Solo Female Traveler Lists European Cities Where She Didn't Feel Safe
I've only been lucky enough to solo travel a couple of times in my life, but those trips have been among my most rewarding travel experiences. There's really something to be said about getting comfortable with hanging out alone — not to mention the fact that when you're the only one on the trip, you get to make all of the decisions. You wake up when you want, you go where you want, and, most importantly, you eat what you want. Of course, vacations with friends and family are wonderful, but I firmly believe everyone should travel somewhere new alone at least once!
Safety becomes even more important when you're solo traveling, though, especially if you're a female traveler like me. So in that department, I'll take all the advice that I can get — and with safety in mind, this TikTok video is more than a little alarming.
On Wednesday, February 14, solo traveler @fionatravelssolo shared the European cities where she didn't feel safe traveling alone, and some of the ones mentioned on this list are more than a little surprising.
Multiple cities in the country of Turkey made the list of places she felt unsafe, along with Albania and Serbia, but two of them were pretty big tourist destinations: Dublin, Ireland, and Barcelona, Spain.
In Dublin, she said it felt "sketchy at night," and in Barcelona, she said there was a lot of catcalling going on, and that she knows a lot of people who have been pickpocketed in the area. Yikes!
This doesn't mean she's encouraging people not to visit these cities, though. "I still LOVED most of these places but it just didn't feel 100% safe, especially at night," she wrote in her caption.
Safety Tips for Solo Travelers
If you're planning a solo trip, safety has to be your first priority — the fun can come later. But how do you make sure you're being as safe as possible while solo traveling?
There are a few things you can do to minimize your risk of running into trouble. Before you leave home, it's a good idea to give someone you trust your itinerary and plan to check in with them regularly — and make sure they know to call the U.S. embassy in the place you're visiting if they don't hear from you. You can also sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which registers your travel with the embassy so they'll already know where you'll be if there's an emergency,
It's also important to make sure you're staying in accommodations that are in safe areas, and that you lock all doors and windows before you go to sleep. Before going out, only bring with you what you need for the day, and never let anyone know you're traveling alone.
And always follow your gut. If a situation feels sketchy, it is. Don't be shy about leaving somewhere you don't feel safe or asking for help.
Solo traveling is an amazing experience, but even better when it's done safely.
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