Solo and safe

Do you think that travelling alone makes you vulnerable? It doesn’t have to! Keep your wits about you, use your common sense, trust your instinct. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

Starting out is scary. On my first solo trip, I had planned everything out so that I knew exactly what I was doing for the entire 4-month trip. But I realised that I could be more flexible. By planning everything, I couldn’t change my mind if something more fun came up. So now I have a loose plan of what I want to do and keep my options open. Meeting people along the way means you can be inspired to try something different instead. 

Here are my top 5 tips on how to stay safe while travelling solo:

1. Do a bit of research before setting off. Get your hands on a travel guide, read a few blogs or join one of the many online groups to get a feel for what to expect. Start here with the country guides.
2. When arriving in a new place, have your first night’s accommodation booked so that you have somewhere to stay. That way you don’t worry about delays or being stranded until the morning. I mostly use Booking.com and Airbnb, as well as Hostelworld from time to time.
3. If arriving late at night, get your accommodation to arrange for a pickup from the airport, bus or train station, or port. Alternatively, use the local ridesharing app, such as Uber, Grab or Bolt.
4. Use apps like maps.me or download the local Google Maps that work offline and let you track your route. Or track it through your ridesharing app. They will put your mind at ease that your driver isn’t taking you the long way round!
5. Get advice at your accommodation or from other locals about how much you should be paying for buses, taxis or tuk-tuks. That way you won’t get ripped off as soon as you step foot in a new country. They can also advise whether you need to negotiate the price before you set off.

There’s lots more you can do to prepare for your solo trip so you can stay safe when you’re there. Head over to the resources pages for all the details.