How to Solo Travel Safely
Setting out on your own for your next travel adventure? With some planning, you will be ready to travel with confidence.
By Vawn Himmelsbach
Solo travel can be a rewarding and exciting way to experience new places. | PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES/UNSPLASH
Interested in travelling solo, but nervous about taking that first step on your own? If it’s the first time you’re embarking on an adventure alone, a bit of preparation can go a long way in helping you travel confidently and safely. Plus, learning how to comfortably navigate new places — sometimes in a different language — can help you embrace the local culture and get the most out of your trip.
Solo travel: do it your way
There are many benefits to travelling alone, and one of them is choosing how you’d like to do it. Do you want to fly completely solo, or would you prefer a guided tour with other solo travellers? When it comes to going on your own, you have options.
Pick your travel type
If you’re new to independent travel, choose a destination that’s easier to navigate, such as a city that ranks highly for safety or a country where the language you’re most comfortable speaking is widely used. For example, some of the best cities for solo travel include Amsterdam, Netherlands and Sydney, Australia; they rank among the world’s safest cities, and the majority of people speak English. “That would give you that sense of adventure, that sense of stepping into something that’s really new, but you’ve got the language on your side,” says Janice Waugh, founder and publisher of solotravelerworld.com.
Supported solo travel with group tours
If you’re looking for an extra layer of safety added to your trip, try a solo travel group tour. Waugh recommends joining a group in a destination you’re interested in visiting, then tacking on some extra days at the end. “The tour introduces you to the country, how it functions and how it’s safe. And then you stay a few extra days and you experience it independently as well. That’s a really nice combination,” she says.
CAA Travel offers solo travel packages and group tours for solo travellers, such as CAA’s Extraordinary Explorations Solo Collection and Just You, a CAA partner. Both offer tours with no “single supplement”— the extra fee that lone travellers pay for hotel rooms, cruises or tours priced for two people sharing.
Whether you join a group tour, plan your own itinerary or combine a bit of both on the same trip, pick the travel type that suits your needs and personality. | PHOTOS: (FROM TOP) ALPHA SPIRIT/ADOBE STOCK; LUKE PORTER/UNSPLASH
Choosing safe accommodations
Finding the right place to stay can provide solo travellers with a greater sense of security. | PHOTO: LILY BANSE/UNSPLASH
When booking a place to stay, research neighbourhoods and check Google Maps Street View to get a sense of the surrounding area. Does it have good lighting? Does it get a lot of foot traffic? Waugh recommends arriving early in the day so you can check out where you’re staying. “If you’re satisfied, great. You’ve got the rest of the day to explore,” she says. But if something feels off, you have enough time to find another place. Look for well-reviewed accommodations in tourist-friendly areas. Consider joining online solo travel communities or working with a CAA Travel Consultant for advice.
Consider the type of accommodation, too. For example, hotels have a front desk, and in some cases, might lock their doors to non-guests after a certain hour. Some hostels offer women-only dorms, which could boost your comfort level if you’re a woman travelling solo.
Planning activities
As a solo traveller with safety top of mind, there are plenty of options for things to do. Consider joining a city walking tour to get the lay of the land when you first arrive in a new destination. Full-day and half-day sightseeing tours and hands-on activities such as cooking classes are other great options, as you’ll find camaraderie with strangers, but with a built-in layer of safety.
Always book through a legitimate website. CAA Travel can help you book local tours and sightseeing activities. Don’t forget to read the reviews to ensure that the activity is a great — and safe — option for you.
Before you go: Solo travel tips and tricks
- Create an emergency contact list. Input numbers into your phone or WhatsApp, and stash a hard copy (or two) in your belongings in case you lose or damage your phone.
- Share your itinerary with family and friends, and schedule regular touch points via text, email or call.
- Register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service, so government officials can contact you in case of emergency (such as a natural disaster).
- Store your most valuable possessions in a slash-proof bag and your cards in an RFID wallet. Money belts are a tried-and-true alternative.
- Add an eSIM to your phone. That way, you’ll always have data if you need to check a map, read reviews or reach someone in an emergency.
- Pack a do-it-yourself first aid kit that includes items such as bandages, cold and flu medication, painkillers and anti-nausea pills.
Share your location with friends and family members via a direct messaging app and make a plan to check in regularly while you’re away. | PHOTO: BORS/ADOBE STOCK
Travel insurance for solo travellers is essential
Getting the right travel insurance before you leave home is a must when you’re travelling solo, to ensure there is support and someone to contact if you need it. Kellee Irwin, vice president of Orion Travel Insurance at CAA Club Group, has experienced first-hand how the policies she sells can help solo travellers during a medical emergency. When she broke her foot in Iceland, her medical travel insurance not only covered the bill, but helped her find a clinic in Reykjavik and navigate a language she didn’t understand.
“You can step off a curb just as easily in Paris as you can in downtown Toronto,” she notes. But when you’re in a different country — especially if you don’t know the language — even a small medical emergency can feel overwhelming. “When you’re at your most vulnerable, our goal is to make you feel that you’re not alone in it.”
What to do if you get sick or injured away from home
If you need medical assistance in another country, call your insurance provider’s 24/7 emergency contact number. Make it easy by programming the number into your phone or downloading your insurer’s app (which may provide other contact options, such as WhatsApp). Your insurer can then connect you with a nearby qualified health-care provider, provide an interpreter if needed, and in some cases, pay upfront for approved treatments.
Travel insurance provides an extra layer of support if you are sick or injured away from home. | PHOTO: PA STUDIO/ADOBE STOCK
CAA Travel Insurance can help make sure you have the coverage you need, no matter where you are. Plus, CAA Members save 10%.
Resources for solo travellers
There are plenty of online resources for solo travellers, including websites with message boards, itinerary ideas and travel hacks and tips. | PHOTO: KITTI PHAN/ADOBE STOCK
Looking for travel ideas, solo travel tips and an online community to support you on your journey? Check out these websites to get started.
CAA Travel: When you’re ready to plan your trip, get in touch with a local CAA Travel Consultant — they can help you find the trip or tour to suit your needs.
Solo Traveler World: For tips and advice on how and where to travel solo, as well as a regularly updated list of tour and cruise options with no or low single supplements.
JourneyWoman: A resource on solo travel for women over 50, connecting solo travellers to women-friendly travel experiences in more than 100 countries.
Lonely Planet: For insights into solo travel (search under ‘solo travel’ stories), from the best cities for solo travel to travel hacks and safety advice.
Download this: 5 essential solo travel apps
EchoSOS: Connects you to emergency services worldwide at the touch of a button. NordVPN: Encrypts your online activity for secure financial transactions. Citymapper: Helps navigate real-time urban transport, from buses and trains to ride-sharing. GeoSure: Provides hyper-local neighbourhood safety ratings for cities around the world. iTranslate: Provides voice-to-voice translation, offline dictionaries and phrasebooks.