7 Tips for the Solo Female Traveler

From time to time, I find myself traveling solo, primarily for work. Regardless of whether I'm familiar with my travel destination, my senses are still heightened because of the perceived vulnerabilities of women alone. Over the years I’ve developed some useful tips and tricks when traveling alone.

1. No first floor rooms. Many hotels offer rooms on the first floor. From a security perspective, I avoid first floor rooms at all cost. The first floor may seem convenient, but the reality is that it possess many security threats, including multiple entry points into your room. Think about windows, doors and balconies. Before arriving at a hotel, either research the hotel to understand whether first floor rooms are offered and specifically request a room on any floor other than the first floor.

2. Request a room near the elevator. Ask for a room near the elevator. Be careful to specify that you do not want the room next to the elevator, due to increased noise, but you want to be fairly close to the elevator. You don’t want to have to walk down long corridors alone, it’s unsafe and scary.

3. No room near stairwell exits. These doors are frequently remain unlocked and are usually accessible starting at the lobby with no true security. Meaning a guest or non-guest can walk into the lobby and access a stairwell have access to all floors of guest rooms.

4. Request two room keys. By requesting two keys, it gives the illusion that you are not in fact a long.

5. Request non-adjoining rooms. On a recent solo trip to San Francisco, I had a room with two adjoining room doors. Obviously this was not an ideal situation, but to mitigate the concern I placed the luggage rack and my luggage against one of the two door. Sometimes mitigation is the only option you've got.

6. Request a room on a different floor as the gym, pool or club. Random people up and down corridors at all times of the day is not refreshing. And it’s definitely not safe.

7. Be smart. Do not broadcast via verbally or on social media about your solo travel plans. Hotel staff always ask why your traveling, don’t be afraid to lie. I do! I’ll say business and my husband is tagging along.

Solo traveling can be empowering, exhilarating and stressful simultaneously. Just be smart, pay attention to your surrounding and have a wonderful time.

A Mother’s Work is Never Done: International Travel with a Sick Spouse and a Sick Baby

Because I'm an overachiever, I decided that my son’s first trip out of the state of Texas should be to an international destination, Puerto Vallarta to be exact. It seemed easy enough, plan in advance and take all of the baby ammo needed, i.e., diapers, wipes, toys, pack and play, food pouches, clothes, etc. Because I am also a planner, I ordered and received all of the necessary baby travel related items prior to departure - with the exception of the food pouches which were delayed in transit and received upon our return back to the states – side eye Amazon Prime 2-Day Guaranteed Shipping. Otherwise we were locked and loaded and ready to go! 

The best laid plans.

Two days before departure, my husband was diagnosed with a sinus infection requiring antibiotics. Prior to the diagnoses, my husband thought it a good idea to share his uncovered sneezes with the family. Considering my son had recently completed a round of antibiotics for a sinus infection at the beginning of the week, I was pissed and distressed. But at this point I was still unshaken. 

The day before departure, I had a jam-packed day at work – meetings with various high level executives and a mile long to do list. At 8:40 AM, my phone rang and it was the school. I was in the middle of a negotiation, but this was my child so I picked up, assuming I would be notified that my child had scratched himself or some other insignificant act had occurred. Unfortunately, I didn't hear the words that I had expected, i.e., Michael is okay, but we wanted to inform you...insert minor or insignificant item here. Rather the voice on the other end informed that my child had a 101.8 temperature and had to be picked up immediately. I dropped everything. My husband was able to secure an appointment with our pediatrician and I whisked him off to the doctor. 

After a brief examination, it was quickly determined that he just had a cold. The pediatrician gave the green light for Puerto Vallarta. (A few months prior she had given the red light for the zoo, so I think she was trying to make it up.)

 That night, my son was mopey and clingy - both very uncharacteristic. I agonized all night whether we should stay in town or go to Mexico. The next morning, I decided that if anything went wrong that it was only a two-hour flight back home. 

So we went. As it turns out the fever, the mopiness and the clinginess were induced by his two front teeth pushing through. By Saturday, he was back to being a happy healthy baby and fun was had by all. 

 Fun was ultimately had by all, but mommy was exhausted beyond measure having to take care of a sick husband and baby while in a foreign country. And as expected, mommy returned home with a sinus infection.