Carli
Carli
As someone who has visited close to 40 countries and solo traveled across all 7 continents, I know a lot about how to travel safely. This guide has all the safety tips for solo travelers you’ll need to feel confident traveling solo.
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- Research is your best friend
- Safety tips for solo travelers: be careful how you share your trip
- Safety tips when travelling alone: technology is your friend
- Safety tips for solo travelers: know the local customs
- Solo safety basics: Get insurance
- How to be safe traveling alone as a woman
- How to solo travel with anxiety
- Safety tips for solo travelers FAQs
Research is your best friend
My number one solo travel safety tip is doing your research ahead of time. It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling domestically or internationally, as a man or a woman traveling solo. This is everything from reviewing hotels, to the safety of the location, and even the tours you want to take.
Safety tips for solo travelers: your accommodations are most important
Your biggest safety factor is “where are you sleeping”. It’s not just about the star rating. You can be just as safe in a 2 star hotel as in a 5 star hotel. Checking online traveler reviews to see about hotel (or apartment) safety and cleanliness are important. Booking.com has what I consider to be the most comprehensive list of reviews, and they even feature hotels that they recommend for solo travelers. Even if you have a different preferred booking site, I recommend checking their reviews.
Trying to save money as a solo traveler? You can try hostels. They usually offer a mix from shared mixed gender dorms to smaller 4 person rooms, and even solo rooms. Hostelworld is a great tool for finding a hostel at your destination.
Also, if people say you shouldn’t stay at an Airbnb or apartment for “solo travel safety” they haven’t traveled enough. I’ve booked apartments across the globe for a variety of reasons. If I’ve got an extended stay and want access to a washer and dryer, an apartment will offer that. Or I can save money by cooking or reheating food at the apartment instead of eating out for every meal. Again, just check the reviews first. Booking.com also has a lot of apartment options internationally (I wouldn’t recommend it for the US as fees tend to be higher than Airbnb or VRBO).
Destination research
Please please please, do your own destination research. Look online for safety tips for solo travelers specific to that location, check social media, ask friends that have visited, review travel forums, but do not take advice from people that never leave their house.
I have had multiple people say things like “Mexico isn’t safe” because of “crime and drug cartels”, but they’ve never once traveled there. Guess what? Crime and drugs exist in America as well, and so do lots and lots of guns. Having been to Mexico at least 10 times in my life, I’ve never had any issues, and have felt safer with my personal belongings there than in Barcelona.
Unfortunately a reality for travelling alone as a woman, BIPOC or members of the LGBTQ communities, personal safety is an important factor when traveling. No country or city will be free from crime, but there’s a very big range when it comes to petty crime versus violent attacks.
For international travels, if you have any concerns ahead of time check with your local government to pre-register your trip. In the United States there is STEP, or the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This program will notify the state department of your upcoming travels, and will make it easier to contact you (and vice versa) if an emergency happens (family emergency, natural disaster, unrest etc.) and you need to leave the country immediately. Canada has a similar program called Registration of Canadians Abroad.
Tours and activities
Tour travel safety tips: Just because they have social media doesn’t mean they’re reputable. Check that they have Google or Tripadvisor reviews. Or use a tour aggregate site to find tours at your destination. These will almost always have reviews linked. My personal favorite is Viator, but I also use GetYourGuide as well.
What if I hate to research?
I’ll be totally honest, solo travel requires more effort all around if you plan to do it all yourself. But if planning isn’t your thing there are a few options.
1. Group tours are an excellent way to have a pre-planned trip to an area you may have wanted to visit, or never even thought to go on your own. Just about everything is taken care of for you once you land: transfers, hotels, tour guides, and a set number of meals. Plus you have the benefit of meeting other (likely solo) travelers and making new friends.
There are a number of companies focused on group tours. EF Tours has a great reputation and a huge variety of types of tours and ones that are set for specific ages. A number of social media content creators also host group trips. I’ve done two trips with Lindsay at One Girl Wandering, the first to Antarctica and the second to Jordan.
2. Hire a travel agent. Travel agents and advisors can do the heavy lifting for you to either find a tour that fits your needs or to build you a custom itinerary so you feel safe. If you’re looking for a travel advisor fill out my travel intake form.
Safety tips for solo travelers: be careful how you share your trip
It’s very important to make sure you have friends or family aware of where you’re going and for how long. Share your travel itinerary of where you’re going, dates and where you’re staying. If it makes you more comfortable, share your location with 1-2 people.
Solo travel safety tips and social media
Some people say you should never post anything in real time and even wait until you’re back home completely. I don’t believe that is necessary, but I do think you shouldn’t post in real time. For example, when I travel, I like to post my stories while I’m on my trip and everything is fresh, or I probably won’t do it later. However, I typically will post the following day, usually while I’m having breakfast. This allows me to stay pretty current without the fear of having people know my exact move and location.
For safe solo travel, I strongly recommend that you do not geotag anything until after you’ve left that location, especially your hotel. I know it can be appealing to tag them and their location but then you’re broadcasting that to anyone online (specifically if your page is public).
For me there are a few benefits to this. I’ve had people reach out and give me recommendations as they see my stories. Also, I had a friend connect me with her friend that also happened to be solo traveling in Vietnam at the same time. We ended up hitting it off and he even joined me in Thailand a few days later to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Should you tell people you’re traveling alone?
Some people are firmly “never tell anyone you’re traveling alone”. I however am not in that camp. Do you need to tell everyone that you are solo? Obviously not. But talking to other travelers can be a great way to meet new people. It is bound to come up at some point unless you literally never talk to another person on your trip. But for day trips and tours, it is pretty obvious when you’re one of the solo people. Use your best judgement, if you get a weird vibe don’t talk to that person.
Safety tips when travelling alone: technology is your friend
In the year of Beyonce 2025 there is absolutely no reason that anyone should be without a working phone and internet in most of the world.
I recently saw an article posted in the New York Times Travel section that was quite possibly one of the dumbest travel articles I’ve seen. The writer chose to be without internet in Morocco to “disconnect” and “be in the moment”. That’s perfectly fine for a yoga retreat in Costa Rica. However, having been to Morocco I know that the ancient Medina’s and souks are like traveling through a maze. Not only that, while the country is generally very safe, there are scams set up by men and teenage boys that target tourists telling them the roads are closed then getting them to pay for directions. This leads me to my next point.
Download offline maps
Even if you have full service, you never know when it’s going to cut out. You can download Google or Apple maps of the city/region you’re visiting and then if anything happens to your cell service then you will be covered. I didn’t do this in Brisbane Australia and it was almost very problematic for me.
I had rented a car and drove out to see one of the nearby National Parks, but did not realize my gas was low. After driving a while the gas light came on but at that point in time I was kind of in the middle of nowhere with no service. I had to turn around and drive back the way I came until I finally had bars again to search for the nearest gas station. While it may not have made my route any different, I was definitely stressed to find my way back without service. Luckily it was a fairly simple route and I’m great at navigation.
Travelling solo tips: you need a working phone
It doesn’t matter if you’re a solo female traveler or a man travelling alone for the first time, you need to have a working cell phone. Wifi is not always accessible or reliable.
1) you need to be able to check in with friends and/or family.
2) you’ll need to have your maps (or offline maps) ready.
3) you may need to access your digital travel documents.
There are a couple of different routes you can go to make sure you have a phone with working data.
E-sims
There are tons of e-sim services available to use your phone internationally. There is a BIG caveat though. E-sims only work if your phone is not locked to your carrier, and they do not have cellular capability, only data. One of the most popular e-sim services is Airalo.
Local sims
Instead of an e-sim, you can purchase a sim card with a local provider. There are often stands in the airport near baggage that offer sim cards, or you can get them directly at a cell phone store. The benefit of the local sim vs e-sim is that it will include a temporary local number for cellular AND data. They will usually offer different short term plans for travelers as low as only a week. However, like an e-sim you must have an unlocked phone.
Use and international plan through your provider
If you have a locked phone, or feel uncomfortable getting a local or e-sim, you can use the international plans as provided by your home carrier. Each offers different plans. Some, like AT&T, have a set cost per day with a max monthly fee, whereas others like T-Mobile charge you based on certain usage. Check with your provider to see what your plan options are.
Read my full article: How to Use Your Phone while Traveling Internationally
Pack a portable charger
You should always travel with a portable charger to make sure your phone stays charged for when you need it. Different things will cause your phone battery to run down faster. Roaming definitely seems to be one, and having the camera on all day also kills the battery. You can find great low cost chargers for your peace of mind.
Safety tips for solo travelers: know the local customs
This once again ties back into the research aspect, but it is important to understand your travel destinations and their culture.
How to dress
You should definitely know what type of dress and outfits are appropriate for where you are traveling. For example, in many Muslim countries women should have covered shoulders and dresses or pants that go past their knees. Then you have places like Dubai where the attire is very different and more westernized. Also in Dubai, it isn’t unusual to have flashier clothes or jewelry, whereas in poorer countries that could make you a target for theft.
Speaking of theft, I have never and will never in my life wear a money belt. If that makes you comfortable, then go for it, but I don’t think they’re necessary. However, I am a fan of small belt bags and fanny packs, for quick outings when you don’t have lot of stuff. But for longer excursions where I may have different camera equipment, I haven’t had any issues with a small backpack. Just make sure they have sturdy zippers.
Learn the local language
Of course there’s no expectation when traveling to a foreign country to be fluent or even have beginner level communication skills. However, it shows a lot of respect to learn a few key phrases. You should always learn how to say “hello”, “goodbye” and “thank you”. There are different online language apps available to brush up on some basic phrases, and you can also use Google and YouTube to figure out correct pronunciations. When in the country you can also ask the staff at your hotel, or chat with local tour guides to learn some additional phases that might be useful during your travels.
Worst case scenario, with whatever data plan you purchase, you can use the translate app or Google to help get you through minor communication challenges.
Cash versus cards
If I could, I’d never use cash. I think it’s a hassle to have on hand and always having to deal with change or figuring out the correct bills. And worse, ending up with a bunch of currency at the end of a trip that becomes useless the second you leave. Also, I love using credit cards because I can earn points and miles for future trips.
Read more on The Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners
Unfortunately, many countries around the world are still cash heavy, so it’s important to review ahead of time if you need cash or not. In countries where you need to have cash on hand you should make sure that you have a debit card that reimburses you for transaction fees. Since I travel so regularly I’ve gotten the Charles Schwab debit card just to use for traveling. It has no monthly fees, no foreign transaction fees and will reimburse additional ATM fees. (I don’t get any referral bonuses, I just really love this account.)
Using foreign ATMs
When using foreign ATMs you should always try to use an ATM that is clearly linked to a specific bank (HSBC, BMO, Deutsche Bank, Banamex, etc.) versus one that is generic. NEVER accept the bank to do a “currency conversion” to your local currency as this usually includes an additional fee and a bad exchange rate. ALWAYS select whatever the local currency is (Euros, Pesos, Yen, etc.) and your bank will do the exchange at the market rate.
You should also never exchange money, especially at the airport. Money exchanges are notorious for giving you a much lower rate than your bank. You’re better off going to the ATM than bringing money to exchange.
However, as a back up, it’s always helpful to bring USD (if you’re from America) or possibly Euros or Pounds (if from Europe) just in case. But if you plan to use this money they have to be the nicest bills you can find. The crisper the better. While normally in the US, brand new bills are suspicious versus the ones that are a little beat up or written on, outside the US most people will not accept cash with any sort of tears, writing, or even too many creases. Be sure to check your stack ahead of time.
Solo safety basics: Get insurance
One of my biggest safety tips for solo travelers is to get travel and medical insurance to protect yourself from potential issues. Many travel credit cards will include basic travel insurance for baggage and trip delays, lost bags, etc. But this is based on the card you use to book your flights. Third party insurance will cover all of that regardless of what card you’ve used to book your trip. Also, there is usually an option for trip cancellation should something come up where you either have to cancel your trip prior to leaving or during the trip.
Never book insurance through your airline. It will always cost significantly more money and there are usually much more specific rules with the cancellation policy.
With separate travel insurance you can (and should) book it to include medical insurance when traveling outside of the country. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but your US (or Canadian) insurance will not work in another country. So if something happens and you need medical attention, you won’t have to worry about huge bills. For anyone that lives outside of the US you should ALWAYS book medical insurance when traveling here, as our health care system is meant to bankrupt people without insurance.
Another reason for additional insurance is if you plan to rent a car (which I have done solo in different countries). I’ve had an incident (see below) where I had to work with my travel insurance to get reimbursed, because my credit card wouldn’t do it as they couldn’t get any documentation from the car rental company.
Why Renting A Car in Guatemala City is the Best Way to Ruin a Vacation
For travel, medical and additional rental car insurance I book through Visitors Coverage. This is an insurance aggregator that allows you to review and compare different insurance companies and plans to choose what is best for you. The policy will vary based on age of purchaser, cost of trip, and destination, but they have some very fair and competitive rates.
Medical supplies
It should go without saying that you need to bring any prescription meds with you while traveling. I think it is also helpful to bring some additional over the counter medications that you may need like Pepto (or similar), pain relief meds, and even some cold medication. Believe me you do not want to be at a pharmacy trying to use Google to find the equivalent to DayQuil. A full first aid kit is going to be overkill, but having a small tube of antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin) and some bandaids in your luggage can come in very handy.
How to be safe traveling alone as a woman
The best tips for solo female travelers are to be familiar with and pay attention to your surroundings. This won’t happen right away when you land in a new city or country, but once you get there you should familiarize yourself with different landmarks. If you plan to take public transportation, review how to buy tickets and where the stops are ahead of time. Before you go out for the day, review your maps so you have an understanding of the area and geography. While out, if you’re wearing headphones, don’t have the volume up so loud that you can’t hear what’s going on around you.
When it comes to interacting with new people, or even places, embrace your natural intuition. If you feel uncomfortable in a specific place or while talking to someone, don’t ignore that feeling. Remove yourself from the situation as best as you can and move somewhere else.
While you do have to be more guarded as a woman traveling alone, you’ll have a newfound sense of freedom and independence once you start traveling solo.
How to solo travel with anxiety
Unfortunately anxiety doesn’t just disappear when you travel, and solo travel can exacerbate that anxiety at times. I’ve struggled with my own anxiety issues while traveling from party from exhaustion, and a lot with social anxiety. The only difference is I’m somewhere unknown vs in the safety of my own home. Below are some tips that help me when I’m traveling.
- If you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed or on the verge of an anxiety episode go back to your hotel/apt/house/hostel and take a few hours to relax.
- Set up check-ins with yourself throughout the day. Assess how you’re feeling, are you pushing yourself to do too much in a day? Have you gotten enough sleep?
- Don’t be afraid to have rest days. It can be hard to stop yourself from wanting to see or do everything in a new location, but that also leads to burnout. For longer trips, build in days with little to no itinerary to reset and rest.
- Have a few people you can reach out to. Maybe it’s a friend, partner or family member, but having a person (or multiple people) to quickly check in with throughout your trip will help you stay and feel connected to your home base.
- Try to keep a routine. This is very difficult when traveling, even more so if you’ve got an itinerary where you change locations regularly. But there may be certain things you can do to stay on track. This might be having your morning coffee, setting aside time to journal or meditate, getting to bed at a certain hour. Whatever you need, try to find time to do those things.
- Bring the meds. Do you need melatonin to help you sleep? Bring it. Does a daily dose of B12 and vitamin D make you feel better? Bring those. Do you need a Xanax if you start to feel really overwhelmed? Make sure you have some with you.
Safety tips for solo travelers FAQs
Is solo travel safe?
Yes, solo travel can be just as safe as traveling with another person or a group. And, in many ways traveling solo can sometimes help you blend in more.
How to stay safe while traveling solo?
A few important safety tips for solo travelers are: make sure to share your itinerary with friends or family and check in regularly, research your destination and hotels prior to traveling, make sure you have working cell phone data for international trips, and trust your instincts with new people and places.
How can I stay safe while traveling solo especially as a woman?
Be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts. In most places, it won’t be any different traveling as a woman solo or with friends/partners. But you should always research your destination ahead of time to see what other women have experienced.
Additional posts on Solo Traveling
Still have questions about solo travel? Set up a solo travel consultation with me by emailing me info@adventureswithcarli.com
