Staying safe as a female traveler is of upmost importance. The last thing we want to think about as we’re jet-setting is the risk of something happening to us.
But the reality is, sometimes bad things do happen. That’s the unfortunate reality of life (not to scare anyone, but it’s true). And when I’m traveling, I love to focus on having fun, not the could happens.
That’s why in this post, I’m going to talk about some of my go-to female travel safety tips, precautionary measures you can take, and what I’m calling my “pocket” super hero that I know I can count on if I find myself in a not-so-desirable situation.
But first, I want to tell you a little story.
P.S. There’s also some reader stories in the comments that I recommend checking out after you’ve read through this blog.
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This post was written in partnership with Medjet
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The Big Realization I Had
When I decided to be a full-time photographer and Instagram influencer, travel became a huge part of my life. And I used to be somewhat lax about my female travel plans.
Wherever the wind took me is where I would go! That is until I found myself in more remote destinations: Iceland, Peru, the high mountains of Canada.
As the views in my life became more dramatic, so did the risks.
In November 2018, I took an 8-day trip to Sri Lanka’s beautiful mountain-scapes. My journey led me through rice paddies, train rides from Ella to Kandy, and homemade meals in the welcoming homes of locals – it was pretty awesome!
Life couldn’t get any better, especially when I saw elephants in Yala National Park! But, unfortunately, Sri Lanka has a history of being an unstable country. A few years ago, the country experienced a series of attacks on Easter Sunday, killing hundreds of innocent bystanders.
Although nothing ever happened to me, I couldn’t seem to shake the daunting thoughts in my head. “What am I going to do if I get injured out here?” “How would I get home?” “What happens if there’s a safety risk, who will I call?” “If I just disappeared, who would my family call?”
OR, what if there’s another pandemic and I can’t get home in the middle of all the worldly chaos?
Say Hello To Medjet
I love visiting remote destinations, but these far-flung places can sometimes be scary! And that’s when safety became everything to me. I needed something, a tool of sorts, in my back pocket that would give me peace of mind when I travel.
Medical emergencies, assault, theft, natural disasters – they’re all hard to think about, but they happen. Enter Medjet, which offers an all-encompassing protection program called MedjetHorizon, gives me the peace of mind I’m looking for.
Keep reading to see what I’m talking about and what you can do to cover yourself on your next vacation!
Read Next: How to Become an Adventure Photographer
What is Medjet?
Medjet is a medical transport (I’ll get to that really important part in a bit) and a travel safety protection supplement.
I recently purchased their top-tier membership option called MedjetHorizon.
Medjet vs Travel Insurance
My Medjet membership also protects me in one of the scariest possible travel scenarios – landing in a hospital, especially a foreign hospital where I don’t speak the language.
If you become hospitalized in another country (or even another city, it works domestically), Medjet will arrange medical transportation to a home-country / home-city hospital of your choice, at no cost to you.
You only pay the initial price of your membership then you’re DONE.
This is not an option most travel insurance companies offer, FYI.
If you’re in what the insurance company determines is an “acceptable facility,” you stay there until you’re well enough to be rebooked home.
Personally, I want to be able to get home, so Medjet is great for that. There are no after-bills, no deductibles, no claims to file, and for us adventure-loving folks, no exclusions when it comes to adventure travel!
Read Next: The Best Camera Gear for Travel Bloggers
MedjetHorizon
MedjetHorizon covers crisis response and travel security. So, let’s say during your female travel vacation, a hurricane, disease outbreak, pandemic, terrorist attack, or something else utterly terrible happens, Medjet will work with authorities to get you back to safety.
I have always felt a bit more at ease in a country like Peru because I know some Spanish to get me by. But Sri Lanka? I don’t know the tiniest bit of the language. So if a violent crime were to occur to me there, who would I call?
MedjetHorizon is now my “who.” With MedjetHorizon, I have access to a team of 24/7 security experts who can help guide me during a security threat. Pretty cool, huh? For peace of mind, MedjetHorizon is the membership I have!
MedjetHorizon Vs MedjetAssist
MedjetAssist is another excellent option for travelers. Below is a chart from Medjet’s website that will better show you the differences between the two memberships, but here I’ve provided the highlights:
- MedjetHorizon will provide you with an emergency medical cash advance.
- MedjetHorizon provides members with 24/7 travel security response for terrorist attacks, pandemics, political threats, natural disasters, and violent crimes.
- MedjetHorizon also provides 24/7 crisis response to kidnap for ransom, disappearance, wrongful detention, blackmail & extortion.
In other words, MedjetHorizon is considered the more high-tier membership and comes with added safety measures.
MedjetHorizon and the Government
Another big (and I mean big) reason why I went with the Horizon membership is because of this critical piece of information: Medjet does not rely on government triggers to act (issued evacuations, etc.).
If you need help and your safety is at risk, Medjet will work on your behalf.
As I said, as a female traveler, safety has become my top priority and will never be compromised. BUT, male or female, if security is a concern for you, I suggest snagging yourself a MedjetHorizon membership.
Medjet Pricing
I know travel can be a bit pricey, but I promise you, safety is worth every penny. Medjet offers different pricing, and you can customize your plan to fit your needs.
You can get a membership for the whole family, international AND domestic travel, or just domestic – it’s pretty customizable.
An annual MedjetHorizon membership for one person traveling internationally and domestically can cost around $400+.
I’ve provided a screenshot for you to reference.
I suggest visiting their membership calculator to determine the best membership for you.
Why Else I Love Medjet
Here are some more reasons why I love Medjet:
- Medjet is the provider of choice for the Virtuoso and Signature consortia of travel agencies (i.e., the bulk of all luxury agents).
- Many celebrities, Fortune 500 executives, and Olympic athletes have memberships (the NFL even uses Medjet when their games are played overseas).
- Medjet has dispatch locations worldwide, with hundreds of air ambulances and medical escorts ready to go at any time.
- The Medjet team is on call 24/7, 365 days a year.
You can learn more about Medjet and the transport process on the Medjet website.
Please note that Medjet is not a replacement for travel insurance; it is a supplement!
My Top Female Travel Safety Tips
Traveling is hard as is; going solo can be even harder! Unfortunately, in the world we live in, your safety and peace of mind should never be taken for granted. Below are some tips I have for female travelers.
Be Prepared
Doing your research before arriving at a new destination is crucial. For example, I always look up the closest hospitals to make sure I’m aware of my surroundings. I also recommend printing this information out and having it handy at all times.
Get Coverage
Basic travel insurance is great for lost luggage or stolen camera gear, but as we already discussed, these policies won’t always cover you for medical evacuations or an international crisis. Having Medjet as a supplement to your travel insurance will ensure you have all your bases covered.
Learn a Little Bit of the Local Language
Knowing a few key phrases in a country’s native language can help you communicate with locals, read street signs, and more. It’s also great for asking for directions in case you find yourself needing them.
Always Tell Someone Where You Are Going
I let a friend or family member back home know exactly where I will be at all times. I even go as far as printing a brief itinerary and the address and contact information to the hotels I plan on staying in.
Keep Your Location Discrete on Social Media
I love sharing where I am on social media as much as the next person, but I always wait to post about my exact location. As a matter of fact, 100% of what I post on social media is DELAYED.
You can never be too trusting of people, and I think your followers will be okay with knowing where you are after the fact.
Safety & Medjet — My Final Thoughts
I know this was a quick blog, but I hope you can see the importance of traveling prepared!
While I did write this from a female perspective, regardless of your gender, safety extends to everyone.
Everyone deserves to explore amazing destinations AND be safe while doing so.
I hope you enjoy Medjet or at least found the safety tips I listed helpful! If you have any questions about Medjet or have safety tips you’d like to share, feel free to do so in the comments!
