I’ve written before about all the joys of traveling alone. Now here’s the catch: with being a solo traveler – and especially a female one – comes a ton of preparation and precaution. Here are 18 things to think about if you are considering some solo travel of your own.
1. Read hotel reviews.
Chances are you do this anyway when you book a hotel, but it’s even more important when you’re traveling alone. Look out for reviews that mention anything negative about the hotel’s safety, such as reports of drug/prostitution/illicit activity in or outside of the hotel.
2. Research the neighborhoods.
Something as simple as Googling “best and worst neighborhoods to stay in xxx destination” can give you great insight into where you want to be (or don’t).
3. Give thought to the type of hotel you stay in.
You can get some great rates at motels, but you’ll feel a lot safer if the door to your room doesn’t open directly onto a parking lot or outdoor corridor.
4. Ask the front desk for a room change if you don’t feel safe.
It’s not unreasonable to ask for a different room. I once stayed in an extended stay hotel that placed me in a suite in a far, dark corner of the property. I kept that room and was fine for the duration of my stay, but in hindsight, I would have felt a lot safer if I had just asked to be moved closer to the front office.
5. Think twice about AirBnB.
The advent of AirBnB has been a glorious thing for cheap getaways, but may not be the best idea when you’re traveling alone. Just about anyone can list their home on AirBnB so you never know what you could be getting into. For a solo traveler it’s good to have the peace of mind of a verified accommodation with people around and someone at the front desk that you can call on if you need help.
6. Buy yourself some extra safety.
For added protection there are devices that you can use to keep yourself safe in your accommodations. I recently acquired a Lewis N Clark Travel Door Alarm (thanks Mom!) which is looped onto the doorknob with metallic prongs that stick into the door’s crack, and lets out a piercing alert if the door is opened.
7. Know your destination before you go.
You’ll never fully get a feel for a city’s layout until you’re there, but familiarize yourself with a map of the city and plot out how you will get around, especially the route from the airport to your hotel.
8. Don’t ever leave your belongings unattended or with a stranger.
Believe me, I hate shuffling into an airport bathroom stall with my suitcase as much as the next person, but my golden rule when I travel is trust no one. Take extra care to make sure your expensive belongings – your phone, tablet, wallet, etc. – are on your person at all times.
9. Travel light during the day.
When you’re going out to wander, don’t carry more than you need to, especially when it comes to money and devices. If your hotel room has a safe, lock up whatever you leave behind.
10. Pack a backup ID.
I almost learned this lesson the hard way on one of my trips when I thought I had lost my wallet with all of my credit cards and my driver’s license in it. I was due to leave for home the next day and had no idea what I would do if I couldn’t get my license back to be able to board the plane. Thank God it turned out that I had only misplaced my wallet in a different pocket of my backpack. Nowadays even if I am only going on a short domestic trip, I take my passport and lock it in my hotel room’s safe while I’m out and about.
11. Protect your credit cards with RFID protection.
There’s a ton of gear out there that will keep your credit card information safe, from RFID shell wallets to little sleeves that can protect your card in your current wallet. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of having my credit card scanned and copied through a non-RFID wallet. These things actually happen, people! One of my personal favorite pieces is a Travelon scarf with a super discreet RFID-protected zipper pocket (not to mention the scarf is huge so it doubles as my airplane blanket!).
12. Use a decent day bag.
Flimsy drawstring backpacks can be easily cut. My bag of choice is either a crossbody backpack or a purse with strong straps that fits comfortably under my arm.
13. Make a habit of consciously checking that you have your belongings.
Every time I leave a bar/restaurant/souvenir shop I always double check to make sure that I have my wallet and phone and that all pockets of my bag are zipped. Making a mental note to yourself that everything was in place when you left XYZ Bar will give you piece of mind as you are walking around and will be helpful in retracing your steps if you do later end up losing something.
14. Be smart about who you ask to take your photo.
When you travel alone, obviously you don’t have a designated photographer for those cute Instagram shots. It can be awkward asking a stranger to take your photo and you have to judge if you trust them to not walk off with your phone. But there’s always the selfie stick! Or I recently purchased a mini tripod with bendable legs for my phone that comes with a remote clicker. I’m still trying to get that down (as you can tell from the following awkward candid from my Austin, TX travels).
15. Be smart about your outdoor activities.
Don’t let being alone hold you back from taking a scenic hike or bike ride. Just make sure you are well-equipped, have researched and studied your route, and know your limits of how far away from civilization you are willing to go.
16. Be smart in your nightlife decisions.
Of course you’ll want to go out and see what the town is like at night, and you may even end up meeting some people and having a great time – but don’t have too much of a great time. Limit your drinks, be cautious of who you talk to and how much detail you give, and make sure you have a safe means of travel back to the hotel. Plan thoroughly before you go out. Often if I am going out after dark I try to stick with someplace within a few blocks of my hotel. If you want to venture further, Uber and Lyft are a godsend.
17. Keep someone informed of your whereabouts.
Even though you’ll love the freedom of being entirely on your own schedule, you should still check in with someone. Even if they are miles away back home, they can still call for help if they think something is wrong. Before you go, make sure someone has a copy of your itinerary, and keep them in the know about spontaneous day trips from the city you’re staying in.
And most importantly…
18. Trust your gut.
Stuff happens when you travel. Any number of things can go wrong, but as long as you are smart in your reactions, you will be more likely to come out on top. It’s going to be scary traveling alone, especially if you’ve never done it before, and the anxiety lessens in time as you gain more confidence and experience. The key to staying safe is just to trust your gut in any situation and when in doubt, get yourself out.
What scares you most about traveling alone? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
C to Shining C 
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