Safety tips for solo travellers

Travelling solo is becoming increasingly popular these days. Anyone who travels alone is aware of its singular rewards, but personal safety should be a top priority. Here are a few safety tips to help stay out of trouble.

Be prepared – Before leaving for your trip, make copies of your passport, visas, ATM card, credit cards, birth certificate, driver’s license and other important documents. Leave one copy at home with your family or a close friend, and take another to hide somewhere in your bag, away from the originals. This will save you much trouble if anything gets lost or stolen. Also invest in some pickpocket-proof gear.

Inform others of your daily itinerary – Regularly let people know where you're going, including friends and family back home as well as your hotel manager or concierge. If you’re traveling alone into parkland or a wilderness area, always let someone know when you expect to return as well as your exact route, and stick to it.

Hide money, credit cards and passport in separate places – Keep some money and credit cards in your wallet or purse, and additional money and cards in a pocket or money pouch. On travel days, carry your passport separately from your money and credit cards but otherwise keep it stored safely back at your accommodation.

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Stay connected – Mobile phones today give us the reassurance of direct connection to anywhere in the world. But before you leave home, find out whether your mobile phone and plan has roaming capabilities at your destination. If not, or if the roaming cost is prohibitive, rent a phone once you arrive (or buy international SIM cards if you have an unlocked GSM phone) so you have a lifeline. Smartphones with GPS or online maps are good options for drivers.

Research the culture and customs beforehand – Don’t assume normal things you do at home are okay to do abroad. For example, in Singapore you can be fined for chewing gum, in Thailand it is disrespectful to enter a room wearing shoes and in Morocco it is sinful to eat with the left hand. Do some research beforehand to keep yourself out of sticky situations.

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Blend in – You should also try to blend in with the locals as much as possible. Thieves will often target tourists, so making it clear that you are from out of town by looking lost, carrying giant maps, huge cameras and sporting shirts emblazoned with your home city’s name are not wise ideas. Even at times when you look nothing like the locals, act assertive, befriend residents and try to seem familiar with your surroundings.

Know when a group is a good idea – While solo travel shouldn’t limit you from doing and seeing what you want, there are certain situations where you will be better off with a group. For example, while popular hiking areas are fine to trek alone, more remote ones are better done with a companion. Think public places when on your own, and group travel for more remote or private locations.