Safety Tips for Solo Explorers

Whether you’re traveling for business, or taking a soul-searching solo trip, it is always important to exercise good judgment and be prepared for the unexpected. These tips can prepare you for a successful and safe adventure ahead.

Safety Starts Before You Leave for Your Trip

After you’ve chosen your next destination, dig a little deeper and study the map of the area to get a lay of the land ahead of time. Make annotations or a little cheat sheet with notes from other solo travelers or locals about which neighborhoods to avoid if alone and the best forms of public transportation. Studying the map and having a general understanding of the area are also encouraged so that you are not constantly resorting to a map while out on the streets. Nothing screams tourist like having your nose stuck in a map, and being visibly unaware is the most vulnerable situation you can be in while traveling.

Keep Your Hotel’s Business Card on You

If your hotel or hostel has a business card, keep it on you while venturing out in the city. Otherwise, write down the address or nearby business names on a piece of paper that you keep with you in case you need assistance finding your way back to your home base. Showing someone an address or the name of a location is sometimes easier than trying to verbally figure out directions, especially if there is a language barrier. That being said, it does help to know a few useful phrases in the local language in case you need to ask for help.

Do Not Openly Share that You are Traveling Alone

While you shouldn’t operate under complete paranoia for the entirety of your trip, it doesn’t hurt to err on the side of caution when it comes to talking to strangers. If someone asks you if you are traveling alone, make up a friend or partner who stepped away to the restroom or who is meeting you out shortly. If you feel threatened, make your way to a crowded area or a group of people who will more than likely be willing to help you. Trust your instincts when talking to strangers and make sure your cellphone has tracking on so that your family can find your location in case they haven’t heard from you. 

Make Copies of Important Documents

Have additional copies made for valuable documents such as your passport and traveler’s insurance that you leave with family or friends back at home and a second copy that you leave secured in your hotel room. It may be in your best interest to invest in a portable safe for your valuables in case the hotel or hostel does not offer an in-room safe. These can be carried with you or left in your hotel room and allow for an additional layer of precaution and security. Keep extra money and identification cached away in unsuspecting places, like beneath shoe soles, in socks, or left safely hidden wherever you’re staying. If something happens to your wallet or purse, the last thing you want while traveling is to be without any identification or money. 

Share Your Travel Itinerary and Location

Be sure to share your itinerary and hotel address with family members or trusted friends back home. Sharing your location through your smartphone is also a great safety precaution that will allow your loved ones to keep tabs on you in case of an emergency. If you are traveling abroad, sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This is a free service for U.S. citizens to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate and ensures that they receive important information regarding safety conditions in the area. 

Look the Part

Dressing appropriately for the local culture can help you to blend in and appear more confident and comfortable with the area. You should also try to follow the leads of the locals around you and emulate their behavior whether it be how quickly they walk, how often they make eye contact, or acknowledge each other. Walking with confidence gives the impression that you are a local or someone comfortable in their environment and makes you less likely to be picked out from a crowd as a potential target.

Secure Your Belongings

Keep your belongings close in a secure bag or hidden pouch that is not easy to access. Bags with magnetic flaps or zippers are easy to pickpocket and are not reliable when it comes to security. If you are carrying a camera, it is best to secure it in a bag that does not overtly look like a camera bag. A camera hanging around your neck can call for unwanted attention and make you a target for robbery. You might also consider an RFID-blocking wallet to help protect your credit cards from scammers. In a similar vein, avoid traveling with a debit card. Opt for a credit card, which protects your funds from fraud or theft. Debit card theft can cause you to lose your funds which could be difficult or impossible to retrieve. 

Keep a Level Head

Always remain aware of your surroundings. The best way to do this is to keep well-rested and watch your alcohol consumption when you’re out. There is nothing wrong with making new friends and experiencing the culture of the city you are visiting, but never compromise your safety and always operate under good judgment. When traveling by yourself, you are responsible for your own safety. 

Purchase Traveler’s Insurance

The best way to protect yourself and the investment you’ve made in your trip is to purchase traveler’s insurance. This additional precaution can offer you coverage for unexpected events such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and lost, stolen, or damaged items. According to Gavin Dawson, a board certified Physician Assistant and the founder of Global Emergency Medics, having traveler’s insurance can be extremely helpful. “Traveler’s insurance is what can really help you in a tight spot because traveling, especially on your own, can always be full of the unexpected. The last thing you want to do is get into a pinch and not have a financial safety net to fall back on,” he says. Dawson also points out that having travel insurance can take a lot of the stress off of potentially stressful situations, since losing important items on a trip, or missing a flight, can really put a damper on an experience that’s supposed to be positive.

Always Listen to Your Gut

If a situation or person is making you feel uncomfortable, head for a large group of people or a more populated area and distance yourself from the situation. If your hostel or hotel feels off or appears wildly different from what was advertised, find another place to stay. Always listen to your gut and follow your intuition. Our brains notice subtle things on a subconscious level, such as body language or intonation, that can tip us off on a person that may be up to no good. Those queues culminate in discomfort and, even if it’s unfounded, it’s better to be safe than sorry and trust your instincts.

Traveling alone can be a wonderful opportunity to explore new cities and cultures on your own whim, and these travel tips can ensure that you get the most out of your adventures and remain prepared for just about anything.