Page 38 - 101+ Tips for Solo Women Travelers

77 Don’t wait to tip.

Tip early—don’t save it till your last day—and your hotel or service staff may
be extra helpful, extra friendly, and certainly extra appreciative. This can be a godsend
when you’re on your own. As for the housekeeping staff, you may have a different one
from one day to the next, so it’s best to leave a little something each day.

78 Use public transportation.

Public transportation is certainly cheaper than using taxis, but the real
benefit is the immersion into local life. People are usually happy to help if you
need directions and you never know what kinds of conversations may strike up.
Go online and study the routes, fares, and procedures you’ll need to know. Bonus:
Big city transport systems usually sell multi-day passes that may also include
discounts on attractions.
79 Where to go when you gotta go.

The worst place to be? Anywhere without a proper toilet when your bladder
is full. Believe it or not there are several apps that will point you in the direction of
a clean, public bathroom. Try Sit or Squat (from the makers of Charmin), Flush, or
Where to Wee. No WiFi? No problem…. Enter the FUD, or female urination device,
used by female military personnel and many campers. FUDs are soft plastic or paper
funnel-like devices that let you urinate standing up, while remaining dry. Find them
online and at outdoor recreation stores. (I just love the brand names: Urinelle, GoGirl,
Whiz, and Shewee!) Otherwise, carry a few paper cups in your purse, and your delicate
posterior need never touch an unsanitary seat again!

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