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    Anne Marie
    Black women of every age and income bracket can and should consider solo traveling and living abroad either permanently or semi-permanently.

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7 Safety Tips for Women Over 40 Traveling Solo

March 11, 2022

Recently I did a quick unscientific poll on my YouTube channel where I asked my followers to tell me what aspect of solo travel worried them the most. Of the choices given, overwhelmingly, the answer was personal safety.

Should Women be worried about their personal safety while traveling? Worried? No. Aware – Yes. You should not worry but you should have awareness.

In many Facebook groups, I find that the questions that I hear most relevant to safety are about abductions and assault. Many seem to think that someone is going to come to snatch them from their hotel room or steal their organs. And while I can’t say that these things don’t happen they are not as prevalent as many would have you believe on the Internet.

In my prior life in executive management, I oversaw the safety and security of thousands of people. I was responsible for ensuring that we had the right standards for offices and personnel not just in the United States but across the world. In countries like Ukraine, Serbia, Kenya, Tunisia, and Turkey.

As women, there absolutely are steps that we should take to safeguard our personal physical safety. But did you know that a car accident is a much higher risk than an abduction? Because traffic and safety rules are very different in many countries and the way that drivers operate their vehicles are very different there’s a higher likelihood that you could be in a traffic accident than that you will be abducted from your hotel or Airbnb. Another more likely mishap is that you may slip and fall while walking and twist an ankle, break an arm or tear an important muscle.

There are specific things you can do to safeguard your safety when traveling abroad especially solo to decrease the likelihood of being a victim of a crime or experiencing a vehicular mishap. 

I’ll walk through the seven things you should do not just in preparation for a trip but also while you’re on your trip.

1. Exercise Situational Awareness and Common Sense

This means being aware of your surroundings and paying attention to your instincts and your inner voice what we call intuition. If something feels wrong remove yourself. Don’t second-guess it just go. Don’t announce that you are alone. If someone asks you say you’re with a friend or friends. Don’t drink excessively especially when you are out at night. Make sure you have mapped how you’re going to destinations and how you’re getting back ahead of time. Avoid walking alone at night and use a ride share or taxi.

2. Arrive at Your Destination during Daylight

Schedule your arrival at your destination during daylight hours and prior to sunset. My rule of thumb is to arrive no later than 3:00 pm local t Arrival during the daytime allows you to scope out the area surrounding your hotel/vacation rental during the day and determine whether it is a safe and good fit. After check-in, take a walk and find the grocery store, pharmacy, and cafe(s). Figure out where the bus and train lines are located if you did not use them during your transit to the location. Take a walk around the hotel/vacation rental and confirm proper external lighting. If anything is concerning raise it with the hotel or your host, and relocate if major safety red flags arise.

3. Safeguard Your Personal Belongings

Frankly, you’re more likely to be a pickpocket victim than an abduction victim. Invest in a wrist wallet or a money belt to keep most of your money and credit cards close to you.

Book a hotel or vacation rental with built-in safes. Don’t assume that a hotel room or your Airbnb will have a safe. Ask ahead of time whether there is a safe on the premises and use it. If there isn’t a safe I recommend sleeping with your money belt containing your passport, your credit cards, and your cash.

Don’t walk around with all of your cash and credit cards on your person. Do not carry your passport around with you unless the country requires it by law (do your homework). I recommend making several photocopies of your passport at least three. Keep a copy on your person at all times and leave your original passport in the safe in your hotel room or vacation rental. In many countries outside the United States cash is king so research and find out whether most places prefer cash versus credit cards. Only carry the amount of cash that you will need and one credit card. I recommend VISA because it’s generally excepted everywhere.

Be especially vigilant on trains, buses, and crowded areas in major city centers. They are the playground of pickpockets. Keep a money belt under your clothing or use a wrist wallet. If you are carrying a purse, I recommend a small cross-body or waist belt that you can keep your hands firmly while on trains, buses, or walking in crowds.

4. Upon Check-In, Make Sure Entry Points to Your Hotel Room and or Vacation Rental Lock Properly

Upon arrival at your hotel room or vacation rental, check all the entry point doors and ensure they lock properly. If you are in a vacation rental there may be multiple entry points onto the property and into the home or condo. CHECK THEM ALL. Make sure they lock properly and make sure they are locked. If any of them are not working immediately report it to management or your host and demand immediate action. Relocate to another hotel room or rental if necessary. Do not spend the night or leave your valuables in a hotel room or vacation rental without fully operational locks. Supplemental locks and door jams are also great things to bring with you. I like the Addalock and the Jamm Doorstop.

5. Be Very Thoughtful and Careful About Auto Transportation

Auto safety standards vary from country to country. Ensuring that you are traveling in an automobile that is safe is your responsibility. When getting into a taxi or Uber make sure that there are seatbelts that are working and that the vehicle looks to be in good order. Don’t let the driver start driving until you have put on your seatbelt and if the car does not have a seatbelt get out of the car. If the driver has child safety locks on ask them to turn them off immediately. When getting into an Uber or any other rideshare service make sure that you check the license plate to match it with the car on the app. Also, ask the driver for their name before you get into the car.

6. Know Where the Closest Hospital or Urgent Care Centers Are Located in Each City You Will Visit.

As I shared, slips and falls are high risks when on travel, especially to low and middle-income countries. Many of the sidewalks may not be evenly paved, are often narrow and it’s easy to miscalculate your steps and take a tumble. In some places there may not even be sidewalks and you may have to walk in the street risking being hit by a car. If an accident occurs you want to know how to access medical care promptly. As you plan your travel notate the location of urgent care or hospital facilities in your itinerary.  Read this blog post where I share 4 MORE OF MY FAVORITE SAFETY APPS & GADGETS FOR SOLO TRAVEL! It shares key apps and tools you should use to organize your itinerary and health information. Also don’t forget that COVID-19 entry requirements may still be in place in many countries. Be sure to travel with your vaccine card and K95 face masks.

7. Be Confident and Have a Good Time

After you’ve done all these things on this list as well as those in my other blog post and guides: Go on your trip do and so confidently. Get out there and see some world!

Check out other Solo travel safety and security tips in prior blog posts HERE, and HERE.

Download the BaldGirlWillTravel: A Guide to Travel Safety and Security for Solo Female Travelers It’s packed with tips and information about how to solo travel safely and securely.  

Thank You For Reading!

Subscribe to this website and GET YOUR FREE DIGITAL TEAM CARRY-ON PACKING GUIDE FOR THE FLY 40+ WOMAN!

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Check out these solo travel blog posts:

3 WAYS TO BUILD A SOLO TRAVEL MINDSET

10 SOLO TRAVEL MISTAKES TO AVOID!

4 MORE OF MY FAVORITE SAFETY APPS & GADGETS FOR SOLO TRAVEL!

Note: This blog post may include affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsements, recommendations, testimonials, and/or links to products or services on my website. I will not recommend any product that I have not used myself and that I do not truly support or believe in.

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Blog Posts  / Female Solo Travel over 40  / Safe Solo Travel  / Solo Travel  / Travel  / Travel Planning

Anne Marie Archer
I am on a mission to make solo travel accessible and fun for everyone, especially Black Women over 40, and to dispel the myth that women over 50 can’t be fashionable, comfortable, and still travel #TeamCarryon.

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  • About Me

    Anne Marie

    Hi I'm Anne Marie. I Quit my high six-figure income job, jumped off the hamster wheel, exited the American Rat Race, packed up my house and moved to Mexico in May 2021. Now I am embracing my love of solo travel while working as an HR consultant and connecting Black Women Coaches to those who need them via The BlackWomen Coach™ Directory (www.blackwomencoach.com). I have traveled to over 40 countries and I want Black Women over 40 to embrace solo travel! Stop waiting for your girlfriends, husband, boyfriend to get on the road. Go see the world and live your best authentic unapologetic and free life right now.

    We each have this one precious life – you owe it to yourself to live your life to the fullest NOW!

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    The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical or legal advice. Readers should consult with a licensed professional to get advice for their individual situation. See the Disclaimer and Terms of Use for more information. Copyright BaldGirlWillTravel,LLC 2022. This website, Baldgirlwilltravel, LLC, And all trademarks and other intellectual property used herein are the property of MegEd Enterprises LLC.

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    Over 50 I Solo Travel for self care you should too! 30+🌍 & counting✈️

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    SAVE AND SHARE Solo Travel Safety Tip Hotel editi SAVE AND SHARE

Solo Travel Safety Tip Hotel edition
Limit access to your hotel room by keeping the “do not disturb“ tag on your door at all times. Only take it off when YOU want the room cleaned or do what I do and just stop the maid in the hallway give her the dirty towels and get clean ones. I really don’t like people in and out of my hotel room so this is what I do to limit access.

you are not not safer in a hotel then you are in a short term rental like Airbnb or VRBO 

your risk are just different.

I spent 15+ years overseeing global security in the international development sector.

The most important thing to remember when traveling alone, especially as a woman, is to practice situational awareness and common sense. If it feels wrong even for a minute don’t do it. 

I share solo travel safety and security advice based on my 15+ years of experience in the downloadable 
Bald Girl Will Travel: Guide to Travel Safety & Security for Solo Female Travelers

At $10 it’s a bargain and it will tell you what you need to know about traveling alone as a woman and doing it safely. It’s been recently updated. 

Grab it at the link in bio. 

Don’t let Social media personalities scare you. You can be safe anywhere in the world. 

Life is short. 
Book the trip.
You’re welcome

#Travel #Traveltips #Safetytips #TravelSafety #TravelSafely #solotravel #SoloTravelSafety
#Reels #ReelsOfInstagram #instagramreels #travelcoterie #blacktravelfeed
    Out in the streets of Dakar Senegal. Rumor has it Out in the streets of Dakar Senegal. Rumor has it I was shaking my 🍑 a lil bit 👀🤣 

For those who asked 
Duster @dopewithoutlabels 
Bodysuit @amazon 
Shoes @sorelfootwear 

#yourewelcome
    “The Lion does not concern itself with the opini “The Lion does not concern itself with the opinion of the sheep.”Tywin Lannister. Be a Lion🦁 epic day.  Thanks to @senegal_tourist_guide #senegal #fathalawildlifereserve #seesomesenegal #seesenegal #visitsenegal #whatididtoday
    Goree Island is a beautiful place. Goree Island is Goree Island is a beautiful place. Goree Island is a haunted place. 

It is haunted by the souls of our ancestors who passed through the door of no return to unspeakable  horror. Their stay on the island was horrific, but what they went to was even worse and the legacy of that continues.

The horror of it continues.

A horror that has really never ended in many ways 

As horror that some don’t even want us to talk about or teach our children about in school. 

Well, they definitely don’t want us to tell their children what they continue to perpetuate and what their ancestors did.

I can’t say that I enjoyed my visit but I’m glad I went 

Have you been to Goree island Senegal? How did it make you feel?#goree #goreeisland #senegal #africa #visitsenegal #seesomesenegal
    Check out my latest #YouTube video where I explain Check out my latest #YouTube video where I explain my top 3 #teamcarryon Packing strategies

I explain how I think about packing and the three things I always do to ensure that I can travel without checking a bag while maintaining my personal style. Watch it at the link in the bio!

#travel #solotravel #packingtips #packinghacks #travelsolo #traveltips
    San Miguel de Allende Mexico is an ideal destinati San Miguel de Allende Mexico is an ideal destination for solo travel. There’s so many opportunities for special and unique experiences.

A bit off the beaten path, but definitely worth the effort. The Mayan Baths offers you a spa and Hot Springs experience all in one place. It is pricier than some of the other local Hot Springs but it’s a nice way to relax and get away while not being that far away from town. 

I got the VIP package that included a towel, robe, a 50 minute massage, seven hours access to the hot springs, and a three course lunch with three additional beverages (alcoholic or nonalcoholic) included. cost was 3490 pesos ($185 USD) 
somewhat pricey for Mexico, but it was worth it. The facilities are very clean. The locker rooms were very nicely organized, and the attendant was very helpful. The massage was great and the Hot Springs are very relaxing. The outdoor pools were not open because it was quite cold outside but I imagine during the summer months it’s a really great experience to access both the Hot Springs and the outside pools. 

You can contact them to book. If booking a VIP package of 1000 peso deposit is required. 

If planning a trip to San Miguel de Allende I definitely recommend putting this spot on your itinerary. #sanmigueldeallende #mexico #visitmexico #vivamexico #solotravel #safesolotravel #gosolo  #travel #traveltips #blackwomen #blackwomentravel #melanintravel #reels
    Watch me pack for my upcoming trip to Africa. I wi Watch me pack for my upcoming trip to Africa. I will be visiting: 
 
Dakar, Senegal
Nairobi Kenya
Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, Tanzania

 I will be traveling through some very cool climates ahead of my trip to Africa and for that reason, I also have to plan my transit attire very carefully. 

Check out this video where I show you how I packed and what I’m taking! See how I still manage to travel with just a carry-on and a personal item bag #solotravel #packing #packingtips #packinghacks #travel #traveltips #traveltipsandtricks #africa #reels #reelsinstagram #sunkissedtravelers #sisterstravelingsolo #blackgirlstraveltoo #travelingwith melanin #blackwomentravel #blackexpats #blackandabroad #ladiesgoneglobal #blackforeigners #solotravel #passionpassport #wegotoo #blacktravel #blacktravelmatters #theblacktravelclub #melanintravel #blackgirltraveslay #blacktravelers #livingabroad
    Because I can😀 #yummy #foodie #mexico #mexicoea Because I can😀 #yummy #foodie #mexico #mexicoeats
    “Everybody can be great because everybody can se “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” Martin Luther King, Jr. 

#happymlkday #anyonecanserve #mlk #mlkday
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