6 Tips for Keeping Safe When Traveling Alone

**Collaborative Guest Post**

AD: Do you love traveling? Are you going to be traveling any time soon? Perhaps you’re only going to visit one destination for a holiday, or maybe you’re going to be exploring multiple places while you are away. Either way, if you’re going alone you need to be prepared so that you are looking after yourself the entire time that you are gone.

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There are people that love you which means you have got to be as safe as possible, which also means taking the right precautions. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you need to do to ensure that you’re always prepared and safe when traveling alone, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.

Always Have Your Phone with You

First, you should always have your phone with you in case of emergencies. If you are looking forward to the peace of being alone throughout this trip, then you can put it on "Do Not Disturb" mode so that you’re not flooded with notifications from people that you know. The great thing about this is that you can choose what notifications are allowed through so that certain people can still get a hold of you if they need to. Just because you have your phone on you, does not mean that you have to constantly be on it and that is what a lot of people forget.

Your phone can be a massively useful tool when it comes to traveling. You will be able to get in touch with the emergency services where you are if need be for any reason, you will be able to take pictures of the scenic places that you are visiting, and if you can also drop your location to the people that you want to know that you are safe. In the modern age, a phone is a lifesaver so if you’re going to be on your own, make sure you have yours with you.

Pack For All Weather

Another thing that you should be doing in order to be prepared is to pack for all kinds of weather. While it’s possible to predict what the weather is going to be to some extent, it’s not going to be possible to be 100% sure which is why you should have at least one outfit for all kinds of weather. This is going to save you trouble when you get there, only to find that it’s not always going to be bright and sunny, or as cold as you expected. Trust us when we say that we know this means packing extra, but it’s one of the best things that you can do for yourself. The last thing that you want is to be unprepared for the weather, have to purchase more clothes and then struggle to get them in your suitcase to bring home.

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Of course, there’s going to be certain weather conditions that you’re expecting more than others. Ideally, you should be packing for those first and foremost, but without forgetting that things can always change, and the weather can be unpredictable. 

Ensure You Have Enough Storage

When we say storage, we mean enough room to carry all of the things that you need. You are going to need a big enough suitcase to get all of your belongings back and forth while you’re traveling, but you’re not going to want to take your suitcase out exploring with you. For that reason, you’re going to need to look into tote bags or backpacks to carry your everyday items, depending on what is going to suit you the best. If you plan to be going up mountains then you’re better off with a backpack, but if you’re going to be laying on the beaches then perhaps a tote bag would be more efficient. It may also be worth looking at suitcase/luggage storage options if you do plan on bringing a larger case for some parts of your journey.

At the end of the day, it’s all about making sure that you’re prepared for whatever you’re going to be doing while you’re gone so that you don’t get blindsided when you get there.

Learn About the Destination Beforehand

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If you want to be prepared and safe when you’re traveling alone, you should take the time to learn about the destination beforehand. They might have some different customs and traditions or rules that you don’t have to follow where you’re from, but when you get there, you will be expected to follow them to the letter. Just because you are a visitor in some destinations does not exempt you from following their rules. As such, to remain on the safe side of things you should be taking the time to get a little more information about where you’re going to be going and what you should expect when you get there. 

This isn’t hard to do for most places, so there’s no need to panic. The majority of places also don’t have any strict things that you need to worry about when you get there, but it’s always best to check just to be on the safe side.

Insurance

You should never, ever go traveling without insurance, but this is especially true if you are going to be heading out on your own. If something goes wrong, you need to be sure that you are able to receive the medical attention that you need, or help from the insurance if your flight is canceled for example. Some people seem to be under the impression that travel insurance is not necessary, but we can assure you that it is. You’ve never been in the position where you have been stuck in a foreign country, hurt or injured without access to medical care, and we don’t ever want you to be in that position. But, medical care can be expensive in some places if you’re not covered, so while it’s unlikely that you’re going to get hurt, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Let Someone Know Your Plans

When you’re going out, always try to let someone know where you’re going and what you’re doing. Even if it’s a quick text to some of your loved ones letting them know what you have planned for the day, at least someone knows what you’re doing if something goes wrong. For example, if they can’t get in touch with you for days and they begin to worry, they can call somewhere that you said you were visiting or get in touch with your hotel for example. We’re not saying that you have to follow these plans to the letter if you change your mind and want to do something else, but at the very least someone knows that you’re safe as you have been checking in.

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Traveling alone can be a little more dangerous than traveling with other people. You’re more likely to become the target of pickpockets in certain places, so you just need to be extra vigilant and stay in public areas as much as you can. It’s a wonderful experience and certainly not something that you should miss out on.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should do to ensure that you’re prepared if you’re traveling alone. We know that traveling alone is an amazing experience, and it’s one that we recommend everyone gets to do at some point, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be safe, taking all the necessary precautions. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you manage to be completely prepared before your next solo adventure.