topic Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this? in Travel

Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

jasminepednekar — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 23:24:44 GMT

Everyone cringes when I mention that I want to go to India soon. I am a middle-aged woman who has traveled quite a bit solo, including to developing nations, and a very mid-range traveler in general. I am not sure how seriously to take the cautions -- a lot of stuff about how I could be raped -- I guess that's in the news, but India is vast.

Is this truly a concern? In all of India? Only some parts of India? For someone like me, even? Or is this just classic American fear-mongering?

I know Indian culture pretty well and can speak some rudimentary Hindi. I would brush up before going though.

Thanks if you have been a solo female traveler there and can share your sense of discomfort, if any.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

grzbela — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 23:36:02 GMT

I traveled to 4 cities in India for work: Mumbai, Dehli, Bangalore and Chennai. I have traveled extensively for work by myself, but I felt more vulnerable in India than any other location I have traveled. In general, there is a hightened sense of security at hotels and airports. But, even in the Marriott in Mumbai they had a "single women traveler" floor to provide extra protection.

This was a few years ago, and I was in my mid 50's at the time.

Maybe it was the locations and perhaps it would have been different should I have been in other cities. But, maybe a tour would provide that safety buffer? Although, I am not a fan of tours for the most part...

I would check with the safety ratings through the state department.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

haddon9 — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 23:38:54 GMT

If you've traveled a lot solo before what did you do to prepare in the past? I haven't traveled much solo but when I travel I do a lot of research online to the area I plan on visiting. Have you checked TripAdvisor? There is a lot of information regarding each area of interest (cities & towns within a country) plus an extensive forum to ask questions.

From what I have heard about India, one should be extra cautious as a solo female traveler.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

Foxxee — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 23:39:02 GMT

Although, I traveled alone a bit in the past in the USA, I wouldn't travel alone anywhere, not even in the USA anymore.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

cherry — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 23:39:25 GMT

I wantted to tell you this. My son has taught all over the world. India was the only country he was given a guide, for security purposes

He had no issues, but ,I think it could be dangerous.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

granddi — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 23:57:35 GMT

@jasminepednekar wrote:
Everyone cringes when I mention that I want to go to India soon. I am a middle-aged woman who has traveled quite a bit solo, including to developing nations, and a very mid-range traveler in general. I am not sure how seriously to take the cautions -- a lot of stuff about how I could be raped -- I guess that's in the news, but India is vast.
Is this truly a concern? In all of India? Only some parts of India? For someone like me, even? Or is this just classic American fear-mongering?
I know Indian culture pretty well and can speak some rudimentary Hindi. I would brush up before going though.
Thanks if you have been a solo female traveler there and can share your sense of discomfort, if any.

Please take the advice/experiences very very seriously!!!!

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

gizmogal — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 00:18:01 GMT

Based on State Dept advisories, this wouldn’t be my destination of choice for solo travel. There are safety concerns relevant to crime and terrorist threats and there are health risks requiring caution and extra vaccinations.

If your wanderlust simply urges you to go, get your affairs in order, buy travel insurance and certainly purchase travel medical coverage to make sure you can afford to be removed from the country to get specific care. Hide your money in your room, or carry it and your passport everywhere. Or you can ask to use the hotel safe at the reception desk. Hotel room safes are notoriously risky.

Oh yeah, uh: bon voyage!

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/India.html

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/india-travel-advisory.html

https://in.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

Love my grandkids — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 01:12:44 GMT

@jasminepednekar Oh do please define "classic American fear mongering." I'd love to hear your definition.

I have neighbors from India who will not even travel there anymore.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

pdlinda — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 02:16:02 GMT

@Love my grandkids wrote:
@jasminepednekar Oh do please define "classic American fear mongering." I'd love to hear your definition.

I have neighbors from India who will not even travel there anymore.

That was the phrase that caught my eye when I read the post. I hope it's answered.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

patbz — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 04:34:16 GMT

I have travelled worldwide extensively, usually with DH or a friend or two but there are several places where I have/ use a guide (either for safety or communication) or gone with a group. We used a guide in Morocco and Vietnam and twice used a group in China (no safety issue, just to expedite getting around in cities that had from 22million people all the way up to ChungKing (33 million). I would insist on a tour in Egypt or India (haven't been to either place yet). The only country in which I will never travel to again is Mexico (have been there at least 20 times); about five years ago the Cartel kidnapped a busload of Mexicans and then used them to train attack dogs and later buried the remains in a common grave. There are too many countries to take unnecessary risks!

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

StephfromIdaho — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 03:22:14 GMT

I admire your sense of adventure. There is a group called Women Traveling Together. I’d feel better going in a large group with guides.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

jackthebear — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 11:27:15 GMT

@jasminepednekar wrote:
Everyone cringes when I mention that I want to go to India soon. I am a middle-aged woman who has traveled quite a bit solo, including to developing nations, and a very mid-range traveler in general. I am not sure how seriously to take the cautions -- a lot of stuff about how I could be raped -- I guess that's in the news, but India is vast.
Is this truly a concern? In all of India? Only some parts of India? For someone like me, even? Or is this just classic American fear-mongering?
I know Indian culture pretty well and can speak some rudimentary Hindi. I would brush up before going though.
Thanks if you have been a solo female traveler there and can share your sense of discomfort, if any.

I think you could answer this question better on a travel forum , if you know the culture you know the answer to the question

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

World Traveler — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 11:48:57 GMT

I went to India (Hydrabad, south central India) several years ago. Stayed three weeks.

Loved it, loved the people, loved the food; didn't feel uncomfortable at all.

I went in the month of January, which was still hot (80-90), but not anything like it would have been in June or July.

Didn't have time to go anywhere else, but next time will want to go up north and see the Taj Mahal and other touristy-type stuff.

This particular trip was to meet with people and provide a service.

Was not afraid at all, but have to admit that I travel all over the world and rarely feel uncomfortable doing so. I love adventure, so things don't bother me like it might someone else.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

PhilaLady1 — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 12:12:31 GMT

I was going to comment; provide an opinion, and a suggestion or two. But "classic American fear-mongering" ?!?!?

This is the poster's first post, so maybe this person is here just to stir the pot and cause trouble.

Whether or not this is a legitimate post, the heck with her/him !

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

bathina — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 12:42:32 GMT

So interesting to see "classic American fear mongering" touch a nerve. There are a lot of classic american behaviors, and yes, fear mongering is one of thsm. Especially these days when even children from 3rd world countries are criminalized.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

haddon9 — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 12:51:08 GMT

@patbz wrote:
I have travelled worldwide extensively, usually with DH or a friend or two but there are several places where I have/ use a guide (either for safety or communication) or gone with a group. We used a guide in Morocco and Vietnam and twice used a group in China (no safety issue, just to expedite getting around in cities that had from 22million people all the way up to ChungKing (33 million). I would insist on a tour in Egypt or India (haven't been to either place yet). The only country in which I will never travel to again is Mexico (have been there at least 20 times); about five years ago the Cartel kidnapped a busload of Mexicans and then used them to train attack dogs and later buried the remains in a common grave. There are too many countries to take unnecessary risks!

@patbz Wow that is truly terrifying!

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

Love my grandkids — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 16:02:05 GMT

@bathina The term didn't touch a nerve for me. I found it odd. And I notice the OP has not returned to comment on it.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

LiveLaughLove — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 16:47:31 GMT

More than thirty years shot I had a friend who spent a month or so why couple of years there. She loved it so much she would save up vacation days. I would think it would be even easier to yearly there now. Just use the same precautions you would use traveling alone anywhere - even hdter.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

Happiness Is Inside JOB — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 12:24:33 GMT

I did not read all the posting BUT there are many LADY travel groups. Let me find the name of a few I know.

Re: Solo female travel to India: anyone else been like this?

MildredM — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 18:34:13 GMT

There are travel sites for female travelers, not solo, but much safer. My husband worked with a colleage that was very happy and did multiple trips with Gutsy Women Travel. The women are traveling without a companion so it is a group of individual solo travelers (mostly). Sorry cannot post a link for you but a quick search will bring it up.