Have you weighed the pros and cons of solo travel but still have concerns for your safety? Well, don’t worry. That’s absolutely normal. The idea of solo travel is scary. The world is a dangerous place if movies such as “Taken” are to be believed. The good news is that the world is not as menacing as the media makes it out. These safety tips for travelling alone will help you overcome your fears no matter where your trips take you.
Warning: I'm going to reference "Taken" a lot. But honestly, if she followed these tips, she would've saved herself a lot of trouble.
12 Safety Tips For Travelling Alone
1. Be Informed
That’s right. The planning for your safety begins before you even leave the house. In fact, it should start before you even book your destination. Before any trip, it is essential to check your country’s international travel board for any advisories for your intended destination. Does the destination have any travel bans; is it safe to travel? While several aspects should go into your choice of destination, the surest factor should always be your safety risk.
Alright, you’ve found a destination deemed safe for travel. That doesn’t mean your research stops there. Every country has its flaw, and no matter where you go, you run the risk of falling prey to scam artists or other predators. Hell, even first-world countries like Canada have their problem areas. It is important to research those areas within your destination country to avoid common scams.
2. Have A Plan For Your Arrival
I know I spout my philosophy of travelling without a set plan. And while I stand by my flexible travel methods, I admit it is important to have a plan for your arrival. Especially if you have any concern for your safety. Airports are the place where predators will find tourists. After all, 99% of all trips begin at the airport(not a statistical fact, but I’m sure it is pretty accurate).
If possible, you are going to want to arrange for your flight to arrive during the day. Unfortunately, the cheapest flights are typically those flying at night, but again, safety always takes priority. However, there is a way to maintain both your security and your budget;
Most airports are open 24/7. So you can still fly the red-eye and wait in the airport until the safety of the day. Do your research on the airport, though. You don’t want to end up like me in Nicaragua; kicked out of the airport and left to wander the streets of Managua at 2:00 am.
The other aspect of your arrival you will want to plan is your first night’s accommodation and transportation. After your long flight, you are going to be tired. You are not going to want to wander the city looking for a place to sleep. You are going to look worn down and vulnerable.
Finally, you are going to want to know how to find a ride. Many common scams in foreign countries involve cabs. Whether it’s running up the meter or something even more sinister, it is essential to distinguish a real taxi from a fake. Also, whether you are using your phone or preprinted directions to your accommodation, ensure your driver follows your pre-established route.
3. Share Your Itinerary With A Friend + Maintain Contact
If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you.
Liam Neeson, “Taken”.
Yes, that’s right, I said itinerary. I know, I have said several times before, that the beauty of solo travel is the ability to explore without a set plan. However, there is a difference between having an entirely planned trip and having a general outline. Before any trip, you should know your beginning point, your endpoint, and your main stops in between. This is the outline you should give to a family member or friend back home.
Nevertheless, while on your trip, you are bound to make alterations to your itinerary. Check back in with your contact every couple of days to update them on your whereabouts. In this way, if something were to go wrong, your loved ones back home would know where to begin their search. Full Liam Neeson.
Note: I highly recommend downloading the mobile app Polarsteps. Using GPS tracking, followers are able to trace your travels, offering easy access to your location if something were to go wrong.
4. Have A Separate Stash of Cash For Emergencies
This tip is just for an extra sense of security. Chances are you are not going to need to use this money. However, God forbid you do find yourself subject to a scam or a targeted mugging, you’ll be glad you had the cash. It doesn’t have to be a ton of money, Just enough to get you by for a couple of days as you make your way to your nearest embassy. From there, you should be able to arrange at least a wire transfer for additional funds or a flight back home.
While the chances are low, and I don’t want it to deter you from engaging in solo travel, muggings can occur. Don’t put up a fight. Whatever they want you to hand over is not worth the risk to your health. Remember, you have the backup stash to support you, and you can always cancel whatever cards they take.
5. Keep Your ID and Cards Separate From Your Cash
Don’t make it easy for pickpockets to get all of your valuables in one attack. Don’t keep everything in your wallet. Sure, keep a few bills in there that you plan on using on any given outing, but keep any excess separate. Put your IDs in a secret pocket. Put a few extra wads of cash in each sock. Hide your credit cards in a baggy at the bottom of your backpack. While a pickpocket or other predator may be able to get one article from you, at least they don’t get everything.
One precaution I like to take is wearing a thin fanny pack underneath my pants and over my boxer shorts. This offers an indiscreet hiding place for important documents and additional cash.
6. Don’t Be Flashy
Sticking to the same theme as the previous two, don’t be flashy. We’ve gone through all this effort of scattering our valuables to hidden areas among our person; the last thing you want to do is go flashing them around. BE DISCREET!
Okay, you need to pull the credit card out from the bottom of your backpack. Don’t go fuddling your way through it, revealing everything you have on you. Get out of line for a moment, find a private corner or somewhere quiet where you will have the privacy to search your bag. The last thing you want to do is make yourself a target by flaunting everything you’ve got.
7. Be Open To New friends, But Maintain Discretion
Solo travel is a fantastic way to make new connections, but don’t let it make you gullible. Opening yourself up to new friendships is one of the things that make solo travel so great. Still, it is important to be wary of how much about yourself you are sharing. There are a few things that you should not share when meeting someone for the first time; don’t tell them where you will be travelling to; don’t tell them where you are staying; most definitely don’t tell them you are travelling solo. Any personal information such as this will make you easy prey for a targeted attack.
Sure, you’ve met another traveller staying at your hostel and have gotten to know them over a few days. Okay, fine, that person’s probably okay to open up to. Make those connections. Just be smart with whom you trust.
8. Trust Your Instincts
Similarly with maintaining discretion, it is important to trust your instincts. While travelling alone, you are bound to have moments where you will get a little lonely. This can cause you to be too trusting of strangers approaching you. After all, you’re going to want to welcome their socialization. Don’t let this thirst for conversation blind you from your gut feelings. If something feels off, move on. Find someone else to satisfy your social appetite.
This tip applies to more than just your social encounters. Over our long evolutionary history, humans have developed a natural sense of danger. This is where our instincts originate. So whether you are walking the streets of the city at night, hiking along a wooded trail, or negotiating cab fare, if something begins to feel off, remove yourself from that situation.
9. Don’t Be Afraid To Lie
It is one thing to be aware of your instincts, and it is another to know how to act on them. Do not be afraid to lie. If someone you just met asks you if you are travelling alone, never tell them the truth. Instead, tell them you are meeting up with a friend, or at least that someone is waiting for you back at the hotel. Do not make yourself an easy target. Let them know that someone would raise the alarm if you went missing.
Personally, I am naturally open, and quite honestly, a little too trusting. It took me a long time to learn not to share too much about myself. Now, if I meet someone travelling that pry even a little, I lie my ass off. “No, I’m just meeting some friends down at the bar.” “Sorry, I’ve got to take this call.” “Ya, I used to be a professional boxer back home.”
All joking aside, these people don’t know you. Don’t let them believe that you are vulnerable
10. Try Not To Look Like A Tourist
On the subject of lying, why don’t we go ahead and make it seem like we aren’t tourists? By acting like we know what we are doing, we are limiting the chances of becoming targets. With that being said, chances are an actual local would distinguish a tourist after a simple conversation, so let’s not give them a reason to start one. This requires us to look the part. That means leaving the Hawaiian Tommy Bahama shirt at home.
Research the common apparel of your destination and pack accordingly. Make the conscious effort to look like you know where you are going, and chances are you will be left alone.
11. Have Photocopies of Important Documents
While it may take up some valuable space in our bags, photocopies of important documents are always a good idea. Documents such as your passport or credit cards can be lost in a multitude of ways. Not just from pickpockets or other scams. They can be lost after a night out at a bar or even misplaced by the hotel that required them during your stay.
By providing them with photocopies, you limit the number of times you pull the actual documents out of your bag, limiting the possibility of them being misplaced.
12. Be Confident And Believe In Yourself
The most important tip on how to avoid being targeted for scams is to be confident. Potential predators are looking for weakness. Please don’t give them any reason for them to recognize fear in you.
Remember, these safety tips for travelling alone are cautionary. You shouldn’t feel the need to always be weary during your trip. Keep them in mind, but remember, believe in yourself and have fun.
The Truth About Solo Travel
You have very little to fear from solo travel. While our minds automatically go to the worst-case scenario, the chances are your trip will go off without a hitch.
These worst-case scenarios are valid for anywhere. By following these safety tips for travelling alone, you can explore foreign countries with the same confidence you have in your regular walk to work.