Women Safety
Most women travel safely each year without incident. However, when it comes to health and security, in some places women travelers may face additional risk. Be mindful of local conditions and culture, especially if you are traveling alone
Before your trip
Research Your Destination
Check if the place you are planning to go is safe for you and the accommodation options are also safe. Make sure you have all the information before traveling.
Be Mindful of Local Customs and Norms
Customs and norms in Mexico can be quite different from those back home. Make sure you are informed about them before travelling.
Women’s Health Abroad
Travelers should pack health items that may be unavailable or hard to obtain at your destination, such as feminine hygiene products or medication.
Transportation
The safety of public transportation varies from state to state. In many places, informal taxis or minibuses pose threats to people unfamiliar with the local conditions, especially to women traveling alone. Find out from reliable sources, such as local authorities or tourism officials, what is and is not safe.
Consider these transport tips:
Consider using app-based transportation companies that offer a record of your ride versus hailing a ride on the street. Some companies have a function that allows a rider to share their real-time ride record to another phone. This record can be used to identify the vehicle and driver later.
Avoid travel on busy sections of highly populated buses. Overcrowded public transportation might create opportunities for inappropriate or unwanted physical contact, as well as pickpocketing.
Avoid empy busses or train wagons, as well.
Arrange transport to and from the airport before you arrive.
Avoid hitchhiking.
Use app-based transportation
Don´t accept rides from strangers, specially after a night out.
Travel accommodations
Researching accommodations carefully and reading their reviews for safety concerns, in addition to having backup accommodations
Arranging your first night of accommodation before you travel, and the entirety of your accommodation during travel if possible. You are more likely to be vulnerable when you first land in a city with unfamiliar surroundings
When registering, using your first initial and no title (don’t use “Mrs., Ms., or Miss.”)
Not telling strangers where you are staying
Securing room keys, personal identification, and other personal items
Locking windows and doors when inside your room
Be aware of your surroundings
Understand the cultural norms of the country you will be visiting. Report suspicious behavior to local authorities.
You should:
Avoid carrying or wearing anything overtly expensive to deter theft.
Avoid generally unsafe situations, and if you do find yourself in an unsafe situation, be loud and draw attention to yourself to deter unwanted actions/attention. Being safe is more important than being polite.
Use facial expressions, body language, and a firm voice to fend off any unwanted attention.
Think pro-actively about a safety plan if you find yourself in an unsafe situation.
Locate emergency services, such as police stations and hospitals, near you in case of an emergency.
Do not share detailed information about your travel on social media until you return from your destination.
Set up your phone and other personal devices with a “find my phone” feature, or other similar GPS tracker for emergencies.
Keep your mobile device sufficiently charged.
Tell someone you trust back home about your travel plans, including where you will stay, any destinations far away from your accommodation, and an emergency contact. Consider sharing your location on a mobile device with a trusted contact back home in case of an emergency.
Download map applications which run on GPS rather than data to ensure you have access to local maps and routes.
Have with you a power battery
Travel with friends
Don't talk or overshare with strangers
Night out with your girlfriends
Always watch your drink and what you drink
Consider this:
Do not accept drinks from strangers.
Never let a friend go home alone, specially if she is drunk.
Be aware of how much you are drinking so that you notice any unusual physical symptoms outside of intoxication.
If you begin to feel strange or sick, tell a trusted friend if possible, and contact emergency authorities immediately.
Try not to go back home alone. If you do, let your friends know your location.
If you do experience any kind of violence, consider accessing medical care and resources. Contact your nearest embassy or consulate for information on victims’ services and medical care available in the country.