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Solo travel tips to explore safely and confidently
Traveling solo is empowering. These solo travel safety tips will help you feel confident, connected, and prepared from departure to return.
It’s normal to feel a mix of excitement and nerves before a solo trip, but confidence comes from knowing what to expect. These expert solo travel tips are designed to help you feel calm, capable, and ready to fully enjoy the trip. Traveling solo is one of the most personal ways to explore the world, and it’s easier and more accessible than you might think. Here’s the best part: traveling solo doesn’t have to mean traveling alone. That’s why we created our Solo Tours and travel groups for solo travelers—so you can enjoy the independence of solo travel, with the built-in support of a group.
Before you leave
Research your destination
Look into local customs, neighborhood safety, and public transit—especially if you’re on a tour where you plan to take advantage of it, like our Japan for Solo Travelers: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji & Kyoto tour. When you know what to expect, solo travel nerves turn into excitement. You don’t need to know every single detail—a little bit of spontaneity is fun! But some advance preparation is one of our top solo travel safety tips to help you arrive feeling confident and comfortable.
Download our app
Being organized helps banish pre-trip anxiety. And our app keeps your itinerary, hotel details, and key contacts in one easy place. You can view your group info and start connecting with your Tour Director and tourmates ahead of time. You can even book optional excursions (like a sunrise hot air balloon ride on our Egypt & Nile River Cruise for Solo Travelers tour). By the time you board your flight, you’ll feel informed, organized, and genuinely excited for what’s ahead.
Pack smart for solo travel
Bring versatile layers (for unpredictable weather), supportive walking shoes (for comfortable exploring), and a small day bag that zips closed (to protect against pickpockets)—these three items will boost your confidence. For destinations with shifting weather (Iceland for Solo Travelers: Reykjavik, Golden Circle & South Coast tour, anyone?), waterproof gear makes a huge difference. Smart packing is one of those solo travel tips that reduces stress and keeps you ready for whatever the day brings.
Stay connected
Most destinations will have Wi-Fi in cafes and museums, but it’s smart to have a backup: download offline maps, save key addresses, and confirm that you can access data if needed. Ironically, staying connected is one of the solo travel tips that allows you to unplug. When you can navigate confidently, you can really relax and enjoy the moment. Planning how you’ll stay connected on tour before you leave is especially helpful if you’ll use your free time to explore independently on our Solo Tours.
Back up important documents
Scan or photograph your passport, ID, visas (if needed), and key confirmations (flights, hotels, entry forms) before you travel. Save digital copies to your phone and cloud storage, and carry a printed set stored separately from the originals. If anything gets lost or stolen, you can access what you need without it causing stress or spoiling your adventure. Having backups means you can focus on the trip, not the ‘what-ifs.’ It’s more than just a solo travel tip—it’s a smart travel hack.
Looking to renew your passport? Find tips on how to get or renew a U.S. passport.
While you’re on tour
Use the buddy system
Even on a solo trip, you don’t have to do everything alone. One of the biggest perks of joining a Solo Tour is that you can explore independently without feeling isolated and make the most of going solo in a group. During your free time, invite a fellow traveler to join you for a museum visit, shopping stroll, or evening walk. This “buddy system” is one of the easiest travel safety tips for women (or anyone, for that matter), and it can also make you feel more connected—and more confident—when exploring somewhere new.
Get advice from your Tour Director
Your expert Tour Director is one of your best safety resources. They know the destination’s day-to-day rhythms—where to go, where to be more cautious, and how to get around smoothly. Our best solo travel advice? Ask them for recommendations on neighborhoods, transportation, and local etiquette (as well as where to find the sweetest mango sticky rice on your Thailand for Solo Travelers: Bangkok, Phuket & the Islands tour or the freshest feta cheese on your Greek Islands for Solo Travelers: Crete & Santorini tour).
Learn a few local phrases
Memorizing key statements and words can boost both your confidence and your connection with the locals. Start with practical basics like “Hello,” “Please,” and “Thank you,” then add “Help,” “I need assistance,” and “I’m with a group.” Even a small effort to speak the local language is usually met with warmth—and it can help you navigate more comfortably. It’s one of those tips for solo travel that pays off daily on your Solo Tour.
Share your location back home
You deserve peace of mind just as much as your family does. Enable location sharing on your phone and set a simple check-in routine with someone you trust back home—especially on days when you’ll set off on your own. Consider sharing your hotels and tour itinerary too, just in case. It’s one of those small safety tips for solo travel that adds a big layer of comfort for you and your loved ones.
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