In developing countries where Uber is not on the scene and buses run when they feel like it, getting around cities can be inconvenient at best. If you are a solo woman traveler, uncertain public transportation can leave you vulnerable. But there is an easy and cheap solution: private drivers.

In developing countries, many cab drivers own their own cabs (or Tuk Tuks, depending on the location) and drive around ceaselessly looking for a fare. In poorer countries, it is more difficult to find single rides and drivers are happy to have a customer for the whole day.

Here is how it works: upon arriving in a new city, I get a taxi. If I like the service, I ask the driver how much for a day rate. In Thailand, I was able to get a driver for US $10 per day, in Mexico for $15 per day, and in Cambodia, I paid the driver $100 for a whole week. Drivers are happy for the repeat business and will drive you much further than a normal taxi. I enter their phone numbers on speed dial, call them when I need them, and get a worry free experience when I am traveling solo.