How To Stay Safe When Traveling Alone

Safety is always a big concern when traveling alone. How will you navigate the language barrier? What happens if you get mugged or kidnapped? Aren’t you scared of being all by yourself? While anxiety can become paralyzing and there are concerns to take into consideration, traveling alone is a life-changing experience that shouldn’t be missed out on over fear or safety issues that can be easily avoided.

Although it’s normal to feel scared or stressed when traveling alone, there are various precautions that can be taken to assure your safety and deter unfortunate circumstances. Put your fears aside and take these actionable steps for a successful solo experience and to stay safe while traveling alone.

The first thing any solo traveler should do before their trip is to research the destination they are going to. Learn as much as you can about the area so you know what to expect when you arrive. Things to consider are the local language and common phrases, how much things should cost for tourists, the location of local transportation hubs, and dangerous neighborhoods to avoid. The more you know about the area you are heading to, the easier it will be to navigate and travel like a local.

While doing your research, be aware of local scams that are common in the country or area you are traveling to. While some countries are known for charging higher rates for tourists on things such as border crossings, transportation costs, and needed documents, other destinations may aim to lure tourists traveling alone to more dangerous or dimly lit areas to pickpocket, mug, or put in dangerous situations. All of these scams can be easily avoided or dealt with in a proper way when being aware of them beforehand.

When arriving at a new destination while traveling alone do your best to arrive during the daytime. It is a lot easier and safer to navigate your way around an unfamiliar city or find your accommodation when there is daylight. Arriving at night puts you in a position where you must travel alone after dark, which is highly discouraged when traveling alone.

Be sure to share your itinerary or plans with someone reliable back home. Just in case the unfortunate happens, natural disasters strike, or you are unreachable, someone knows of your last location, or at least where you were planning on being. While traveling alone gives you the perks of not having anyone to answer to worry about, it’s a good idea to keep in contact with friends or family frequently when traveling alone.

Don’t flash valuables and wads of money around in public places. Wearing a lot of expensive and flashy jewelry is just asking to be mugged while traveling alone, and walking around with your smartphone in your hand or carrying a large amount of cash makes you a walking target; especially if you aren’t paying attention. Dress casually or like a local, wear costume jewelry when traveling, only bring enough cash needed for the day, and don’t carry your cell phone around in your hand 24/7.

While experiencing foreign nightlife scenes or bouncing around on an exciting pub crawl are great activities to take part in while traveling alone, be sure to stay sober and drink responsibly. Alcohol consumption, especially while alone, can cause you to lower your guard, become more vulnerable, and increase the chance of something bad happening due to a lack of awareness and attention to your surroundings. If you choose to drink, do so responsibly. Opt for a glass one wine, instead of the entire bottle, or visit the local pub on a Friday night and leave when happy hour is over.

When traveling solo, do your best to blend in and look like a local. The less you stick out in a crowd, the less vulnerable and targetable you are. Try not to draw too much attention to yourself by following the crowd and acting like a local. Take note of how people are dressed and be aware of local religions, that way you are more likely to wear appropriate attire and not be disrespectful or stick out like a sore thumb. Depending on where you are traveling, buying traditional local clothing as soon as you arrive is one of the best safety strategies for staying safe while traveling alone.

Don’t be afraid to leave uncomfortable or stressful situations; that’s one of the best perks of solo travel is that you can alter plans anytime you want. Above all, trust your gut, if something feels off, more often than not, it probably is. Listen to what your heart is telling you and believe in your instincts.

Paying attention to your surroundings is one of the best tips for staying safe while traveling alone. Try to learn the local area where you are staying, and pay attention to the people around you and how they are acting. You are less likely to be caught off guard or put into a dangerous situation with an unfortunate outcome if you are keeping an eye out for yourself and paying attention to your surroundings.

Most importantly, be confident. Put a persona off of a confident person with no problems in the world. If you are lost, walk as if you know exactly where you are going. If you feel scared or nervous, laugh it off like everything is okay. Acting confident, even if deep down inside you really aren’t, will benefit you for 2 reasons. One, by attracting positive energy, and two, by making you look less like a tourist/target and more like a local or an ex-pat living their daily lives.

Overall, have fun! Traveling solo is a riveting and thrilling adventure of a lifetime and can easily be done safely when taking the right precautions. Be sure to refer back to this guide to stay safe before setting off on your next solo adventure or traveling alone for the first time.