Being a woman is extremely hard. Let alone a solo female traveller who’s going abroad for the first time, now that’s downright terrifying. A recent study by a specialist accommodation finder revealed that women make up 67 per cent of solo travellers, yet 88 per cent of them reported feeling their safety was threatened in some way because they travelled solo.

The sad reality of being a solo female traveller is the constant fear of something bad happening or things going wrong, and the overall concern for your safety and well-being. I have scheduled my first trip abroad in about a month and to say I’m scared is an understatement.

I have been constantly googling tips and doom-scrolling Instagram for tips and tricks on “how to keep you and your stuff safe.” I have now picked up a few I’d like to share.

An important part of staying safe is setting boundaries with strangers. Saying “no” is a full sentence. Do not let people try to pressure you into doing things you are not comfortable with.

Plan your destinations you want to go to ahead of time with lodging, restaurants and transportation. Make sure you know your surroundings and where you’re going. Also, make sure a friend or family member knows your travel plans for that day.

Make it a priority to protect your personal belongings such as your passport, cash and credit cards. Invest in a suitcase with a lock, carry your passport with you so it doesn’t go missing or purchase travel insurance to make sure you are fully covered medically when you travel to reduce stress.

I think these safety tips should be more common knowledge amongst women who are travelling anywhere. These safety tips can be life-saving and essential for the well-being of female travellers who are just starting on solo expeditions and even for those with many travel experiences. When you’re well prepared for travelling and have knowledge on the area you’re going to, this can help minimize the chances of anything going wrong.

Even though travelling anywhere can be risky at times, I think taking time to travel is an important step into adulthood and is well worth the risk. Taking that step into adulthood can look like going on a solo trip by yourself, travelling somewhere with friends, or if you don’t have the money to take a trip abroad, doing little day trips by yourself.

I’m sure a lot of you reading this have been dragged on a trip by your parents to go see windmills on the prairies, or perhaps you were dragged hours away from your home to visit your grandparents. Maybe it was something else you were forced to go to that your parents suggested was a “family trip,” but was just what they wanted to do.

Travelling without your family is a big step toward independence and self-discovery, to think about what you want to do and not just what your parents want to do.

It’s an essential part of adulthood, realizing your parents will not always be there for everything and discovering the types of things you like to do.

Whether big or small, travel plans are an important part of growing up. However, taking safety precautions, especially for women, is super important for our well-being and safety. If you are planning on travelling, make sure to take the necessary steps to feel safe during your journey so you can enjoy it instead of stressing out.