As a self-confessed travel addict, I’ve travelled to a fair few destinations on my own. I’ve spent a month exploring Madrid and I’ve travelled to Istanbul by myself amongst other things.

There’s a lot of doubt cast by the media on women travellers – they talk about safety (or unsafety!) and generally give women second thoughts about travelling alone.

Sure, there are some situations where it might be better to have a travel companion to keep you company, but from experience I know that it’s easy enough to travel alone as a woman.

The world isn’t as scary as it’s made out to be by the big, bad newspapers.

But rather than dive head first into travelling as a woman without much thought, it’s a good idea to get your bearings and plan ahead so you’ve got back up in place… just in case.

Bad things do happen, but if you keep your eye on the ball and make sure you’re cautious, you’ll be having a grand old time soon enough.

Here are my general tips for making travel easier and smoother as a woman:

Pack Light

I try to take just hand luggage if I can. Checking in bags can get costly and time-consuming, particularly at the other end when you have to wait around for the carousel to crank into action.

If I’m going away for ten days or less I’ll definitely only take hand luggage in a small and easily-transportable bag, like the Cotton Duck Travel Duffel Bag from Copper River Bag Company. Clothes can be washed if necessary and cosmetics can be bought at the other side. It’s all about being conservative with what you pack – if you can’t decide whether to pack it or not, you probably don’t need it.

Know Your Route

I always, always plan my route to my accommodation at the other end before I even step foot on the plane. It saves any hanging around for directions or costly last-minute taxi rides when you land. It also means you can get straight to the good part (exploring!) without having to faff around finding your hotel.

Prepare for no GPS

If, like me, you’re loathe to turn on your expensive GPS in a foreign country, why not download and save everything you need before hand? I always save a copy of a city map, any walking routes I need to do to get to my hotel, and bus and train timetables that I might need.

There have been a few occasions where I’ve forgotten to do this and have either found myself cursing how much I rely on the internet, or cursing my phone provider for charging me so much for data.

Research before you go

I know a lot of people think spontaneous travel is the way forward, but I like to be a little bit prepared before I land in a place I’ve never been to before. I usually research things like customs, typical foods, costs of attractions, and the best places to visit - just so I’m in-the-know.

It helps if you know how a place works (i.e. whether you need to wear any specific clothing) so you can avoid embarrassing and possibly dangerous situations, but it also means you don’t have to waste time doing it when you’re actually there (basically, you have more time to explore!).

Stay Safe

Staying safe is important for anyone travelling, but it’s a little more daunting for women travellers unfortunately. Whilst I don’t do anything specific to ensure my safety, I do have a few things I like to check and do along the way.

• Always let someone know where you are, whether it’s a family member or friends. Tell them when you’ve arrived and check in with them regularly throughout your trip.
• Trust your gut. This seems like wishy-washy advice, but I’ve learnt from experience that when something doesn’t feel right, it usually isn’t. Take yourself out of situations where you don’t feel comfortable or, even better, don’t get into them in the first place. This usually means avoiding walking alone at night and watching how much and what you drink. If you’re aware of your surroundings and who’s in them at all times, you shouldn’t face any problems.
• Research before you go. I can’t stress this enough. Learn the dodgy areas (and avoid them) and find out how you can blend in as a traveller.
• Keep valuables on your person but in a safe place. I like to pack them in a small bag, like the Italian Leather Clutch Purse, which I can wear under my clothes for added safety.

There are so many benefits to travelling and by making sure you keep things easy and safe, you’ll be able to make the most of them. Below, we've put together some links to help make your trip all that much more easy and fun. Safe travels everyone!

Some Great Links to Help Plan Your Travel:

• 5 Best Travel Planning Apps (by Lifehacker)
• Travel Made Easy by Copper River Bag Co
• Cheapest Air Fair Around (from Skyscanner.net)
• Top Travel Insurance Plans and Companies (hey, you never know)
• Italian Leather Clutch Purses from Copper River Bag Co