Tips

Solo Travel Safety Tips

Practical, experience-backed advice for solo travellers — from pre-departure planning and digital security to on-the-ground situational awareness.

9 min read·January 2026

Solo travel is one of the most formative experiences a person can have. It also carries risks that group travel distributes. This is not a guide designed to frighten — it's designed to prepare. Most of the advice below takes 15 minutes to implement and can prevent the incidents that would otherwise define your trip for the wrong reasons.

Before you leave

—Share your full itinerary with someone at home — hotel names, addresses, flight details, and check-in times. Update them if plans change.
—Scan your passport, visa, travel insurance certificate and credit cards. Store in a secure cloud service and email yourself a copy.
—Research your destination's current advisories. The FCO (UK), US State Department, and DFAT (Australia) publish real-time country briefings.
—Buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. It costs £40–80 for a month and can save six figures.
—Notify your bank of your travel dates to prevent card blocks. Set up international transfers and know your card's daily withdrawal limit abroad.

Digital security

—Use a VPN on public WiFi — hotels, airports and cafés all carry risks. Proton VPN and Mullvad are reliable options.
—Enable two-factor authentication on all financial and email accounts before departure. Store backup codes offline.
—Use a privacy screen protector when accessing banking or sensitive apps in public spaces.
—Keep your phone on silent in busy areas. Bag-snatching and distraction theft target people who are looking at their screen.
—An e-SIM (from Stunning Club's eSIM service or similar) avoids the risk of losing a physical SIM in a foreign market.

Accommodation

—For your first night in a new city, book in advance and choose a reputable, well-reviewed property. Don't arrive without a confirmed address.
—Request a room above the ground floor. Third or fourth floor is optimal — above street-level intrusion risk, below fire-ladder range.
—Check the fire exit route immediately on arrival. Know which direction leads to the stairwell.
—Use the door lock and security chain at night. Place a door wedge for extra security in budget properties.
—Member hotels on Stunning Club are vetted for quality and safety standards — a practical benefit for solo travellers unfamiliar with a destination.

On the ground

—Dress to local standards. In conservative countries, a modest style dramatically reduces unwanted attention and improves interactions with locals.
—Trust your instincts — if a situation feels wrong, leave. Social discomfort is recoverable; personal safety situations often are not.
—Carry a photocopy of your passport rather than the original in tourist areas. Keep the original in your hotel safe.
—Pre-download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) for your destination before you need them.
—Tell someone where you're going if you're venturing to a remote area, hiking solo, or meeting someone you met online.

Travel smarter with Tanya

Tanya can brief you on your destination, find safe, well-reviewed accommodation at member rates, and add travel insurance to your booking. Plan your trip →