| | Female Traveling SOLOPage 3 of 3 (1, 2, 3) |
But!! One might wonder . . .how did this man know I was from Canada, in the first place?? That took me a few minutes to figure out, brain surgeon that I am. My Canadian flag bag tags, of course!!
LOL. As an American who lived in Europe for years, I would always spot first-time Canadian travelers with their little flags sewn onto backpacks, fanny packs, etc. I was told that the purpose was to make it clear that they were not Americans. To the untrained ear and eye, they dress and sound the same as Americans, and their French was equally weak. Yet Canadians don't have as bad a reputation internationally, so it makes sense to stick a flag to distinguish yourself. But it still makes you stand out and that may actually be worse in the long run.
For the record, I was propositioned by a man in Paris. So even men can get harassed. The story is funny to tell now, but at the time I was creeped out.
From the guide for women travelers I mentioned in my post above:
Dress Sense
No matter where you travel, it is best to dress modestly. Leave both valuable and authentic-looking costume jewellery at home. Blending in, rather than sticking out, will help you stay safe.
...
There is potential for sexual harassment and intimidation around the world. Be prepared. Do your research before you leave home. Find out as much as you can about the roles of both women and men where you plan to visit.
Avoid wearing provocative, form-fitting clothing.
A woman alone may be considered fair game. Prepare yourself mentally for propositions, suggestive comments or catcalls. Then simply ignore them.
In some cultures, it is considered improper for a woman to travel solo. When travelling to countries that present such challenges, you might want to team up with a companion. Two women travelling together often have an easier time.
In some cultures, making eye contact with a man, or simply smiling, may suggest that you want his company. Some women solve this problem by wearing dark glasses or by maintaining a formal demeanour.
Be aware that, in countries where you look different from the local population, both men and women may openly stare at you and make no attempt to hide their curiosity.
Behave confidently, as if you know exactly where you are going and what you are doing.
Take your cue from the local women. As a rule, if they do not sit in cafés alone or wear sleeveless dresses, neither should you.
Never hitchhike or accept rides from strangers. Ask local hotels to recommend reputable taxis and, whenever possible, try to double up with someone you know when travelling by cab. | |
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| Female Traveling SOLO
Posted: 5/31/2008 5:40:43 AM | I would always spot first-time Canadian travelers with their little flags sewn onto backpacks, fanny packs, etc
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This is soo true and we just end up sticking out like sore thumbs. Your right though, it is because we don't want to be mistaken for Amercians. I've stopped wearing my Canadian flag though, I think it just shows how much of a tourist you are and most tourist are the same no matter where they are from. | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 5/31/2008 7:44:17 PM | I've travelled solo and just love it. The upside is that you don't waste hours wondering what the "other" party would like to do. The itinerary is all yours. If you are travelling with a group look at them as 45 of your new best friends. Because you don't run interference with a significant other, you get to know your fellow travellers well and learn from them, enjoy their stories and lives. The first time was quite a novel experience for me and I think I contributed as much as I got back. The downside is the same as being single at home, there are moments when you want to turn to someone special and say"I can't believe I'm looking at this..or that. " The first time I travelled on my own it was not quite as popular as now. Now you can go on the internet and fine people who have the same agenda as you, there are special single cruises, tours, etc. and in every instance, the people who organize these things try to get everyone to meet everyone. Now, if you are truly travelling solo (not with a group)
pay attention to your surroundings, learn all you can about the country in which you travel and be prepared to change your itinerary to suit local conditions.
If you look like a back-pack traveller and not a "chauffeur" traveller, you usually won't have any problems. Do your homework, know what contacts you can make in your new temporary country, know who to call for help, let your friends and family know how to reach you, make sure one or two of your friends are dying with envy and have the greatest time ever. There are hundreds of site where you can touch base with people travelling in the same direction, go for it. | |
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| Female Traveling SOLO
Posted: 5/31/2008 11:34:56 PM | divefree said: "I would always spot first-time Canadian travelers with their little flags sewn onto backpacks, fanny packs, etc. I was told that the purpose was to make it clear that they were not Americans".
sea replies: Well, I'd hardly be a first-time traveler by any stretch of the imagination. Be that as it may, I am proud to be a Canadian and generally want people to recognize that. Also the tags have helped me to identify my luggage as it came down the carousel.
On this particular trip, I was travelling with my American friend and so I did want people to know that I was Canadian. Often we'd be asked where we were from and she'd jump right in saying where she was from and there would just be assumption that I was also American. It became important to me that I have a sign or symbol. ;)
Regardless that the experience of the man approaching me at the train station was the exception and not the rule, I have been rethinking my bag tag selection. I could just as easily get tags in shocking orange or some such, to help with my luggage ID. | |
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| Female Traveling SOLO
Posted: 6/1/2008 1:35:43 PM | | I lie and say I am a Canuk. :) Simply feel less hated that way. | |
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| Female Traveling SOLO
Posted: 6/1/2008 6:03:40 PM | | Hey, I've got some Canada flag baggage tags you could have. | |
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| Female Traveling SOLO
Posted: 6/1/2008 8:50:44 PM |
I lie and say I am a Canuk. :) Simply feel less hated that way. LOL. Here are some pronunciations that will help you sound more convincing:
Sorry --> "surry"
About --> "aboot"
Garage --> "gue-RAJ" (the A is like the A in 'bad')
Process --> "proh-cess"
Mazda --> "MAZdah" (the A is like the A in 'bad')
Practice sentence:
Sorry constable, I was about to start the process of parking my Mazda in the garage.  | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/3/2008 10:38:56 PM | I traveled alone in Mexico and Italy. In both cases, I had friends or relatives that I eventually stayed with but did some traveling solo. I enjoyed it but I also really like having a traveling companion. However, I went days and even weeks at a time without speaking English and that did wonders for my Spanish and Italian. I'd recommend starting with a short trip and see how you feel about it. The thing I liked about traveling solo is that I ended up interacting with locals and people I met a lot more than if I'd been with a companion.
I've never been on a "singles" trip. | |
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| Stereotypes of travelers
Posted: 6/5/2008 3:51:25 PM | I just read this article on-line ... pretty funny generalizations:
http://travel.news.yahoo.com/b/rolf_potts/20061009/rolf_potts/rolf_potts10387
I'll quote the part about different nationalities:
In fact, were I to base my perceptions entirely on the basis of Britannic generalizations, I could very well conclude that the world's worst tourists are roughly categorized as follows:
1. Americans: Ignorant. Loud. Oblivious to surroundings. Insincere.
2. French: Rude. Bigoted. A trifle out of touch with reality.
3. Germans: Humorless. Rule-obsessed. Unfriendly. Stubborn.
4. Israelis: Rude. Cheap. Arrogant. Cliquish.
5. Canadians: Exactly like Americans, but more soft-spoken, more polite, less ignorant, and twenty times more boring.
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/6/2008 10:45:48 AM | | i've never done a "singles vacation" but have traveled alone before and loved it!! i think if you're comfortable being alone at home then alone on the beach with a good book is even better. i've never been one to need alot of people around me so i didn't think twice about it. good luck and have fun! | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/9/2008 10:20:13 AM | | All I would recommend is to go somewhere where the people speak a fair amount of English, or brush up on whatever language that they speak | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/17/2008 8:33:45 AM | I spent a couple of days in southern Florida (kinda English speaking territory)before meeting up with friends in Palm Beach.
One thing I've noticed in those two days is: a female traveling alone is still an anomaly~even at the beach  | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/18/2008 4:48:06 AM | I have been to Vietnam,Korea,USA "alone"the first two I went o with Travel group but my place is only me to go,USA,I went alone,but I have friends alone.
Maybe I think we can organize female travelling club,people from different countries fly to the same destination,Then we will have partners.Sometimes,when we want to travel,friends are not available.I am planning to go to Europe next year.
Welcome to join in! | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 6/19/2008 1:15:38 AM | | i have been on a number of solo vacations, but as a single woman, i would just suggest to plan, and plan on everything ou want to do.and just be careful, talk to the hotel staff about the good and bad areas of your interests. and let someone know were you are going and when to expect you back. have fun out there | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 11/8/2008 12:58:14 AM | I spent 3 months solo in Europe. I always wanted to travel and after a few times planning a trip only to have people pull out i thought, bugger it, im going alone.
I did some group touring and some individual touring. With the group tour i did it in countries where i didnt speak the language and as a way to see as much as i could in a short time. it gave me the confidence to see everything i wanted to seee without worrying about transport or finding the sights.
In the english countries i went it alone and used public transport.
As long as you use some common sence and stay safe you will have a great time | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 11/14/2008 8:54:37 PM | I have travelled many times by myself. Be very cautious, though. Don't rent a car or become friendly with local men. I have been assaulted and almost raped on vacation. What I do is take package tours (including hotel and airfare and food). Then, when I get to my hotel, I book bus tours from the hotel (30 people in a bus). That way, I go places but am with a large group of people and so it's very unlikely that a bus that size will be held up by banditos! Also, don't go out alone after 7 p.m.
Many travel companies recommend that if you are travelling alone, you make friends with the hotel desk personnel and let them know where you are going every day and that you contact the Canadian embassy in the other country, to advise them of your plans. That way, if you are kidnapped or harm comes to you, people will know where you are.
Good luck,
Judith | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 11/15/2008 6:51:29 AM | I just booked my first solo vacation. I've been wanting to do this for years.
Leaving Dec 26th for the Dominican. I'm so excited to have 7 days to myself - chilling on a beach with a book. | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 11/16/2008 7:09:41 PM | | I've been all over the globe, solo. Why, it's no problem, if you avoid high crime areas. Never camped alone though! Have any women done that? How safe is it? | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 11/20/2008 11:37:35 AM | Avoid high crime areas. Get out and meet locals, but be careful about giving them your trip plans. Don't carry much cash. Don't carry big purses either. If you are lost, ask a policeman or a local vendor for directions.
If you need to review your map, try not to stand at the corner reading it. Buy coffee at a cafe and review your map. Those things attract pick pockets in some countries.
I am wrapping up 3 months in Buenos Aires alone. And I went to Japan alone last year.
All the best! | |
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| show some money
Posted: 11/25/2008 2:58:23 AM | Hi
I've travelled a lot alone. One of my tips is to carry a small visible change purse (like over a shouler or round your neck). Then I keep all my real money and documents on my leg in a little bag with two elastics sewn on. I have done thousands of miles alone and never been robbed, but making it visible that you only have a small change purse means that they know they wont get much off you and its easy for them to grab it and go if they do want to have a go. Mostly thieves are opportunists. It also makes it very easy to pay for small things like drinks etc without opening you bag (more risk). I put enough in for the day. If I want to buy something more expensive normally I would be in a shop so I can discretely get to my money pack.
Also I think if you are ever nervous about where you've ended up (it happens to us all) the best remedy is to hold your head high, walk confidently forward and keep a bit quiet. You can normally find someone who looks ok for advice on how to best get back to the right side of town. People love being asked for advice and will normally go out of their way to help you.
Have a great time. Never done the group singles holiday myself, but I'd love to hear from those that have. Tell us when you get back. xxx | |
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HeathC
| | Joined: 8/24/2006
Msg: 71 | |
| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 11/26/2008 8:14:50 PM | | I've done it. I went to New Zealand and Australia for 3 months. U basically wont be alone very much. If u stay in hostels there are plenty of people to meet and group events. I would travel alone again in a heart beat. I don't think I would have met as many people or done as much as I did if I hadn't been alone. I hope this helps! | |
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AlyTay
| | Joined: 8/19/2008
Msg: 72 | |
| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 12/2/2008 11:06:49 PM | Some excellent advice here. If, like me, you're into independent travel to less familiar destinations then I highly recommend getting the latest edition of "The World's Most Dangerous Places" by Robert Young Pelton. It's a hilarious and enlightening read, but try not to let the more hair-raising stories dissuade you from leaving home. I've never come to harm on any of my travels though I have been robbed a half dozen times, groped on more than a few subways and buses, spit on/at innumerable times, and been dangerously close to being kidnapped on three occasions (in Cambodia, Colombia, and Pakistan). As a woman, the most difficult places to travel alone are non-secular Middle Eastern countries because it's impossible to do anything without a man (as in a husband, father, or brother) accompanying you. As for the rest of the world, I've found that the further you are from the city the safer you will usually be. Never drink or take drugs if you're on your own. If you don't have travel partners looking out for you then stick to a regular routine - no late nights partying so you never have to risk nodding off on a bus or train alone. Lastly, sexism is alive and well throughout the world so dress conservatively! All societies have rules for proper female behaviour and attire. Learn them in advance and don't think that you're exempt because you're a tourist!
~ Aly | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 12/3/2008 12:15:35 AM | | I love traveling solo! You have to like your own company, but you meet so many people. Also, you can be totally spontaneous and change your plans on a dime. Just a few things to remember: keep your wits about you and don't wear expensive things or be drunk or flash cash. Also, if something feels wrong just leave, don't worry about being rude. Traveling solo can be a blast, do it if you can! Best wishes! | |
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| A female Traveling Solo
Posted: 12/3/2008 12:27:04 AM | | I have camped alone. Maybe not a good idea, now that I think of it, but oh, it was fun. Once a bunch of kids on a picnic invited me to eat with them, (Michigan) and once a forest ranger asked me in for coffee and breakfast with him and his wife (Alabama). people kind of look after you, it seems, at least in the states. Once I tent-camped in Montana, but forgot there were bears ad cougars and stuff. Once again, not so smart, but I did live to tell about it. Oh, and a carpenter and his family offered me beer that night. I hung out and chatted, but declined (I never drink on the road). I was really suprised and delighted that people were by far more nice than otherwise. | |
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