on the arrival time.  However, if you ever face a situation where two tickets costs roughly the same, opt for the flight that gets you into your destination at the safest and brightest time possible.  It’s much easier to orient yourself in a new city during daylight hours that it is during evening hours. 

Familiarize Yourself with the Sun’s Schedule

Knowing when the sun rises and sets can prove extremely useful if you’re in unfamiliar settings.  Just imagine going into a crowd bazaar or shopping center just to have a quick look at some items.  You emerge 20 minutes later, and the streets are empty, the sun is down, and you suddenly find yourself in a veritable ghost town. 

Perhaps the above is a little dramatic, but variations of this situation happen all the time.  And although you won’t necessarily find yourself surrounded by “vampires” the moment that the sun goes down, the last thing you want is to be laden down with heavy shopping bags in an unfamiliar neighborhood with no taxis in sight. 

Dome of the Sky and the US Navy have fairly accurate charts for worldwide sunsets and sunrises.  Even if you’re not traveling alone, familiarizing yourself with these charts can help make your medical tourism vacation a little safer and more enjoyable. 

Avoid Male-Dominated Areas

In most medical tourism destinations around the world, local crowds are pretty heterogeneous, meaning that you’ll find equal numbers of men and women.  But in some countries (especially certain Muslim countries), the sexes operate in entirely different spheres.  Try to limit your activities to areas where female representation is high. 

To learn about Traveling in Muslim Countries, please click here.

If You Ever Get Lost

If you ever get lost or turned around, it’s a good idea to approach women or families for directions.  This is not to say that every man or group of men is out to get you, but it’s better to play it safe than sorry. 

Stand up for Your Rights

It is normally best to ignore hecklers and catcalls, but if someone ever touches you inappropriately, don’t let it slide.  This is especially true if you are in a public area like a subway car, elevator, or shopping district.  By raising your voice and telling the perpetrator to keep his or her hands off of you, you can usually embarrass them enough that they will back off.  Languages barriers usually don't matter in these situations.  The volume of your voice and the angry look on your face will likely clue everyone into what’s happening.