Single & solo travel tips

Travelling solo gives you a great sense of independence and flexibility, you get to choose your own route and in your own time. Many find it easier to meet people as a solo traveller; this in turn will fill you with confidence and improve upon your social skills, so it’s clear why more and more people are choosing single and solo travel.

At the Travellers Club we want to make sure you get the most out of your trip, so we’ve put together some top travel tips on what to be aware of, in order to avoid any trouble. Be sure to check out our inspirational travel section for single and solo travel ideas.

Travel itinerary

Make a note of your airline information as well as accommodation numbers, contact numbers and other relevant travel details. Leave a copy of these details with a friend or family member, so that if there are any problems they know who to call.

Set a time to check in with your friends or family so they know you’re doing well. and keep important and essential documents in a safe place. Documents such as your passport and visas should be kept together and placed securely in a safety deposit box. You should also make photocopies of these documents and anything else you think is important in case any of your essentials get lost.

Valuables

It is best not to carry valuables with you or wear expensive looking jewellery. Do your best to blend in with the locals and do not advertise expensive items to criminals.

Never carry large sums of money on you. Instead, try to have your money in smaller denominations when paying for items. Credit cards are a good idea but you can’t rely on them being accepted everywhere when abroad.

Don't be a tourist

When you’re out and about, always try to carry a detailed map on you and try to only look at it in private. Looking at a map or asking for directions is an obvious sign that you’re a tourist, which makes you a vunerable target for criminals.

In some countries, for obvious reasons, blending in like a local will be impossible, so always do your best to look confident and like you know what you’re doing.

Be aware

Try to keep all your belongs on you and, when placing your bag down to take a photo or in a café, put your foot through the strap to make it impossible to snatch. You definitely won’t forget it either!

Be aware of your surroundings, distracted tourists are easy targets for criminals. For instance, be careful in crowds, this is a classic distraction technique for pick pockets.

Eating out

When eating out as a single or solo traveller, choose lively places with lots of people. Take reading and writing material along with you and don’t forget people watching is also good fun.

Extra safety

For some extra safety measures, ensure taxi drivers have official identification and use recommended taxi services. When travelling to a new destination, try to time your journey so you don’t arrive late at night and secure your accommodation in advance. Try to learn some basics of the language of your travel destination and do your research in guide books before hand, especially on what places are best avoided.