Woman Travelling Alone How Safe is it?Prepared by Harold Stephens
Travel Correspondent for Thai Airways International
How safe is it for a woman to travel alone in Southeast Asia? It is a question I am constantly asked, from friends and friends of friends who are planning to visit this part of the world. My answer to those people is rather simple: it’s as safe as a woman traveller want to make it.
Thus, if you are a woman, and thinking about travelling alone—and are worried about it—let me pass on a few tips that I’ve gleaned from several women travellers.
Most of the advice these women gave is known already but hardly ever followed. For example, women should not travel with fine jewelry, expensive watches or high-priced leather goods for they will “attract unwanted attention." It’s only natural that women want to show off their latest fashions, and we can call that the “wanted” attention; but it’s the unwonted attention that is the concern. This we all know, but do we follow it? Not always. If we leave expensive items at home because they're more likely to get stolen, why have them at all, then? The clue here is caution. When you get into a taxi at the airport, put away your jewelry, or when you go shopping in public places, dress casually. The key is don’t show off.
It’s important that you make a copy of all valuable papers. Copy the front and back of all credit cards, the first two pages of each passport and visas for the countries you intend to visit, your driver's license and the serial numbers of all travellers’ checks. Fortunately, these days ATM cards have replaced travellers’ checks.
According to seasoned travellers, most important is to keep the original documents separate from the copies. Leave one set (of copies) at home with a relative, friend or assistant at work and leave a copy of the trip itinerary with all contact information.
Don’t disregard carrying travellers’ checks and rely fully on ATM machines. Some destinations may not have ATM Machines. I was travelling to Uzbekistan and was informed there were ATM machines everywhere, even outside of Tashkent including Samarqand and Bukhara. It was true, they did have machines everywhere, and they were brand new, gearing up for the tourist trade. The only problem, they didn’t have any money in them. I was really stuck.
American Express sends out free copies of tips to travellers and you might find parts of it useful. Write to Women's Travel Booklet, Dept. DM, American Express, 200 Vesey St., New York, NY 10285-4800.
The safest way for women traveling alone is to join one of the Royal Orchid Holidays tours. Your safety is guaranteed. But maybe it’s that side trip that a woman might be interested in. Nevertheless, the best ways for women to stay safe while traveling are still the simplest, and you won't have to write away for this free advice:
• Don't do things on trips that you wouldn't do at home. That includes flashing lots of money and jewelry, walking alone at night or in parts of town you don't know well, going off with strangers and/or not telling anyone where you're going.
• While overseas, make sure that someone—even if it's just your hotel receptionist—knows your destination; and if you're going out with someone you barely know tell the desk clerk his name.
• Remember, too, that many behaviors that would be acceptable at home send other signals abroad. In some cultures, for example, even the mere fact that you are female and travelling alone can signal sexual availability. Going out on a date with a man you've just met can do the same thing in a culture where dating is more supervised than at home.
• And here is prime advice: Learn all you can about the underlying values of the culture in the area where you'll be traveling, and be conscious of your own behavior and the signals it might send in that culture. Don't travel with such opinions as "I wear shorts at home why can't I here?" Usually travel guides will have tips for women travellers.
If you are looking for encouragement, remember women travellers have come a long way since the Victorian era, when an 1889 publication, "Hints for Lady Travellers," advised that lady's maids were "a great nuisance" on a journey, and that each pair of the traveller's shoes should be packed in its own monogrammed wrap.
I remember well, and this is dating back to the 1950s, when steamer trunks were the mode of travel. That was, of course, before jet travel when travellers went to Europe and the Far East by ocean liners. Steamer trunks would be delivered to one’s private staterooms. It was standard procedure back then. How different it is today and we don't have to worry about the "nuisance" of traveling with a maid.
If you want to read about some intrepid women travellers, pick up a copy of any of Isabella Bird Bishop travel books. She was a lifelong traveller and a member of Britain's Royal Geographic Society; she made her most arduous voyage—through Manchuria and down the Yangtze—at age 63. She returned to Asia to do another trip in the 1870s, when she was 68, and travelled from Hong Kong to Saigon, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Isabella Bird’s descriptions of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are most informative. Imagine having to travel with pillowcases to put your feet into when dining so that you are not eaten up by mosquitoes.
Other recommended reading is by African explorer Mary Kingsley, who collected fish and fetish specimens in Cameroon for the British Museum in the mid-1890s (all the while dressed in proper black silk skirts).
Or May French Sheldon, who led an expedition into Masai country north of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1891, earning a fellowship in Britain's Royal Geographic Society for her work.
A few months ago I had a letter from a friend, Jim Mathews, who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, telling me his daughter was coming to Bangkok, traveling alone, and planned to continue on to India and would I please look after her and advise her. Bangkok was no problem but it was to India that concerned me. These are the most difficult requests, friends wanting help and advice, but it was too late to advise, Mia Mathews already had her Thai Airways ticket and was on her way.
Mia loved Bangkok and she did the Chao Phraya River trip, went to Chatuchak weekend market, visited Khao San Road as young travellers want to do and after a week she was off to India. She returned a month later and never regretted travelling alone.
I asked her to jot down six recommendations for lone women travellers.
1. Dress appropriately for where you are going. Do some reading either in your guidebooks or online before you travel and plan accordingly so that you can bring the right clothes that you'll both feel comfortable in and not offend the cultural traditions. By dressing appropriately you are in a way showing respect for the culture as well as saving yourself from unnecessary and potentially unwanted attention.
2. Carry an air of confidence. Almost everywhere you go there are people trying to sell you something or take you somewhere (to sell you something). Even if you don't know exactly where you are going such as which hotel you might be staying in, pretend that you do to avoid being bombarded by people trying to scam you. Generally when you give people an answer that does not involve them they will stop pestering you.
3. Ask three people. If you have a question such as needing to find directions or which is the best mode of transport to get somewhere, as general rule ask three different people. This will help to give you an answer that you can trust will take you where you want to go, or at least help you get there.
4. Carry some sort of defense with you like a small spray canister of Mace. There was not a single moment when I needed it for my protection, but always knowing I had it gave me a sense of safety and preparedness.
5. Let your intuition guide you. Sometimes it's overwhelming to be in places that are so new and different and some decisions feel like they need to be made urgently but you may not have much information to help you decide. At these times give yourself a pause, take a deep breath and clear your mind. It may sound a bit hokey, but go with what feels right.
6. Take the time to take care of yourself. While travelling is enthralling it can easily be very tiring. Pace yourself and make some time everyday to do something that feels familiar and helps you relax. Something as simple as writing, reading, or having a cup of tea to give yourself time to reflect and integrate everything that you are experiencing.
That is some sound advice and, as I said, if women are still concerned about travelling alone, join a Royal Orchid Holidays package and let Thai Airways do the worrying for you. QUESTIONS & ANSWERSQ. Dear Mr. Stephens. I hear that this is the rainy season and not a good time to visit Thailand. Can you comment on that? Jenny, Auckland
A. Dear Jenny. Thailand is in the monsoon belt, and there are two monsoons—the northeast and the southwest. They do not blow at the same time. Thus, you can escape the monsoon by traveling to another area. Most people think of the monsoon as rain. It is not rain. It is a wind. Generally, however, the winds bring the rains, but no always. --HS
Harold Stephens
Bangkok
E-mail: ROH Weekly Travel (booking@inet.co.th)
Note: The article is the personal view of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the view of Thai Airways International Public Company Limited. | 
