“You are going to get killed over there” Wherever there maybe, was just the place everyone was so sure to be unsafe. Usually, this fear comes from the unknown. Traveling as a solo female in countries I have never been before always exciting. When you see land as the plane banks for the final approach and your new adventure waits just outside of immigration. Everything seems safe and controlled in the airport until the outside door slide open and the wilds of a foreign land await.

When I choose a country, there are always a few well know spots that I like to see along with every other tourist and traveler. Hot touristy spots have different kind of safety risks to look out for. When there are large crowds of people milling about, keep your personal items close to your body and to be aware of is the best and most basic advice. Pickpocketers have mastered how to barely touch a person and walk away with a wallet or camera in hand. These tricks are played out in busy, sought-after sites that may feel comfortable but are targeted for lazy travel habits. Just being aware that people may be watching for a bag to be left unattended is a good habit to form. There are big city scams that can steal your information at ATM machines and taxi drivers who scam you into a higher fare by driving all over the town first.

Although money is very devastating to lose, physical safety is above all, the most important. Here are a few basic rules I try to follow.

• Don’t trust people too easily

• Don’t look like a tourist, look at the map before you go and leave the guidebook in your bag.

• Don’t have large wads of money, stash cash in a different spot on you and hidden in your bags. Flashing large amounts of money could make you a target.

• Don’t drink too much and watch your drinks around others.

• Don’t dress too flashy, blend in

with what locals wear.

Picking a place to stay

Read, read, read! The times I walked away from a hostel or hotel were always the times I didn’t read the reviews. Angry people like to write reviews which is good if you see a pattern of bugs or staff issues. After reading enough reviews you can almost see the same words the owners and managers use to boost their own businesses. You must feel safe when you close your eyes for the night. Never let anyone hear your room number at the front desk of a hotel and always make sure there is a working deadbolt lock and a secondary lock. Bringing a wedged door stopped is a light and easy way to add protection. Hostels often have private rooms for a higher price if the group of people in the assigned room worry you. Spend the extra money to be and feel safe.

Things like where are the nearest medical center is located and getting there in a time of need is a bigger challenge less populated area. Other health issues come into play with less developed countries such as clean water and proper cooking techniques.

Another tool I found is a solo woman safety app that gives you a number of how safe an area is on a 1-100 scale. It’s called Geo Sure Global and will tell you the safety rating for an area you are in or planning to go. There is also a feature to compare different cities next to each other. Geo Sure Global uses a six-point system to determine what the score will be. The number for each area can change depending on the six categories. Being a gay woman traveling can feel like walking into the unknown. Having an app that can tell you a general safety level in different areas can protect you physically and give you peace of mind mentally. There is a wide enough spread of internet across the globe I think an app like this, especially in a time of unrest will help with global safety. Download for Apple or Android