MALAYSIA – As a woman who both a) exists in the world, and b) often travels alone, I have given a lot of thought to the topic of how to stay safe. To many people the thought of travelling away from home seems scary, and travelling alone doubly so. However, I think travelling to other countries, learning about other cultures, and meeting new people is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. Feeling scared should not hold you back from one of the most enriching experiences you can have. But while it is true that some places are safer to travel than others, it’s also true that almost anywhere can be safe and almost anywhere can be dangerous.

There is no way to 100% guarantee your safety when you’re on the road, but there are ways you can be safer. Here are my Eight Safer Best Practices that can help you feel (and be) safer when you’re travelling abroad.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but talking to strangers is one of the best things you can do when you’re on the road alone. Talking to those around you will help you make new friends, find like-minded people to do activities with, and most importantly will help you feel safer through a deeper understanding of your surroundings. I know that when I’m in a new place and I’m feeling unsafe, it’s usually because I’m regarding everyone around me with suspicion that they will steal my stuff, or hurt me in some way.

When you actually talk to the people around you and build a rapport, you will find that you have a lot more in common with them than you thought. You will have some go-to people in case you want an activities buddy or need help with something. Pro tip: I usually find it’s easiest to talk to other solo travellers, couples, and duos of friends.

Point one above has an important addendum to it: there are some strangers you shouldn’t talk to. If you’re getting a creepy vibe, or someone is pressuring you to go somewhere you don’t want to, say a firm no. Walk away or get away in any way you can. Do not feel like you have to be polite.

You don’t have to talk to every person who calls out to you on the street. Especially if they’re trying to sell you something. You can acknowledge them with a hello or simply ignore them and walk away. I spent a while last year in Bangkok, and almost every single shop person or street vendor called out to me, asking me where I am from, where I am staying, and if I would like to buy something. If you stop and talk to everyone, you will never make it more than a block from your accommodations.

Travellers can walk a weird line…you want to be polite and represent your country well while abroad, so sometimes it feels like you shouldn’t walk away, say no, or make a scene. If you feel like you need permission, I’m giving it to you right now. You don’t owe anyone your attention or time, so be firm and walk away from anyone who is making you feel uncomfortable.

In the age of social media, it only takes a few seconds to post a picture and tell the whole world exactly where you are. A safer best practice is to post pictures and geotag after you have left somewhere. This means that no one who looks at your social media can track you to where you are sleeping, eating, sightseeing, or enjoying yourself. It’s totally fine to share pictures with your friends and family, but wait until you have moved on before you publicly post where you have been.

Everyone knows you shouldn’t accept an open drink from a stranger. Doubly so when you are travelling. Only accept drinks that are opened in front of you, so you know that a) no one has added anything to it without your knowledge, and b) you’re actually getting what’s on the label.

Unfortunately in many countries premium liquors and other drinks are very expensive, so bars and restaurants sometimes cut corners by refilling bottles with whatever is available for cheap locally. For example, recently in Indonesia there have been issues with bars refilling bottles of premium liquor with homemade alcohol, and this has led to tourists falling very ill and even dying. In Mexico, there have been issues with resort workers drugging drinks behind the bar.

You are best off drinking sealed drinks that are opened in front of you. Reputable places will not have a problem with this – nor will they mind if you send back a beer that was opened before you saw it. In my experience, many places in Asia will actually bring you sealed bottles and your own bottle opener, so that you know what you’re paying for is what you’re getting.

If you are staying in hostels on your travels, you will definitely need a lock to secure your belongings. Most hostels will provide a locker so that you can lock your bag and any valuables away while you are out of the building.

If you are staying in a home stay, or booking with room sharing services like AirBNB, a doorstop is also useful to have. If you are renting a bedroom in someone’s house, there may not be a lock on your door, so a doorstop that you can shove under the door at night is useful to help give yourself extra time and warning if someone tries to come in.

Although what you’re wearing is never an excuse for harassment or assault, it is important to recognize that different cultures have different standards around what is acceptable clothing, in particular for women. If you are wearing revealing clothing, even something like a t-shirt and jean shorts, you might be attracting unwanted attention from those who are not used to this type of dress. For example, in Muslim states like Malaysia, it is best to dress conservatively with your shoulders and legs covered. European standards about what you wear (or don’t wear) at the beach do not apply everywhere, and you can get in a lot of trouble for going topless or wearing revealing beach wear in many countries.

Do your research, and when in doubt, go for conservative, non-revealing and respectful clothing.

As a white woman and citizen of Canada, I was raised being told that I could go to the police if I ever need help. However, this is not the case for many people of colour, indigenous people, LGBTQ+ people, migrants, or people of other marginalized identities. In many countries, the police are not a safe place to go should you need help, and indeed may be a source of further trouble. It’s important to know if you can go to the police if you experience violence, theft, or need help in another capacity, and the best knowledge of this will come from local people.

When I was in Thailand last Christmas, there was a man acting very dangerously at the hostel where I was staying. He was harassing myself and other women, and began acting violently towards us. My first instinct, when he proved too much for us to handle, was to go to the local police for help in removing or subduing him, but staff advised us that this was not a good option because the police are not reliable. Similarly, when travelling in Central or South America, police may act violently towards you or others, require bribes, or work outside western understandings of the criminal justice system.

Talk to local people, and do your homework before you travel on which authorities you can go to for help should you need it.

The most important thing you can do to stay safe while travelling is to trust your gut. If something feels wrong, it probably is wrong. Last year I was travelling with a friend in northern Moldova, and we both had the feeling that we just weren’t super safe. No one was following us, nothing bad was happening, we both just had the feeling that we wanted to leave and go back to more familiar territory. So we did.

Do what you need to do to stay safe. Don’t be afraid to leave a place that feels unsafe, or ask other travellers or locals for help if you need it.

But above else, have fun while you’re travelling! Staying safe is important, but you also don’t want to miss out on exploring new places and meeting new people. You don’t have to obsess about safety when you’re on the road, but if you follow my Best Practices you will know that you have a solid foundation from which to enjoy yourself.