Recommendations on foreign travel for women

You must be aware that in some places you can become the focus of attention without wanting to. This can take the form of whistles, passing comments, lewd behavior, harassment, or invasive physical contact. In these circumstances, keep your composure, avoid making eye contact, and try to get out of the situation as quickly as possible. Keep track of local women. Furthermore, in many countries women have far fewer rights than men. Find out about the situation of the destination you are going to and be prepared to adapt to it.

For this, it is important to follow the following advice on traveling abroad for women:

Recommendations on trips abroad for women before traveling:

1. 1. Find out about the existing risks in the region to which you are going to travel. It is important to consider potential risks to female travelers, including the public health and safety situation, the political and economic environment, and local laws, regulations, and customs. The above will allow you to determine the status and position of women in the society to which you plan to travel and will indicate some of the preventive care that you should follow. In addition to the basic information you can find about the country in this Guidethere are guides and specialized sites with information for women travelers that can be very useful.
   2. If you are going to travel alone, or to a high-risk area, consider taking self-care and self-defense courses, they will help you feel safer.
   3. Pack a minimum first-aid kit with health and hygiene products that could be useful to you, such as aspirin or mild pain relievers, grape salts, disinfectants, adhesive bands, tampons, sanitary towels, repellents, sunscreen and condoms, among others.

Recommendations on trips abroad for women during the trip:

1. 1. Try to travel light. The less you carry, the more independent and less vulnerable you will be.
   2. Since each cultural context determines what is appropriate/desirable in dress customs, it is good practice to ask local people for advice. In general, dressing and acting discreetly is advisable to avoid unwanted attention.
   3. If you visit any temple or place of religious importance, make sure to dress appropriately according to local customs to avoid problems.
   4. Act with caution, be aware of your surroundings and be suspicious of unknown or excessively friendly people.
   5. In the case of developing an international romance, it is important to be especially careful if the other person comes from a very conservative society or from a country where the rights of women are considerably less than those of men. These characteristics could lead in the medium or long term to situations of significant vulnerability for women.
   6. Be careful not to send the wrong signals. In some societies, being friendly or approachable can be interpreted as a sign of consent to take things to another level.
   7. Try to stay away from people who invade your personal space, ignore your protests, or try to manipulate you into accepting their advances against your will.
   8. Avoid putting yourself in risky situations by walking alone at night or in very isolated places. Also think twice before going out alone with unknown men or accepting drinks at nightclubs.
   9. If you feel at risk, don’t be afraid to “make a scene.” Blowing a loud whistle or a good yell or making a racket can help you fend off an attacker, while calling for help.
   10. Stay in touch with your loved ones.

Recommendations on trips abroad for women if you travel alone

Traveling alone can be very attractive as it gives greater flexibility in the use of time, allows more intense contact with culture and opens the possibility of making friends more easily. However, in some places single women may receive undesirable attention or face unpleasant obstacles. If you plan to travel alone, it is best to choose relaxed destinations with liberal attitudes towards the presence of single women. Otherwise, it is best to travel in a group to be safer. If you decide to travel alone, these recommendations will be very useful:

• • Avoid lonely situations that can put you at risk both in transport and in tourist places.

• • If you go somewhere for one or several days, try to inform the details of your trip and when you expect to return.

• • Do not give more information about yourself or travel plans to people you cannot fully trust.

• • Find a place to stay where you feel comfortable and safe. The neighborhood or neighborhood where the place is should also give you confidence. Avoid leaving windows or doors open, especially if you have a balcony or are on lower floors. Keep for yourself the place of your lodging and the room number.

• • Stay in touch with your loved ones.

Pregnant women

• • If you plan to travel pregnant, especially if you plan to do it by plane, it is important to visit your gynecologist in advance so that the necessary precautions are taken for you and your baby.

• • Make sure you have health or travel insurance that covers pregnancy-related issues, such as premature births and neonatal care.

• • Check what the rules are for pregnant passengers before buying your plane ticket. You may require a letter signed by your doctor indicating how far along you are in your pregnancy to be allowed to board the plane. There are airlines that refuse to transport women with more than 6 months of pregnancy. Ask to be assigned a front-row and aisle seat that allows you to stretch and get up to walk for regular periods, especially during long journeys. If possible, divide very long journeys into several short ones that allow you to rest adequately and recover.

• • If you are going to give birth outside your country, try to arrange the details in advance to ensure that your needs and those of your baby are fully met at an affordable cost for you.

In the event of an eventuality or if you require assistance abroad, immediately contact your nearest consulate or embassy in your country. And do not forget to register your travel itinerary in the Registration System for your country abroad.

Additionally, the National Institute for Women (INMUJERES) offers information, recommendations and services that may be useful for those who are planning a trip abroad.