If we had the choice, most of us would sooner travel with a friend or loved one, but that opportunity does not always present itself. There are just times in life when you are forced to go solo, and that means that a situation may arise when you need to travel alone. Heading to a strange city or a foreign country on your own can be incredibly daunting, and can make you truly start thinking about the whole safety in numbers motto. Rather than staying in your hotel room all day, you can feel safe and secure when travelling solo by making a few smart decisions and following our solo travel tips.
Always Try To Plan Ahead
The internet is a full of fantastic resources that will give you the lay of the land of the place you are going to visit. You can very quickly look up a city and see which areas are safe and which are deemed to be a little high risk. This is absolutely something that should be done before you seek out accommodations in your intended destination. Yes, you may have to pay a little more for a hotel in a nicer part of town, but that little extra is worth it for the peace of mind that you will get.
Before you leave, it is also a good idea to let friends and family know where you are going to be. If traveling for work, there is a good chance that you will have an itinerary and a list of destinations already put together. That is something you should consider doing if traveling for leisure purposes too. Give a few trusted people your list of dates and destination, and set up a time that you will check in with them to let them know that all is well. If that deadline passes, they can then try to contact you to make sure that all is as it should be.
How To Behave In A Strange Place
The key to staying safe when traveling solo is to not do anything that will draw attention to yourself. That means dressing conservatively if need be and leaving all of your expensive jewelry and accessories at home. When you are out and about, carry only the money that you believe you will need for that day. It’s surprising how many people believe that carrying all their spending money is safer than leaving it in a hotel room. If you choose a good hotel, they will have a safe available where you can leave your extra spending money and your travel documents.
You should ask the concierge at the hotel the best way to reach your intended destination, and consider picking up a map when you do. Steer clear of shortcuts or areas that you don’t feel so confident about, no matter how busy or crowded they are. As you can see, traveling alone can be a safe, pleasant experience if you just take the time to do a little bit of forward planning.
Ever done solo travelling? Have any advice for first-timers to stay safe?