Any women traveler traveling to Eastern Europe generally looks for safe trip. This is because Eastern European societies are still under the influence of male domination. Being a single female traveler in the Eastern Europe, you may encounter different sets of situations here than traveling elsewhere. To make your Eastern Europe travel safe and secure, here are a few tips for women planning to travel on their own:
Single Female Travelers are rare
Generally females do not travel alone in Eastern Europe and even single female travelers are quite unusual. Single females mainly travel with parents, boyfriend or friends. Though you won’t face any difficulty still local people may find your choice quite unusual.
Clothing
In east Europe women love to dress up very fashionably and very feminine. If going for a beer, you can wear jeans and sneakers or can go in slacks and in walking shoes. Incase you want to dress more, you won’t be considered strange here. Showing off or revealing a body here is socially acceptable.
Bars, Clubs and Pubs
When traveling to Eastern Europe you should avoid visiting bars, pubs or clubs alone especially at night. You may be considered as a prostitute in club or dance if you are alone.
Opt for a Guided Tour
You can consider a guided tour in case you don’t have a friend to accompany you while traveling in Eastern Europe. Guided Tours assure comfort and safety. Alongside, you will also find certain companions that may share same interests as yours and even speak your language.
Avoid Eye Contact and Smiling
It is best to avoid eye contact and smiling with men mainly in some bar. Men in Eastern Europe may take it as an invitation and men may continuously bother you even if you tell them you are not interested in them.
Chivalry and Chauvinism
Being a woman traveler, you will definitely have to face Chivalry and Chauvinism in Eastern Europe. Men here won’t have any problem while holding the door for you; however in public settings they will show you their real side by showing themselves as superior sex.
Hygiene
Public toilets are usually clean in Eastern Europe though you may have to pay a few cents to use them. However, in some parts you may have to encounter dirty toilets so female travelers should always carry toilet paper or tissues with them.
Trains
While booking train for an overnight trip, women travelers should consider buying an entire compartment so as to save themselves from any kind of surprises during the train ride.
Unmarried Single Women
Women here generally get married at a younger age. In case you are over 25 years of age and still single, locals may question you about single status and even show concern.
Confidence
Even if you get frustrated by chauvinism or irritated by the people’s interference in your life, still be confident and be polite. If any situation you feel hassled, you should be firm, however be very polite.
