Being a fearless independent girl on the go comes with its fair share of challenges. Staying safe while traveling solo abroad as a woman, is different than traveling solo as a man.
With solo travel amongst women on the rise, unfortunately, so are the accounts of uncomfortable and downright tragic situations. A recent New York Times article revealed that there is no “clear global picture of the scale of violence against female solo travelers, making it hard to pin down whether attacks are on the rise or people have wider access to the grim news.” Which means, staying safe while globetrotting needs to be a priority. Always.
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While thousands of women travel solo each year without incident, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be prepared for the unexpected. These three apps will help you stay aware, seek community, and get help (if needed) while exploring the world alone.
01
Smart Traveler
Being abroad during an emergency can be scary, but the Smart Traveler app will help keep you at ease. Before you leave for a trip, use the app to check for travel alerts and warnings, and to enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) which can assist with natural disasters, unrest in foreign countries, and even lost/stolen passports.
Photo Credit: iTunes
02
Tourlina
Tourlina is an app exclusively for women that connects solo travelers with other solo travelers before or during their travels. Plan an entire trip together or arrange to meet up somewhere for an excursion – it’s totally up to you. As an added security measure, Tourlina screens each new user and only allows communication once they have been verified, which prevents creepy messages from landing in your DMs.
Photo Credit: Tourlina
03
Noonlight
Noonlight works by using the information provided by all your connected devices to help sense danger and keep you safe. The app provides your local first responders with accurate location data in the event that you need help. It also allows you to manually trigger an alarm so that help can be dispatched right away. Worried about accidentally setting off an alert? After an alarm is triggered, Noonlight’s dispatchers check in via text and phone, simply reply with your 4-digit Noonlight PIN to cancel.
