These
shoes aren't made for walking. Tip #9, take care of your feet.

I’ve written all sorts of posts on how to travel alone.
Posts on solo
travel safety, eating alone, how to spend evenings… This post could
cover all those again because they all apply to women traveling alone.
However, I’m not going to try to say everything. This time I am writing
about things specific to women – serious issues and girly things.

1. Have patience. Even as an experienced solo
   traveler, every time I start a new trip it takes me a day or two to
   get solo stable — to shed those initial nerves of being out there on my
   own managing all the details, logistics and documents. Be patient.
   You’ll find your strength.
2. Be cautious. If you are a young woman you need to
   be far more careful about unsavory characters than us more mature women.
   At least, that certainly is my experience. Please, (PLEASE) read the
   post this Saturday where I share a very dangerous situation that I found
   myself in when younger. Then read the Solo
   Travel Safety section for lots of tips on staying safe.
3. Pack light. You’re going to save money and be more
   mobile if you pack light. It requires a bit more planning to have a
   wardrobe that stretches from hiking boots to high heels but it can be
   done. Choose a base color (black, brown, beige, navy), a contrast color
   (white, beige…) and a color or two to accessorize and pull it all
   together. Watch the videos in my
   post on packing light.
4. Dress conservatively. Maybe revealing tops and
   short skirts should be fine but, in reality, they can get you into
   trouble in many countries, including North America and Europe. You are
   always more vulnerable when you’re off your home turf so compensate by
   dressing conservatively. Read 10
   Tips to Survive Culture Shock for more on this topic.
5. Don’t make your hair an issue. Before I left on my
   long term trip I had long hair that was colored blond. It took too
   long to dry and the roots showed every five weeks. It was going to be a
   hassle that I didn’t need so I had it cut less than an inch long and
   let it go gray. Your situation need not be this extreme but it is worth
   having easy hair options so your travel time is not consumed with such a
   mundane task as your hair.
6. Plan your first night well. At minimum, have a
   place to rest your head on the first night and plan to arrive by mid
   afternoon. It’s important to have the time to find your hotel or hostel
   in daylight and time to change your accommodation if you determine that
   this is not the place for you.
7. Other women are not necessarily safe. Women often
   feel safer with other women. And, when it comes to small time danger, we
   probably are. But there are also dangerous women who are just as
   capable of luring you into bad situations as men. Be cautious.
8. Choose your purse carefully. While a day pack
   designed with  security features is ideal for travel you may prefer to
   carry a purse. If you do I recommend purses that you wear across your
   shoulders. In Naples a few years back I was the victim of a “scooter
   bandit”. What’s that? Two guys on a scooter. The driver charges through a
   cross walk against the light and behind a woman. The passenger grabs
   her purse. In my case, all he got was the strap.
9. Take care of your feet. Nothing will ruin a trip
   faster than sore feet. Women’s shoes are notoriously bad for feet.
   Choose comfort over fashion.
10. Pamper yourself. Women traveling alone are, just
    that, alone. No kisses from family. No hugs from friends. A manicure,
    pedicure, massage… are all safe ways to get a little human touch.
    Everyone needs that once in a while.