9 Do’s and Don’ts When Traveling Alone

Are you thinking of traveling alone, perhaps for the first time? Traveling alone is an amazing experience and you’ll learn so much about yourself.

This post is all about traveling alone.

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Traveling Alone

Are you thinking of traveling alone, perhaps for the first time? Traveling alone is an amazing experience and you’ll learn so much about yourself.  No negotiating with another travel partner as to where to eat. No negotiating with where to visit. You get to make all of the decisions. Remember not every country you visit alone is dangerous, however. Some countries are overall a lot safer than walking alone at night than in some parts of New York. But it’s better to be safe than sorry. So make sure to do as much research as possible about your destination and the top tips for staying there. Also, try journaling your trip. Make memories to share with your family and friends, by writing your experiences in a travel journal. Now here are 9 do’s and don’ts when traveling alone.

1. Always Give Someone Your Entire Travel Itinerary

Before you leave for your solo adventure, make sure to leave your itinerary with someone you trust. Even if it’s a rough outline of the areas you’ll be visiting. List a few potential places you might stay at if you haven’t booked your accommodation yet. Make sure to message your friends and family daily too so that they know where you’re going and when you’re back safely. Most hotels and Airbnbs have Wi-Fi so you can do this but it’s always best to check this before you go.

2. Never Engage in Conversation and Then Leave with a Stranger

This one can be difficult as you’re probably wanting to meet new people. Some strangers can be very friendly abroad, especially other travelers. However, it’s important to still be hyper-aware that although other travelers are friendly, you should still take precautions. Don’t just meet someone and then leave with them straight after either. Take time to plan to meet them again so you can always back out beforehand if things feel off. If you do decide to meet them, make sure to tell your family and friends and always meet them in a public place.

3. Always be Aware of Your Surroundings

This one should go without saying but when traveling alone you should always be aware of your surroundings. If you’re wearing a backpack, wear it out around your front and always keep an eye on the people around you, especially on public transport. You should also keep an eye on what’s happening around you in crowded places, especially if it’s a tourist attraction. It’s also wise to avoid getting too drunk if you’re out clubbing or barhopping just to make sure that you’re not being pickpocketed and that your drink is safe.

4. Never Pull-Out Money in Front of Strangers or in Public View

You should always be careful with your money when you’re traveling. Make sure not to carry around wads of cash and always keep it accessible to you in a waist bag instead of in your backpack. When you’re counting your cash make sure you do this in a private location such as in your accommodation and never pull-out large amounts of cash in public. You never know who’s watching you do this. It may even be best to skip the cash altogether and use a travel card or a credit card that you can use abroad.

5. Never Accept an Unsealed Beverage and Never Leave Your Drinks Unattended

Especially if you’re a woman, you want to avoid drinking any drinks that haven’t been made in front of you or have been given to you by someone else. Even if someone offers to buy you a drink, politely decline as you never know whether they could discreetly add anything to it. If you’re going barhopping or clubbing also make sure to never leave your drink unattended. You may even want to buy a testing kit just to double-check that your drink is safe. Although it’s a lot of effort to do all of this, if you’re traveling alone this puts you in a very vulnerable position if something were to happen.

6. When catching an Uber or Lyft Ride Always Remember to Verify Information Before Getting into the Vehicle

Of course, taking a taxi is a lot safer than walking or using public transport at night, especially if you’re a woman. However, you shouldn’t let your guard down completely because of this. When you’re using Uber or Lyft make sure to verify information such as the license plate and name of the driver before you enter the vehicle. If you’re not 100% sure or something feels wrong, trust your gut, and don’t enter the vehicle. If something is off, don’t forget to flag it to the company so that other people don’t get picked up by them.

7. Research Your Destination

As mentioned before, many countries differ massively in how safe they are. Make sure to research this before you choose where you’d like to travel to as well as any safety tips specifically for that country. It’s also a wise idea to research if there are any neighborhoods you should avoid or certain places to avoid. Some countries are much safer than others, especially for women so this is also something you should also research.

8. Don’t tell people you’re alone

This is so easy to do, especially when you’re meeting other travelers that are very friendly. Although lying isn’t usually the best thing to do in every situation. Except when you’re traveling alone. You should lie about where you’re staying and if you’re alone. Some people prey on travelers and even pose as travelers to get you to trust them. As with everything, trust your gut and if things feel off, politely excuse yourself and leave.

9. Research where you’re staying

If you’re staying in a hotel or hostel, read the reviews on where you’re staying to verify that it’s a real place. If you’re staying in an Airbnb, don’t stay anywhere that doesn’t have any reviews. Make sure that you arrive at your accommodation in the daytime, especially if your host is giving you the keys themselves. You may also want to check for any hidden cameras when you arrive as this has been a problem recently in some Airbnbs.

Don’t Become a Target

Remember you are alone in another city or another country. Don’t become a target. Don’t walk around with both eearbudsin both of your ears. Make sure you can hear if someone is approaching you. Don’t get so engaged in your phone that you are not paying attention to your surroundings. There is always someone out there somewhere that is looking for a vulnerable person. Especially someone that is not paying attention to what is going on around them. Don’t be that person.

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