- Trust your instinct. You can never go wrong with your gut feeling! If something or someone seems fishy, don’t do it. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
- Wear a wedding ring. It might scare off potential predators. If you’re worried you might not be able to make any male friends, I can assure you there will be no problem!
- Know your culture. In Europe, particularly in places like Italy and Spain, some men are accustomed to thinking that something as simple as a smile and a look mean you want more than friendship. If you don’t want that attention, try to blend in with the crowd as much as possible. Trust me, I’m the first person to root for female empowerment and the right to bare skin, but this is not a time to be whipping out the feminist card. This of course doesn’t apply to all men there, but TRUST YOUR INSTINCT!
- Plan ahead and be prepared. Take your guidebook, map, and more than enough money so you can handle any situation. If you’re getting into a country late at night, make friends with a girl or other travel buddy so you aren’t wandering around alone in the dark.
- Use your accommodations as a resource. Grab one of their cards and keep it handy. Ask around whether it is a safe area. If you feel the need, tell them where you are going and when you might return.
- Take a self-defense class. Of course, this is if you want to be extra cautious. I only used half of these methods and have only encountered one hairy situation. And to be honest, I ran into more sticky situations just living in LA!