By Madeline Klein on July 8, 2022 in Travel
Taking solo adventures is all the rage right now. They’re empowering and provide you with a sense of freedom, without any co-pilot drama. However, being safe and aware of your surroundings is crucial to having a successful trip!
Shoutout to AARP and Buzzfeed for some helpful tips for safe solo travel!
- Let Your Loved Ones Know Your Travel Plans
This is critical for all travel. Tell someone close to you where you plan to be and when. If, and inevitably when, plans change be sure to shoot your friends or family a quick call or text to inform them of your updated itinerary.
Another important aspect of traveling, and especially solo travel, is to always keep your phone charged. We know this is difficult when you don’t always have access to outlets and/or power. However, REI sells an inflatable solar lantern and charger combo, so you can charge your phone and have an emergency light when you need it!
When you’re planning your trip, keep these Travel + Leisure travel tips in mind!
- Always Have a Backup Plan in Case of Emergency
Things won’t always go according to plan when traveling, and that’s 100% alright. Although, this is one of the reasons it’s smart to have a backup plan.
Scan important documents into your phone or save them to the cloud, so you always have them just in your wallet goes missing.
Learn the emergency numbers for the area you’re visiting! While 9-1-1 is standard in the United States, other countries use different numbers to call for an ambulance, fire department, or police.
- Keep Valuables Secure and Out of Sight
Here’s a no-brainer that is just easily forgotten while traveling.
A couple of tips for traveling with money:
- Split cash and cards between different bags.
- Try not to carry all your money with you at once.
- Utilize anti-theft bags or on-body storage.
- Slim down your wallet to just carry the necessities.
- Encourage the use and packing of smaller bills over larger bills.
Another way to protect your valuables is to pack light. How does this protect your stuff? We’re glad you asked! It doesn’t attract as much attention to you as a tourist as big bulky bags do and packing lighter allows for better mobility in case plans change quickly.
Want tips on how to pack lighter? Smarter Travel has the scoop! They even talk about tricky packing situations like trips through several climates and cruises.
- Pack a Safety Kit
Wander Big lists a couple of must-have items specifically for solo travel.
- A good hearty first aid kit with extra doses of medication + usual first aid kit items like Band-Aids, pain medication, antibiotic ointment, gauze, cleansing wipes, scissors, and antihistamine cream.
- Extra cash and copies of important documents like your driver’s license, passport, health insurance card, and other documents crucial to your travel
- A lock for your bags like this Master Lock one
- Water bottle – portable, durable, large, or whatever your travel needs require
- Anti-theft or anti-slash backpack or purse
If you’re traveling internationally, don’t forget to check your phone plan and make sure it covers you in the region you’re traveling to.
Traveling in summer? Pack a summertime car emergency kit.
Traveling in winter? Pack a wintertime car emergency kit.
- Don’t Do Anything Too Crazy
The famous adage, “Don’t do anything your mother wouldn’t do” comes to mind for this tip. While we still encourage enjoying your vacation, we want you to be cautious.
Delay posting on social media, so people can’t track you. Doing so also avoids alerting people who know where you live that you’re not home.
Always be aware of your surroundings, especially exits and routes!
If you take a taxi or ride share, make note of the driver’s name and any reference numbers. For extra safety, text that information immediately to a loved one and/or share your location on Find My Friends or a similar service.
Additional rideshare safety tips from the University of California San Francisco’s Risk Management and Insurance Services include:
- Stay inside until your driver arrives.
- Double-check the vehicle/license plates and the name of the driver.
- Use your own maps app to follow along.
- Don’t share any personal information with your driver.
- Look at the driver’s rating and if it’s too low, cancel and call another ride.
- Sit in the backseat when possible.
- Call for help or get out of the vehicle if you’re worried about your safety.
- Do Your Research
Hit up Trip Advisor while planning for your trip and read about the places you’ll be visiting. Here you can search for hotels, rentals, restaurants, flights, and things to do. Once you find something that trips your trigger, you can see what others say about their experiences there and find more recommendations!
- Keep some Travel Insurance Handy
Last, but surely not least, is travel insurance. Our expertise is car insurance, but travel insurance can be important for many travelers. Forbes says the five scenarios where travel insurance pays off are, “trip cancellation, medical emergencies, lost luggage, missed connections, and travel delays.”
Find out how you can add travel insurance to your Say policy with our partner MyLifeProtected here!
Conclusion
Enjoy your solo travels while being safe by using these tips and prioritizing safety.
