Am I hesitant to travel alone to places I've never visited before? I won't sugarcoat the truth that there are places where I am more vigilant and observant than others, and I can provide one recent example.

Brazil.

One of the biggest nations on earth, known for its exuberant festivals and miles of sandy beaches, but also for its reputation for gang violence and crimes like pickpocketing and mugging (in certain areas).

My personal thoughts? I loved my time in Brazil. In fact, I had such a good time there that I'll be going back in a few months to see parts of the nation I missed the first time (this time with a better grasp of the language hopefully).

However, I will be 100% honest. I was a little anxious about going to Brazil alone for the first time a few months before my trip, and I nearly canceled my trip to Rio (twice). I did not speak any Portuguese and had made a first impression of Rio de Janeiro based on what I had watched in the media and heard from family and friends.

Solo female travelers should not travel to Brazil alone.
Brazil is reported to have high crime rates including violence and theft.
Brazil is one of the least safest countries in South America and...

These words of caution instilled fear in me and painted a bleak picture of what turned out to be a wonderfully diverse country (in so many ways) once I arrived, demonstrating how powerful the media is in influencing how we perceive other countries and ways of life. Stereotyping in contemporary media can be harmful, and I sincerely encourage more people travel to new destinations to see and experience the places for themselves rather than basing their opinions solely on what they see and hear.

Let us now discuss safety. Wherever you go, take precautions (and I mean everywhere in the world including your home country). I have a few safety tips, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Try not to go walking alone at night by yourself.
Share your travel itinerary or location with friends and family and try to keep them updated of your plans.
Secure your valuables. I usually wear an over-the-shoulder fanny pack and lock my valuables in the room.
Use common sense and research the area you're visiting.
If you don't know the language, download Google Translate to your phone so you can communicate (it works even when you are offline).
I bought a personal emergency alarm, which I keep with me when I am out alone (just in case). Even when not required, knowing I have it gives me peace of mind.

I'm so glad I went ahead and visited Brazil instead of succumbing to my fears of the unknown. My trip went extremely well (as you can probably guess), and I plan to write a travel blog soon about how to travel Brazil and the places I recommend staying and eating. I'll see you out there! Vê Você :)

Author: Leslie Lung

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