Tips for Women Travelers

Walking alone at night will probably earn you a couple of catcalls, but women traveling in Panama will not feel overwhelmed by a macho presence. The influx of foreigners in Panama has helped, too. The best defense toward an inappropriate comment is to just ignore it and keep walking. In Panama City, women dress up in spite of the heat (meaning no flip-flops and shorts), but skimpier wear is accepted in beach areas.

Check out the award-winning website Journeywoman (www.journeywoman.com), a "real life" women's travel-information network where you can sign up for a free e-mail newsletter and get advice on everything from etiquette and dress to safety; or the travel guide Safety and Security for Women Who Travel by Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer (Travelers' Tales, Inc.), offering common-sense tips on safe travel.