A solo female traveller's guide to staying safe. Get ready for some insider solo travel safety tips!
Solo travel can be absolute bliss, the freedom, the independence and the confidence you gain are irreplaceable. Although the experience can be blissful, the extensive planning and safety precautions may seem like a burden.
I’m here to help lighten the load a little by sharing some of my safety tips while travelling solo.
So whether you’re gearing up for your very first solo trip or need to brush up on some safety tips I hope the lessons I live by can help ease your mind.
1. Research & Planning
The safety aspect of your trip starts long before you make it to your destination! The key is in the research and planning you do when it comes to your accommodation, transport and destination specific tips. Ask yourself specific questions like “How far is my accommodation from my activities/the airport?” or “What’s the best way to get from A to B” and even “What tourist scams to look out for in *your destination*?” As much as safety tips can be applied to pretty much every trip you take, it's important to look into tips specific to your destination when doing your research. Extensive research has always helped put my mind at ease when travelling solo.
2. Map it all out
I find it helpful to map out my activities before my trip, like I did for my first solo trip to Jeju. I like to know what I'm getting myself into so in the planning process, once I've decided on my accommodation, I'll map out how far my activities are from said accommodation as well as from each other. That way I'm not overloading my day and I'm aware of my general surroundings when I finally make it to my destination. I avoid falling victim to misinformation or wandering off into an unsafe area and even if I do get lost I’m able to keep my cool because I’ve done the research.
3. Keep your devices fully charged
Always make sure both your phone and powerbank are fully charged before leaving your accommodation. Chances are, your phone will be working overtime with all the extra apps, maps and photos you'll be taking.
4. Stay connected
...as much as possible. You'll need an internet connection to stay in contact with friends and family back home but that might not be possible if you're out and about. It might be worth looking into getting a local simcard if your destination doesn't have wifi freely available or if you're staying for an extended period of time. Some countries offer 1 week or 10 day contracts etc. I was able to book a 10 day simcard through klook for my trip to South Korea.
5. Check in regularly
Have that one friend or family member (for me it's usually my sister) that you send EVERYTHING to. Your flight numbers, accommodation and your rough itinerary should be sent before your trip. Once on your trip, send regular updates and your daily itinerary.
6. Trust your gut
Even though you're on a solo trip, it's safer not to SAY that you're on a solo trip when strangers ask. Your sixth sense will kick in when the situation warrants it, so rather say you're meeting up with friends later if you find yourself in a bit of a bind.
7. Keep important info handy
Always have important information like your accommodation address close by and if you're in a foreign country make sure you have it in the native language as well. Ask hotel reception to write on a piece of paper or type it out on your phone or save a picture of the address to your "favourites" for easy access. This makes telling your cab driver where to go so much easier.
8. Be in the moment
You’re on a tropical island or hiking through incredible trails, you obviously want to post on social media and share all your amazing experiences. Go ahead and take a bunch of photos but hold off on posting on social media. Delay posting about your solo trip by a few days or even post after the trip, just to be safe. Rather stay in the moment and use social media as a way to relive some of your special memories.
Remember, you can plan, prep and take all the precautions you want but sometimes your gut feeling knows best! So trust your gut in dicey situations. I’ve been in your shoes, and I hope these tips help ease your mind and better prepare for your very first (or next) solo trip!