At the end of June 2019, I got the opportunity to travel by myself to Boston, MA for 3 days. I come from a big family so usually when I go on vacation I'm with my three little sisters and my parents, so traveling by myself made me feel unfamiliar.
For women who are worried about traveling alone, I understand your concerns completely. Safety is always in the back of my mind when I'm by myself, as it should be for everyone else. I tried to avoid staying out past sunset as much as possible when I was in Boston. If I had been there before or knew more about the city, I probably would have given myself a little more leeway. I think the best advice I could give to any woman traveling alone would be to know how to protect yourself. Know which places are safe, and which ones are not. If you are flying and checking a bag, maybe pack pepper spray for you to keep close to you once you land. Find ways to keep yourself safe so you can get back to the people who love you.
If you're walking instead of taking a cab/Uber, wear good shoes... actually wear them regardless because stuff happens. In three days, I walked 25 miles across Boston in crappy shoes. To make matters much, MUCH worse, the day before I caught my first plane, I pulled my hamstring. I was way too stubborn to sacrifice the outfit I put together for tennis shoes. Yeah, no. Take care of your feet. That includes wearing GOOD shoes with SUPPORT.
Take the time that you travel by yourself and value it. Have fun and don't spend too much time worrying about what could happen. Be kind to the people you meet. You'll probably never see them again, but it's nice to take the time to get to know someone.
***Also, Eat ALL the food. If you go into a certain Whole Foods in Boston and ask what a Mochi is, they might just give you a free one. My personal opinion, it has a really strange and un-appetizing texture. I'm not a fan.***
**** always pack and bring an umbrella. I forgot my umbrella on the first day and was stuck in Boston Public Gardens for an hour trying to shield myself from the rain under a very VERY small tent.***
