21 SAFETY TIPS FOR SOLO TRAVELERS

One of the key things people ask me when they embark on their first solo adventure is “how do I keep myself safe?” Most of the tips I give them are easily available online, while some are from my experiences. Being the OC person that I am, I take several steps even before I leave for my destination, to ensure that I’m not an easy target of malicious individuals. Or at the very least, well-prepared for any eventuality.

Here are some tips and tricks that I've employed over the years of traveling solo:

MONEY MATTERS 1. Open a separate travel account. Never use your main savings or salary-linked bank account as your key travel monetary source, especially when traveling for a longer period. This ensures that you have access to money if one becomes compromised. Think of it as open season when thieves realize that your card is linked to your monthly salary or your life savings! Disaster! 2. Avoid using cards when in destinations with a history of unauthorized access to your bank account. Pay in cash, where possible. For me, that would be Bali. I've had a run-in with unauthorized access to my account recently, but thank goodness I was already home and could easily sort it out. At the very least, ensure that your card's magnetic strip is turned off for overseas use the moment you land home.

3. Never pay for bar or drinks expenses with a credit card; and I don't recommend running a tab, either. It's the easiest way for your card to get scanned by unscrupulous individuals. Especially if you're inebriated, it might be too late before you realize thieves have gotten away with more than just 3 bottles of champagne on your account! It's also a way for you not to drain your budget buying free drinks for all your new BFFs in between shots and your professions of "I loooove you, guys!!!" No one wants bill shock. Ever. 4. Wear a discreet money belt under your clothes (note: never fanny packs – wearing one is akin to putting a bull’s-eye on yourself). Don't ever let it out of your sight. Eat with it, sleep with it, go to the toilet with it, and take it with you while showering (placed in a waterproof pack, of course!)... Make this your favorite piece of accessory, no matter how unstylish it may seem!

5. Separate your one day’s worth of budget from the rest of your cash and cards. Carry this in a simple wallet in your purse, sling bag, or day bag. In the event your bag gets pickpocketed or stolen, they only have one day’s worth of your travel allowance and not the entire stash, nor your cards. This is also what you hand over in case you’re cornered and need to give thieves something.

INSURANCE

6. I cannot reiterate enough the importance of getting travel insurance. Don’t rely on your credit card or airline insurance when you buy your tickets via them – most are pretty basic and don’t cover many eventualities. Always get comprehensive insurance, whether you’re doing short breaks or long travels. For those in Singapore, I recommend NTUC, and I also swear by World Nomads as they cover adventure activities if you like adrenaline-pumping activities like jumping off cliffs or planes. :)

Jumping off a cliff? No worries! ... As long as you have insurance

EMERGENCY CONTACT

7. Always have a trusted emergency contact and memorize their mobile number – don’t rely on your phone as it can get stolen, too! At least make sure you have a copy of their contact details somewhere else apart from your smartphone. Make sure that your contact knows he/she is the first point of contact you’ll run to if you ever encounter problems on the road, and that he/she knows what to do, i.e. transfer funds to your account, call your credit card companies, etc.

COMMUNICATIONS

8. Obviously, back up your smartphones beforehand and ensure you know your details to Find Your iPhone (I also use the Prey app).

9. Have a spare analog phone, especially if you’re traveling for months on end and save all relevant details in them. During my 2-month sabbatical in Europe and my month-long travel in South America, I had a trusty Nokia 1110 with me in case my smartphone got stolen. No one will want to steal a bulky and very basic mobile phone nowadays.

10. Have a safety signal. It can be as simple as a Facebook post every x number of days, with your emergency contact and other friends tagged, so they’re immediately notified when you update. I even go as far as having a security question so friends will know it’s really me – there are just so many online and phone scams out there of people posing as your friends, asking for money and all! While doing my South America trip, I told a friend what I would say if I were safe or unsafe, for example: in the unlikely event that I get kidnapped, they allow a phone call, my friend will ask about the weather and my answer to her will determine if I’m in trouble or not. Simple stuff that won’t pique the suspicions of other people (have you seen the TAKEN series? :)).

Not everyone has a CIA operative for a dad with a specific skill set ....

Image: Taken movie

OTHER SAFETY MEASURES

11. I always carry an all-weather safety whistle when I travel solo. It’s so loud it can pierce thru most noises, and it’s used even by the military! I used to carry a Swiss knife, but unless you’re an expert knife-wielder, it can work to your disadvantage. The most you can do is attract people to your location, especially if you can't run or fight off an attacker.

12. When staying alone in an accommodation, check cabinets, windows, etc. when you first check in, with the door open. Call me paranoid. There have been cases of hotel staff harassing solo female travelers especially in places where this is not the norm – it might help you sleep better at night if you barricade the front door with something heavy. Of course, goes without saying that if your gut feel senses something wrong, walk away as fast as you can!

13. When Couchsurfing or using AirBnB, read majority of the reviews! Don’t just read the top ones and do due diligence. I always read a few positive AND negative reviews in places I stay in. Especially if you’re staying at a stranger’s place, you’re practically at their mercy if they turn out to be less than decent human beings! And please make sure that your host knows you’re just there for a free bed – recently, there have been cases of hosts assuming their guests come with sexual benefits. Unless of course, it's consensual. ;-)

14. Bring a cable wire and an extra set of locks. When staying in hostels, I wrap the wire rope around my backpack and lock it to my bed pole.

15. Dress appropriately, simply, and to blend in. Leave the bling at home. I only ever wear a cheap, black watch, switch to fake pearl earrings, and keep necklaces or bracelets modest – never anything too sparkly or metallic that can be mistaken for the real thing. Better yet, don’t wear accessories or use other items to spice up your outfit – a scarf, headband, turban, belt, or metallic henna tattoos that are popular recently! :)

You also need to blend in. Don’t be one of those travelers with just singlets and denim cut-offs in their packs; unless you only plan on traveling to beach destinations. I once made the mistake of wearing shorts in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka, which has a predominantly Muslim population within the fort, and people were staring uncomfortably – one car full of men honked at me and its passengers made whistling noises. I hightailed it back to the B&B and changed into long pants and I felt more comfortable roaming the streets on my own; plus no one bothered me at all!

The unfortunate incident of the short shorts in Galle Fort

16. If you feel antsy especially when it's your first solo trip, join day tours or have a local show you around. Walking tours are the best things to do when you first arrive in a new destination so you can "get the lay of the land" and familiarize yourself with your surroundings. These tours are not as immersive as I would like, but it gives me a sense of the place and I can always revisit the sights that I want to explore more on my own. There are quite a lot of free or tips-only walking tours in cities like Sandemans, and if you opt to pay for one, I swear by Urban Adventures. You can even eat with a local, rent a local friend, or find a local experience. Most hostels would also have cheap walking tours - a great way to meet new friends, too!

I met these wonderful people on a Sandemans Berlin walking tour! The fun day ended

with a bunch of us pub-hopping and exchanging travel stories

17. Always arrive in a new and unfamiliar destination during day time. I once made the rookie mistake of arriving at midnight in Prague during my first Eurotrip and it was unnerving - especially since the airport transfer I pre-booked left me after my flight arrived late and the airport was almost deserted. Good thing there was a bunch of French school kids who adopted me into their group and made sure I arrived safe and sound in my hostel.

One of 'em free walking tours in Prague. Most guides are students earning tips on the side.

18. Choose hostels with ladies-only floors and dorm rooms. Not saying that petty crimes don't happen when you're with the ladies - it's more for travelers who don't like coed dorm rooms in general and sleep better at night knowing they're with the girls (and if you don't like men parading around the room in different states of undress!). They also sometimes have better bathroom facilities so that's a plus (look, a hairdryer! Hairdryers in hostels are hard to come by!). I love Plus hostels and Hostel Bookers also has a list of top femme hostels here.

Plus Prague Girls: my first ladies-only hostel stay

Image: Plus Hostels

19. Never read a map or whip out your phone GPS in public. Especially if the streets you're in have tourist attractions. Duck into a cafe, go to the toilet, memorize your route before leaving your hostel, etc. This makes you a prime target for thieves!

Rookie mistake: map-reading in public. Might as well put a bull's-eye mark on myself!

20. Leave the headphones at home. Always be aware of your surroundings. Listen to music later in the comforts of your room. That Beats by Dr. Dre headphones could rouse unwanted attention on the streets. Those tell-tale white headphones mean that it's attached to an expensive iPhone, ergo: potential victim alert.

21. When posting on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media site - especially when your account is public, never reveal your real-time location. If you need to check in and post it online, ensure you've already left the place. No one wants stalkers or less-than desirable individuals knowing your exact whereabouts at any given time of the day!

Some of these tips might sound over-the-top, but you can’t really be too safe nowadays. Even 5-star hotels have had their share of guests losing items and there are way too many travel horror stories out there that beg for people to learn lessons from. These are just a few ways to keep yourself sane while traveling solo – it’s not such a good look when you look & feel paranoid and unsafe all the time!

Be safe, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself!

HAPPY TRAVELS! x

#TipsTricks #listicles