Women traveling alone

May 5, 12:27 PMNY Budget Travel ExaminerSusan Finch

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One of my favorite travel niche sites is called Backpacking Women on the Road. I travel alone often and find it completely satisfying or exhilarating. The rush of independence and adventure was addictive and I came home with a newfound respect for myself and ability. But the experience is different than when traveling with a partner. What areas are safe at night? What bars are solo-gal friendly and free from being harassed by pick-up artists and drunken ex-frat boys? How do you deal with the lull of loneliness that sweeps in when the excitement wanes at night?

Backing Women on the Road offers it subscribers a list of innovative ideas with help on everything from taking great photos to combating motion sickness to staying safe. While some of their information is common sense, it greatly aids in getting yourself organized and inspired for an upcoming journey. But there's lots of great content and ideas including how to stay free via couch surfing. They also offer a free 60-page copy of Writing About Travel for Fun and Money -- giving you ideas on how to actually profit on the road.

SmarterTravel.com also offers tips for women traveling alone including hotel safety, attire, researching body language in different cultures, and knowing how to combat harassment. A travel safety article on Salon.com notes that how modestly a woman dresses, especially in Middle Eastern cultures, can reduce the level of harassment.

But aside from dressing, culture, and harassment, a woman's worst enemy while traveling along might just be the sense of freedom, exhilaration, and invincibility. It's easy to forget that you can be victimized anytime and anywhere. Use common sense, don't travel to remote areas alone, tag along on a tour group for a few days, keep in touch with loved ones back home, and exercise caution and safety.