25 Solo Travel Safety Tips to Stay Safe While Traveling

Solo travel safety tips are crucial for anyone planning to explore the world independently. Solo travel can be empowering and rewarding, but it also comes with its own safety challenges. Being prepared is essential for navigating unfamiliar situations and making decisions alone.

This guide contains 25 solo travel safety tips based on expert advice, real-life experiences, and reliable travel resources. It will help you to stay confident and worry-free during your trip.

Why Safety is Different When You Travel Alone

Solo travel is different from traveling with family or friends. You are responsible for every decision you make, your reaction, and your own safety. You also need to be alert and prepared when exploring the city at night or hiking alone.

Pre-Departure Solo Travel Safety Tips

1. Do a Thorough Research on Your Destination

Understanding the destination’s safety profile is important. Consider the political stability, health risk, local laws and regulations, common scams, emergency numbers and unsafe areas. The U.S. State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide updated safety information.

Extra Tip: For women, check if the culture has any dress codes or cultural customs.

2.  Share Your Itinerary with Someone You Trust

Before departing, send your itinerary to a trusted family member or friend. Include your flight information, the addresses of your accommodation, and any planned tours. If plans change, update them.

Pro Tip: Schedule check-ins by text or email while on your trip.

3. Make Copies of Important Documents

Scanning your documents, such as passports, drivers’ licenses, travel insurance, and visas, is a great way to keep track of them. Bring hard copies and store copies in the cloud.

Tip: Keep printed emergency contact numbers in case you lose your phone.

4. Get Comprehensive Travel Insurance

Purchase travel insurance that covers theft, emergency evacuation and trip cancellation. Some plans exclude adventure sports and high-risk destinations.

Trusted providers: World Nomads, SafetyWing, and Allianz.

Solo Travel Safety Tips During Transit

5. Arrive During Daylight

Plan your flights or bus trips to arrive at new destinations before nightfall. Navigating unfamiliar cities is easier and safer when it’s light out.

 Bonus: You’ll also avoid inflated night taxi fares and potential scams.

6. Book Your First Night’s Stay in Advance

Book at least one night of accommodation before you arrive. This reduces stress and avoids making last-minute decisions. It also ensures that you don’t wander around with your luggage at night.

Pro Tip: Pick hotels and hostels that offer 24-hour reception or self-check-in.

7. Use Reputable Transportation

Avoid unofficial taxis or ride offers from strangers. Instead, use rideshare apps like Uber, Bolt, or Grab where available, or use public transport recommended by your accommodation or local guides.

Safety Tip: Before getting into a taxi, ask the hotel to dial you one or make sure the license plate matches the app.

Accommodation Safety Tips

8. Select Centrally Located and Well-Reviewed Accommodation

Keep your accommodation in central, well-lit areas near attractions. Online reviews, especially from solo travelers, can give you a good idea of the safety, cleanliness, and the surrounding area.

Tips: Look for reviews on Booking.com, Hostelworld, or Google Maps.

9. Avoid Rooms on the Ground Floor

Rooms above ground level are generally safer. Request a room on the second or higher floor, ideally close to an elevator or fire escape.

Extra Tip: Ask the hotel if they have a front desk guard on duty 24/7.

10. Use a Portable Door Lock or Alarm

Bring a small lock or wedge alarm to use on your hotel or Airbnb doors. These inexpensive gadgets can provide peace of mind, especially in unfamiliar or rural accommodations.

Tips: Consider these brands: Addalock and Sabre Door Stop Alarm.

Solo Travel Street Smarts

11. Dress to Blend In

Avoid looking like a tourist. Avoid wearing flashy clothes, jewelry, or backpacks. Covering your shoulders and knees in conservative areas can help you avoid unwanted attention.

Tip: Observe how locals dress and follow their lead.

12. Trust Your Instincts

Leave if something doesn’t feel right. Use your intuition to help you stay safe. You don’t have to be polite when you want to leave a conversation or a cab.

Tip: Trust is earned, not assumed. Always trust your gut.

13. Drink Responsibly

Avoid drinking alcohol, especially when you’re alone or in unfamiliar settings. Being intoxicated lowers your awareness and elevates vulnerability.

Tip: If you’re going out, drink slowly, eat beforehand, and always watch your drink.

Tech and Tools That Support Safety

14. Download Offline Maps

You can still get lost without the internet using apps such as Google Maps Offline or Maps.me. Save the location of your hotel, hospitals nearby, and the embassy in advance.

Tip: Drop pins for trusted landmarks or safe zones.

15. Use Live Location Sharing

Enable real-time location sharing with a relative or friend at home. Apps like Google Maps, iMessage, or WhatsApp allow you to share your live location for a set time.

Tips: Especially useful for solo hikes or exploring at night.

16. Save Emergency Contacts in Your Phone

Store emergency numbers for the local police, ambulance, and your country’s embassy under “ICE—In Case of Emergency.”

Tip: Save the contact information for your hotel front desk or local contact.

Solo Travel Safety Tips for Women

17. Be Vague About Traveling Alone

When asked, tell them you will meet your friends or partner later. Strangers shouldn’t know your exact itinerary or hotel name.

Tip: Use “we” instead of “I” when speaking with strangers.

18. Carry a Decoy Wallet

Keep a small amount of cash and expired cards in a decoy wallet. If mugged, you can hand it over without losing your real valuables.

Tip: You should hide your real money, passport and underwear pouch in a moneybelt or underclothes pouch.

19. Select Female-Only Hosts or Dorms

When looking for a hostel or Airbnb, search for women-only accommodations and hosts with high ratings.

Tip: Hostelworld, Airbnb, and other sites offer filters to search for only women-only accommodations.

Connection, Community & Confidence

20. Join a Day Tour

Cooking classes or local tours are excellent ways to meet new people without compromising safety. Select tours with verified reviews and proper licensing.

Tip: Look on GetYourGuide, Viator, or through your hostel.

21. Join Trusted Travel Communities

Join Facebook groups for solo travelers or subreddits like r/solotravel to get destination-specific information, honest reviews, and instant support.

Tip: Local meetups, walking groups, or coffee hangouts can also be found.

22. Practice Safe Dating

If you meet someone via a dating app, plan to meet in public places. Tell a friend where you’re going, and set up a safety check-in.

Tip: Don’t give out your accommodation or transportation details in advance.

Personal Safety Habits That Make a Difference

23. Keep a Whistle or Personal Alarm with You

In an emergency, a loud noise will attract attention or scare away potential threats. They are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry in a pocket or on a keychain.

Tip: Battery-powered alarms can be especially useful in urban settings.

24. Stay Alert in Crowds

Pickpocketing occurs in markets, bus stations, and at festivals. Keep your bag in front and zipped. Avoid hanging bags from chairs in restaurants.

Tip: Bags with anti-theft features like locking zippers and slash-proof belts are an excellent investment.

25. Check In with Yourself Daily

Traveling alone can be an emotionally draining experience. Check your body and your mind. Are you tired or burnt out? Are you anxious? You can ask for help or slow down if you need it.

Remember: Staying mentally grounded is just as important as physical safety.

Final Thoughts

Solo travel can be a rewarding experience if you are prepared, aware, and have the right tools. These solo travel safety tips don’t make you fearful of the world. They empower you to explore with confidence.

FAQs on Solo Travel Safety Tips

How to stay safe while traveling solo?

• Share your travel plans and itinerary with family members or trusted friends.
• Choose wisely and do your research on safety.
• Travel insurance is a must.
• Protect your valuables
• Use common sense and avoid reckless behavior.

How to survive solo travel?

• Research your destination. 
• Share your travel plans and itinerary with family members or trusted friends. 
• Booking your accommodation and transport in advance is essential.
• Pack light.

What to do before travelling alone?

• Research your destination.
• Prepare an emergency plan.
• Learn the local language.
• Select safe transportation.
• Plan your accommodation.
• Plan your transport.
• Check in with your mental wellbeing.
• Tell them where you are going.

How do I get over my fear of traveling alone?

Start by taking a small solo trip, even if it’s just a day out of your comfort zone. Then, you can start planning bigger and more exciting adventures that take place away from home. You will soon be able to jet off on a grand European adventure if you gradually gain confidence in being by yourself.

What is the best age to travel alone?

The best age for me to travel solo was in my 20s. Despite having enjoyed traveling solo in every decade up to this point, I am really enjoying it now that I’m 31. I hope it will get better as I age. Solo travel has given me immeasurable personal growth.