Solo travel safety tips every traveler should know
Solo travel has many perks. Even this writer — who loves traveling with friends and family — saw the appeal during my first European solo trip earlier this year.
However, traveling alone can also feel daunting because you're responsible for everything, including your own safety.
Not to worry; our globetrotting team at TPG has your back with road-tested tips to help you stay safe and make the most of your trip, from how to plan to what to pack in your suitcase.
Related: 11 travel mistakes that could ruin your next trip
Plan ahead
Smart solo travel starts with the planning stage. This means choosing a safe destination and a place to stay where you will feel comfortable.
TPG managing editor Lyndsey Matthews always books hotels over vacation rentals when traveling solo: "It's nice knowing someone will be there when I'm coming and going and there's a level of security between me and my door."
Matthews does most of her solo travel in cities, as she feels safest when surrounded by people. Senior editor Christine Gallipeau, on the other hand, prefers noncity destinations.
"I've focused on noncity trips as I adjust back to doing more solo trips in my divorce era, and it's been a really good way of getting myself back into the swing of things," Gallipeau says. "Starting with quieter, smaller destinations and mostly staying put has helped me feel less nervous about safety and things going wrong once there."
Planning isn't just for the pre-travel stage, either. Social media manager Annie Black likes to start every morning of her solo trips at a coffee shop to make a game plan for the day. "I write it all out, both to keep me on track and for safety reasons in case I lose my phone, can't access Wi-Fi, etc.," she says. "It's very analog but it makes me feel, as a woman wandering alone, much safer."
On my recent European solo trip, I wished I had planned more activities in order to avoid feeling overwhelmed with decisions once I arrived.
Related: The best places for a solo weekend getaway
Stay aware around others
Solo travelers face a higher risk of scams and other opportunistic crimes, so it's important to stay aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts.
Editor Olivia Mittak advises travelers not to advertise their solo status. "If anyone asks, I tell them I'm either visiting friends or meeting up with friends later. If anyone at a hotel bar/restaurant asks for your room number, write it down versus saying it aloud."
Matthews emphasizes that you shouldn't be afraid to be rude when necessary. "I often gravitate toward people pleasing and being polite in new countries, but if the vibe shifts and it's clear a man is scamming me or it could be unsafe, I give a strong but firm, 'no, thank you.'"
This isn't to say you shouldn't make new friends while traveling alone. Connecting with locals or other travelers can help you stave off loneliness and learn new things, and these connections often become highlights of a trip.
This is another reason Matthews recommends hotels for solo travelers: "Hotels give me a common lobby space to hang out in case I do get lonely and want to be around people."
Managing editor Madison Blancaflor loves filling her solo trips with group activities, such as walking tours, cooking classes and art workshops. "It's a great way to meet people and do activities solo without being fully alone," she says.
As for senior writer Tanner Saunders, he combats loneliness by moving around within a destination. "I made a rule for myself on longer solo trips that I wouldn't stay in the same place for more than three days, because I might start to get lonely or fall back on the things I liked the first day or two. Three days and it's on to somewhere fresh."
Related: The best places to travel solo in the US
Prepare for the unexpected
Just because you're traveling alone doesn't mean you can't get help when things go awry.
I always enroll my trips (solo or not) in the State Department's STEP program, a free service that will send you alerts about emergencies like natural disasters or civil unrest in your destination. Thankfully I've never had to use it, but it gives me an added layer of peace of mind.
Gallipeau stresses the importance of sharing your travel information with a trusted friend or relative. She learned this while flying alone to New Zealand, when her connecting flight to the West Coast was delayed and she knew she would miss her upcoming international flight — but the onboard Wi-Fi was too spotty to call the airline.
"Fortunately, I had just enough of a connection to get through to my mom," she says. "While I was in the air, she was calling the two airlines involved to get everything sorted out (which was possible since she had the key flight details already)."
Black also recommends getting in touch with any locals you may know. "Anytime I go anywhere where I have any friends, big or small, I reach out just to let them know I'm visiting in case I run into any true emergencies."
Multiple TPGers, including managing editor Giselle Gomez, swear by apps like Find My. Make sure your loved ones have your location in case something goes wrong.
Related: How El Nino will impact travel in the coming year
Pack smart
Saunders advises solo travelers to keep some cash (in local currency) on hand just in case. You never know when you might encounter a cash-only shop or a broken ATM.
I like to keep my cash, credit cards and passport secure in this anti-theft purse — especially in cities, where solo travelers are often targeted by pickpockets. If you carry a backpack, zipper clips are a cheap and easy way to deter thieves.
Solo travelers may also want to consider a personal alarm or door lock for added security. Heading to the beach alone? A portable safe can help you secure your valuables.
Another tip from Gallipeau: Don't rely solely on Wi-Fi. "I go a bit overboard and print out details for everything I have going on while abroad (flight payments and confirmations, hotel details, any contacts for tours I'm doing, etc.)" in case the local Wi-Fi network falls through.
A portable power bank is especially useful for solo travelers, too.
Related: Why and how to pack a carbon monoxide detector
Level up your selfie game
It can be tricky to capture envy-inducing photos of yourself when you're traveling alone. Fortunately, there are ways to snap better selfies — without entrusting your phone or camera to a complete stranger.
Blancaflor swears by a flexible tripod with a Bluetooth remote, like this one. "Obviously don't set up your phone away from you in a busy place where it's likely to be stolen. But it's a game changer for good non-selfie photos of yourself when you're traveling solo."
Social media & talent producer Emily Geraghty is obsessed with this screen-mirroring selfie monitor that makes it easier to see what you're capturing. "I'm less likely to use the magnet to put it on the back of my phone and more likely to hold it in my hand so I can see what I'm taking a photo or video of when my phone is on a tripod somewhere else, for a wide shot. It takes your Bluetooth remote and tripod/selfie stick to the next level."
Related: The world's best solo travel destinations
Bottom line
Solo travel safety doesn't have to get in the way of enjoying your trip. Incorporate these small changes into your routine, and you can minimize your risk and feel confident while you travel — so you can focus on soaking in new sights and experiences.
Here are some more tips to help you stay safe abroad, whether you're traveling alone or with companions:
Of course, you can't safeguard against everything; travel always carries a small amount of risk. Here are some more tips to help you prepare for the unexpected: