Do you want to embark on a solo adventure of a lifetime but are hesitant because of the potential dangers? Don’t be.
Traveling alone might seem daunting, but it’s one of the best ways to explore the world. Don’t let that fear stop you from traveling solo.
Practice solo travel safety tips – you will discover that the world is not as scary as you thought.
While this guide is for solo travelers, the safety tips here can apply to all travelers.
Here are my 30+ safety tips when traveling alone so you can travel safely while having the best time of your life!
Table of Contents
Travel Safety Tips Before A Trip:
When you plan your first solo trip, you might feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to expect.
The best way to prepare is to research and learn as much as you can about your destination. Learn some safety and travel tips specifically for solo travel.
This will help you feel confident and ready to face your first adventure.
Check travel alerts for your destination
Before you book that solo trip, check the current travel advisories for your destination. They will let you know if there have been any recent incidents that’ll make your trip riskier than usual.
If there has been an increased risk of crime or terrorist attacks, consider changing your destination. You can always go another time when the situation calms down.
Every country’s travel advisory is different. Check against multiple sources to prevent political bias and get a better picture of the situation. This will help you make an informed decision.
Countries such as New Zealand and Australia are some of the safest places for new travelers to travel alone.
Sign up for your country’s traveler program.
The traveler program alerts you whenever there’s a major incident happening in the country you are currently in or traveling to.
Unlike the travel advisory, where you manually check for updates, the traveler program will automatically send you emails whenever something occurs.
For US travelers, this will be the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
It’s a free program for US nationals to register with the nearest US embassy/consulate. Once you have a trip planned, just update STEP for alerts on new incidents.

Know the emergency hotlines
Keep these emergency contact numbers in your phone when you’re traveling. You never know when you may need them. Trying to find help when you’re already panicking never goes smoothly.
- Medical & emergency services
- Police
- Embassy and consulate
Research the nearest hospital or clinic to your accommodation and save them in your maps.
Create a customized first aid kit
Bring along a first aid kit customized to your needs. Keep your prescriptions & some commonly used medicine in the kit for emergency purposes.
During my trip to Mexico, I had an allergy outbreak once during the middle of the night. The chemicals they used in cleaning the room triggered the allergy.
Thank god I had an allergy pill in my kit. I could manage until the next morning when I went to a local pharmacy.
These incidents are unpredictable, so it’s better to be prepared ahead of time.
If you’re heading to a tropical location with lots of bugs, have an ointment ready for bug bites.
Ladies, make sure to read this post if you’re traveling around your period cycle.
Make copies of your documents
It’s important to always keep a copy (both paper & digital) of your documents, in case you lose your originals. Keep the documents in a waterproof bag and store it in a separate place.
Have plenty of copies of your documents on hand when you’re traveling to multiple countries. New visa applications might ask for a copy of your documents.
Book a daytime arrival to your destination
Arriving at destinations during the day is the safest way to travel solo. I cannot stress this tip enough.
It’s much safer to travel during the day.
You’ll feel safer and less stressed when you can see everything around you. By arriving during the day, you will also have time to settle down and learn about the area.
You’ll be less likely to wander into unsafe areas. There will also be more people around in case you ever need to ask for directions.
Know how to get to your accommodation
Research everything you need to know about getting to your first night’s stay. This is especially important if you don’t know the local language.
Save the hotel’s address on your phone or on a piece of paper. If you’re traveling with a lot of luggage or arriving at night, get an Uber or taxi instead of dealing with public transportation.

Download the offline map
There’s no guarantee you’ll always have reliable data or Wi-Fi while traveling. If you are on a road trip, a spotty connection is likely to happen.
Not having a map is not the end of the world if you’re able to ask a person for directions. But, if you’re in a foreign country where you don’t speak the local language, that’s when things get tricky.
Following this safety tip can at least guide you to your destination.
Two apps you can use to download offline maps: Google maps or MAPS.ME.
Send your family a copy of your itinerary
As travelers, we are jumping all over the place. It’s a good idea to give a copy of your travel itinerary to your family or close friends back home so they know where you are.
Knowing your itinerary will make them feel more comfortable about you traveling to a foreign country alone. This prevents them from unnecessary worrying if you lose connection for a while.
Learn about the scams
Know the most common scams before you visit a country. Research and know these scams by heart. The more you know, the easier it will be to avoid the scams.
Don’t lose your money to something that can be easily avoided. Be cautious against “free” stuff or extremely friendly people. And never give out your personal information.
You’re safest in a public place, so don’t be tempted to follow strangers to their “favorite spot in town”.
Get travel insurance
Buying travel insurance might seem like an unnecessary expense, but it’s one of the best ways to protect yourself from financial loss if something happens.
Check the policy to make sure it covers what you need.
Depending on the plan, it can cover medical emergencies, evacuation, and stolen processions. There are also options for coverage on extreme sports, gear protections, and trip cancellation.
World Nomads and Safety Wing are two popular travel insurance companies amongst travelers. Their travel insurance plans are tailor-made to suit the needs of travelers.

Access Wi-Fi with a VPN
It’s inevitable that you’ll be connecting to sketchy Wi-Fis while traveling (unless you have unlimited international data). However, free public Wi-Fi is the easiest way to be hacked.
You can protect yourself by using a VPN. The VPN encrypts all your data and secures it. Think of it as a locked door to your online data.
By using a VPN, you can also view other countries’ shows on streaming sites, like Netflix. Paramount Plus didn’t work for me in Canada, so I set my Surfshark VPN to US and voila!
Travel Safety Tips on the Road:
Update and sync your calendar
Use Google calendar (or any app with similar functions) to create a trip calendar where your family member can see changes in real time. As a solo traveler, this is one way they can keep tabs on you when you’re on a solo trip.
Update the calendar as soon as something changes in your travel plan.
I can almost guarantee nothing will stay constant when you’re traveling. Cue transportation delays or a spontaneous plan to hang out with new friends.
Send real-time locations
As a solo female traveler, I get nervous every time I have to get into a stranger’s car (Uber, taxi) in a new city. If you don’t, kudos to your bravery.
However, play safe and give your family a peace of mind by sending them real-time locations of where you are.
Many social media apps (FB messenger, WhatsApp, WeChat) have this function. Whenever you are in a taxi or on an intercity bus, you can share your location through your social media app.
I do this all the time. Whenever I’m taking a taxi in China, I will send live locations on WeChat to my relatives. In other countries, I share my live location with friends through Facebook messenger.

Use common sense & trust your guts
One of the most important travel tips I can share is don’t do what you normally won’t do at home.
We like to be adventurous on a solo trip, by saying “yes” to new opportunities. But that doesn’t mean you should throw out your gut feelings.
If you find a person suspicious, you’re probably right. Personal safety is more important than anything else. Avoid the potential danger by leaving the situation.
Be mindful of what you share
When traveling alone, it’s always fun to chat with other people. However, always be mindful of what you share.
Don’t let your taxi driver know you’re new to the city unless you want an extensive detour to your destination. Also, hold back on letting strangers know exactly where you’re staying.
Know where you are going
Another tip for solo travelers is to know your surroundings.
Check out the location of where you are going so you can get a sense of the surrounding areas.
Walk with confidence. Do NOT pull out a paper map or a guidebook on the street. This draws unwanted attention from scammers that you are their next easy target.
If you’re really lost, check the directions on your phone discreetly.
Blend in to the crowd
What makes traveling so interesting is the different cultures around the world. That also means, as a traveler, you’re a flashing dollar sign to scammers & thieves, unless you learn to blend in to the crowds.
Learn the local customs. And dress appropriately to camouflage into the crowds.
How you’ll dress in a country in the Middle East differs vastly from other regions in the world, like the United States or South America.
For example, in the Middle East, locals dress modestly, covering up exposed skin. If you walk around in a tank and shorts, you stick out like a sore thumb.
In certain cultures around the world, women cannot walk alone, without being accompanied by a male. So these might not be the best destinations for solo female travelers.
Avoid dangerous neighborhoods
It’s a good idea to research the dangerous neighborhoods in your destination, so you can take precautions to avoid it. I mark these locations on Google Maps.
If you do accidentally wander into a dangerous zone, don’t panic.
- Walk quickly but confidently.
- Do not make eye contact with the people to avoid unwanted attention.

Be alert in busy locations
Open markets, night markets, parades, festivals are just a few examples of where pickpockets thrive. I know a few people who got pickpocketed on the streets and on crowded public transportation.
Stay alert and keep an eye out.Take preventive measures. Use safety gears for travelers, such as using a slash-proof bag or wearing a hidden money belt. You can also lock your valuables up in storage.
Avoid staying out late
Life is safer when everything is bright and clear.
Stay aware of your surroundings and walk on brightly lighted streets. Avoid dark alleys, nothing good ever happens there.
Only drink safe drinking water
Some destinations do not have safe drinking water. Get a reusable water filter bottle instead of constantly buying bottled water.
Montezuma’s revenge (aka traveler’s diarrhea) is very real. Take care of yourself, so you don’t spend half of your trip on a toilet.
Practice safe drinking habits
As solo travelers, we do not have friends to look after us. So practicing safe drinking habits is crucial, especially for solo female travelers.
If you are out drinking alone, know your tolerance and drink below that limit.
Know what is in your drink and never leave it alone. If you had to go somewhere (like the restroom), ditch it and reorder. Who knows if that drink might’ve been spiked.
When I was a kid, I went to a dinner gathering where I left the table midway for the restroom. Guess what happened when I came back?
My soda had become an alcoholic drink. Someone had gone around the table filling up all the cups and accidentally filled mine too.
Do social media post AFTER you leave
It’s tempting to always share what you’re doing at the moment. But delay the posting until after you’ve left the place. You never know who’s stalking your account.
Live in the moment. And enjoy your fun.
Money Safety Tips

Use cards when you can
Avoid being shortchanged (or even worse, counterfeits) by using a credit card whenever you can. As a solo traveler, you don’t want to be getting into money problems.
Conversion rates are better with a credit card, anyway. Travel with a travel credit card that has a 0% foreign transaction fee.
Don’t carry all your cash on you
It always gives me anxiety when walking around with a ton of cash. And traveling solo does not help the situation.
My tip for you is to separate your cash and store them in multiple places. Take only your daily budget when you go out.
In the worst-case scenario, you only lose a portion of your money and not everything. It will help you stay on budget too.
If you can, get a Charles Schwab debit card. This card reimburses all your ATM fees! So you no longer need to take out huge chunks of money at once to avoid those expensive ATM charges.
Tips to Keep Your Valuables Safe
Make use of hotel safe / hostel locker
When you’re out exploring, keep your valuables safe by locking it up in a safe or locker.
If you’re staying in a hotel room, check the closets for a small safe. Store all your important items, such as passports and extra cash/cards. From what I’ve seen, hotel safes use either a one pass code or a credit card to open and close.
When booking a hostel, use HostelWorld and check the facilities listing for security lockers. Not all hostels supply their travelers with individual lockers.
Don’t leave your valuables alone
Too often, I’ve seen people leaving their stuff in plain sight and walking away. This makes it so easy for opportunists to just walk up and snatch it.
It makes me so anxious every time I encounter this situation that I end up just watching their stuff until they come back. DON’T be that person.

Lock it up
Make use of locks. They are your best friend when traveling alone. A simple lock can deter people from being opportunists.
There are many types of locks based on your needs.
If you are staying in a hostel, buy a padlock or a combination lock for the storage locker.
I always carry around a combination cable lock to lock the zippers on my backpack. There are even lockable nets if you want to go a step further.
Choose a lightweight yet durable lock if you’re traveling with just carry on. Otherwise, it might as well be the heaviest thing in your hands.
Store away your luggage
If you’re ever in a city for a few hours because of a layover, take advantage of storage facilities. This could be a private storage service in the airport or storage lockers in train stations. This is the best way to keep your stuff safe while you go on a small exploration.
Travel Safety Tips During the Pandemic:
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a disruption in travel. Many countries have placed restrictions on travel, and some have even closed off borders completely.
Check the country’s official website to be up to date on the latest travel requirements.
Vaccination proof
You might need to show proof of full vaccination status (2 shots). This can come in many forms: a vaccination card, a QR code, etc.
Pre-departure requirements
Pre-departure paperwork varies by country. Here are some of the common requirements you’ll need to fill before boarding a plane.
- Health paperwork – your current health status, symptoms
- List of countries you’ve been in the last 14 days – if you’ve been in a restricted country in the last 2 weeks, you’ll be banned from entering. Your best bet is to travel to a non-restricted country and wait until 14 days have passed before you try again.
Returning requirements
Dependent on the country.
The US requires a negative Covid test within 1 day of travel. You’re exempt from this requirement if you can show documented recovery from Covid in the past 90 days.
Check out this post I’ve written on US travel requirements & Covid test kits.
Safety supplies
- Masks
- Hand sanitizer
- Sanitizing wipes – wipe down the most commonly touch areas such as seatbelt & the table tray
- Portable air filter
Final Thoughts
Solo travel is something I believe everyone should try at least once in their lifetime. Going on a trip alone has so many benefits, including boosting your confidence.
Traveling solo might seem scary at first, but you’ll do fine once you practice some travel safety tips. You’ll quickly come to enjoy your solo trip.
What are some of your safety tips when traveling alone? Share them below!
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2 comments
Great tips when traveling alone. I will take some of them into account next time. Thanks!
Yes! Glad to be of help.