From the moment we step out the door, we are aware of who's behind us. With good reason. Safety is the number one concern of women travelers.

We can be aware of our surrounding. We can avoid questionable neighborhoods and we can communicate that we’re self-assured by walking confidently with our heads up.

There are other ways we can prepare ourselves and avoid trouble. I learned these safety tips traveling to ninety-plus countries and I hope they’ll be useful to you. Send a link to  friend and share them. One thing is certain, the more prepared you are, the safer you’ll be.

1. Make smart choices and use your common sense. Don’t be paranoid, but be aware that bad things do happen, and protect yourself.
2. Trust your instincts. They are well-honed from living in the USA. If you feel something is off, wrong, strange – get out, move on, flee, scream, whatever is appropriate. Do it quickly.
3. Body language: keep your head up, swing your arms and act confident. Adopt a no nonsense attitude. Walk with purpose and you’ll be less of a target for hustlers who prey on disoriented or timid tourists.
4. Most of the people who offer you food or drink are just being kind. However, the rare exception exists – drugging occasionally happens. Try not to leave your drink unattended in bars, and exercise good judgment when accepting food or drink from people. Rophynol, the date rape drug, is odorless, tasteless and colorless. It is a tranquilizer that can be slipped into your drink by a man who would like to have sex with a woman who is heavily sedated. If you are at a party, don’t accept a glass of punch unless you trust the host. Don’t think this won’t happen to you. Some women don’t even know they have been raped until it’s too late.
5. If you are being followed in the street and you feel threatened, duck into a shop and firmly tell the clerk: “I am a foreigner and someone is following me. I am frightened and need help.” If need be, have the clerk call a cab or police officer for you.
6. Try to sit or stand next to other women or family groups in restaurants, on trains or buses, and in other public places. It is unlikely that you will be approached or harassed if you’re in the company of other people.
7. Consider wearing a wedding ring, if you don’t already.
8. There is power in vocal embarrassment. I have found that many men are shamed by a verbal, loud woman admonishing them in public. Practice screaming before you leave home! Also shame them by shaking your finger in their faces. Even if the crowd doesn’t understand your words, they will understand your indignation and gestures. Most sleazy men do not want public attention.
9. Ask for help or company if you feel uncomfortable.
10. It is common for a would-be thief to use razor blades to cut purse straps, take the purse, and then get away in a thick sea of bodies. Wear a money belt to avoid this happening.
11. It can be difficult to know what is considered offensive or suggestive in segregated societies, such as in Orthodox Muslim areas. At times you may feel uncomfortable or vulnerable. You may not know if the local men view you as a sex symbol representing the immoral Western World. Take your cues from the local women. Watch them. If they don’t make eye-to-eye contact with men, follow their example. Blend in. Dress appropriately.
12. Clothing that is fashionable and appropriate in the USA may project a provocative image in another culture. Leave the revealing clothing at home.
13. Anticipate potential problems. For example: if a group of men or young boys approaches you on the sidewalk on your side of the street, cross to the other side to give them space and you peace of mind.
14. Be sure to know when the sun rises and sets. A bustling market can quickly empty out and be transformed into dark deserted streets. Plan to be back to your lodging or in a safe, busy neighborhood by dark.
15. Carry enough money in your shoe or money pouch to get you out of a tight spot. Be willing to spend this money on a cab in order to get you to a safe place or back to your lodging. Do not take unnecessary risks.
16. If in doubt, take a self defense course.

Women Travel Statistics indicate that the number one issue for women travelers is safety. Here are practical safety tips compiled by my college-age daughter and her friends, who have recently returned from studying abroad; from Florence to Kathmandu to Buenos Aires. Don’t miss the Guy Tips at the end.

• Bar Tips – Buddy System

Go with a buddy. It’s better to have two sets of eyes to watch for bad situations. Don’t leave without your buddy.

A cool beer in Germany. Keep your eye on it.

Get smart about Rophynol, “the date rape drug”, which is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. If a guy buys you a drink, don’t accept it unless you see the bartender pour it.  Carry your drink around with you. Don’t leave your glass unattended to go dance or to the toilet.

• Don’t Act Afraid

If you are, people can sense it and you can be a target for unwanted attention. Walk with purpose; chin up, aware of your surroundings. Know when to adopt the “don’t mess with me” attitude.

• Give and Take

Give warning to other travelers and ask local people (preferably women) and fellow travelers for advice: Is it safe to ride public buses? Is this neighborhood safe after dark? etc.

• Avoid Over-packing

You’ll carry your backpack everywhere; on and off trains, through city streets and into hostels. You can wear the same clothes over and over.

• Bring Less Clothes, More Stuff to make you feel at home.

Your room will seem empty and cold compared to your room at home or in your dorm or apt. Pack a picture, light frame, posters to put on the walls. You’ll appreciate them more than one more shirt you may wear one or two times.

• Use a Shoulder Purse with a zipper

Wear it at an across-the-body handbag. Keep the zipper shut.

• Wear a Money Belt – Carry Your Passport, Credit Cards, Most of Your Cash in it.

You  may think it’s stupid and feels weird. The hassle of having everything replaced is greater than getting used to wearing a money belt.

• Leave the Bling at Home

Wearing jewelery will make you a target for thieves.

• Beware of Decoys and Distractions

If someone comes up and starts flirting with you check out who else is with the person. His friend behind you may slash your purse and run off. If someone bumps into you. Check your wallet right away. No problem if you’re wearing your money belt!

• Ask For Help

If you feel unsafe, talk to someone, preferably a woman with a man or baby. Duck into a shop and tell the owner that you’re a tourist and someone is making you uncomfortable.

• Beware of Who Snaps Your Photo

Ask a family or woman to take your picture, not someone who could run off with your camera who you couldn’t catch.

• Pack Your Common Sense

Follow your instincts. Ask yourself if you would do this/walk there/go to a stranger’s apartment/ take this risk at home? Listen to your inner voice.

• Use Your City Smarts – Be Aware of Your Surroundings

Try to avoid dicey places like a deserted street in a big city. If you are alone, don’t walk down it. Having other people around is your best safety insurance.

• Carry Enough Cash For a Taxi

In your money belt, shoe or underwear and be prepared to use to get out of a questionable situation.

• Dress Down

Clothing that is fashionable and appropriate at home may project a provocative image in another culture. Leave the revealing clothing behind.

• GUYS….Chivalry is Always Cool

A great way to meet girls is to offer them help with their luggage; help them lift it onto the rack in the train compartment.

• GUYS….Be Careful With Your Ego

Hold your temper. Walk away. Getting into an argument with a local guy isn’t wise. He knows the city and probably has friends nearby to teach you a lesson.

• GUYS….Carry very little cash in your wallet

You may think it’s stupid to wear a money-belt, but it’s stupid to get ripped off.

Flight cancellations can be a travelers' nightmare

Airline Passenger Rights

1. Request rule 240, which in the US stipulates that the airline must deliver you to your destination within 2 hours of your scheduled flight time. If it can’t (and delay isn’t due to weather) it must arrange your ticket on another flight at no additional cost. But you must ask for it–airlines will not usually volunteer this information

2. Airlines will try to re- book you on their own flights, regardless of how inconvenient they may be for you. They want to keep the revenue. Their flights may delay you further or require stop-overs and a change of planes.

3. Know your rights and ask for the next direct flight on any airline.

4. Rebook yourself. If the line is too long, step out and use your cell or payphone to call the airline for an alternate connection. Even if that departure is on another airline than the one you have the ticket for, the airline will often honor your ticket if the plane has an empty seat.

5. Be extra nice to airline reps. They have offered me upgrades on future flights and food coupons worth $40 for my inconvenience.

6. Figure out where you’re going to spend the night. Don’t call a hotel’s 800 number–call the hotel manager directly. The manager on duty can offer last-minute rooms with rates as much as 35 percent less expensive.

7. Make sure the airline gets your luggage off the plane and rerouted to your next flight.

When You Reserve Your Room

• Ask if they have security personnel 24/7.
• Reserve a room located between the second and seventh floors – within reach of a fire department ladder.
• Request a room that is not near vending machines (noise and loitering), and far from elevators and stairwells.
• Ask if all rooms have sprinklers, for fire safety.

Packing for Safety

• Don’t assume that your room will have a dead bolt or privacy latch or chain for the main door and all doors to accompanying rooms. So buy a small rubber door-stopper at the local hardware store and pack it for all your trips.

Upon Leaving the Airport, Train Station or Your Car

• Be alert for suspicious persons and behavior.
• After dark or in sketchy neighborhoods, do not park far from the main entrance and walk. Drive directly to the front door, unload the car and if the hotel parking is far, or it’s dark, ask for a hotel employee to accompany you to the parking lot.
• Wait until you get to your hotel room to put on your lipstick or make a phone call. Do not stay in your parked car in the garage, parking lot or any public space around the hotel. You are making yourself vulnerable to thieves and kidnappers.

Upon Arrival

• Do not wander in the parking lot, garage or public space around the hotel; kidnappers and thieves operate in these areas.

Check In

• Ask a woman, if possible, at the front desk or concierge desk, about the safety of the neighborhood and for safe areas around the city in which to jog, dine or sight see. Ask about local customs and which taxis or other public transportation to use or avoid. Ask about the local 911-type emergency number and how to use the local telephone system.
• If the hotel gives you a parking permit to display in the window, ensure it does not show your name/room number.
• Never give out more information than people need to know.
• If the receptionist announces your room number or name, ask for another room. Anyone loitering in the lobby area could hear your name and room number.

• Make a habit of leaning your bags against your leg during registration at a hotel or at the airline ticket counter; you will feel it if someone moves your bag. Always place your purse and briefcase on the counter in front of you.
• Off hours, do not be hesitant to ask a hotel employee to show you to your room.
• Do not assume your guestroom will be perfect upon checking in. Windows, connecting doors, etc. may not be locked.
• When you arrive at your room, prop the door open with your luggage , turn on the lights, inspect the door lock, locks on sliding glass doors and windows, door latch and/or chain, room safe, lock on interconnecting doors and ensure the telephone works.

During Your Stay

• Keep the door closed and engage the dead bolt and privacy latch or chain at all times when you are in the room. Use a doorstop  (See tip above. Bring one with you).
• Keep valuables, cash, jewelry, tickets, passports and other documents in the hotel or room safe.
• If your hotel room does not have a safe, keep those items with you or lock them in your suitcase.
• When you go to bed, do not leave your valuables in view. Store your watch, wallet, jewelry, purse, camera, ipod, laptops in a drawer in the nightstand, or in your suitcase. What would happen if there was a fire drill during the night and you left your room quickly, and half-asleep, and someone enters your room before you return.
• Do not open your hotel room door to anyone unless you are expecting someone and you know them. Question the authenticity of a hotel service employee by calling the front desk to verify the reason and person, before allowing entry.
• Do not disclose your gender or the fact that you are the only occupant.
• On the Room Service Breakfast Menu, that you hang overnight on your hotel room doorknob, never disclose that you are a single guest in the room or disclose your last name. Initials are sufficient.
• Although hotel personnel are well trained in safety issues, it is possible that a hurried desk clerk could offer an alleged family member an extra key to your hotel room if they are given the correct name and room number. This information can be obtained on your breakfast menu card or upon check-in.  

• When occupy or leave the room, place a “do not disturb” sign on your outside door, giving the impression that the room is occupied – whether it is or not.
• When returning at night, use only the main entrance.
• When returning to your room, be aware of what’s going on around you. Do not unlock the door if a stranger is standing nearby; keep walking past your door and return only when clear. Do not enter if the door is not locked or ajar. Ask for assistance from someone at the front desk

In the Lobby

• Be aware of your surroundings and alert for people look out of place or who stare at or follow you.
• Do not discuss personal matters, your reason for being in town, your itinerary, your marital status with friends in the lobby or strangers and pay attention to anyone around you who may overhear you.

Copyright © Marybeth Bond

Health issues while traveling could put a serious damper on your anticipated plans.  We asked Founder of Women’s Travel Club, Phyllis Stroller, to share a few health tips for women travelers:

1.     Menstruating Overseas: Tampons are not sold in many countries. Pads, which come in a long roll and are cut by a pharmacist, are NOT sanitary. Bring your own supplies.
2.     Yeast infections and UTI’s: Women get urinary infections due to skimping on drinking water.  Yeast infections also occur after one has taken or is taking an antibiotic. Carry Monistat, Canestan cream, or a single dose tablet, Diflucan. Eat yogurt if available.
3.     Safe sex, even with your husband: Carry birth control pills, do not pack them. Lock medicines in the hotel safe.  If you use a diaphram, do not wash it in iffy water. Bring trustworthy condoms; local products may be harmful.
4.     Medical records: Always visit a travel doctor before taking a trip, especially to an exotic locale.  List all vaccinations + medicines  (the latter in the generic).  Bring your eyeglass prescription.
5.     Dress modestly:   Notice and adhere to local customs.  Scarves, that cover shoulders and heads, are invaluable and light. Pack socks for walking shoe-less in temples and mosques.
6.     Protect your skin: Carry a foldable hat. Sun-proof clothes with RIT Sunguard Laundry Treatment. In insect  areas, slather on high SPF lotion, spray yourself and clothes with DEET.  Remember the higher the DEET, the longer the protection-make sure to read the labels!
7.     Proof of parentage: If you plan to cross borders with children, be prepared with proof of parentage or guardianship. Single parents need a letter from the absent parent with permission for children to leave the country. If separated or divorced, have copies of legal documents regarding custody rights for minors traveling with you. These are important if children need medical treatment abroad.
8.     Wedding rings and jewelry: Ward off unwanted male attention by wearing a wedding band.  Make sure it is not tight; many women find feet and hands swell on long flights.
9.     The bathroom: We’ve all hovered over filthy toilets. Welcome PMate, a nifty light invention (fits into an envelope), made of a sturdy disposable coated cardboard- very discreet.
10.  Clean water and avoiding buying water: Consider purchasing a simple water filtration system. SteriPEN  has many options at www.steripen.com.

Prepare: Read guidebooks and travel literature and talk to women who have traveled to the country of your destination. Be aware of cultural taboos and sensitivities to Western dress, and pack accordingly. It is better to dress conservatively and begin with modest, extremely polite behavior. The Lonely Planet guides have special sections for female travelers that explain cultural taboos, discuss hassles and precautions, and offer destination-specific tips for women traveling solo.

Pack Lightly: This may be especially helpful if you are traveling to more than one destination or plan to change accommodations. For example, if you are rambling around the Continent with a Eurail Pass, you’ll have to manage your own luggage, lifting it on and off the train and hauling it to taxis or buses.  If you can’t carry your own bag from the train station to your hotel, you will be vulnerable to theft or assault and dependent upon anyone who can lend a hand.

Believe you won’t be lonely: Just because you are traveling alone doesn’t mean you’ll be more lonesome than at home. Like PMS, loneliness comes and goes. Take care of yourself. When you start to feel down, it’s often because you haven’t eaten or slept enough, or you are dehydrated.

Do what the locals do—when they do it: Get up early and go to the market. Visit the pubs in Ireland and sing along. Plan your trip around festivals.

Travel like the locals: In the Himalayas, trek on foot. Consider going by horseback in the Wild West, by rickshaw in the Orient, or bicycle in Holland.

Learn a couple of words in the local language: You may find the people appreciate your attempt to communicate in their language. Just a few words such as hello, goodbye, delicious, beautiful, boy, or girl can cause a local person to warm up to you.

Avoid being a target: Leave your expensive or expensive-looking jewelry at home. Wear a money belt or carry your valuables in an inner pocket.

Protect yourself: You may want to invest in a simple rubber doorstop. It can stop intruders in their tracks. It’s inexpensive, light to pack, and gives you the peace of mind to sleep well. The main door to your room usually has a pretty good lock and peephole and sometimes a bar chain. But if there is an adjoining room, that door usually has a fairly flimsy lock. The doorstop is especially useful in those situations.

Trust your instincts: They are well-honed from living in the USA. Take extra precautions not to end up alone on empty beaches, on dark streets, or in situations where help may not be available. Late at night take taxis and sit in the back seat. If you feel something is off, wrong, or strange—get out and move on. Do it quickly. With preparation and caution, you can feel secure traveling alone.

Consider wearing a wedding ring if you don’t already: Some men will try their luck with single women and be annoyingly persistent. If you don’t want this kind of attention, ignore them, adapt an uppity attitude, and flaunt your ring. An imaginary husband can give you respectability, and besides, he may arrive at any moment.

Nudge yourself to move out of your comfort zone: Smile, talk to people, and step out the door. Travel is great therapy, as well as one of the fastest ways to boost your self-confidence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx63JhlmTeQ

• You can call the hotel directly. Ask the hotel reservations staff the “occupancy rate” of the hotel for the dates you’ll be visiting. If the hotel is near full you won’t have as much bargaining power.
• To attempt to bargain with the hotel manager you must know the going rate, check out www.biddingfortravel.com, the website where travelers share their secrets on what they actually paid at Priceline.com. If the hotel you’re considering is listed on this site, simply offer the manager the Priceline rate, minus 5% which is the commission the hotel would have paid that agency. You’ll be surprised how well you can bargain.

On a beach in Bali I asked an American woman to watch my bag while I went swimming. After a short conversation, we became friends and explored the island together – renting a motorcycle to discover remote villages set among green terraced rice fields, even changing flights to continue traveling together. Later, I met a Swiss woman on a plane to Delhi and ended up renting a houseboat with her in Kashmir. This voyage taught me that women connect easily when traveling and rely on each other for advice and companionship.

If you are considering traveling alone on your next vacation, here are a few proven solo travel tips that make it easier:

Buy a Guidebook Geared Toward the Single Traveler
The accommodations, hang-outs and restaurants listed will be full of other solo travelers. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to hook up with a variety of people for an afternoon of exploring the bazaar in Kathmandu, eating a meal together, or even traveling for a day or a week together (perhaps even more…I met my husband while traveling in Nepal.)

Check Out the Independent Travelers Meeting Places
Some guidebooks (such as the Lonely Planet series) will list them. Many cities have well-known meccas for solo travelers from bookstores to cafes to youth hostels with bulletin boards and calendars of local events. These provide a treasure trove of listings for inexpensive tours, travel companions or rides wanted, free or almost free lectures, or social gatherings which you can join. A morning jog with the running group “Hash House Harriers” in Singapore or Kathmandu can lead to local friends and social invitations. My hand-written note posted on a message board on a tree in the cafe courtyard of the Old Stanley Hotel in Nairobi led to a safari with dynamic people and some wonderful friendships.

Start Smart
Even if you want to be unstructured, book at least the first night’s accommodation in advance. It may cost more than you want to spend the rest of the trip for lodging, but this makes it easier getting your bearings and ensures you don’t start the trip fatigued trying to get it all together right when you step off the plane in a foreign country.

Avoid Power Plays and Unwanted Attention
Advances can be thwarted by silence, no eye contact and quickly moving away from the source of irritation. Always trust your instincts. If you are really being pestered, go into a store or hotel and explain that you are a tourist and there is a person annoying you, that you are afraid and don’t know how to handle it. Can they help by calling the police or telling the obnoxious person to go away? Works every time! Other safety advice for solo travelers is to dress conservatively so as not to draw attention to yourself, and take clues from the way local women are dressed.

Do Talk To Strangers
Some of the most meaningful travel experiences come from spontaneous invitations to join a person, family or group for a dinner or activity. Communicate with women, children and elders. Even if you don’t speak their language, a smile goes a long way.

Wine & Dine Yourself
Eating alone comfortably when you travel alone is a skill you will quickly develop. Choose a lively cafe or bistro with lots of people. Consider sitting at the counter and watch your food be prepared. Take along reading and writing material. Enjoy watching people and the fine art of eavesdropping. Again, use that smile to reach out and make contact with the diners around you. Your conversations with them may be the highlight of your evening.

Avoid Romantic Destinations
Ask yourself if a destination is perfect for a honeymooners. If it is, then avoid this location (unless you are a romance voyeur).

So be brave and take the plunge – try solo travel, you may become a convert. Remember, it is better to BE alone than to wish you WERE alone.

An important safety tip is to trust your instincts. They are well-honed from living in the USA. If you feel something is off, wrong, strange – get out, move on, flee, scream, whatever is appropriate. Do it quickly.

Body language: keep your head up, swing your arms and act confident. Adopt a no nonsense attitude. Walk with purpose and you’ll be less of a target for hustlers who prey on disoriented or timid tourists.

Most of the people who offer you food or drink are just being kind. However, the rare exception exists – drugging occasionally happens. Try not to leave your drink unattended in bars, and exercise good judgment when accepting food or drink from people. Rohypnol, the date rape drug, is odorless, tasteless and colorless. It is a tranquilizer that can be slipped into your drink by a man who would like to have sex with a woman who is heavily sedated. If you are at a party, don’t accept a glass of punch unless you trust the host. Don’t think this won’t happen to you. Some women don’t even know they have been raped until it’s too late.

If you are being followed in the street and you feel threatened, duck into a shop and firmly tell the clerk: “I am a foreigner and someone is following me. I am frightened and need help.” If need be, have the clerk call a cab or police officer for you.

Try to sit or stand next to other women or family groups in restaurants, on trains or buses, and in other public places. It is unlikely that you will be approached or harassed if you’re in the company of other people.

A great safe travel tip for women is to consider wearing a wedding ring, if you don’t already.

There is power in vocal embarrassment. I have found that many men are shamed by a verbal, loud woman admonishing them in public. Practice screaming before you leave home! Also shame them by shaking your finger in their faces. Even if the crowd doesn’t understand your words, they will understand your indignation and gestures. Most sleazy men do not want public attention.

Ask for help or company if you feel uncomfortable.

It is common for a would-be thief to use razor blades to cut purse straps, take the purse, and then get away in a thick sea of bodies. Wear a money belt to avoid this happening.

It can be difficult to know what is considered offensive or suggestive in segregated societies, such as in Orthodox Muslim areas. At times, women travelers may feel uncomfortable or vulnerable. You may not know if the local men view you as a sex symbol representing the immoral Western World. Take your cues from the local women. Watch them. If they don’t make eye-to-eye contact with men, follow their example. Blend in. Dress appropriately.

Clothing that is fashionable and appropriate in the USA may project a provocative image in another culture. When you travel, leave the revealing clothing at home.

Another safety tip: anticipate potential problems. For example, if a group of men or young boys approaches you on the sidewalk on your side of the street, cross to the other side to give them space and you peace of mind.

Be sure to know when the sun rises and sets. A bustling market can quickly empty out and be transformed into dark deserted streets. Plan to be back to your lodging or in a safe, busy neighborhood by dark.

Carry enough money in your shoe or money pouch to get you out of a tight spot. Be willing to spend this money on a cab in order to get you to a safe place or back to your lodging. Do not take unnecessary risks.

If in doubt, take a self defense course.

I’m not a paranoid traveler, but I do travel alone often, and I take a lot of precautions. To travel safely and without fear, we need to be savvy. I learned these tips from a woman who recently took a self-defense class. The instructor who taught her class interviewed a group of rapists in prison and learned what they look for when scoping out a woman. Here are some interesting facts and safety tips for women:

• The #1 thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.
• They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.
• The time of day men are most likely to attack and rape a woman is in the early morning, between 5 and 8:30 a.m.
• The number one place women are abducted from/attacked at is grocery store parking lots. Number two is office parking lots/garages and number three is public restrooms. These men are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to a second, secluded location where they don’t have to worry about getting caught.
• Only 2% of the rapists interviewed said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.

Therefore, if you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn’t worth it because it will be time-consuming. These men said they will not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects in their hands that can be used from a distance. Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, good safety advice is to convince these guys you’re not worth it.

Several defense mechanisms

• If someone is following you on the street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell and if you feel they are suspicious, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: “I can’t believe it is so cold out here, we’re in for a bad winter.” Now you’ve seen their face and could identify them in a lineup, so you lose appeal as a target.
• If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell “Stop” or “Stay back!” Most of the rapists said they’d leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target. If you carry pepper spray (the instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yelling “I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY” and holding it out will be a deterrent.
• If someone grabs you, you can’t beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If they grab your wrist, pull your wrist back so your hand is in waving position (palm facing forward) and twist it toward yourself and pull your arm away. It is hard to hold onto wrist bones that are moving in that way. They stumble toward you and you stumble back, so you can use that momentum to backhand them with your knuckles in the forehead, nose or teeth. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm between the elbow and armpit or in the upper inner thigh HARD. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it hurts.
• After the initial hit, always go for the groin. It is extremely painful if you slap a guy’s testicles (do not be afraid, your life may be at stake!). You might think that you’ll make the potential rapist really mad and make him want to hurt you more, but the rapists who were interviewed reported that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he’ll take off.
• If he puts his hands up to grab you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. I saw the instructor do this to another man, without using much pressure, and he ended up on his knees and both knuckles cracked audibly. It works!

Of course the safety advice we always hear about traveling still applies. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don’t dismiss it, go with your instincts. You may feel a little silly at the time, but you’d feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.