• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content

The Wandering Suitcase

Travel Blog

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • New Zealand Travel
  • Destinations
    • Australia
    • Fiji
    • Finland
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
    • Scotland
    • Singapore
    • Sweden
    • USA
    • Vietnam
  • Musings
  • Tips & Tools
    • Balancing a Career with Travel
    • Blogging
    • Budget Travel
    • Driving Overseas
    • Hiking
    • Moving Overseas
    • Photography
    • Winter Travel Tips
    • Sustainability
  • About
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • New Zealand Travel
  • Destinations
    • Australia
    • Fiji
    • Finland
    • Japan
    • New Zealand
    • Scotland
    • Singapore
    • Sweden
    • USA
    • Vietnam
  • Musings
  • Tips & Tools
    • Balancing a Career with Travel
    • Blogging
    • Budget Travel
    • Driving Overseas
    • Hiking
    • Moving Overseas
    • Photography
    • Winter Travel Tips
    • Sustainability
  • About
how to stay safe when traveling alone

How to stay safe when traveling solo

February 21, 2017 //  by Mae-Gene//  Leave a Comment

Why, hello there! This post might contain affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you!) if you purchase from them. 

Pin8
Share
Tweet
8 Shares

You probably know the comments. The don’t-travel-alone-because-it’s-not-safe comments.

While handling well-meaning family and friends is a blog post in itself, how to stay safe when traveling alone is something that many female travelers think about when on the road.

As someone who recently started traveling by themselves AND is a self-proclaimed scardy-cat (one too many episodes of CSI will do that to you), I truly believe traveling solo is something everyone can do, regardless of their travel experience.

This being said, it’s important to be prepared when you’re traveling alone. Especially, since you won’t have family or friends to rely on should things go wrong.

(which hopefully they won’t)

In light of this, I’ve put together five ways you can stay safe when you travel solo:

Staying safe when traveling solo

1. Be prepared for all situations

Not to sound morbid, but knowing what to do, should the sh*t hit the fan is super important. You need to think about this before you set out on your travels.

What are you going to do if you lose your wallet?

Do you go to the police?

Which credit card companies do you need to call?

What do you do if you lose your passport?

How will you access emergency funds?

What if you need to leave the country quickly? How will you get funds for this?

I don’t make these points to stress you out… But, rather make the point that it’s important to have a high-level plan on what to do if something goes wrong.

And if nothing goes wrong?

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:  A guide to driving on the "opposite" side of the road

Well, you have a plan still – it’ll make you feel better and it’ll make your family and friends feel better about you traveling solo!

how to stay safe when traveling alone

2. Stash your valuables

Do not, I repeat do not leave your only source of cash in your backpack or handbag.

Always have a back-up, because you never know when you might have your wallet stolen.

You don’t want to end a holiday early or suffer through days without money because you didn’t plan ahead

There’s nothing worse than spending money and time to get to your vacation destination and then have to cancel or spend days struggling because you didn’t plan ahead.

So, make sure you leave an extra credit card or cash stash on your personal body, either in a money pouch or in your bra (we’ve all done it before, surely??)

how to stay safe when traveling alone

3. Make friends!

I still remember the first time traveling myself and checking into a hostel.

The lady working check-in was telling me how one of their guests didn’t come back and by the next morning how none of the other staff or roommates had seen him at all.

She was so worried, that she called the police.

Thankfully, he was safe! It turned out that he had partied a bit too hard the night before and didn’t make it back to the hostel til the next afternoon. I tell this story because you shouldn’t underestimate the power of making connections with your fellow travelers or the hostel/hotel staff.

The moral of the story?

Making friends with your roommates and hostel staff that not only makes your holiday more enjoyable but safer too.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:  How to travel the world AND keep your full-time job

 

4. Be street smart

This goes without saying, and I would hope that we all did this regardless of where we are in the world. But…

But…

Don’t go down unlit streets at night.

Don’t drink heavily by yourself.

Don’t go into unsafe areas by yourself.

If you’re in a city you’re not familiar with, don’t be afraid to ask your hotel or hostel if there are any areas you should avoid.

Ask when you check-in, and get them to circle it on a map or point it out on google maps for you.

And if you get lost?

Pick your “target” carefully. Ask for directions from women, families, shop-keepers or restaurants.

how to stay safe when traveling alone

And lastly…

5. Be firm, trust your gut

If something feels wrong, it probably is. If you’re in a situation where someone is making you feel uncomfortable or where something feels wrong, walk away.

Don’t be afraid to say no, if someone makes you an offer that you’re uncomfortable with.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The worst that could happen is that you say ‘no’ to someone. It’s not rude, most of the time people understand.

And if they don’t understand?

Well, they can go and shove it! You are the master of your destiny, your experiences and your safety.

how to stay safe when traveling alone

Have you traveled solo before? What are some of the tips you’d share?

Leave me a comment below!

x

Pin8
Share
Tweet
8 Shares

Category: Solo Travel, Tips & Tools

About Mae-Gene Yew

Why hello there, new friend! I'm Mae-Gene, the travel-obsessed Aussie girl behind The Wandering Suitcase blog.

I'm obsessed with eating copious amounts of sushi and hiking in New Zealand. But on most days you can find me in my home city of Melbourne dreaming of my next adventure, working my lil' corner of the internet (this blog!) or gettin' ready to strap on my hiking boots. Read more...

Previous Post: «get upgraded to business class Zero BS guide to scoring an upgrade to business class
Next Post: Beyond the Northern Lights beyond the northern lights»

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Site Footer

The Wandering Suitcase is a participant in several affiliate programs.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

You can find our full disclosure and privacy policy here.

Copyright © 2023 The Wandering Suitcase · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme