Traveling alone, never mind traveling alone as a woman, may sound like an anxiety-induced trip filled with extra-baggage. But your fears shouldn’t stop you from seeing the world; There are certain precautions you can take in order to ensure a safe, fun-filled vacation full of exploration of both the world, and yourself. From sharing your location with your friends using app-location trackers to concealing your money with feminine products, using these tips and tricks can help put your traveling-jitters to ease.

If ridesharing goes wrong

As women, we’ve unfortunately all been there; you’re sitting in an Uber or Lyft, and your male driver starts showing signs of being a little too friendly, or worse. Traveling in other states, or even other countries alone could place you in vulnerable situations. One way to lessen the chances of getting matched with “creep” drivers is to start your day early and try to prevent riding in ride-shares or taxis at night.

Frequent solo traveler, Caitlin from Travel Yourself says to “arrange to arrive at a new location in the light of day. Not only will you feel more at ease and be able to be more aware of your surroundings but there will also be more people around, giving you a more secure feeling.”

Ride-share safety can also include using apps that come with your smartphone like Apple’s “Find My Friend” or downloadable apps like Life360. Having a friend or family member know your whereabouts at all times can help leave breadcrumbs and make it easier to trace you down in case of emergencies.

TikTok audio has been created for this specific reason. The viral audio simulates one half of a phone call on speaker with a friend, usually with language stating that someone is tracking you and that someone, usually a male, is specifically waiting for you. Some sounds go as far as contacting the police or other intimidating figures. This action alerts the driver you have people awaiting your arrival and repercussions if you don’t make it to your destination. Download this audio and keep it with you in case someone can’t pick up the phone due to time differences or other reasons.

Uber claims to screen 100% of their drivers and has implemented an in-app emergency button that surfaces your live location and shares your vehicle information and plate number with 911. The company also released a statement specifically speaking on gender-based violence: “Sexual assault and gender-based violence don’t belong anywhere in our communities. Which is why Uber is committed to help stop incidents before they happen—by partnering with and learning from women’s safety groups, building tools and policies, promoting awareness, and empowering our community of users.”

When traveling, it can be useful to know which cities offer women-only ride-share apps, like Safr. This women-based app is offered in U.S. cities like Orlando, Boston, Atlanta, San Francisco, and more. An ever-expanding company, Safr vows that “by riding with Safr you are not only getting a safer ride, you are empowering a fellow woman.”

Staying safe while lodging

Don’t be afraid of luxury or spending the extra dime for your safety. When traveling alone, especially as a woman, steer toward the higher-end and best rated hotels. Lodging that offers free WIFI and 24-hour security is a must.

Certain hotels are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of their guests. The Grosvenor House Suite by Jumeirah Living in London, one of the safest hotels according to worth.com, treats lodgers as VIP with highly restricted access, electric doors, and a keycard-controlled elevator. Even further, the hotel guarantees “all guest without exception are escorted by a concierge member…personally to that door,” says Renato Moretto, the hotel’s general manager.

Regardless of ratings, frequent solo women travelers advise against telling others where you’re staying, and reiterate investing in a door stop with an alarm. If someone were to try to access your room without your consent, it would significantly slow their entry, giving you time to prepare, and alert others nearby.

All-female hotel opportunities are also available worldwide.

“Female-only travel opportunities are important because it’s so rare to be in an environment where women can truly just be together,” says Kristina Roth, the founder and CEO of SuperShe, a women-only retreat in Finland. “Travel is a fantastic way to learn and grow and to be able to do so with other women—from different backgrounds and with different life experiences—is an invaluable way to make new connections.”

Ordering room service for every meal can be tempting, however frequent solo traveler and founder of solotravelerworld.com, Janice Waugh says indie coffee shops, communal tables, and food trucks are great safe alternatives to get great food, and you out the house and into the community.

Frequent solo travelers recommend taking a cooking class while traveling to use food as a way to connect with the locals.

“Cooking schools are a wonderful opportunity to learn about a culture through its food, develop new skills, meet people who share your passion for food, and share a meal with new friends at the end,” says Waugh.

Plan your day ahead

According to travel blogger, Kasha, choosing your destination with intent, knowing about your destination and where you are going before heading out for the day is beneficial for an anxiety-free, safe, and exciting trip. Going the extra mile to “make sure you know of popular scams and problem areas within the city/region where you’re planning to travel,” isn’t to scare you, rather than make yourself more aware of the area you’re heading to.

One common tourist scam, pickpocketing, can be avoided by carrying light and concealing your cash. One handy trick made just for women is to roll up your cash tightly and stick it in an empty unused tampon applicator. “Slide it back into the wrapper and you’re set,” says Kristin, female solo traveler and blogger. “Not many pickpockets will try to steal a tampon from your pocket!”

When out and about

Frequent female travelers recommend staying local and walking to get to your destinations. “A walking tour is one of the best ways to warm up to a new destination,” says Kristin. “It gives you the lay of the city, and helps you find your way around without getting lost the first time.” Tour guides can help inform you which areas to steer clear of, or even show you local gems not usually advertised in travel guidebooks.

Although it may be tempting, many solo female travelers advise other women to steer clear of headphones. Staying present and aware is very important to staying safe. Furthermore, headphones can make you a target, signaling to pick pocketers you own a smartphone.

Walking, embracing the scenery, and experiencing local culture allows you to connect with women residents and even other solo women travelers. This allows you to create bonds with women from all around the world.

“From my experience, women look after women, which is heartwarming,” says solo traveler, Teresa, from Independent Travel Help. “I travel solo, and local women are often really helpful. When I meet these women, I’m no longer alone.”

Women Welcome Women, a free website dedicated specifically to connecting solo women travelers, is a great way to start making secure connections abroad. Female members can range from ages 18 to 80+; The only requirement being “a woman who is curious about the world, wants to share experiences, learn about other cultures, make new friends, and have fun!”

15% of female members of Solo Travel Society says they use traveling to challenge themselves to gain confidence. Sara Radin, an editor and writer specialized in mental health and identity, says traveling by herself helped her to overcome her anxiety.

“Every time I approached someone new, I grew a little less scared about doing it,” says the writer. “After that trip, I started to think that maybe connecting with people in faraway places didn’t have to be so anxiety-ridden. By being genuinely interested in people, many in turn showed me the same respect. Traveling alone didn’t mean having to be lonely. In fact, I felt empowered to travel solo and grateful for the personal growth it had afforded me.”