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25 Solo Travel Tips from a Perpetual Road Tripper, Avid Hiker and International Traveler - Trip Canvas

Share Itinerary and Check-In – Create an itinerary, even if it’s fluid and share the details with someone before your trip. It’s also a good idea to include any emergency documentation like a copy of your passport and insurance policy numbers. Check in with that person and notify them if your plans change.

Stay in Hotels – When traveling solo I stay in hotels. Once the cleaning and other fees are added on, vacation rentals aren’t always cheaper when you’re solo. The big reason I stay in hotels is to have a record of my comings and goings on the hotel’s cameras. I also make a point to chat with hotel staff during my stay, so people remember my face.

Dine During Happy Hour – You’ll not only save a little money if you eat off a happy hour menu, but you’ll also have some daylight to return to your room. Getting back to my hotel or at least within the same block before dark is something I rarely stray from when traveling solo. Unfamiliar surroundings can become disorienting and dangerous after dark. My mom used to tell me, “Nothing good happens after midnight.” When I’m traveling solo, it’s nothing good happens after the sun goes down.

Talk to People – Whether chatting up hotel staff, talking with a bartender or server, or saying a few words to hikers I pass on the trail, I want people to remember my face. It’s not just because I’m inquisitive, it’s a “just in case” precaution. Plus, the staff can be great travel resources for learning about local gems, dining spots and what to do or see. If you need help, look for someone in a uniform. That uniform could be police on the street or someone in an information booth. I’m a frequent help asker on solo trips, some examples being asking military police in Santiago, Chile when I needed a quick exit from an escalating protest, asking a couple of NYPD officers for directions when I was rushing to catch a train at Penn Station and from an information attendant in the Zurich main station when I had train anxiety about catching the right train to Paris.

Don’t Have Phone Tunnel Vision but Know Its Emergency Settings – It’s hard not to constantly look at your phone if you’re using it for directions, but that also makes you a target for someone to swipe your phone or pickpocket you. Either put in one earbud or follow directions on your watch instead of walking with tunnel vision looking at your phone. It’s a good idea to be familiar with your phone’s safety features before there’s an emergency. Know how to make an emergency call without the keypad. Make sure crash detection is turned on. Your phone likely has loud and quiet alert emergency services settings. It’s a good idea to be familiar with your phone’s Emergency SOS or emergency notification settings if you ever need them.

Trust Your Gut – If your instincts are telling you something is off, it probably is. Remove yourself from the situation or area as quickly as possible. The adage “trust your gut” will never fail you when traveling solo.

Be Tracked – After a year of a lot of solo travel, I had a close friend push me to have her track me. She and another friend can now track me 24/7 via the “Find My” feature on my phone. Set up something before your travels where at least 1-2 people you trust can see where you are. A lot of families use Live360 or other apps to track kids. Like the “Find My” feature these are also great for travel. I’ve also personally witnessed how crucial Live360 or something like it can be in a critical medical emergency when family members are separated.

Be Insured – In addition to keeping my AAA membership, car insurance and health insurance coverages up to date, I carry several additional annual travel policies for domestic and international travel. I have the Beyond the Road coverage from Global Rescue. AAA members get a discount for first-year membership.It covers field rescue and medical evacuation. When traveling internationally you can also get destination reports and leave breadcrumbs in the Global Rescue app, so you are findable. I also carry an annual travel health insurance policy to cover nonlife-threatening medical issues and annual travel insurance to cover trip interruptions, like cancellations. If traveling internationally, especially solo, take advantage of AAA’s partnership with Allianz Travel for trip insurance or an annual policy like I have.

Research Ready – Do your research on your destination so you are aware of cultural practices including proper etiquette and clothing. You want to blend in and respect the society you are visiting.For example, the Marshall Islands have conservative dress standards and women are typically covered from shoulders to just below the knees with dresses and skirts being the more proper attire.If going into a cathedral in Europe, shoulders need to be covered so take along a lightweight shawl or wrap.For a road trip, I typically map out my route on AAA TripTik. I’ll print out or screenshot directions in case I lose cell service along the way. TripTik also helps me determine how far I want to drive each day since it gives estimated drive times.

Planned Packing – Be thoughtful in your packing.Take pieces you can wear in more than one outfit and limit shoes. Fabrics like lightweight merino wool are great for travel because they are odor resistant and naturally antibacterial. Take laundry sheets or packets so you can wash clothes in the sink if needed. I follow a pullout, layout and pack in cubes strategy. I’ll pull out what I think I want to take on a trip. When I lay out everything on a bed to fold, I create a maybe pile. I’ll pack my essentials in a packing cube and add the maybes if there is room. You can take more on road trips and I usually take a gear bag with extra layers that stays in the car. The essentials in my roller and backpack are what go into the hotel with me. The one piece of clothing that goes with me on every trip is a lightweight puffy jacket.

Track Your Bags – I put AirTags in my luggage, even my carry-on roller and backpack. They’re not foolproof, but a tracking device gives you piece of mind if you must check a bag or store your luggage.

Ditch the Bling – Leave the flashy and expensive jewelry at home. Limit logos on clothing and accessories. I often travel with very little jewelry and only take pieces that go with multiple outfits.Save the statement pieces for when you are home. Plus, jewelry is heavy. I typically limit myself to what fits in a small jewelry pouch I put inside my toiletries bag.

Dress in Neutrals – You want to blend in, not stand out. Leave the brightly colored patterns and eye-catching or graphic design clothing at home or save for group trips. Neutrals are easier for layering, mixing and matching.

Wear Bag Across Your Chest in Crowds - Crossbody bags you can wear in multiple ways are popular and great for travel. An adjustable strap gives you the option to shorten the strap while it’s on you. I’ll often shorten my bag strap when I encounter crowds and wear it on my chest instead of on my back, side or waist. Get a bag with several zippered compartments. I always carry local currency but split up where I put it. I always have a small amount of money in a zippered outside pocket. Bigger bills and credit cards go in a zippered compartment on the inside of my bag.You might have to pay to use toilets, especially in Europe, so I always have a small coin bag with my easily accessible cash. I carry my passport on me only when needed. While I will use a hotel room safe, I prefer to stash my passport and extra cash in zippered compartments in my luggage or hidden in packing cubes, especially if I’m only at a place for a night or two. It prevents me from leaving those behind. Have a paper copy of your passport and digital copies on your phone and stored in your email. I created a pinned note on my phone with copies of all of my important documents like my passport and insurance cards.

Less Luggage is Always More - I’m a carry-on traveler with a roller and backpack and rarely check a bag. Limiting luggage is also crucial for train travel. Less luggage means less to keep up with. Put a business card or something with your name, number, email and city (not full address!) in a zippered compartment in all of your luggage including backpacks. Have the same information in a covered bag tag or card holder on the outside of your luggage. That’s especially important if you must store your bags. I also travel with a packable black backpack I can use for hiking, as a beach bag, or for urban exploration. I make sure the zippers are hidden by my water bottle so someone can’t come up behind me and easily open the pack. It also gives me an extra bag in case I buy too many souvenirs and need a bag for the return trip home.

Book Airport Transfers, Private Guides and Tours Through Hotel – Especially in undeveloped countries, it’s safer to book transfers, guides and tours through your hotel. You are less likely to get scammed or overcharged. It’s an extra layer of security since the hotel knows who you are with. I typically inquire about these at time of booking.

Learn the Lingo – Knowing a few words or key phrases in the main language of the country you’re visiting goes a long way.Learning simple phrases like “good morning,” “good evening,” and “do you speak English?” are helpful. Having a translator app like Google Translate downloaded on your phone is a great backup plan.

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25 Solo Travel Tips from a Perpetual Road Tripper, Avid Hiker and International Traveler

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Solo Traveler 101: The Basics

Pre-Trip Prep

On the Road

In the Wild

International Travel Tips

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