About Marybeth, National Geographic Author, Writer

Curious Explorer. Award-winning author.

Gutsy Traveler: A woman, like travel expert Marybeth Bond, stands among purple flowers, raising her arms and smiling in front of a wooden building in bright sunlight.
Polar bear tracking and snorkeling with beluga whales in the northern Canadian Arctic.

Marybeth knows travel. She has hiked, biked, dived, danced and trekked across all seven continents – from the depths of the Flores Sea near Komodo Island to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

More recently, she tracked polar bears and snorkeled with beluga whales in the Canadian Arctic, then kayaked among icebergs in Antarctica.

Somewhere in between, four years of studying in Paris earned her two degrees – and a taste for good wine and strong cheeses.

Twelve books (three with National Geographic), countless travel articles, and numerous TV and radio appearances have built her devoted fanbase. She won the esteemed Lowell Thomas, Gold Award for the Best Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.

Woman on cliff in front of a monastery in Bhutan
Yesterday’s Video below. A decade or more later. Is Marybeth still GUTSY? Here in Bhutan.
Marybeth in Antarctica with penguins, snowy mountains, and water—just the kind of moment travel expert Marybeth Bond would capture in a travel video.
Kayaking and camping near penguins in Antarctica.

Yesterday….

These days, it’s discouraging to read all the stories about travel dangers, especially for  women whose vacations have become nightmares. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe while you indulge your wanderlust in this big, wide, wonderful world.

Photo by Seth Doyle
Honestly, as a woman traveler, who has traveled to over 100 countries, traveling many times alone, I know that we, as women, have always been more vulnerable to foul plan than men. That said, don’t let fear keep you at home. Photo by Seth Doyle

Pack your street smarts

along with your hiking boots and bikini.

Don't hitch hike.
Be as cautious when you travel as you are at home. Would you get into a car with a stranger at home?

Remember Aruba.

Natalee Holloway, an attractive blonde Southern grad. from Birmingham, Alabama, traveled to the Caribbean Island of Aruba with her senior classmates and chaperones. Tragically, the last night of her trip, she went to a local bar called Carlos and Charlie’s, met three local guys, and was last seen alive getting into a car with them. One of the boys was held for three months on suspicion and then released to go to college. No charges were filed against him or anyone else. Eleven years after she disappeared, Natalie is still missing.

Use the buddy system 

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Watch the bar tender pour your drink and don’t leave it unattended at any time.

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

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.

Trust your instincts.

Don’t do things you wouldn’t do at home: drink too much alone leave a bar with a stranger and go to his apartment, accept a ride from a stranger, walk in a dark, deserted street alone. If you have a small feeling that something is wrong, or “off”, get out.

No “Nice Girl”   

No need to be overly friendly. In some cultures looking a stranger in the eye, or accepting a drink in a bar, is an invitation to much more.
No need to be overly friendly. In some cultures looking a stranger in the eye, or accepting a drink in a bar, is an invitation to much more.

There is power in vocal embarrassment.

You may need to be forceful. I discovered this in India when I had issues with a man following me. 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.

Be aware of what's happening around you. Credit: Flickr: Ron Wiecki
Be aware of what’s happening around you. Credit: Flickr: Ron Wiecki
Have a plan before you arrive.
Have a plan before our arrive.

The three reasons women can be easy targets;

lack of awareness of your surroundings,timid body language and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ask for help or company if you feel uncomfortable.

More tips and advice here. 

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Marybeth Bond