Ecotourism Tips:
Women's Travel Wisdom

Our road-tested women's travel wisdom is helpful no matter how you travel.

Fantastic for families, groups, and singles, ecotourism is also popular as a girls' getaway as more and more women are out there trekking the globe. When I hiked the Inca Trail, I will always remember the huge smiles from a group of octogenarian women from Colorado with their daypacks and walking sticks summiting Dead Woman's Pass with mountain goat vigor. And flying back from Kenya, I sat next to a 60+ year old woman who had just hiked to the top of Kilimanjaro... and made it! Almost every year, I take a girls' trip or two with one of my friends or wth my sister-in-law. I wouldn't trade these trips for the world.

The amazing adventures are out there to be had. But, ecotravel or not, in some countries, it's more important than in others to be wise to certain dangers and annoyances that we might face as women traveling alone. Especially in countries where women's rights are subordinate to those of men or where machismo still runs strong, we've compiled a list of women's travel wisdom reminders to keep those trips with girls happy and safe.

Words to the Wise

A few common scam cautions:
• Only take official taxis. Do not take unmarked vehicles that claim to be a taxi, but that may not be. Especially at night, you do not want to run the risk of being taken by a scam artist somewhere to be robbed, or worse.
• Likewise, if a person claims to be a policeman but is not in uniform, do not go with them anywhere.
• Be wary of people who may try to distract your attention by spitting on you or spilling something on you. While you focus on them, their partner may be lifting your wallet or slashing your backpack strap and running away with your goods.

Dress Modestly. Especially in countries with strong machismo backgrounds or cultures that don't allow equal rights for women, do not dress in a way that will attract attention. Flashy or immodest dress can bring you unwanted attention. Some men only know Western women through stereotypes from certain types of magazines or internet sites, and women traveling alone are seen as easy.

Usually safe bets for clothing choices are:
• wearing some sort of tops with sleeves,
• wearing loose fitting pants,
• or wearing skirts and shorts that come to the knee.
• If you are in a culture that requires women to cover more, it can be wisest to follow those customs.
• A good rule of thumb is to emulate the local well-dressed women.
Ecotourism travel packages will often offer clothing suggestions specific to location, climate, and culture.

Steer Clear of Predominantly Male Hangouts. When not with your ecotourism group, women alone or in small numbers, particularly in countries where solo Western women can be viewed as easy, are wise to stay away from construction sites, bars that cater to men, fight clubs, and any area that is a gathering spot for mostly men.

We found we had a lot of unwanted attention in Arab countries in particular, even when we were in cafes or walking down the streets. One of the best strategies, even though it felt rude, was to completely ignore any verbal advance, even a "hello" and just keep walking. Eventually, the men would drop off and target someone else.

Western women traveling in Morocco tend to get a lot of attention... some of it unnerving.

Avoid Unwanted Attention. Taking steps to blend in as much as you can to the local culture will keep unwanted attention away from you.

• Don't wear expensive jewelry. This can make you an attractive target for a mugging.
• If you are married, maybe leave your engagement ring at home and only travel wearing your wedding band.
• If you are a single woman and want to deter any potential pick-up attempts, perhaps wear a wedding band to give the impression you are married.
• Leave your designer clothes at home when traveling in impoverished areas.
Any hint that you have a lot of money marks you as a target for potential robbery.

Hotel Tips. When traveling abroad, use the same common sense tips your mom probably shared with you when staying in hotels or lodges.
• Check in as a Ms. or Mrs. instead of a Miss. It's a small detail, but in certain countries, single women encounter more unwanted attention than married women.
• Do not share your room number with anyone outside your traveling companion(s).
• If possible, stay in an upper floor room instead of a ground-floor room, particularly one with windows or doors that open to the outside.
• Carry the hotel address and phone number with you, so that if you get lost or if you have difficulty communicating where your hotel is to your cab driver, you have the hotel information written down as a handy reference.

Don't Hitchhike Alone. This might be a piece of wisdom to follow in most countries. But again, keep your antennae raised especially in countries where women are not seen as equals. Some girlfriends and I hitchhiked in the back of a meatwagon in Ireland with no problem. Even there though, I would not have felt as comfortable hitchhiking alone, and I definitely would not hitchhike in other countries unless I was stranded and had no other choice. If they don't always provide ground transportation for you, your ecotourism travel package should address for you modes of travel that are safe.

Be Careful After Dark. This holds true no matter where we are. But steer clear of certain areas that are known to be dicey and areas that are off the beaten path.

Particularly, if you are in an urban setting:
• stay on well-lit roads,
• don't walk in areas that aren't well-trafficked,
• and let someone know at your hotel or B&B when to expect you back and where you were going.
• Rent a cell phone for the duration of your stay abroad or take an international cell phone with you and program in key local contact numbers in case you need help.
• Perhaps take a self-defense course before you leave home. This is a smart skill-set to have regardless of whether or where you travel.

Prevent Pickpokets. As women, we can be targeted by pickpockets as an easy mark. Walking with confidence and carrying ourselves like we know where we are going says that we are not victims and will go a long way toward warding off potential pickpockets. We offer an extended list of Pickpocket Prevention Tips in our Travel Health and Safety section.

Steer Clear. And if you find yourself anywhere near political or other public demonstrations--like road blocks or protests, stay away. You can end up getting caught in violent or dangerous situations when you mix with mobs or excited groups.

Basically, in all situations, if your gut is cautioning you, listen.

For more Women's Travel Wisdom, check out Trouble-Free Travel.