Traveling solo has many benefits. You can do
what you want, when you want, and you have time for reflection and
self-discovery. So why don’t more people travel solo? There are two main
concerns: feeling lonely, and anxiety about safety. The issue of being lonely
was addressed last time in Alone, not
Lonely, on the Road. This time I want to write about safety.
Before getting into the tips, let’s establish
what needs to be safe. You need to be concerned about:
1. Your person
2. Your documents
3. Your money
4. Your stuff...
... in that order. Your stuff means nothing if
the other three priorities are lost. Keep this list in mind as you travel.
The
Golden Rule of Safety and 10 Tips
When you travel alone, you are the arbiter of
all situations. You decide who, what and where is safe.
This may seem overwhelming but there is one
rule, I call it ‘The Golden Rule of
Safety’, that will help:
Stay in
public places because public is always safer than private.
Sharing a cab with a stranger is not staying in
a public place. Going to a private party is not staying in a public place. Such
behavior is risky until you know the person well.
Now, here are my 10 safety tips:
1. Do your research and know the
risks of your destination before you arrive.
2. Schedule your arrival in a new
location early — well before dark.
3. We are trained to be polite and
to keep our voices down in public. Before leaving, take some time in your
basement or some other appropriate place to yell – loudly. Practice yelling
“HELP!”
4. Draw on the support of total
strangers – people of YOUR choice – if you feel unsafe.
5. Carry the name and address of
the place you’re staying on a card in the local language.
6. Don’t flash expensive items or
jewelry.
7. Keep your passport and other
important documents secure in a money belt and have backup copies using cloud
computing or simply by emailing basic information to yourself in several
distinct emails.
8. Be aware of your surroundings,
where the exits are, who is with you, landmarks to orient yourself… don’t wear
an ipod so that you are and look distracted. It makes you a mark.
9. Stay sober and well rested.
10. Use ATMs to get money and don’t take out large sums at one time. You
can also consider prepaid credit cards.
Now, head out and enjoy the benefits of solo
travel.
Related Articles:
Inspiring Independence: 12 Reasons to Travel Solo
Solo Travel: 10 Tips to Avoid Feeling Alone
About the Author
Janice Waugh publishes Solo Traveler, the blog for those who travel alone. The blog
offers solo travel stories, tips, safety advice and destination ideas as well
as a couple of free ebooks including Glad You’re Not Here: a solo traveler’s
manifesto. You may also want to join the Solo Travel
Society on Facebook.
WorldNomads.com keeps you travelling safely. Whether you’re off for a long weekend, looking for the ultimate adventure or living the nomadic dream, you’ll stay safe with Travel Insurance you can buy online, anytime, and the latest travel safety advice. We’ll also help you share your journey with a free travel blog, flirt in over 25 languages with our free language guides, have an experience of a lifetime on a travel scholarship and donate to a local community development project through our Footprints program.
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Have you ever travelled solo? What is your best tip for staying safe on your own?
