I’m a solo female traveler – here are three LIES I tell men who want to chat

Traveling alone as a woman can often be a daunting experience and sometimes you have to think carefully about how to protect yourself.

An American travel influencer has revealed the three lies she uses as a solo backpacker and advises others to use too.

The TikTok by @monicaroams was seen by over 376,000 people and saved by another 4,000.

The influencer explained: “You should never lie, but as a woman traveling alone you kind of have to. ‘It’s really crazy how many times I have to use these lies, so these will help.’

An American travel influencer has revealed the three lies she uses as a solo backpacker and advises others to use too

Always say you have a boyfriend… no matter what happens

Monica’s first tip is to always say you have a boyfriend, even if you don’t.

She explained, “First of all, when people ask you if you have a boyfriend, you do it no matter what.” Unless it’s someone you’re actually interested in.

“If you’re a lesbian, literally say that you have a boyfriend too, because I feel like men will always think that being a lesbian is hot and that will only attract them to you even more.”

“So no matter what happens, just say you have a boyfriend or a husband, even better.”

She added: “Let’s be honest, it’s usually old men who ask you this question just to see if you’re single so they can probably hit on you.”

“I made the mistake of being honest and saying I don’t have a boyfriend, but then it makes the interaction that much creepier because now they’re trying to get in touch with me.”

“This also works if someone asks for your number and you don’t want to give it to them. Just act like I have a boyfriend.”

Always say that your friend is waiting for you…

Next, she advises always lying when you’re alone:

“If anyone ever asks you if you’re alone, you’re never alone, baby, even when you’re alone.”

“You never know what their plan is or who they are, so it’s best not to give that kind of information out to random people.”

“Coincidentally, older men asked me this question while I was sitting alone eating.” I think: Oh no, my friends at the hostel, she’s just waiting for me.

“No matter what happens, you have a friend somewhere, okay?”

She explained, “If anyone ever asks you if you’re alone, you’re never alone, baby, even when you’re alone.” You never know what their plan is or who they are, so it’s best to have information like that not to pass it on to random people.

And… you don’t know where you’re staying

Finally, the traveler says, even if it’s not credible, that you should never reveal where you live.

She advised, “Don’t tell anyone where you’re staying because usually they’ll be like, ‘Oh my God, are you traveling alone?'” Or like, “Oh my God, where are you staying?”

“I understand it’s part of the conversation, but you also don’t know what their intentions are, so you just have to stay reserved and not give away too much information.”

“Especially when I’m feeling a weird mood and it’s someone I don’t want to talk to, I’m like, ‘Oh, I forgot, I don’t know where my hostel is, that’s probably how it is.’

The influencer added: “An alternative answer would be, ‘Actually, I’m traveling with my parents right now and we’re on vacation’.”

“Don’t be afraid to be creative, this is your time to develop a whole character story.”

Concluding the clip, she told her viewers, “Those are definitely three lies that you have to constantly tell as a woman traveling alone, because let’s face it, when you’re a young woman traveling alone, there are a lot of them.” randomly come up to you and start talking to you.

“I love conversation, but sometimes it can be very scary, so these are lies that will help you in your endeavors.”

Commenters joined in the conversation by sharing their own tips – one user wrote: “I used to wear a very cheap ‘wedding ring’ when traveling alone.”

Another added: “Better said husband, they can still hold out if it’s a ‘boyfriend.'” “I made the mistake of saying where I lived and got stalked in India.”

Someone else advised me, “Get a fake wedding ring. It helps with the language barrier, you just have to point the finger,” to which Monica replied, “Ooo, I love that.”

Others who swore by the advice said, “I used everything.” “Not even all my friends know where I live, let alone anyone I meet on a trip,” and “did it all on instinct!”