Solo travellersare generally looked upon as "weak" or "easy prey" by many men and women. The idea of going alone to a strange and foreign place may conjure up visions of romantic comedies like Thelma & Eliza, or Hostel, but it's important to remember that being a woman in a foreign country is no picnic! In fact, for many women, the single trip overseas can be the most trying and stressful event in their lives. But if women travel sensibly and safely, their fears can be put aside, and they can enjoy their solo experience.
A good way to start is to focus on what you can do to ensure your safety as a solo traveller. First of all, do your research! You should read up on the areas in which you intend to go and make sure that there are no travel advisories against it, especially for health-related issues. Check with your doctor, and find out as much about the countries in which you are thinking of travelling as possible. Your local library is also a great resource for information on safe places to go for your solo travels.
Next, you should decide just how safe you want to be when you are abroad. Is your trip to a developing country safe? Is your trip to a middle-income country safe? Is it safe to have sex with other women (and men too if you are a man! ), and is your family able to adjust to living alone?
And don't forget to check out your own country - is everything legal? Or are you planning to get married or starting a family somewhere abroad? Your own family's culture can impact greatly on your enjoyment of your trip, so you should make sure that you are ready for it before going - it may not be as easy as you think. For example, some countries may prohibit alcohol sales completely, but others may not; so make sure you know what you're getting into!
One last thing to consider is your safety within the country itself. While you may love the people, you don't want to get swept up by the local culture - especially if you want to be as safe as possible. There are two sides to a story, after all - and one of them may be a negative one. For example, while some people may say that a certain country is a 'safe' tourist destination because there are no terrorist attacks or crimes committed against tourists - this isn't necessarily true. If something horrible does happen, you will be shocked at the reaction of those who aren't part of the tourism industry.
Solo travelling is an exciting adventure, and you don't want to jeopardize that. But above all, you need to have the right information before you go - and the safest information in the world, in fact. Some countries are just not safe, no matter what the hype is. It's important to keep an open mind and listen to your instincts when you're planning a solo trip. And while there may be some myths, such as one of the countries in Central America being synonymous with death due to snakebites, you'll probably find that the reality is quite different.