17 Solo Travel Safety Tips: How to Stay Safe Abroad

Safety is one of the most important things when traveling abroad. Especially because you are a tourist in a new environment, this makes you vulnerable to people with malintent. However, travel is not as scary as it seems. Negative bias makes us focus on danger and makes us think an area is more dangerous than it might be. This may make someone more anxious and stressed than they need to be. So, don’t assume everyone is out to get you. I honestly rarely even think about ‘safety’ and have an open mind towards strangers because I believe most folks are friendly and have good intentions in mind. No location is truly safe, and the danger you might face abroad isn’t anything new. There is also the same chance of danger in my hometown. I see little difference in attitude towards safety at home vs. if I’m skipping around Mexico. However, there is a set of travel safety tips I always employ when I travel to cover my bases. I want everyone to enjoy their travels as best as possible, so here are some essential travel safety tips for solo women travelers (and anyone traveling)!

1. Tell someone back home your whereabouts/share your itinerary.

For ease of mind for your loved ones at home, but also for your safety, share your locations and travel plans with them. It’s good to have multiple people know about your whereabouts so that you have multiple emergency contacts on hand. Like if you were filling out a waiver for a sport, normally the organization asks you for an emergency contact in case something happens to you.

You never know what might happen to you abroad or away from home, and if anything comes up the people you trust at home will know what’s happening with you. They’ll be able to pinpoint where you are and how to best help you. If your emergency contacts don’t know your whereabouts, it’s hard to get you aid or help. Also, they’ll know who to contact to ask for information, like your accommodation staff or owner. While it might seem “boring” to send addresses, phone numbers, and itineraries, nothing is embarrassing about covering your butt when traveling. Honestly, with the security that some people know where you are helps you relax on your trip!

2. Research tourist scams ahead of time.

The best preventative measure to not be vulnerable is to prepare yourself ahead of time for tourist scams at your destination. There are hundreds of Reddit threads and articles about the popular scams at a destination you can read to prepare yourself. For example, if you’re headed to Milan, you should be familiar with taxi cab scams and bracelet scams. Know what it looks like, how people approach tourists, and how to avoid them. As a result, you eliminate yourself from being vulnerable to those scammers. This is a good way to practice familiarizing yourself with local life at your destination. Don’t catch yourself in a tourist scam! At that point, it might be too late.

3. Blend in.

Blend in as much as possible. Obviously, you’ll look different from the locale if you travel to a very homogenous area. But more importantly, research the culture and fashion to do your best to appear as local as possible. The idea is that if you can pass for a local, tourist scammers will pass you. You can watch YouTube videos, do a search on Pinterest on the fashion at your destination, and research certain cultural customs. For example, if a country you are going to dress on the more modest side, try to pack clothes that are in line with their customs. You’ll stick out sorely if you wear jean shorts and a tank top if everyone else is wearing a T-shirt and long pants.

4. Research the destination beforehand.

Soccer Semi-Finals celebration in France! Fun, but I went to visit the Arc de Triomphe and got stuck in the crowd.

Always, always, always research about the destination beforehand. This includes everything from weather, politics, danger, food, etc. You want to be as prepared as possible to enjoy your trip as much as possible. For example, you don’t want to walk off the airplane and be dressed for summer when the weather outside is cold. You’ll have to buy some winter clothing, then! And that’s an inconvenience financially and mentally. More importantly, you should be aware of any political turbulence in the destination you’re going to. You don’t want to catch yourself in the middle of protest crowds that may potentially turn violent or be stuck at closed borders.

U.S. Citizens should enroll in the STEP program when traveling. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service that allows you to enroll your trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You’ll get safety information about the destination you are at, and helps you stay prepared in case of emergency. They’ll also help you contact loved ones at home. It’s a great tool to have in your safety tool belt and should be in everyone’s travel safety tips!

5. Be sparing when disclosing that you are traveling alone.

As much as we want to be honest with other people, sometimes it’s better to lie. If a taxi driver or hotel worker asks if you are traveling alone and you don’t know why they are asking, don’t tell them you’re alone. You don’t know what their intentions are and if they would compromise your safety. I’m especially wary of telling people I’m traveling alone if it’s a stranger on the street. But, sometimes telling people also leads to new friendships! For example, if you’re staying in a hostel, everyone there is also (probably) alone and willing to make new friends.

But just in general, I never tell taxi or Uber drivers I’m by myself, especially since you are in their vehicle and can hold you hostage or drive you to an unknown location. This is probably one of the most important travel safety tips, especially for solo female travelers.

6. Make copies of important documents.

Imagine you lose your passport… now what? Your passport information is critical to have on you, even when you don’t have the physical thing. Make paper and digital copies of all your important documents, like a passport, any important IDs, visas, paperwork, etc. Anything that is needed to help identify you or get you across the border should be copied. Make multiple copies and keep them in different places so that you’ll have access to them even if you lose a bag or suitcase. Having a digital copy of my passport helped expedite my return to San Francisco after losing my passport on the airplane to Paris.

In addition to making copies, writing down important document information is extremely helpful as well. It also makes you more resilient in times of emergency when you might need identification and you don’t have your documents readily accessible. This includes passport numbers, visa numbers, license id numbers, flight information, accomodation addresses, etc.

7. Have an emergency stash of money.

Just like with the important documents, have an emergency stash of money with you in case your wallet gets stolen. I always have some extra emergency cash on me in case I need it. The amount you bring depends on the place you’re going to and how far your currency will go. American dollars are quite strong, so a couple hundred on hand will cover most trips as an emergency fund.

Don’t keep this cash all in one place as well. You want to spread it out in a couple of places so that if you do lose a bag, you’ll still have access to it. Some people like putting it in obscure places that don’t conventionally hold money, like a makeup pouch or between book pages. That way, if someone breaks into your car or room, the thief will skip over the mundane items and target wallets and bags.

8. Don’t share location in real time on social media.

The internet is a scary place… It’s so, so, so easy for someone to find you just based on a simple post. You can easily track someone from a geolocation they share, and also from the background of images you might post. Especially if you have a public profile on social media, truly anyone can find you. Not everyone will care about where you are, but the ones with malintent can. And we want to prevent that as much as possible.

I’ve found myself in the background of people’s photos before just through a simple location search on Instagram. I was sitting in a cafe window and saw a girl taking photos in front. I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be so funny if I found her photo and looked in the background? Later that night, I was curious and did a geotag search on Instagram using the cafe’s location. Lo and behold, her photo was public and discoverable since she tagged the cafe. And I spotted myself in the background.

Obviously, we want to post and share with our friends where we are, but think twice about posting in real time! It’s so easy to find people these days, and we want to have fun while being safe. This is one of the most underrated safety travel tips, especially as people use social media more and more heavily.

9. Learn a little bit of the local language.

It always helps to be able to communicate! Miscommunication happens way more often than you think, and especially if you are in a foreign country, miscommunication can lead to larger problems. A language barrier also makes you susceptible to tourist scams, so learning a little bit of the local lingo is always a plus. Plus, you’ll be more likely well-received by locals. Communication isn’t always verbal, but it’s always helpful to be able to communicate basic things like food, directions, etc.

It’s unrealistic to try and become conversational in a language (unless you’re a polyglot or are very determined) to every destination you travel to. So, learning a little bit and supplementing your language skills with a translator is the best combination. There are a variety of language tools you can download on your phone, including Google Translate, DeepL, iTranslate, and FluentU. I use Google Translate since I’m most used to it, and it’s come in handy so many times.

10. Drink responsibly.

Alcohol impairs physical and mental function, so drink responsibly. When you are drunk, you’re in a very vulnerable state. It’s easy to steal something from drunk people or lead them to a different location without them knowing. You’re not present at the moment, and you won’t put up much of a fight if someone were to take advantage of you. Not to mention the risk of getting roofied (woes of being a woman) or having your drink spiked. Obviously, we all want to have a good time, but know your limits and drink responsibly. Funnily enough, it’s also a great way to lose a passport (a friend’s experience, not mine, haha).

And in the same thread, drugs, and substances fall in the same category. Aside from just travel safety tips, different countries have different laws around substances, so be careful. Always, always, always check what the laws are before trying to bring in a substance. You never know what the punishment will be!

11. Limit phone distraction when on the go.

It’s easy to be distracted by our phones while walking or going to our destination, but that makes us an unsuspecting target. When we are not focused on our surroundings, we’re less alert to oncoming traffic, strangers, etc. Especially when you are in a new place, it’s important to limit phone distractions and be aware of your surroundings. You never know what might happen and being distracted just increases your chances that you might run into something or someone. If you’re navigating to your destination, don’t look constantly at your map. Take a glance here and there, but don’t make it obvious that you don’t know where you are.

12. Leave the expensive things at home.

You don’t need that fancy, expensive bag or sunglasses on your trip, do you? We all want to look and feel good, but if you’re carrying around an expensive bag, chances are you will attract attention. It’s easier and easier to swipe expensive items off of unsuspecting tourists who just want to have a good time. Not only do you have to worry about it being stolen from you, but also you’ll be more worried about carrying it around. People can also follow you, waiting for a moment when you let your guard down. As always, bringing an expensive item on a trip is always a risk. If you’re willing to take that risk, go for it! However, be aware of your surroundings and hold onto it!

13. Invest in a travel-friendly bag.

My handy and trusty sling bag from Everlane.

The right travel bag makes a huge difference. You don’t want to be carrying a heavy backpack that you can’t protect from pickpockets. You also don’t want to carry a bag without zippers either! The least of your worries should be if your bag is vulnerable to pickpockets. So, the best preventative measure is to get a secure bag in which you feel comfortable carrying your essentials.

My favorite type of bag is a sling or crossbody bag. It’s easy to wear, sleek, and securely holds your items. You can carry the bag in front of you, where you’ll have a clear view of it. You can also hide it under a large jacket as well, making it discreet. I use the leather sling bag from Everlane and it’s been my best travel companion. It fits my essentials, including my phone, a pair of sunglasses, my card wallet, and a portable charger.

14. Make sure you have service abroad.

Nowadays, internet access is essential for travel. From navigation, simple research, and translation, the ease of traveling around is facilitated by having good wifi. It’s more convenient, reliable, and faster than using a physical map. Even simple things like attraction tickets, hotel bookings, and restaurant reservations require access to your email or texts. So, it’s important to make sure you have a good connection while traveling. You can double-check with your phone provider if they offer data abroad or if they have an international pass you can pay for ahead of time. Other alternatives include pocket wifi and getting a temporary SIM card at your travel location. Each method has its pros and cons, so reflect on what type of service you want and which one is right for you.

15. Leave the debit card at home.

Debit cards are not the best at keeping your money safe. If someone steals your debit card and uses it, you will never see that money ever again. However, credit cards solve that problem. If someone steals your credit card, you can immediately cancel it and dispute any charges made on it. Credit cards provide an extra layer of protection in case of theft. There are so many travel credit cards on the market right now. You can get rewards by spending money on travel and food, and those points go towards travel in the future! Talk about money-saving travel safety tips!

I currently use the Chase Sapphire Travel Rewards Card and it’s been an amazing asset in my wallet. The card gets you 3x on travel purchases, 2x on dining, and 1x on everything else. But the best part about a travel credit card is the rewards you get with points! You can easily book a 5 star hotel at a great rate through points and save hundreds of dollars. You can also book flights and hotels through either transferring points or booking through the Chase travel portal. I honestly wish I had gotten it earlier so my earlier purchases could convert to points earlier.

16. Always double-check check you have valuables.

Don’t forget to grab your sunglasses or bag!

The amount of mini heart attacks I’ve had thinking I didn’t have my passport or wallet on me. You can never be too careful! It’s a good habit to check that you have all your valuables on you before going to your next destination. It’s also good to check you have your valuables before going to the airport, taking the train, leaving a restaurant, etc. Anywhere you might need your wallet, passport, or important document. You’d be surprised how often people leave behind a pair of nice sunglasses, a wallet, or even a passport! You don’t want to find yourself in a situation of retracing steps in a foreign country or new environment. Save yourself the stress and anxiety!

17. Trust your gut.

You’ve heard this time and time again: trust your instincts. If you feel iffy about a private car ride, getting on a certain subway car, or a certain person, remove yourself from that situation. Your gut knows something is up, and it’s better to walk away before you get caught in something bad. Don’t wait to find out if your gut is right, just leave.

Stay Safe While Traveling Solo With These Travel Safety Tips

Solo travel is a life-changing and amazing experience that pushes you beyond your comfort zone. You’ll (hopefully) become more independent, develop life skills, and discover a love of the unknown. However, safety is a priority, especially when you are trekking a new environment by yourself and vulnerable to less-than-kind experiences. Now, you’re equipped with an array of important safety tips any solo traveler needs when traveling. Whether you are a solo female traveler, traveling with friends, family, or a significant other, these travel safety tips apply to anyone and everyone. Happy travels!