5 Safety Tips for Traveling Solo
1. Keep Your Valuable Close
When traveling, your valuables and specifically your travel documentation like your passport, the most critical possession that you own, are important to keep safe when outside of your home country. Keeping and protecting your valuables while traveling will make for a much more pleasant experience on your trip.
Before you go, it is a good idea to take photos of some of your documents in the case of them being pickpocketed or stolen. There are also many options to keep your money and items hidden on you without drawing attention to thieves such as money belts, money socks, or a simple fanny pack that you can tuck under your shirt in an area where stealing is at high risk.
Keep a minimal amount of cash on you if possible and don’t show that you have a lot when out, just in case.
2. Stay in Contact
It is good to let a family member or friend at home know what your travel plans are in the case of an emergency. This is also a good way to have someone make sure you are alright throughout traveling, especially if you will be gone for a long time alone.
Another good habit is to stay in contact with one person at home. Give them a call every day or two and let them know how the trip is going. This is a good way to make sure someone is keeping track of your safety, so if something were to happen they would know when you haven’t reached them in a few days.
3. Know Where You Are
A great tip is to know where you are in the place you are traveling and the specific area you are exploring or staying. Taking a look at a map of the country’s, or city’s physical makeup can give you a better understanding of where you are at all times.
This comes in handy when finding your way around and keeping you from getting too lost. Even having a map on you is great in case your trusty phone becomes a problem. Many solo travelers map out their surroundings constantly throughout their trip if they are on the move, which helps with not feeling so worried about where you are or will be but also when taking transportation.
Transportation can sometimes be a dangerous situation, especially if you are alone and the driver, in the case of taking a taxi, recognizes that you are not a local. In this case, mapping out where you are going and the route that needs to be taken keep you safe and saving money.
4. Buy a SIM Card or Data Plan
Many people who travel alone suggest buying a local SIM card for the country you will be traveling in if you are staying for a long time. Otherwise, buying a simple data plan for the span of your trip or one you can renew throughout is a great idea when traveling solo.
Since you are most likely there to explore and find new things in the world, having the ability to use your phone at any given moment is sometimes essential. Of course, there are other ways to get around without your phone but it is always a good idea to be able to contact someone at all times, use your map to find a destination, or even use it as a translator if you so need it.
5. Do Your Research
Before traveling it is always a great plan to do your research on the area you are going to. Not only does this give a better image of how the environment will be but it will also give you insights into the area and help you find fun things you’ll want to do.
As a solo traveler, research is also a necessity for safety. You need to know areas that might be dangerous and that you’ll need to avoid as well as local customs and ways to respect their culture before you do or say the wrong thing that could get you into a dangerous situation.
Traveling and exploring solo is a great idea and will allow you to see everything you want to around the world. Go out and see the world, but be careful and smart while you do it. Follow these tips to stay safe and go take a look at some other resources that might help you before your journey.
Happy traveling!
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