Traveling alone as a woman can be scary yet exciting, especially the first time. However, packing smart can conquer all your pre-departure fears. Packing strategically as a solo female traveler is the most important step in traveling. As an avid solo female traveler, I’m here to help you pack for your next solo trip abroad!
Firstly, staying aware and secure on the road is always important. I always bring pepper spray abroad (if not banned in the country). You never know when you will be walking alone in a sketchy place, and pepper spray is the perfect small essential to fit in your purse. Another safety essential I always bring is a personal safety alarm. My personal safety alarm is a loud whistle I will keep hanging around my neck when traveling through unfamiliar places. With this whistle around my neck, I can alert others around me if I ever encounter danger. The next safety essential I will mention is one I am about to purchase. If you like to travel on a budget like me, you are familiar with hostels. Hostels are a cheap alternative for a stay, with sometimes co-ed shared rooms and bathroom accommodations. A lock for your luggage is suggested when staying in a shared space so you don’t get your belongings stolen. (As long as it’s TSA-approved.) Important documents like your passport, visa, travel insurance, and cash should be locked.
As I mentioned earlier, I stay in hostels frequently. I recommend packing the right tech gadgets, such as a universal power bank, noise-canceling headphones, a portable charger for long travel days, and an air tag on personal belongings such as your wallet and backpack.
You never know if you are going to pick up a random sickness or stumble across the concrete after a long night out and cut your leg open. My advice when traveling is to pack a first aid/medicine kit. In my first aid kit, I have cold/flu medications, stomach-ache medication, vitamin C packets, pain meds, female products, and one of those mini colorful first aid kits from Target that has all the essentials. I got my medicine kit from Amazon, and it’s very travel-friendly.
https://a.co/d/0KCVZ3u (My medicine kit linked)
My next piece of travel advice is to have a travel fanny pack when you go on buses, trains, or planes. I have hand sanitizer, face masks, and Clorox wipes in my travel pack to wipe my surroundings. I also have my wallet, phone charger, and AirPods. Now, let’s get to the main part of packing. I will shop at Target for mini toiletries and buy larger sizes of toiletries abroad so I can save packing space. I also limit my clothes because I know I will be shopping abroad and I want to have room in my suitcase to bring everything home. Now that I have provided you with safety, tech, medicine, and toiletry essentials, you have all the power to be a safe, aware, and excellent female solo traveler!
ShoutOut! James Madison University 