Taking a solo vacation can be an incredible experience and something we suggest everyone do at least once in their lives. But it’s imperative that you do everything you can to stay safe while traveling solo, as it can be more risky than traveling with a group. Fortunately, we have some tips that you can follow to help ensure that your solo trip goes as safely and smoothly as possible. From not walking alone at night to bringing along safety gadgets and more – here are some ways that you can stay safe while traveling solo.
1. Give Your Itinerary to a Friend or Family Member
Before leaving for your trip, give your close family and friends a copy of your itinerary. This way, they can check in with you each day and make sure that you’re where you’re supposed to be. If you make changes to your plans while you are away, be sure to update your loved ones so that they aren’t worried and so that they know what you are doing.
2. Don’t Walk Alone at Night
One of the best ways to explore most destinations is to walk around. But when you’re traveling alone, walking to and from places may be a little risky, especially if you plan to walk at night. More crime happens during the nighttime, and you could be a target if you aren’t with a group. If you must travel at night, ensure that your friends and family know where you are and where you’re going, and stay in a well-lit, low-crime area. Better to be safe than sorry!
3. Never Tell Strangers Where You Are Staying
Chances are, if you’re traveling alone, you may be staying at a hotel or resort. These are probably your best options as they tend to have a lot of security around to help keep you safe. But no matter if you’re staying at a hotel, hostel, or vacation rental, don’t tell strangers where you are staying, and especially don’t tell them that you’re staying alone.
4. Don’t Walk With Headphones On
You must be aware of everything that is happening around you, especially when traveling alone. Though we understand that walking around with headphones on is common, this is probably not your best option when walking around your destination by yourself. If you have headphones on, you may not be able to hear someone walking up behind you, which could lead to you running into some trouble.
5. Avoid Staying in High-Crime Areas
One of the main things you need to do before traveling solo is research your destination. Most places you travel to will have areas that are more safe to stay in and some areas that you should avoid altogether. Knowing which areas are safe can be challenging if you haven’t been to a particular destination before. So, look online, see where crime is lower and where it is more prominent, and try to stay somewhere you’ll be safe.
6. Don’t Keep Your Valuables With You
The last thing you need is to be wearing your valuable items for everyone to see. Not only will this draw unwanted attention to you, but there is a chance that someone may try and take these items from you. To help keep yourself safe, leave your expensive jewelry and clothing at home and put your wallet somewhere hidden, like in a travel money belt.
7. Bring Along Safety Gadgets
Nowadays, so many different gadgets are out there to help solo travelers stay safe. You should always bring these gadgets with you as an extra layer of protection. Some of the safety gadgets we recommend bringing on your solo trip include:
8. Be Aware of Your Surroundings and Trust Your Gut
The most important thing you should do while traveling alone is to be aware of your surroundings and trust your gut. Whenever you’re leaving your hotel and walking around, frequently check what’s happening around you, and if you feel uncomfortable or like something is a little off, trust your instincts. Even if something isn’t wrong, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
If you have an upcoming solo vacation and need a passport or visa, Swift can help! Visit our website to begin the application process, and before you know it, you’ll have your travel documents in time for your trip. If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to contact our team – we’d be happy to help! No matter where you plan on traveling solo, stay safe and have a wonderful trip!
