Travelling while female: 8 travel hacks I live by.

I have been meaning to write a more detailed post about travelling while female, but I honestly believe, my experiences are coloured by my race, religion, nationality as well. So instead of delving into that, I am going to try to be as general as possible, to provide tips that will help most women. These are mostly ideas of what things to carry, what you should consider and so on. I think its worth mentioning that I am not being sponsored nor partnering with any brand/item etc, the things I suggest are truly those that I use.

 

1. Carry a multipurpose scarf. One that is preferably a thin but wide and long pashmina. So my pashmina is absolutely multi purpose, its long and warm, thus, i can use it to wrap it around me when I am cold. Its thin, so i can layer it and wear it around my neck if its cold, its light, so i can roll it and store it easily. If you need to you can also use it as a blanket to sit on at a beach or park. BONUS: for my muslim sisters, I use it when I go to mosques to pray, it covers me up just perfectly :). (See picture above)

2. If you are a person who menstruates, please please please consider getting a moon cup. A moon or diva cup is an incredibly comfortable, useful, sustainable and eco friendly product to use during your period. I would on average spend around 40 euros per year on tampons and pads. But, then i got this amazing menstrual cup and its a one time investment! The one I use is called Me Luna, it is available in most pharmacies across Europe and has a ring which allows for easy use. Its ultra light and lasts 5 years and for only 16 euros, its a bargain!

3. When you pack shampoos and soaps, I would suggest packing solid items instead of liquid ones. If you are backpacking, you are very likely to be subjected to hand carry liquid restrictions, so instead of buying shampoos and body wash, i suggest buying shampoo bars and a soap thats easy on the skin. I personally use the LUSH shampoo bars that are good for 80 washes, so you can easily travel with one for months, they are only 55 grams and cost like 8 euros! I also like the body soaps from LUSH, they are a non melting formula and are not too harsh, so i use it on my face too. Plus, the smell is really nice, the items are vegan and cruelty free :D. 

5. Invest in an epilator. If you are someone who prefers to remove body hair, hear me out- its better for the environment, your wallet and your hair growth. Disposable razors rack up tons over the years and are horrible for the environment, all that plastic and those blades end up in the ocean. So, I would high suggest investing in an epilator, they last longer, your hair grows back thinner than when shaved and its not as inconvenient or bad for the environment as those wax strips. Taking mine with me is one of the best decisions I made, i have had to use it only 3 times during 1 month and its been guilt free.

6. Invest on a good pair or hiking/running shoes. I had crappy ones for the longest time and always wondered why i was so tired all the time from walking. Before this trip, i bought a really awesome pair of Adidas running shoes, they have been just amazing, I have walked with a total of 16 kilos on me for 5-6 kms without pressure on my knees and thats the trick i think. My pair is dark in colour, so it doesn’t become dirty all that easily. Plus I can walk forever, i walk 13-16 km a day more or less easily.

7. No matter where or when you are travelling, carry at least 1 cardigan, 1 pair of comfortable leggings and 1 rain coat. Because its always safer to have those than to get soaked in the rain and freeze on a night out. 

8. Finally, choose summer to travel, its easier and lighter to travel during summer as the days are longer and you are going to be able to experience everywhere a lot better. Many places have festivals and concerts during this time and you will also be able to experience some incredible things like open air cinema, sleeping under the stars, swimming in waterfalls and lakes and so on.
 
 

I hope this post has been useful and informative for you! If you can think of any topics you want me to write about please be sure to email me on : malihaaroundtheworld@gmail.com. And if you like this article, please show a sister some love, head over to instagram and follow my page: @maliharoundtheworld:D

Maliha Fairooz is a 27-year-old Bangladeshi solo traveller, who has travelled to 83 countries, on a Bangladeshi passport. Through her blog www.maliharoundtheworld.com, she shares her experience of travelling as a brown, Muslim, Bangladeshi woman while simultaneously encouraging a culture of travel amongst Bangladeshi youth.

Maliha Fairooz is an award winning Bangladeshi solo traveler, who has travelled to over a 100 countries. Through her blog www.maliharoundtheworld.com she shares her experience of traveling as a brown, Muslim, Bangladeshi woman while simultaneously encouraging a culture of travel amongst Bangladeshi youth.

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