Solo Traveler and safety
Solo Traveler and safety, solo women travelers are worry about the concerns and tips of travelling and they normally wonder if
- It is safe or not?
- Should I stay, should I go?
- Can they smoke or not?
- How they will dress?
- Can they seat on coffee shop?
- Can they walk alone?
- Can they go by night?
- Can they even talk to Egyptians or not?
- How they will visit the sightseeing?
- Which kind of hotels they should reserve?
- What they have to pack before go?
- Will they need mace and a knife or not?
- Should they keep wedding ring even if it is real or bogus?
- Should they pretend they have husband or not?
Solo traveler has a lot of questions in their heads so.
Golavita teem gathered together to discuss and mention the most important points concerning this subject from the point of view of the experienced guides who are in the field more than 15 years and those who have like 8 years experience and the revolution guides as we call them by joke, the ones who started their life after January 25th 2011. Sure everyone has such story and sure they heard also some explanation from the solo women travelers and the challenges they faced in Egypt or during their trip. From all what we got, we can abbreviate the points as following.
* We have to confess that it was strange for a single woman to travel alone in the past but now it is normal and quite common. Egypt and the Egyptian now are more open to those who choose to travel alone and from our point of view the gender will never make it harder any more.
* There are many misconceptions about Egypt, especially when it comes to women and safety but in real Egypt is safe. The only problem as a blonde woman, you may will be verbally harassed on the street but nothing more especially if you dress not modesty.
* Solo travel is an experience like none other. It allows you to enjoy a place on your own terms – without the distractions or schedule of others. It gives you time for contemplation and personal growth.
* Egypt is a conservative country, and westerners need to consider and respect that, the key word is modest, modest attire, modest behavior. If you are on the beach, you are free to dress to dress as you like, as you wear elsewhere in the world.
One or two-piece swimsuits for women but if you are not at the beach and you are in Cairo and in public, it is expected to dress conservatively. Make sure that your shoulders and knees are covered. Wear loose-fitting clothing. Capri’s and long pants are perfectly acceptable. Covering your head is not necessary in most countries except when entering some mosques. Western fashions are accepted in tourist areas but in rural areas conservative dress becomes more important
Tips for traveling alone
- first and foremost, you need to have confidence in yourself and your instinct. Always always when you are in Egypt, you have to mean what you say especially yes and no. make the one in front of you feel and be sure that when you say no, you mean it and when you say yes ,you also mean it.
- Try not to smoke in the streets as it is not common to smoke in most areas of Egypt but you can seat by coffee shop and try Shisha.
Take the ladies’ only coach on the Metro the “ladies only coach” will make you feel much more comfortable especially during rush hours. - Don’t go anywhere with someone you don’t
- Don’t Draw Attention to Yourself
- Be away from skimpy, stroppy tops revealing your shoulders or belly-button
- Exercise the Same Safety Precautions as Elsewhere
- Make friends but do not be too friendly
- Never lie that you are traveling alone or you do have a boy friend and you do not. Tell that you are a solo traveler and you do not have your boy-friend with you now
- When you go to a bar by yourself, don’t feel the need to latch onto a group to make it look like you are not alone.
- Make friends, but don’t be too friendly.
- Many areas of the Middle East enjoy low crime rates, so that you can safely walk around alone, dine out, take public transport and do all you wish with far less concern than in many other parts of the world.
- Arabic is the national language but do not worry how you will communicate because English is the foreign language in Egypt and it is spoken by most people.
- Be sure that traveling alone will do a lot of great things and understanding to your confidence and will shape who you are. Easily move from your comfort zone and interact with those who you normally would not interact with.
At the end as one of our travelers friends says;
Please, be smart, and don’t go if you think you’ll be uncomfortable. But, if you’re feeling confident and are looking for a fun and affordable destination that is filled with culture and sun, then head to Egypt! Follow the tips listed above, and I think you’ll have a great time.
