5 Solo Travel Safety Tips
Women make up 84% of global solo traveller demographics, and according to Google trend data, searches for โsolo travel for womenโ have risen by 400% in the last month.ย Solo travel can be incredibly empowering, allowing you to really connect with yourself and a new place and culture – but some may be put off by the idea of not feeling safe while travelling alone.
Bespoke travel expertsย Go2Africaย reveal their top tips for solo travel safety, so you can feel more comfortable when going out of your comfort zone.ย
Location: on
Make sure someone knows where youโll be at all times. Whether thatโs sharing your phone location with someone at home, or just letting the front desk at the hotel to hostel know where youโre heading for the day, having people know where you are will give you a little peace of mind.
If youโre in a country thatโs not covered by your phone network roaming, investing in a local sim is a good idea; you can continue to use your phone as normal, keep in touch with people, and use the internet and maps to get around. If you canโt get one, however, download maps that you can use offline, so you can still navigate your way around, without the internet.ย
Donโt overshare…
Try not to overshare on social media while youโre travelling โ aside from giving yourself a digital detox, tagging locations can pinpoint your precise location, which could be risky, especially if youโre posting about being there on your own. Save the photos and location-tagged Instagram stories for when youโve moved to your next location to avoid letting people (who youย don’t want to share your location with) know exactly where you are. Even better, save the posts for when youโre home so you can spend more time enjoying a new place, rather than checking on the socials!ย
โฆ and know when to lieย
Not oversharing is important in person, too, not just online. Sometimes, itโs best to lie. Have a back story prepared so if youโre ever in a situation where a stranger is asking you questions about being on your own, and itโs making you uncomfortable, you wonโt panic and accidentally tell them exactly them your hotel and room number. Are you alone? No, my friends are just over there. Are you lost? No, I know exactly where Iโm going. Where are you staying? With friends who live nearby. Donโt be afraid to be impolite to get yourself out of a situation thatโs making you uncomfortable! They might be perfectly innocent, but better to be safe than sorry.
Connect with others
Solo travel doesnโt have to mean being alone at all times. Staying in a hostel is a great way to meet like-minded solo travellers to spend a few days with, or if youโre in a hotel or private accommodation, try booking a group tour to meet other people.
People that have been in the area for longer will be able to share knowledge about the best places to go โ and places to avoid, like the areas that arenโt so safe. Having a few connections, and having people to go out with, will make you feel a lot safer โ and they might end up being people you want to travel with again in the future!ย
Be prepared before you travel ย
Book flights that will get you to your destination during the day, rather than after dark. Make sure you know exactly how youโre getting to your accommodation, whether thatโs researching how to use the public transport system or booking a taxi in advance. If youโre going to be hostel-hopping, make sure you have at least the first night booked before you arrive, so you donโt have to try and find somewhere when you get there.ย ย
Learn some basic phrases that will help you in case of an emergency, like asking for medical help or phoning the police, especially if youโre travelling to somewhere less touristy, where the locals are less likely to speak English.
Make sure youโve packed clothes that are culturally appropriate for where youโre going. Not dressing correctly can make you stand out as a tourist and could draw attention to the fact that youโre alone โ not to mention being disrespectful! Do your research and dress as the locals do, blend in and avoid unwanted attention.ย
Images: Unsplash