Six Safety Tips For Solo Travelers
Whether you are taking a trip for the first time or you are a frequent traveler, it is always a good idea to have solid travel plans if you are going alone. There are many things that can happen while traveling solo, and you want to do everything you can to avoid them. The following tips will help you stay safe if you are traveling on your own.
Write out an itinerary and be sure to give copies of it to several of your friends. While it can be tempting to go on a trip and be spontaneous, it is not wise to leave everyone in the dark. A sense of adventure is a great thing to have, but you do not want it at the expense of staying safe. Do not leave the itinerary with just one friend, since they might misplace it.
Carry copies of all of your important documents, but leave them in a separate area from the originals. You need to have these documents for backup in case anything happens. If everything is stored together, you will lose everything and have no way to get back home. All IDs, passports, flight documents and medical information should be duplicated and kept safe.
Pay attention to what is happening in the news where you are going. If there are some stories about tourists getting mugged or something other type of crime, you may want to be aware, so you can be extra vigilant. The easiest way to make yourself aware of what is going on in your destination city is to read online newspapers from that city. It would also be a good idea to talk to some of the locals about things that may not be in the papers.
Try your best not to look like a tourist, even though you are. This may seem a little ridiculous, but the reality is that there are slimy people out there that deliberately prey on people that are unfamiliar with the area. Try your best to look casual and not too awestruck about the city around you. Taking pictures is fine, but avoid having your camera dangling around your neck.
There are areas in every city that should be avoided, and you need to find out what they are before you go. You cannot look in a manual and find out this type of thing. The best way to familiarize yourself with these forbidden areas is to find people online that live in the area you are visiting. Locals will be able to give you insight that you cannot get from a manual.
It is not a great feeling to think about what can happen to you while traveling alone, but it needs to be considered. take precautions before you go so that you will be safe when you get there. Do not become fearful and have the apprehension lead you to ruin your trip, but definitely be aware of your surroundings. Enjoy yourself, but make sure that you are safe while you are doing that.
