Travel Safety Tips

Getting sick, lost, robbed, kidnapped…there’s no limit to the bad things you could imagine happening while traveling. Concerns about travel safety are one of the biggest reasons discouraging travelers from taking trips abroad!

However in all of my years traveling as a solo female, the worst travel safety issues I’ve encountered have been annoying scammers and pushy vendors. This was even in countries labeled as “dangerous”. I attribute this to being well-informed about potential threats when traveling and being well-prepared to handle them. 

In this post, I’d like to share some travel safety techniques that have proven highly effective for me, so that you too can travel with peace of mind. Once these become habits, staying safe while traveling becomes surprisingly straightforward. These are good practices to maintain back home as well!

One of the best things you can do to ensure travel safety is to get travel insurance. My top picks are SafetyWing and World Nomads.

Safe Does Not Equal Boring

Before delving into my travel safety tips, let’s address the common assumption that safe = boring. I want to assure you that it’s entirely possible to seek adventurous experiences while still having a safe trip. 

Here’s my personal example:

I embarked on solo trips to places deemed “dangerous” by my home country. In these places I trekked alone in remote areas, hitchhiked, enjoyed nightlife, ate local foods, and even went on dates – all without encountering issues. It’s not a coincidence that I stayed out of harm’s way. Being aware of travel risks and being prepared to deal with them is key to traveling safely.

Travel Safety Tips

Check Current Travel Advisory and Enroll With Your Embassy

Check your government’s travel advisories (US website). However, do thorough research and don’t let these scare you out of traveling. The travel risks mentioned in these comprehensive reports are often specific to areas of a country that typical tourists would not visit.

You can also enroll with your embassy (in the US: Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) to receive helpful travel safety updates and emergency assistance. 

Travel Safety Tip: Leave Your Itinerary With Friends or Family

Make sure somebody knows about your travel plans, and notify them of any changes. If you anticipate being without phone service for an extended period (e.g. trekking through the wilderness), communicate this in advance.

Learn the Local Language to Travel Safely

Learning even a few words in the local language can go a long way in keeping you safe on your travels. Download languages in Google Translate for offline use.

Research Unsafe Neighborhoods

Identify unsafe areas in advance, and choose accommodation in secure neighborhoods. Use Google Maps Street View to take a look at the area around your accommodation. When you check in, ask the staff for additional travel safety tips.

Stay Somewhere With 24-Hour Security & Staff

Choose accommodation with 24-hour staff and robust security systems. Most hostels have this, and that’s why I stay in hostels to feel safe as a solo female traveler.

Get an eSIM or Local SIM Card for Travel Safety

Having a data plan can help you order Uber, check directions, or call for help. Get an eSIM so that you’re instantly connected from the moment you arrive.

Download Maps

Download Google Maps or MAPS.ME of the areas you’re visiting, which will help you travel safely in places with limited data service or WiFi.

While you’re in Google Maps, check out Google Street View to become familiar with what places like your accommodation and the bus station look like.

Travel Safety Tip: Back Up Photos

Safeguard your memories by regularly backing up photos to the cloud in case of phone theft while traveling.

Don’t Be a Target

One essential travel safety tip is to dress to blend in with the locals and avoid flashy jewelry. Sometimes that will mean dressing up or more conservatively, so make sure you pack for your trip accordingly. As a solo female traveler, I tend to dress conservatively regardless of my destination to avoid attracting unwanted attention.

Avoid being a target by refraining from walking with large groups of foreigners and speaking loudly in English in less affluent areas.

Make a Plan for Evenings Out

If you’re going out at night, inform someone at your accommodation about your plans. Don’t be afraid to ask new friends from the hostel to join you! Avoid walking alone in quiet or unsafe areas late at night.

Travel Safely By Staying Alert When Walking Around

Be cautious around bus stations and other less-safe areas. Remain aware of your surroundings and don’t wear headphones. Also watch out for dogs, which can be territorial and aggressive, especially in rural areas. I’ve had to run from dogs many times during my travels!

Limit Alcohol and Avoid Drugs for Travel Safety

Avoiding drinking too much, which can cause you to let down your guard. Also keep an eye on your drink; the risk of spiking can be very high in some countries. Be aware that substances such as marijuana are illegal in many countries.

Withdraw Money Safely When Traveling

Use ATMs during the day, preferably in secure locations like banks or shopping malls. Inspect ATMs for tampering.

If you need to organize your documents or cash, do so in the privacy of a bathroom stall or once you get back to your accommodation. Keeping your money out of sight is crucial to ensuring safe travel.

Keep Your Valuables Safe When Traveling

Book accommodation with lockers or safes, and use these to secure your valuables. Take only an ID card, one or two credit or debit cards, and some cash with you when you go out. Although it’s not as common these days, you may need to notify your bank before being able to use your cards when traveling abroad.

Make digital copies of your important documents. Don’t take your passport out with you. A photo of your passport on your phone is usually sufficient for places like national parks that need your passport information to book tickets.

Keep Your Bag Safe When Traveling

Wear a secure cross-body bag on the front of your body. Don’t put anything in your back pockets, which are targets for thieves. If you’re carrying a backpack and see locals wearing them on the front, do the same.

While at a restaurant or other establishment, never leave your bag on an empty seat or on the table, especially if your table faces a high-traffic area such as a street or sidewalk. Don’t hang your bag on the back of your chair either. Bags can be easily snatched and should be kept on your lap or slung over your body.

Keep Your Phone Safe

Don’t pull out your phone in public and try to memorize directions beforehand. If you need to consult a map on your phone, step into a more secure and private location, such as a cafe or store. 

Avoid using your phone in taxis with open windows or unlocked doors. Thieves on motorcycles can easily snatch it.

Keep Your Belongings Safe on Public Transportation

To travel safely on public transportation, keep your valuables in a cross-body bag that stays on your body at all times. It’s helpful to wear a jacket over the bag. 

Never put anything into the overhead compartments of the bus; items are frequently stolen from there. Be cautious of anyone on the bus who poses as an official and offers to help you with your bag. These are often scams in which they will insist you put your valuables overhead, only to run off with them. 

Keep your backpack on the floor or on your lap. Cover your backpack with a rain cover so that it’s harder to open, and consider putting your leg through a shoulder strap to further secure it. 

Keep an eye on your main bag when waiting for it to be loaded and unloaded in the luggage compartment below the bus. While these bags are less likely to be stolen on travels due to their bulkiness, incidents can still occur.

Travel Safety Tip: Don’t Overshare Personal Information

A key travel safety tip is to avoid telling strangers where you are staying or what your detailed plans are. If you’re including location tags with your social media posts, consider sharing only after you’ve left.

Travel Safety: Be Aware of Common Scams and Crimes

Fortunately, most travel safety issues you may encounter are minor inconveniences that can be easily avoided with some research. Here’s a list of common travel scams and crimes:

Vendors in the street or on buses will give you something for “free”, then return later expecting payment. 

Unmetered taxis may try to overcharge you. Confirm prices in advance with your accommodation or stick to a ridesharing app like Uber. Be vigilant about potential overcharges for tours and bus tickets. Shop around and ask a local what the standard rates are.

Restaurants with no pricing information on their menu may try to overcharge you; always ask before ordering.

When paying with cash, verify you’ve received the correct change and were not given any fake bills or coins.

At free attractions, scammers may insist on collecting an entrance fee. Scammers may also falsely claim that an attraction is closed and try to direct you somewhere else instead. Research entrance fees and opening hours beforehand. 

Thieves may use creative tactics to steal your belongings on the bus.

Exercise caution if someone seems overly helpful or offers a perfect solution to a problem you’ve just encountered; it may be a set-up. Be aware of potential distractions, such as spills, which could be used to rob you while someone pretends to assist you.

Sinister crimes are rare but do occur. One of the most common is drink spiking with scopolamine, a mind-control drug that criminals use to manipulate you into doing things like emptying your bank account. Foreign men visiting bars and nightclubs in big cities are the most common targets.

Prevent Illness and Have a Plan if You Get Sick While Traveling

Accidents and Illness

Before traveling, it’s critical to have travel insurance (my preference is SafetyWing and World Nomads) to ensure coverage in the event of accidents or illness. Pack vitamins and always have some medicine on you, both in your main luggage and in your small day bag for emergencies. Make sure all your vaccinations are up to date. Check if the countries you’re traveling to have specific requirements.  

If you do get sick while traveling, pharmacies abroad can be very helpful. Pharmacists are usually happy to discuss your symptoms and recommend various over-the-counter treatments. If you find yourself in a rural area grappling with persistent stomach pain, you may have an infection or parasites (I experienced this in Ecuador and Peru). Local pharmacies can assist with antibiotics or anti-parasite medication.

Natural Threats

Prevent water-borne illness by drinking filtered water or bringing a LifeStraw in areas where the tap water is unsafe. Consider brushing your teeth with filtered water, and don’t get water in your mouth while showering. 

Another safety tip for showers: some primitive electric shower heads will have only a simple switch to control water temperature. Adjust this switch only when the water is OFF! Doing so while the water is running will result in a mild electric shock.

International travel may take you to tropical places with prevalent mosquito-borne disease. Protect yourself by wearing loose, long layers (pants and long-sleeved shirt) and by using mosquito spray.

Remember that prolonged sun exposure, especially in equatorial countries, can lead to severe sunburn. Protect your skin with sunscreen, and get a reef-safe one to preserve the fragile ocean ecosystem if you’ll be swimming.

Keep Fit When Traveling

Travel safety also means keeping your body healthy while on the road! Walking is a great way to keep fit while also enjoying sightseeing. Surprisingly, I find that I am more physically active while traveling internationally than when I’m back home! 

For a more intense workout, book an accommodation with fitness facilities or visit a local gym. In some countries it is very cheap and easy to buy a day pass at local gyms. I also travel with a lightweight sleeping pad that doubles as a yoga mat. Many hostels provide yoga classes and mats free of charge. 

If you’re on vacation in a budget-friendly place, treat yourself to a massage to alleviate the toll traveling can take on your body.

Eat Healthy for Travel Safety

Maintaining a healthy diet while traveling is essential for feeling good and reducing your chances of getting sick.

Local markets are excellent sources for fresh and nutritious foods, whether you prefer ready-to-eat options or ingredients to cook yourself.

For food safety at restaurants and street vendors, dine at places that are popular with locals. The higher turnover of food in these establishments ensures freshness. Stick to hot dishes and exercise caution with dairy products that appear to have melted and refrozen.

In areas where tap water is unsafe, be cautious of ice. Avoid raw garnishes and salads that have been washed in tap water. Check the seals on water bottles carefully and only purchase reputable brands.

While larger cities often offer good vegetarian dining choices, consider booking accommodations with kitchens if you have dietary restrictions and prefer preparing your own meals.

Thanks for reading! Safety is a priority for me when I travel, and I hope these travel safety tips are helpful for you. Did any of these tips surprise you? Am I missing anything? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Head to my Travel Tips Page for more tips that will help you prepare and budget for your travels.

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