Top 10 tips for female business travelers

The number of women traveling the world on business trips is constantly growing.

Unfortunately, travel safety risks for women are far greater than for their male counterparts, so companies must do their best to ensure travel policies are inclusive and protective for female employees. A recent survey of business travelers conducted by World Travel Protection revealed that 71% of women respondents felt traveling for work as a woman is less safe than as a man.

To make sure your female business travel experience is safe, smooth, and fulfilling, here are some tips for female business travelers.

10 top tips for female business travelers

1. Research

Preparation is key when it comes to business travel. Depending on the destination you’re visiting, check your travel policy and duty of care to see if there are any country-specific recommendations:

Put plans in place to make sure you use safe transportation means. In some places, taxis might be the only option, but in others the best way to get around may be buses, trains, or walking. If your airport arrival time is late at night, it’s important to factor that into your itinerary.

• Find where to stay by researching the safest neighborhoods and most conveniently located accommodations.
• If the country you’re visiting uses a different currency than your own, getting some cash out in advance is advised.
• Make sure you’re aware of local emergency numbers.
• Check the local news in your destination beforehand, and be aware of any political unrest, climate news, or risk factors for travel.
• If you’re visiting a country where you don’t speak the language, try to learn some basic words and phrases, along with local etiquette.

2. Be mindful on social media

Bear in mind that posting in real time on social media can be risky in terms of personal safety. Of course, it’s tempting to share enticing pictures of delicious local food, sights, and selfies, but sending constant updates of your live location makes it easy for anyone to track your whereabouts and may put you in danger. Use social media wisely by avoiding:

• Tagging your location
• Posting pictures and videos in real-time
• Posting pictures of your hotel or flight tickets

3. Get business travel insurance

Insurance is important for all travel, be it business or otherwise. Interruptions to your plans due to natural disasters, accidents, medical issues, or flight delays can cost you time, money, and peace of mind. To make sure you don’t end up in a stressful situation and are protected in any difficult travel scenarios, take out additional protection in the form of business travel insurance. Check out insurance options recommended by your company, or ask your travel manager if you’re arranging it yourself.

4. Use travel safety products

Thanks to such an increase in recent years of women traveling solo, various products are now available to help mitigate risks. Here are some suggestions for travel-friendly safety products to keep with you for extra peace of mind:

• Safety bracelets – wear a small security device around your wrist that can be used to send messages with a single click if you need help.
• Portable phone battery – to ensure you don’t end up stranded without any means of contact, carry an additional portable battery to charge your phone in case of an emergency.
• Portable alarms – compact, portable alarm systems can signal sufficient decibels to alert anyone within a certain radius of where you are.
• Pepper spray: in specific destinations, it’s legal to carry an aerosol spray that can be used as a disabling weapon by irritating the eyes and airways. Research your destination’s laws on this before you go.
• Business travel software – handy locator tools are available to help your travel manager see your location and keep you safe.

5. Be aware while exploring

Most business travelers like to add on a few days of leisure time to explore a destination once the formalities are over. If you’re unfamiliar with the local area, it’s wise to explore during daylight hours only – especially if you’re a woman traveling solo. You can also ask hotel staff for local travel safety tips and make sure you only use licensed taxis to get around.

6. Take care when getting money out

ATMs are hotspots for theft, especially for tourists who might be distracted or unaware of local areas where thieves may operate. Here are some tips for female business travelers looking to protect themselves while abroad:

• Don’t carry large amounts of cash – leave it in a safe in your hotel room or with hotel reception, along with any valuables you don’t need on your person.
• Use an anti-theft aluminum or carbon fire wallet – these wallets can block criminals from stealing money and personal information by scanning your cards without you realizing.
• Use secure alternative payment methods.

7. Choose accommodations carefully

Whether it’s the employee or a separate team booking business travel accommodations, it’s important to be aware of safety requirements for female business travelers. When selecting business travel accommodations, pay attention to hotel location, reviews, and whether there’s 24/7 reception. For added security, look out for measures like fingerprint scanning upon entry and CCTV.

8. Keep travel documents safe

While it may seem obvious, it’s easy to forget where you’ve put all your important travel documents while you’re busy and on the move for work. But being prepared and creating a back-up (digital copies often suffice) of travel and identity documents is a great way to avoid any safety issues at your destination.

9. Dress inconspicuously

Dressing appropriately is important for both male and female business travelers, not only to make you less of a target for pickpockets and other criminals, but also to make you feel welcome with locals. Making an effort to speak the local language and paying attention to local etiquette in terms of what to wear are also great ways to avoid any negative travel experiences. Try not to wear expensive jewelry or shoes or carry designer handbags that attract attention to you as a tourist.

10. Feedback to your company after the trip

Giving feedback to your employer after a business trip is a great way to make sure any safety risks for female travelers are avoided in the future. Highlight useful safety or security services you appreciated, transportation options that made you feel safe, or aspects of the hotel that made it a success. It’s also important to mention the parts of the trip that need improvement. This could be any safety concerns, anything that could be more convenient, or any safety training you think might help employees.