10 Safety Tips for Solo Travelers| Expert Opinion
Traveling alone is an adventure and an amazing experience. Solo travel is like freedom, you explore the things that attract you more without anyone's needs or schedule. However, it also raises safety concerns. Solo travelers usually face challenges like personal safety in new places, moving to new cities, and concerns about belongings.
No need to worry! You can take smart precautions like staying at reputable accommodations, sharing your travel plans and route with family and friends, and researching safety concerns at your destination.
This guide is about your safety while solo traveling. In this article, I will uncover some tips that will help you travel safely.
Things to Consider Before the Solo Trip
Traveling alone has some safety concerns. Before traveling, you must consider many things that can help you in emergencies. I am describing some things that you must consider.
Make the Travel Plan
The travel plan will help you organize your travel. Do lots of research on the places you are going to visit. Research the safety challenges and how to deal with them. Look for visas, flights, accommodation, transportation, and food at your destination. You must know about the emergency contacts to ask for help in case of any issues.
Choose the Destination to Travel
Before starting your travel, choose the country and the cities, you are traveling to. It will help you to know your budget and the good and bad things about the place. You can take better travel precautions in case of a challenge.
Consider your Mental Health
Before traveling you should consider your mental health, is it stable to travel alone? During your travel, you may feel homesickness or isolation. In case of any health-related issue, you should reconsider your decision solo traveling.
Local Language
You should learn some basic phrases of the country language you are traveling to. As a solo traveler, it helps you a lot in a non-English-speaking country. You should learn phrases about transportation, accommodation, basic needs like food and banks, and emergency local phrases to deal with police, doctors, and hospitals.
What to pack for your solo trip?
I recommend you buy the travel things that increase your safety. The things you should keep in your bag include.
Clothes with Hidden Pockets
You must have pants and jackets with additional hidden pockets to hide money.
Anti-Theft Backpack
An anti-theft backpack is a safe product. You can take it with you or be locked in the room with your valuable things.
First Aid Kit
The first aid kit should be part of your travel. It can be helpful in case of an emergency. The kit must include.
- Hand sanitizer and face masks
- Band-Aids
- Scissors and tape
- Pain relieving, antibiotic spray
- Itching relief Spray for insect bites
- Instant cold packs
- Your daily medicine (if you use it)
Doorstop and Whistle
Doorstop is the best tool for solo travel safety. You just simply squeeze the doorstop under the door of your hotel room. Whistle will help you to draw people's attention to yourself in difficult situations.
VPN on your Devices
Use VPN on all your devices during your travel. VPN encrypts your internet traffic and protects your data from other public Wi-Fi networks which seek unencrypted data.
Use eSIM
Use an eSIM card on your device. But firstly confirm your eSIM-compatible device. eSIM will allow you to be connected with your family and friends during your journey.
Tips to Travel Alone
Here, I am uncovering some tips for solo traveling that you should consider for your safe and smooth trip.
1. Choose the Safe Transport
Use official and licensed transport to travel from one city to another in your destination country. Be aware of your surroundings in the crowded places. Avoid overnight travel and make sure to visit tourist places in the daytime.
2. Connectivity Concerns
Make sure your connectivity and internet availability are adequate during your travel abroad. If you are a physical SIM card user switch to eSIM. Physical SIM does not provide connectivity throughout the country in your home package. The disconnectivity may cause tension in your family. Be mindful as a solo traveler for your connectivity. I recommend the eSIM Card provider that offers affordable local eSIM data plans, regional eSIM data plans, and global eSIM data plans for 200+ countries. You can purchase eSIM data for your destination country including the USA, UK, Australia, Italy, Japan, and Indonesia.
3. Search the Pros and Cons of your Destination
Before moving to your chosen destination, research is the best option for you as an alone traveler. It will help you to know about the pros and cons of your destination, and you can prepare yourself according to the situation during your travel.
4. Safety Measures at Your Accommodation
While seeking accommodation, look for a good reputed hotel to live in. Before taking the room check the telephone service, the door lock, the peephole, and the other things that are related to your safety. While in your room use the door wedge to secure your door lock. Do not share your location with strangers for your safety purposes.
5. Get the Travel Insurance
Get travel insurance to protect yourself from mishaps or unexpected events. The travel insurance will cover the expenses of your trip cancellation due to weather conditions, natural disasters, or any kind of illness. Insurance policies assist travelers by covering unexpected medical expenses or losses, such as misplaced baggage.
6. Avoid the Travel Scams
Be aware of your surroundings and avoid the common travel scams that include someone offering assistance at an ATM, donations for friendship bracelets, a highly recommended restaurant across town, and spills on your clothes.
7. Use the Common Sense
Use your common sense and if your senses are tingling in a particular situation get out from there. Avoid going alone with strangers and pay attention around during walking, hiking, or driving. In case of any uncomfortable condition catch up with the group of people.
8. Take Care of Your Belongings
Keep your wallet, camera, mobile phone, and passport close to you. There must be separate management of your travel documents and some extra cash to use in case of any emergency. The things that closely concern you must be conscious of their safety.
9. Emergency Plan for Travel
In case of any emergency, you must have an alternative to deal with that particular situation. Save the contacts of local emergency services, location details of your residence, and the local hospitals. All these things will be helpfull to deal the mishaps.
10. Find Friends
Solo travel is the best experience, but exploring scenarios with the group is more safer. Activities include rock climbing, you need some companion in case of emergencies. If you are traveling to the rural areas of the country you should find some friends to travel safely.
FAQs
What are some countries to travel to alone?
The countries that are considered best for solo traveling include Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia, Ireland, Island, Spain, Australia, Netherlands, Portugal, Costa Rica, Greece, Bali, Vietnam, Singapore, Mexico, Germany and France.
Is it safe for a woman to travel abroad alone?
Yes, in many countries it is safe for women to travel alone. However, there are some safety measures women should take to avoid unwanted situations. Avoid going outside at night alone or joining a group of people. During any travel, the women should be attentive and aware of the surrounding situations.
Is it OK if I travel alone?
Yes, traveling alone is an exciting experience. Spending time alone to think, reflect, and enjoy your own company boosts your mental health. It is a peaceful experience, you should do it once in your life. But before travel, some personal safety measures and trip planning will help you to get a better experience.