The UK government’s advice for women travelling abroad comes down to three steps: research how women are treated where you are going, never leave a drink unattended or accept one from a stranger, and know how to reach help. At Safe to Go, we translate government travel advisories into concrete decisions so you know where real risks sit before departure.
These tips come from the UK FCDO advice for women travelling abroad, and we re-check the official advisories every day.
Preparation Checklist Before You Go Abroad
Before booking transport, review official country travel advice and local cultural attitudes toward women traveling alone. In some countries, women traveling alone or in female-only groups face distinct obstacles and unwanted attention because of their gender. The UK FCDO suggests checking the safety and security page of its country travel advice, guidebooks and online forums.
Talk directly with travelers who have visited the specific places on your route. Research whether local authorities uphold gender equality, and look into destination guidance for LGBT+ travelers if relevant to your journey.
You can download our free travel safety checklist to organize emergency contact numbers, insurance policies, and accommodation details before your departure date.
Medical Care and Pregnancy Considerations Abroad
Confirm that your destination provides adequate healthcare facilities and buy travel insurance that covers emergency medical evacuation and local treatment. Many pregnant women travel abroad without issues, but you may face increased health risks where specialized clinical care is limited.
In some countries, if you become pregnant or give birth outside of marriage, you may not be covered by medical insurance. Where abortion is heavily restricted, it may be denied to pregnant women, even where it would be life-saving and the foetus has little chance of surviving.
Managing Personal Security and Drink Tampering
Violence toward women and girls remains a risk across many countries, taking different forms based on local laws, culture, and history. Rape and sexual assault are risks worldwide, while local emergency support and institutional attitudes toward survivors vary widely between territories. The UK FCDO guidance on advice for women travelling abroad says the FCDO takes any allegation of rape and sexual assault seriously, and its advice on what to do after an assault includes specific advice for each country.
Drug-assisted assault involves substances slipped into unattended drinks. These drugs are normally colorless and tasteless, leaving victims unconscious or defenseless without any detectable change to their beverage. Rape drugs also work in non-alcoholic drinks, such as coffee and tea.
Do not leave your drinks unattended, and do not accept drinks from strangers. If you begin feeling sick, disoriented, or drunk after consuming only a small amount of liquid, get help immediately from a trusted companion or contact local emergency authorities.
Marriage and Child Custody Laws That Can Stop You Leaving
Research the destination country legal system to identify statutes that restrict the rights of women. Laws around divorce and custody of children vary by country, with different courts or laws depending on the religion of that country or of the child’s parents. In some countries, a married woman may need her husband’s permission for her or her children to leave the country.
The husband may be able to place a stop order, which means the authorities will stop you or your children if you attempt to leave the country. International parental child abduction occurs whenever a child is moved across international borders without the consent of every person holding legal parental responsibility.
Forced marriage is an illegal act conducted without consent under duress, emotional blackmail, or physical threats. The UK FCDO says it is also a crime to do anything intended to make a child marry, even without violence or threats, and that forced marriage cannot be justified on any religious or cultural basis.
Employment Scams and Modern Slavery Warnings
Scrutinize international job offers that seem too good to be true, particularly jobs in call centres, as hosts and hostesses, in childcare or as domestic help. These scams can target anyone, but the UK FCDO says criminal gangs have sometimes targeted women and used job offers as a front for human trafficking or modern slavery.
Sometimes people have had their passports confiscated, been held in poor living conditions, been forced into illegal activities or been pressured to make large payments. If this happens to you, the UK FCDO victim of crime abroad guidance explains how to get help.
The UK FCDO points to two charities: Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation, which promotes personal safety for travellers, and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which campaigns on personal safety and stalking.
Consular Assistance and Emergency Reporting Abroad
The UK FCDO says it can help British nationals who have been injured, assaulted or arrested abroad, and it prioritises those who are vulnerable and need help the most. Abroad, contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate. From the UK, call +44 (0)20 7008 5000, a line open 24/7.
If you face domestic abuse or child abuse abroad, contact local emergency services or the nearest British embassy, high commission, or consulate for assistance.
Destination Selection and Official Advisory Warnings
These general tips are not enough if you are pregnant, taking a job abroad, or travelling with children to a country where a husband can place a stop order. In those cases, read the UK FCDO guidance on that topic before you book. You can explore regional overviews like the safest countries in Asia or review city-level guidance like the safest cities in Colombia to match trip plans with official risk profiles. For a broader global perspective, our index of the safest countries for solo female travelers highlights regions with minimal safety warnings.
Our assessment would change if your destination government alters its statutes to restrict women’s movement, or if official travel advisories add new regional warnings about civil unrest or violence. Check the latest advisory changes before departures to see whether government agencies have updated their security guidance for your chosen itinerary.