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A solo traveler candidly revealed her scariest experiences and detailed her top tips for women exploring alone.
Sierra Belle from North Carolina has traveled around the world to destinations from Croatia to the Dominican Republic.
And the 26-year-old has built a loyal fan base on Instagram, where she has more than 22,300 followers thanks to her regular travel posts.
Sierra, who works as a creative account director, recently said: ‘I think one of the best times to consider traveling solo is when you’re in the midst of some of those intimidating or destabilizing turning points in life.
Sierra Belle from North Carolina has traveled around the world to destinations from Croatia to the Dominican Republic.
The 26-year-old has built a loyal fan base on Instagram, where she has more than 22,300 followers due to her regular travel posts.
‘Honestly, I had never thought about traveling solo as a concept, let alone as a possibility for myself.
‘Many travelers you see online seem like intrepid adventurers.
‘Before I started, I looked for sources that resonated with me so I would feel confident enough to try it.
“It’s hard to explain how much traveling alone can change your life, but there really is nothing like it.”
She also talked about the four things female travelers should do to ensure their safety and privacy.
It’s okay to be rude
Sierra’s first tip is to know that it’s okay to be rude, explaining: ‘The more confident you appear when exploring a new place, the less of a target you’ll be.
‘Before you can assess someone’s intentions, it’s important to avoid revealing any information that might make them more vulnerable.
‘How much you share about yourself depends entirely on how comfortable you are in the situation and your intuition will be of great help in this case.
Sierra, who works as a creative account director, recently said, “I think one of the best times to consider traveling solo is when you’re in the midst of some of those intimidating or destabilizing turning points in life.”
She recently shared the four things female travelers should do to ensure their safety and privacy.
‘Especially as a woman, it’s very easy to feel the pressure to be polite and give people the benefit of the doubt.
‘Sometimes you can feel caught in this dance of ‘don’t be rude, but don’t give people (especially men) the wrong idea.’
The enthusiastic traveller continued: ‘You don’t owe anyone anything and you can’t afford to ignore your boundaries for the sake of being nice.
‘If you let that feeling of obligation take over your real instincts, you can end up in sticky situations.
‘You’ll have to get used to feeling safe by ignoring or completely ignoring people who make you feel uncomfortable.’
Book your hotel room carefully
Her next tip for staying safe is something people often don’t consider when booking accommodation.
Sierra insists that you should never book a room on the first floor or one with a door that faces the street.
She said: ‘I learned this lesson the hard way in Mexico when I booked a cute Airbnb with a frosted glass door that opened onto a relatively quiet street.
Sierra’s first tip is to know that it’s okay to be rude, explaining: “The more confident you appear when exploring a new place, the less of a target you’ll be.”
Her next tip for staying safe is something people often don’t consider when booking accommodation.
‘An hour after my arrival, I was unpacking when a man stood at my door and repeatedly tried to force the door open in broad daylight.
‘It was especially scary because even though the door had iron bars, I could literally see his silhouette through the frosted glass of the door the whole time.
‘Two days later, a man was aggressively harassing me on the street during the day.
‘He tried to follow me and took photos and videos of me from a distance.’
She continued: ‘Both experiences made me realise that I never want to be homeless again.
‘These were two of the scariest experiences I’ve ever had traveling solo and it was just sheer bad luck that they happened back to back.
‘If you ever feel uncomfortable, remember that you can always find a new place to stay.
“It may seem like an overreaction at the time, but I’ve done it twice and I don’t regret it.”
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Sierra then said that we should not be afraid to ask for help.
“Traveling alone gives you incredible independence. It’s an incredible feeling that gives you a lot of confidence,” she said.
‘I’ve sometimes avoided asking for help, either because I find it embarrassing in some way or because I’m hesitant to trust strangers.
‘Although, in reality, you can’t discover everything by yourself!
“This was an important moment in which I learned that I can’t solve everything on my own and that it’s not always necessary to do so.”
Sierra went on to say that you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help, even though “traveling alone involves an incredible amount of independence.”
Last but not least, Sierra explained how he refuses to listen to other people’s opinions.
Ignoring other people’s opinions
Last but not least, Sierra explained that she often receives comments from other people about how excessive her travel rules are, but she refuses to listen to others’ opinions.
She said: ‘Most of the reactions online have been very gratifying, but a little frustrating at the same time.
‘Overall, I feel very supported in the community I’ve created online.
‘The fact that so many women can relate to this is a sad and frustrating reminder that we have to go to great lengths to safely have the same experiences that men can more easily achieve.
‘Finding the courage to travel solo is largely an inside job, but having a community of women on your side can really make a huge difference.’