Do you travel by yourself on business trips? As a female professional, I have travelled the world, often by myself, on business trips for the past 25 plus years. In many instances, I would have liked to have left the hotel to get fresh air and explore the city after a long day of travel.  However, unlike our male counterparts or when traveling with others, I did not feel I had the freedom to do so for safety concerns.

Here are some of my personal do’s and don’ts when traveling by yourself:

1. Research the destination – know what area to stay and where not to; understand transportation options from airport to hotel; language challenges, safety issues, etc.
2. Leave a detailed itinerary of your trip at home with a family member or friend.
3. If going out of the country, register your trip with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
4. If you are a walker (I am!), ask the hotel about the safety in the area. Be sure to have the hotel address and phone number with you. Take your cell phone, but keep your eye on your surroundings, not your phone! Daytime only!
5. Check in with someone every 24 hours, even if it is just a simple text – sometimes I just text “I’m in for the night” when I’m back at my hotel and done for the day.
6. If you like to take local transportation (I do), figure out the options and have a rough plan of how you will get from point a to b. For example, I take the London Underground – it’s faster and less expensive than hopping in a cab. In addition, I don’t particularly like getting in a taxi or cab as a single traveler and try to avoid it when I can.
7. Keep expensive and flashy jewelry at home – I have a simple “travel” wedding band.
8. Keep copies of your passport and credit cards separate in case they are lost or stolen – mine have been.
9. Be mindful of your personal belongings, especially on trains, subways, crowded areas, etc.

I’ve been to some amazing cities over the years and have learned to enjoy each destination safely! Of course, if you are traveling with others, or meeting with a group of people at the destination, while you still need to be cautious, you may enjoy a lot more flexibility in exploring the city as a group.

Got meetings? We can help! Whether your meeting is across town or on the other side of the world, we can help save you time and money when booking a hotel for your group at no cost to you. Contact me today at pdurocher@globalcynergies.com and I’ll connect you with one of our woman professionals who will be delighted to help.