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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Guides
Solo travel safety tips every traveler should know
Rachel Craft is a travel writer at TPG. She's excited about introducing more people to the world of points & miles and helping fellow travel newbies make the most of their points.
October 8, 2026 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
Solo travel offers flexibility and personal growth but requires careful planning and heightened awareness.
Choosing safe accommodations, sharing your itinerary with trusted contacts and using tools like location-sharing apps can enhance security.
Packing strategies such as carrying cash, securing valuables and preparing offline backups help manage unexpected situations.
Creative solutions for solo photos, like using tripods and remote devices, allow travelers to capture memories without relying on strangers.
What to consider
Selecting hotels over vacation rentals may provide added safety and social opportunities for solo travelers.
Staying alert to scams and not advertising your solo status can reduce risks, especially in unfamiliar environments.
Printing important documents and carrying a portable power bank can be crucial if you lose internet access or your phone battery dies.
What you'll miss from the article
Personalized tips from experienced travelers on staying safe, connected and confident while exploring alone.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
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.
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.
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.”
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 reach 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.
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.
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.”
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 prepare for the unexpected:
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
