Last Updated on January 13, 2025 by Christine Kaaloa
Dealing with touts, scams, and beggars can be one of the more stressful aspects of solo travel, especially for women. While these encounters are uncomfortable, they’ve taught me to set boundaries, trust my instincts, and take control of my safety. Here are practical tips and lessons from my experiences.
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The Reality of Being a Solo Female Traveler
Table of Contents: How to Deal with Touts, Scams, Beggars as a Female Traveler
As a solo woman, I’ve encountered persistent touts, scams, and beggars almost everywhere—from aggressive souvenir vendors to misleading taxi drivers. Without a partner to deflect attention, I’ve had to rely on my own resolve. These experiences have made me more cautious, taught me to navigate situations with confidence, and reminded me that my safety is my responsibility.
For instance, in Delhi, a male tour agent raised his voice, trying to intimidate me into dropping my refund request. In Bangkok, a taxi driver pretended not to understand directions, pushing me to pay more after my male friend had already negotiated the fare. In Morocco, I encountered a fake police officer offering “help” and then leading me to a shady tannery to sell me leather.
In all these cases, my instincts told me something wasn’t right. Even though fear bubbled under the surface, I stayed calm, trusted my gut, and acted quickly to remove myself from the situation before it worsened.
Read 20 Street Smart Solo Traveler Safety Tips
How to Handle Touts
Touts are aggressive salespeople who relentlessly push their products or services—whether they’re taxi drivers, tour agents, or street vendors. While many are just trying to make a living, their persistence can be exhausting and occasionally slip into scams.
Standout countries for me are Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Morocco, Indonesia, Egypt, etc… but touts are common to practically, every country across the globe.
Here’s how I handle touts effectively:
Act Confident
Vulnerable and overly kind people can be targets for touts, because they appear to not have willpower. Act confident or fake it, to exude certainty in your walk and body expression.
Be Firm and Confident
A clear and confident “No, thank you” without engaging further often works. Avoid smiling too much, making too much eye contact or appearing indecisive, as it can invite more persistence.
Don’t Stop Walking
Keep moving to show you’re not interested. Pausing gives them the chance to corner you and can give mixed signals about your interest in them.
Be Aware of Scams Targeting Tourists
Research popular scams targeting tourists in your trip destination ahead of time. For example, in Vietnam, some taxi drivers are known for rigging meters, while in Morocco, vendors often claim items are handmade when they aren’t.
Avoiding eye contact with a tout helps a little as you are not giving them your attention and they can only pursue you so far without being acknowledged.
Wear Dark Glasses
Wearing dark sun glasses helps deflect unwanted attention. The tout does not know where you are looking and it’s easier to feel dismissed, if you are selling products you want tourists to see!
Pretend You Do Not Know the Language.
Pretending you don’t know the English language is another tactic travelers use to escape aggressive touts who want to sell and bargain with you.
Set Stern Boundaries
If they persist, raise your voice slightly and repeat “No” firmly with a face that means what it says. You’re not obligated to explain yourself and keep walking. “No” means NO.
Avoid ’Maybe, tomorrow…’
’Maybe tomorrow” responses can be misinterpreted as “Yes, tomorrow“. It can invite more aggressive behavior so they can convince you to change your mind.
In developing countries, street vendors may take your word as your promise and will return tomorrow to cash in on your promise. I’ve seen this happen in Vietnam, where Hmong locals in Sapa will wait outside hotels for tourists. Be careful of what you say.
If they persist… Run.
It’s ridiculously effective as an endgame.
Tips for Avoiding Scams While Traveling
Scammers often prey on solo travelers by exploiting their need for safety or guidance. Whether it’s a “friendly local” offering unsolicited advice or an overcharging vendor, the key is to stay alert and skeptical.
Research Scams in Advance
The best and most effective way to avoiding scams at tourist hotspots, is to learn what they are! Research common scams to watch out for in the country you are traveling to, so you can know how to spot and avoid travel fraud. Ask your hotel concierge as they mediate between the local and tourist communities. Here’s a list of common scams to watch out for.
Trust your Intuition/Gut
The greatest thing travel has taught me is to trust my intuition. If something feels off, it probably is. Politely but firmly decline the stranger’s offer and walk away.
Do not hand over money easily
Avoid paying upfront for services or agreeing to unclear terms.
Pro-Tip: I like to give myself a cash spending budget of $20 and keep it up front in my wallet. Then I leave large bills back at my hotel or hide one in a stash pocket. This way, I can show the $20 as all I have if I am being scammed. This is also a tactic to keep me from overspending!
Have a backup plan
Always know alternative routes, transport options, or accommodation in case someone tries to mislead you. The moment I get a bad feeling, I immediately start looking for potential exits, opportunities to leave, strangers I can call upon for help and ways to excuse myself and wriggle away from being sucked in deeper.
Get Travel Insurance that Covers Theft
In the case anything happens in robbery, theft or hospitalization, travel insurance offers immediate peace of mind that your finances are covered. It makes the sting feel that less stinging knowing you may get compensated.
I use World Nomads travel insurance, as it covers my spontaneous adventures and travel theft. For specific conditions and budgets, check out this travel insurance finder tool.
Check out my 28 Tips for Preventing Pickpockets and Theft
Grow Wiser from Your Experience
Sometimes, you might learn about them through the actual experience of getting scammed, like I did in Delhi, when my friends and I learned some tuk-tuk drivers take you to counterfeit tourism offices. Or when I almost got caught in a ping-pong show in Bangkok. The list goes on… Even travel bloggers get scammed, due to the fact we travel often and the more you travel, the greater your opportunities to encountering them.
Read: Tips of Dealing with Scams and Getting out of them!
Dealing with Beggars
While not everyone asking for money is a scammer, beggars can be persistent in tourist-heavy areas. How do you safely navigate beggars as a solo traveler? Are you aiding a crutch, getting suckered out of your money or helping a person walk proudly on their own merit?
Avoid Monetary Handouts
Reasons why you want to avoid giving money to beggars:
… It could be a scam,
… Your cash handout may be used to buy illegal drugs/alcohol and support bad habits
… it strengthens the stereotype that all travelers are rich which encourages tourist harassment,
… It makes begging a lucrative career, keeping kids out of school or preventing adults from getting a job that gives them confidence, purpose and independence.
Donate to Social Welfare Organizations, Not Individual People
There are many types of organizations from government to non-profit, that are fighting to empower marginalized communities by teaching them entrepreneurial skills to create job and economic growth in their community. There are programs to bring education to children, fight child trafficking, teach women’s empowerment, etc… If you want to help beggars, research a reputable social welfare organization in that destination and donate to it.
Support Community & Sustainable Tourism Programs
Participating in sustainable community programs is a meaningful way to make a positive impact while traveling. These programs often empower marginalized or impoverished communities by creating opportunities for economic growth and cultural exchange.
Examples of Sustainable Programs
Community Tourism: By staying in a homestay, you directly support local families while gaining an authentic cultural experience. Many programs reinvest profits into community development projects, such as improving schools or healthcare facilities. Read my community homestay guide
Women and Children Empowerment Initiatives: Businesses run by women or focused on empowering marginalized groups offer travelers the chance to contribute to meaningful causes. These can include craft workshops, cooking classes, or guided tours that highlight local traditions and skills.
Cultural Skill Sharing: Programs where locals teach travelers traditional skills—like weaving, farming, or cooking—not only preserve heritage but also provide locals with a dignified way to earn an income.
By choosing sustainable community programs, you not only enrich your travel experience but also contribute to lasting economic and social benefits for the destinations you visit.
Decline with Respect
I spoke with a social worker once: she said the best thing you can do to decline beggars is to make eye contact when you say a firm NO. Recognition is a powerful exchange, reinforcing independence in beggars on a humane level. Direct eye contact reaffirms that they are capable equals who have the freedom to make choices that shape an independent lifestyle.
Beggars are an invisible part of society, ghosts of society. Most people do not want to acknowledge poverty or deal with it.
Read Travel Tips for Ethical Travelers
Watch the video version
How to Deal with Touts 01:01
How to Avoid Tourist Scams 02:19
How to Deal with Beggars & Responsible Tourism 05:28
Practicing Responsible Tourism in travel
The more I travel and experience different situations and economic backgrounds, the more I strive to practice responsible tourism. All of it can certainly feel like a gray line and who is to say what is right or wrong. With responsible tourism, I look at the how my choices create an either, positive or negative impact upon the culture. I’m looking at the entire ecosystem of balance.
On an ethical level, rewarding a tout, beggar or scammer’s actions merely encourages them to do it more. Sometimes it rewards criminals, keeps child labor in full force, and creates a larger problem for the community to deal with after a tourist has left. Touts beggars and scammers don’t only target tourists; they target locals, as well. I’ve heard from many disgruntled Bangkok and Indian locals complain how rickshaw drivers and taxis tun on locals, as well. Cheating a tourist out of money gives them more confidence in their success.
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Travel Tips for Solo Female Travelers
