Contact Admin. I am a mature single woman who travels on her own, and have certainly been to destinations that some may question. I have, on a number of occasions, been asked for advice by tourists as they think I am a local. Look online for advice in using local ATMS. I do this in every place and particularly ask if there is anywhere I should avoid. Enjoy finding new things, but don't forget to make mental notes as you go.
Look out for pickpockets though. I prefer to ask someone with family with them, or pop into a hotel or store. Better still, ask a police officer. It bothers me that you are so afraid. You will never enjoy yourself if you are tainted by fear. I do think a bodyguard may just draw negative attention. Keep in mind that less than desirable people may want to know you, because you look important.
Thats never a good thing when you are travelling. As an Englishman who has been to Riga I feel I can offer good advice about this subject. The reputation that Riga is dangerous I believe comes from trashy type English people who went there in their thousands on Stag Nights. If you know anything about drunken British people, you will realise that it's unlikely to be Riga that is the problem, but the tourists themselves. I think Latvians took exception to large groups of extremely drunk British men dressed as penises, urinating in the streets, yelling and looking for prostitutes.
Hence they were assaulted, robbed, scammed and got a very frosty reception. It's understandable quite honestly after all Latvia is a very conservative country.
We went to the Christmas markets a couple of years ago in Riga and we were fine. We saw all the strip bars which cater to the British stag nights, but they are obvious and easy to ignore.
