It’s hot-hot-hot here in Washington DC, and I may be one of very few who love it like this. Steamy nights, steamier days…and plenty of exciting activity.

For the past month I’ve been luxuriating in many hours spent on one of my favorite activities: learning languages! I’m blessed with two outstanding instructors: one from Paris, one from Dakar, and both really delightful.

 French is a ball and an intense refresher. Wolof is a whole new experience. What a challenge to tackle a language so different from those I already know! The structure of Wolof requires a new way of putting thoughts together, and that’s the fun. Learning something so new is humbling, too!

 I’m off to Las Vegas in late July for an exciting conference, followed by a few days visiting family in Los Angeles. As I set off once again on my own, women’s travels again occupy my thoughts.

 Every year thousands of women tackle a travel adventure solo. With these intrepid women in mind, I want to share with you some great tips in this month’s Feature Article, “Ten Tips for Women Traveling Alone.”

 And of course, as November draws near, the intrepid women who will join me for Women’s Travels for Peace: Senegal, November 2008 are continually in my thoughts. Check it out in PTT Recommends, below.

 Happy Reading!

Q: My wife is very excited about your women’s trip to Senegal in November, and I want to support her enthusiasm, but I’m wondering about the nightlife for people on the trip. I want to be sure she’s safe. What’s the nightlife like?

 A: Hi Michael: Nightlife is limited to the activities described in the itinerary. The six women participating in this trip will always be accompanied by their trilingual escort and either one of the local hosts or one of the local guides, all of whom live in the destination. Not to worry! Your wife will be with local people who know where they are and what to do at all times.

 It can be an extraordinary experience to go where you want when you want and meet new people along the way. Many women who have traveled alone describe an incredible sense of freedom and possibility. But there are also the challenges, ranging from loneliness to safety, making solo travel daunting enough that many women never attempt it.

 That's not to say it can't be done. To help you get the most out of a trip, here are ten tips compiled from the advice of women who have traveled alone and will do it again.

 1. Exercise hotel safety

There are many ways you can make a solo stay at a hotel safer. At check-in, you might consider asking for a room near the elevator so you won't need to walk down long, potentially ill-lit hallways to reach your room. When filling out guest registration forms, consider using your first initial instead of your name, and skip the "Mrs/Miss/Mr" check box. Additionally, make sure the clerk writes down your room number instead of saying it out loud. This will prevent anyone in the vicinity from knowing where to find you later.

 If you're at a hotel that requires you to leave your keys at the front desk, make sure that a desk clerk is there to put your key in a safe place; never just leave it on the counter. SmarterTravel.com's Executive Editor Anne Banas cautions to never hang a filled-out breakfast card on your door; doing so lets people know you're alone in the room, and means there's a situation already set in which you'll be expecting someone at the door. If I'm not sure about my accommodations, I bring along a rubber door stop to wedge under the door in case the lock is unreliable.

 2. Arrive during the day

Arrive in new cities during the day. Areas around bus and train stations can be scary and/or deserted, and small towns tend to shut down early. Veteran solo traveler Mara Rothman of San Francisco notes that plenty of beautiful towns can appear eerie at night, and locals who are genuinely trying to help you can appear unnecessarily threatening. Arriving during the day means you'll be able to find a place to stay and get your bearings before dark.

 3. Keep your documents safe

If you choose to wear a money belt, use it for storage and not as a purse. Constantly reaching under your shirt for money draws attention to it, and tends to defeat the purpose. Instead, keep your passport, extra stores of money, and other important documents tucked away, and use a bag or purse for carrying daily spending money.

 Keep copies of your passport and credit cards in a separate and secure location. Rothman suggests slipping copies of such documents under the insoles of shoes. They may not smell great, but they'll be there if you need them.

 4. Dress appropriately

To avoid attracting unwanted attention, dress as conservatively as the women you see around you. This doesn't necessarily mean donning the traditional dress, as that can sometimes backfire. When she arrived in India to travel on her own for six months, Eva Winter of London purchased the traditional Salwar kameez long tunic and pants. But as she traveled around the country, she noticed that she was actually attracting more attention from men who were curious about the six-foot-tall blonde in the customary cultural dress. Suspecting she might be giving the impression of attempting to appear traditional to attract an Indian suitor, Winter switched back to conservative Western dress and was hassled far less often.

 A good rule of thumb is to dress modestly. Think knee-length or longer skirts. Bare arms, shoulders, and legs are considered risqué in some countries, so do the research before you go and once you're there. Note which body parts the local women cover and do the same.

 5. Know when to buddy up

Traveling alone doesn't always mean being alone. There are plenty of situations in which seeking out company can make for a safer and more enjoyable experience. On vacation in Jamaica, Banas wasn't comfortable walking alone from her resort into town for dinner and a reggae show, so she invited a couple she'd met earlier in the day at the pool to join her. By doing so, she got to try out a new restaurant, dance the night away, and make new friends.

 Smaller hotels and hostels are great places to find like-minded travelers to explore new places with. And even when you can't find someone to buddy up with, there are often ways to associate yourself with others so you'll be less likely to be bothered. In some countries, there are women-only sections in trains and women's waiting rooms at train stations. Sticking close to families on public transportation and in unfamiliar public markets and bazaars is another technique some women use.

 6. Combat harassment

A few might argue that it's just a well-developed appreciation of women, but unsolicited stares, calls, and attention feel more like harassment when you're alone in unfamiliar territory. Having a repertoire of harassment deterrents can be as important to women travelers as a sturdy pair of shoes and a passport.

 SmarterTravel.com Contributing Editor RaeJean Stokes, who lived in Eastern Europe for two years, found that the combination of a basic understanding of the local language and the ability to feign total ignorance was a useful deterrent. After all, she said, "it's not as fun to harass someone who can't play back." As an extension, not engaging with people who are bothering you can make you a less interesting target.

 If you want to avoid being approached during lulls in activity, such as while waiting for or while traveling on trains, it can be a good idea to carry a novel or paper for writing to friends (they miss you, you know, and want to hear how your trip is going). That way, you've got a prop that makes you look busy and involved.

 If a situation of harassment escalates, making a scene can sometimes be effective. Many societies place a high premium on respecting social norms, so drawing attention to harassment in a loud and clear manner may solve the problem. The sentence for "leave me alone" is a handy one to learn.

 7. Research body language and culture

Depending on the country, seemingly innocuous gestures such as eye contact, shaking hands, smiling, and small talk can be construed as come-ons. Learning the subtleties of body language and local culture before you arrive can prevent awkward or misleading situations.

 Reading up on the culture before you go can also make your trip more enlightening and enjoyable. When in doubt, spend some time observing those around you, and then follow suit. And if you're someone who likes to people watch or study faces, a dark pair of sunglasses can come in handy to avoid any confusion about eye contact.

 8. Exude confidence

Whether you're on a street at home or 7,000 miles away, walking confidently and with direction is an effective technique for deterring unwanted attention, since appearing lost or confused can make you vulnerable. If you are lost, walk into a shop or restaurant and ask for directions there. Try to avoid obviously looking at maps while you're in the street. Study your route before you go, or find one of those wallet-sized maps that you can discreetly palm and refer to on the sly.

 9. Keep in touch

If you're traveling alone, it will be important to have a few regular contacts who can keep tabs on you. Leave a general itinerary behind with family and friends, and send regular emails so that people at home know about where you are. You can also register your trip with the Department of State online. Registering a trip means that the embassy knows of your presence in a country; this can be especially helpful when traveling in dangerous areas or in the event of a natural disaster.

 10. Use common sense

Using common sense is perhaps the single best tip for staying safe and having a good time while you're traveling alone. This category includes the usual recommendations: don't walk around late at night, don't drink with strange men, don't ride in empty compartments on trains, don't compromise safety to save a few bucks on a hotel or transportation, and know how to use a pay phone.

 Though these tips have been compiled for solo women travelers, they're good ones for general travel as well. Awareness and a bit of street-smarts are the keys to safe and happy travels.

 This article, written by Christine Sarkis, originally appeared on SmarterTravel.com.

 Women’s Travels for Peace: Senegal, November 2008 is your chance to experience a life-changing adventure as you empower women through your own travel!

 Join me and my wonderful companions in providing urgently needed help to fabulous, vivacious women in southern Senegal, West Africa.

 Give yourself the gift of connecting deeply to women who, in their hearts, are so much like you!

 And meet exciting travel companions, learn a new and beautiful language, and absorb a new culture — in the process!

 I invite you women who are reading this — and you men with much loved, adventurous women in your lives — to join me and my vibrant companions as we build support and harmony among the women of the world through Women’s Travels for Peace: Senegal, November 2008.

 When we think about this, we begin to understand why children make such adorable language mistakes. Learning their first language requires a long learning curve! Children have such a narrow frame of reference, and every day they tackle the astoundingly intricate process of mastering their native speech.

 This month I’d like to share some young thinking. The authors of these statements are still free of life experience and working to conquer their native English.

 These are responses that elementary school children included in a homework assignment. Their teacher gave each child the beginning of a popular saying, asking the student to complete the statement however they thought was right.

These are their words of wisdom.

(For readers who may not be native English speakers and are less familiar with these sayings, the “traditional” completion of each statement is given in brackets for your reference.)