Travel Tips for Women: Smart, Safe & Practical Advice for Every Trip

Every trip teaches you something—sometimes it’s how to pack smarter, sometimes it’s how to stay calm when your flight’s delayed or you’re wearing airport coffee. (Trust me, after being diverted to Iceland on my way to Kenya and missing a full day of safari, I’ve learned to roll with the punches and to laugh about it later!).

One of the most important lessons? Don’t skip travel insurance. While I’ve used other providers in the past, I often recommend SafetyWing to my readers because it’s affordable, flexible, and covers both short-term and long-term trips. It’s especially popular among digital nomads and frequent travelers—and the reviews speak for themselves.

After traveling through 30+ countries—from all across Europe to Kenyan safaris and Norwegian fjords—I’ve learned what actually makes travel easier, safer, and a lot more fun. These are my go-to travel tips for women—the same ones I share with friends before their first big trip abroad and still rely on myself years later.

Whether you’re planning your first solo trip or your next group getaway, this guide will help you:

• Pack light without leaving essentials behind
• Stay safe and confident wherever you go
• Make long flights and layovers more comfortable
• Save money and still travel beautifully and sustainably

Ready to plan your smoothest trip yet? Let’s dive in.

🧳 Before You Go

Smart Packing & Space-Saving Hacks

Packing is an art—and I like to think I’ve mastered it (mostly). I generally travel with only a carry-on, even for international trips, which means every item has to earn its place.

A few things I never leave home without:

• First aid + feminine essentials: Some countries don’t have the same products we’re used to, so pack your favorites just in case.
• Trtl neck pillow: It folds nearly flat and slides easily into your backpack—a lifesaver on overnight trains or long-haul flights.
• Reusable water bottle: Airports and train stations almost always have refill stations. It’s cheaper, more sustainable, and keeps you hydrated mid-flight.
• Packing cubes: I love this TravelWise set—they keep everything organized and make unpacking a breeze. (Pro tip: fold on the way there, roll on the way home to make room for souvenirs!)
• Reusable laundry bag + dryer sheets: They keep your clothes fresh and separate clean from dirty. I learned this one the hard way after a humid week in Thailand.

💡 My Packing Queen Tip: Tuck socks and underwear inside your shoes to save space—and never underestimate what a well-organized backpack can do for your sanity.

👟 Bonus Tip: My Vessi waterproof sneakers are my travel MVPs—stylish enough for city exploring and practical enough for hikes or rainy weather.

Preparing for Safe, Smooth Travel

Safety might not be glamorous, but it’s what lets you truly relax and enjoy your trip.

• Check travel advisories on the U.S. Department of State website before you go.
• Research visa and vaccination requirements early—some take weeks to process. (My boyfriend, Tim, and I had to track down a specific clinic to get the Yellow Fever vaccine, as it isn’t offered at many places in the U.S.)
• Download and print copies of important documents, and store digital versions in a password-protected folder or app.

💬 Personal Tip: In Rome, I witnessed someone trying to pickpocket my friend on the metro—it was a wake-up call to invest in a secure crossbody bag (this one’s my favorite—I’ve worn it all over the world).

My Favorite Pre-Trip Tools & Resources

• Hotels.com / Expedia / VRBO: Great for price comparison and rewards that work across all three.
• Airbnb: My favorite for international stays—I’ve stayed in them all over the world (both shared spaces and entire homes)!
• Skyscanner / Google Flights: Compare flight prices and track fare drops.
• Viator / GetYourGuide: Book tours and skip-the-line activities—both vet local operators and include reviews, which helps me feel safe and confident booking solo excursions or for my group.

💡 Tip: I plan 90% of my trips using a combo of these—once everything’s organized in my Google Doc or Sheet, I can stop worrying and start getting excited!

✈️ ON THE WAY

Staying Comfortable & Beating Jet Lag

There’s nothing worse than landing in a new country feeling like a zombie. Jet lag is real—but a few small tweaks make a huge difference.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever read (and now live by) came from How to Skimm Your Life: the moment you sit down on the plane, set your phone to your destination’s time zone.

It sounds simple, but it’s magic. I did this on my flights to India and Kenya and somehow avoided the dreaded jet lag entirely!

A few more ways to make travel days easier:

• Move when you can: Even a short walk down the aisle helps your circulation (compression socks help, too!).
• Bring your own snacks: Airport food is expensive and unpredictable, and it’s nice to have a stash once you land.
• Hydrate more than you think you need to.
• Bring noise-canceling headphones and download a good playlist or podcast before your flight. I personally use my Apple AirPods Pro on every flight.
• Pack a Manta Sleep Mask and skip larger pillows and blankets—international flights usually provide them, along with earplugs and cozy socks. Did you know a pillow now counts as a personal item?

💬 Personal Note: I once forgot my headphones on a three-hour flight sitting next to two chatty colleagues. Never again.

Travel Tech & Entertainment Essentials

Long flights are the perfect time to catch up on reading, journaling, or just zoning out.

Here’s what I pack every time:

• Kindle Paperwhite: Lightweight and ideal for beach reads.
• Power bank: Keep your phone alive for maps and boarding passes, especially for older planes or long layovers.
• Multi-country adapter: I love the ones with built-in USB ports.
• Offline playlists and movies: Download before you board—not every plane has Wi-Fi, and if it does, it’s not always worth the cost.

💡 Pro Tip: Store all your charging cords in a small makeup bag and use binder clips (yes, I also like to color-code everything, haha) to keep them neat—no more untangling spaghetti wires mid-flight.

🌎 AT YOUR DESTINATION

Safety, Money, & Getting Around

Exploring somewhere new is thrilling—but it’s even better when you feel confident doing it.

A few habits I’ve picked up after years of travel:

• Use a crossbody or anti-theft bag (I have this Slim Minimalist RFID Wallet in pink).
• Split your money: Keep a little cash in your main bag, some in your shoes, and the rest in your hotel safe.
• Avoid flashy jewelry and keep your phone tucked away in crowded areas.

💬 From Experience: In Barcelona, police were literally walking around during lunch reminding diners not to leave their phones on tables. Lesson learned—always stay alert.

Apps I Actually Use While Traveling

I’m a big believer in tech that makes travel easier, not more complicated.

Here are some of my favorite apps:

• Google Maps (Offline Mode): Download your area before leaving your hotel to access it without Wi-Fi.
• Google Translate: Download language packs in advance for instant translation.
• Uber / Bolt / Lyft: Reliable rideshare apps that make getting around stress-free.
• AllTrails: Perfect for hiking trips—find verified trails, reviews, and difficulty levels. It also works offline if you download the maps ahead of time.
• My Currency Converter & Rates: Works offline—great for multi-country trips.
• WhatsApp: For communicating internationally over Wi-Fi, especially with tour guides or hosts.
• Flush: A practical one—finds the nearest public restroom (especially helpful in Europe!).
• Been app: Track all the countries (and U.S. states!) you’ve visited—it’s surprisingly motivating to see your map fill up!

💡 Tip: Before leaving, add local emergency numbers, hotel addresses, and embassy contact info to your phone—you’ll hopefully never need them, but it’s comforting to have them handy.

Real-World Lessons I’ve Learned

After dozens of trips, here are the lessons that always stick:

• Always carry a small daypack—you’ll use it more than you think, especially if you’re planning excursions.
• A lightweight scarf doubles as a blanket, towel, or modesty cover.
• Say yes to spontaneous moments, but always trust your gut when something feels off.
• No trip ever goes exactly as planned, but that’s part of the adventure!

💬 Personal Note: In Kenya, our group learned that some of the best memories come from missed flights and wrong turns (we tell the stories all the time now).

I once even convinced a gate agent to reopen boarding on a “departed” flight home from Iceland. Talk about travel luck!

💛 Next Steps: Plan Your Best Trip Yet

I’d love to hear your favorite travel tips—share them in the comments below so we can all learn from each other!

I’m currently working on more guides to help you plan confidently—including deep dives on solo travel safety, carry-on packing, and choosing travel insurance you’ll actually use—so check back soon.

And remember: the best trips aren’t always the fanciest or the most planned (though I do love a thorough itinerary!). They’re the ones where you feel capable, confident, and curious.

Happy travels, wherever your next adventure takes you. 🌍✨

👉 Check out all of my travel destinations here!

XOXO Sara at Travel A-Broads