Etiquette for a Lady Traveling Alone

“If a woman is traveling alone and needs assistance, should a stranger of the male gender offer to aid her, she should feel under no further obligation than In recognizing him beyond a polite bow of thanks.” — Needless to say, if a stranger offers assistance, male or female,  should be expected in return other than a polite show expression of gratitude.

Traveling Alone

This is the season of the year when many women are forced to travel alone, especially on vacation trips, and there are many things that should be known regarding etiquette on such an occasion. If a woman is traveling alone and needs assistance, should a stranger of the male gender offer to aid her, she should feel under no further obligation than in recognizing him beyond a polite bow of thanks. The woman traveling alone should be as unobtrusive as can be possible, as the inexperienced traveler can brand herself in this way. 

If the window next to a woman alone is open and the dust is bothering the person behind, the least she can do is to close it. If she occupies a certain table in the dining-car and finds someone else in her place, she should not protest, but accept the situation graciously. It is not necessary to enter into conversation with the person across the table. On ocean steamers, however, it is not improper for strangers, who have not been introduced, to talk together, unless the traveler is a young girl. – Sacramento Union, 1909

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia