Safety Tips for Traveling Solo

I have to warn you: once you get the hang of traveling solo, you may never want to travel with a group again.

Why? I’ll give you two reasons:

1. You will fall in love with freedom and flexibility.
2. The only person you have to please is yourself.

But just like any other travel plan, there is a specific set of guidelines that you should take into consideration when traveling alone. As a self-proclaimed pro solo traveler, these are my tried and true safety tips for traveling solo.

1. GOOD PREPARATION.

This happens before you even leave. You do not want to be lost or confused while in a foreign country traveling all alone. Do all your research ahead of time so that you have the ability to pivot at the moment if need be. Flexibility is key when traveling solo. It is up to you to find a solution.

Tenon Tip: Our exclusive By-Your-Side Service^SM provides you with 24/7 access to our team should you need anything during your travels.

2. BLEND IN WITH THE LOCALS.

This is something you’ll only really be able to do when traveling alone. When you are in a group, it can be obvious that you are a tourist. Cherish this opportunity to feel like someone who lives in the country. It is such a wonderful experience, take it from me. It can actually be safer as you are less of a target.

3. DON’T DO SOMETHING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY THAT YOU WOULD NOT DO ON YOUR OWN.

We all have a penchant to lose ourselves while we travel, which is a good thing! We want to be able to fully immerse ourselves in the experience; however, this does not mean forgetting all the safety tips and tricks you use in your own country. No going down dark alleys alone, taking rides from strangers because they are just friendly locals, or having a lot of cash visible.

4. DO A WALKING TOUR ON DAY ONE TO GET THE LAY OF THE CITY.

This gives you the ability to blend in and understand your surrounding much better when you are not on a group tour but exploring solo.

5. TEXT FRIENDS AND FAMILY, SO THEY KNOW YOUR GENERAL SCHEDULE AND WHERE YOU WILL BE.

You could also turn on the “Find My Friend” function on your phone if you want them to know your exact location. By doing these things, your friends and family will know if something is off even if they are not there with you. It is just an added layer of security.

6. DO NOT WALK AROUND WITH EARBUDS IN.

For one thing, you miss the sound and energy of the city, which is a huge part of the essence of a location. When it comes to safety, it removes your sense of your surroundings which can make you vulnerable.

7. LOOK UP SPECIFIC SAFETY TIPS FOR THE COUNTRY YOU ARE VISITING.

There may be certain customs that are useful to know about beforehand or specific areas where you need to be more on guard. If you book with a tour operator like Tenon Tours, your Personal Travel Specialist can help you find this specific information.

8. THINK ABOUT YOUR BAG.

I, personally, like a fanny pack. It is in front of you, so you can always see it, and it is generally small to medium size which means you only take the things you need with you. Obviously, if you need to be able to carry more, you can use a backpack with a lock on it.

9. ENJOY IT!

You will gain self-confidence and understand yourself better. It will not always be easy, but it will be so worth it.

Are there other safety tips for traveling solo that you would add to this list? Let us know!