chic traveling solo - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

06-16-2003, 12:18 AM

So I'm fixing to spend a month or two mainly in Spain and this will be the first time outside of the country alone. I'm a little scared and wonder what other precautions I should take as a single female traveling alone. I have been doing a lot of research on backpacking and reading up on many peoples' experiences and words of advice that they might have. However, I have not run across many articles that focus on women's travels and experiences as females traveling solo(in Spain particularly). Or maybe I have and I'm still not satisfied.....
Anyways, if anyone has links, advice, stories and any other such related material, please post! Thanks---
With Love,
Faye

P.S. I'd appreciate any and all information...(hint hint, post somethin about Spain! I'll love you forever

...or at least for a couple minutes :

)

the_pink_robot@hotmail.com <--feel free to send it this way too...I have limited access to a computer

**travelpunk** · 06-16-2003, 06:08 AM

Wow, where to begin. I know that many people fear traveling alone, but really, when it comes down to it, you're hardly ever alone. You always meet people going the same way with you and a lot of times you just kinda end up hanging with each other, because you're all in the same boat.
Spain is a gorgeous country and probably one of the most backpacker friendly places in Europe, or quite possibly in the world. The people are so friendly, but in Madrid and Barcelona, you will have to be on guard as there are lots of scams and petty thieves that tourists attract.

One of our moderators, Sherpette, is off in Spain backpacking and studying right now.
After you log in, click the members link above and you can find her name and send her an email with any inquiries you have on Spain, from a womans perspective.

Mean while, I'll see what I can come up with and get back to you later. Hang tight! B)

**Canadian Dude** · 06-16-2003, 09:57 PM

As a female traveling alone you have to be a little more careful, In some countries, Italy, Spain, and possibly Portugal they are still male dominated socities, you will get stares and hoot and hollars, and you will almost surely be propositioned...but on the other hand they are still very traditional countries, if you do not want to be bothered by men, then wear a ring on your wedding finger, and that should curb some of the unwanted attention.

I had a girlfriend travel through europe and this was something that she told me, LOTS of testosterone floating through the air....She said the ring trick worked for her.

Just some tips :-)

**crionnacht** · 06-17-2003, 04:57 PM

hey c-dude, that's a really good idea. i wonder if i'll be able to use it when i go next year.....i could just say i married young.....lol

crion

**Canadian Dude** · 06-17-2003, 06:41 PM

fo-shizzle, it should work, but if I run into ya, i will know your not married and make cat calls from across the street!!!! HAHAHAHA :D

**Diorama** · 06-17-2003, 11:07 PM

Yeah I've travelled alone a few times (never to spain though) I have to say it was the best experience of my life. However your going to experience the cat calls and a lot of attention. I have blonde hair and paler type skin, so I had tons of attention. the best advice I can give is too ignore it. Eventually they'll get the point and walk off. I found the guys in Italy and Costa Rica to be the worse. They seemed to be more amazed at my blonde hair than anything. If I went to the middle east I'd probably just end of dying my hair!! geeesh it's just hair colour. But I think they relate it too america and the rest of the world is fasinated by the U.S. I had so many people call out to me "are u american?" It's the fascination that encourages this sort of behavious such as catcalls and whistling.

**travelpunk** · 06-23-2003, 02:25 AM

Here´s a site that is exclusively for women travelers- Journeywoman.com.

**Canadian Dude** · 06-23-2003, 05:59 PM

Another good tip if doing the ring thing, if a guy comes up to you to talk, mentiopn your husband in the conversation, aparently talking about you boyfriend does not have the same effect.

**travelpunk** · 06-24-2003, 02:23 AM

What if you straight up just start asking the guy for money?! hahaha...Ask him what his net worth is, or if you can have a hundred or two because you simply need more money for your trip.

If I have to think about what would turn me off when I first meet a chick at a bar, it´s probably the clues/questions that scream "gold digger!"

So maybe, if you keep talking about wanting to be with someone that has a lot of money, it could ward off some unwanted testosterone, but realy it´s just a smoke screen

Is any of this making sense?

**voyd** · 06-24-2003, 10:29 AM

Keep scratching your crotch and muttering something about a "damn rash."

faye_simmons · 06-26-2003, 01:19 AM

:D Thanks for the responses everyone and thanks for the sites! I'm happy there are so many travelers out there looking out for other travelers. One day, I'll be in the likes of you folks. Keep an eye out....

faye_simmons · 06-26-2003, 01:23 AM

ps. Voyd, your response was very helpful. I tried it on some guy and he freaked out. He called the cops on me and now I'm banned from Denny's. (again)

**Canadian Dude** · 06-26-2003, 03:35 AM

As scary as that is voyd and faye, it would most likley work....( As cold chills run down my spine.......well I am of to Denny's for a shmoke and a pancake...lololol

**travelpunk** · 06-26-2003, 03:54 AM

hahaha :D

pretty clever Voyd :P

vanessa-princesa · 11-06-2003, 09:53 AM

I'm curious to find out how faye_simmons' trip went. I too am planning a trip to Italy solo (sola

and anything she can tell me is welcome. I was in Spain several years ago but with a large group of students, and all of our arrangments were made in advance so I never got to experience the thrill of doing it myself. Did you have an excellent time?

**travelpunk** · 11-07-2003, 06:38 AM

Hey vanessa!

I haven't seen faue around in a bit, but she left her email address the_pink_robot@hotmail.com maybe she'll respond to you and you can update us

With proper preparation and staying alert, you should be fine B)

There are other girls on this board that have gone solo(Mocassin, Sherpette, Katdawg, Diorama, etc...), or are about to, and their posts are littered throughout the boards. Sorry to be so vague, but can't seem to think of where some oe these are located exactly

.

LittleMiss1565 · 11-24-2003, 04:23 PM

One thing I have to say about having travelled alone as a woman (by that I don't mean I was in drag but that I am, in fact, a woman :P ) is that sometimes when some sleazy guy has decided that he wants to get in your pants, telling him that you are married or that you have a boyfriend might serve as a cue for him to turn off the "charm" and get agressive.
I think this is because he realizes that trying to capture your heart is just a waste of time when your heart belongs to someone else and all he really wants is to get in your knickers. I ran into a few guys like that in very different countries.
EX. Oslo, Norway- I was approached by a guy who lived near my hostel and after I told him I had a boyfriend (I didn't have one) and giving quite detailed stories about our "relationship" he began to stalk me- around the city and at my hostel!

-Just something to consider. Rings may work. Fake boyfriends may work. Real boyfriends may work. But don't EVER totally let your guard down.

**travelpunk** · 11-26-2003, 08:05 PM

Great advice member #7! That really is the bottom line so be careful ladies

!