As a solo traveller, four simple rules keep me safe and thriving
This article is part of Traveller's Holiday Guide to solo travel. See all stories.
As more people than ever are unwilling to postpone their travel plans to wait for a partner or travel buddy to join them, interest in solo travel has exploded. Yet despite this, tackling a first solo trip can seem intimidating. Founder of the Scouts, Robert Baden-Powell, knew a thing or two about self-reliance. Beyond 'be prepared', add these tips to your solo travel toolkit.
Find one's way by night and by day
On a recent trip to Morocco, I had a few days on my own before joining a tour. On my first morning, the hotel manager brought me some mint tea and pulled out a copy of a hand-drawn map. 'This is a map I have created for guests,' he said, 'because I want everyone to know how to safely explore the Medina, and most importantly, how to find their way back to us.' Mohamed set me a task: on my first excursion into Marrakesh's thousand-year-old maze, he wanted me to ignore temptation and focus exclusively on finding specific landmarks. He showed me all the places on the map I needed to recognise so I wouldn't get lost. It was a fun game, and it worked. This exercise set me up to explore the rest of the city with confidence. No matter where I was, and even if I was temporarily lost, I knew that I'd be able to find my way home. It's a strategy that's useful for any new destination. Add in local taxi or rideshare and public transport apps on your phone (enable global roaming or buy a local e-sim), pre-book transport for late arrivals into new destinations, and you'll feel confident getting around alone.
Notice things rapidly and at a distance
This is where solo travellers often have an advantage over people travelling in pairs or groups. If you're travelling alone, you're always aware of your belongings, who's nearby, and what's happening around you. Implementing the orienteering tip above will make sure you're not always looking at your phone for guidance, too. Keep your luggage light. Every time I take a large suitcase with me on a trip, I regret it. A small bag means you can move around easily, and there's no reason for opportunists to offer unwelcome 'help'. If your gut tells you you're not in a great area, backtrack until you feel comfortable or duck into a cafe or shop to recalibrate. My Marrakesh experience reminded me that hotel managers and rental hosts are a goldmine of local information and destination safety advice. Make the most of their knowledge.
Use resources wisely
In Naples, a local told me he never carries a wallet. Dario just keeps enough euros in his pocket to pay for basic needs. It's a good tip for tourists, too. If you need more than lunch money, stash a card in a money belt. I use a WISE currency card instead of a credit card. Not only is it cheaper than a normal credit card, but you can easily control how much money is on the card at any time, and it's not linked to any bank accounts. Although I always travel with multiple cards, I leave them in my room or hotel safe for emergencies only and keep digital versions on my phone. If cards are lost or stolen, cancel them as soon as possible and request a new, digital card for your phone. They are usually issued immediately.
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The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
As a solo traveller, four simple rules keep me safe and thriving
This article is part of Traveller's Holiday Guide to solo travel. See all stories. As more people than ever are unwilling to postpone their travel plans to wait for a partner or travel buddy to join them, interest in solo travel has exploded. Yet despite this, tackling a first solo trip can seem intimidating. Founder of the Scouts, Robert Baden-Powell, knew a thing or two about self-reliance. Beyond 'be prepared', add these tips to your solo travel toolkit. Find one's way by night and by day On a recent trip to Morocco, I had a few days on my own before joining a tour. On my first morning, the hotel manager brought me some mint tea and pulled out a copy of a hand-drawn map. 'This is a map I have created for guests,' he said, 'because I want everyone to know how to safely explore the Medina, and most importantly, how to find their way back to us.' Mohamed set me a task: on my first excursion into Marrakesh's thousand-year-old maze, he wanted me to ignore temptation and focus exclusively on finding specific landmarks. He showed me all the places on the map I needed to recognise so I wouldn't get lost. It was a fun game, and it worked. This exercise set me up to explore the rest of the city with confidence. No matter where I was, and even if I was temporarily lost, I knew that I'd be able to find my way home. It's a strategy that's useful for any new destination. Add in local taxi or rideshare and public transport apps on your phone (enable global roaming or buy a local e-sim), pre-book transport for late arrivals into new destinations, and you'll feel confident getting around alone. Notice things rapidly and at a distance This is where solo travellers often have an advantage over people travelling in pairs or groups. If you're travelling alone, you're always aware of your belongings, who's nearby, and what's happening around you. Implementing the orienteering tip above will make sure you're not always looking at your phone for guidance, too. Keep your luggage light. Every time I take a large suitcase with me on a trip, I regret it. A small bag means you can move around easily, and there's no reason for opportunists to offer unwelcome 'help'. If your gut tells you you're not in a great area, backtrack until you feel comfortable or duck into a cafe or shop to recalibrate. My Marrakesh experience reminded me that hotel managers and rental hosts are a goldmine of local information and destination safety advice. Make the most of their knowledge. Use resources wisely In Naples, a local told me he never carries a wallet. Dario just keeps enough euros in his pocket to pay for basic needs. It's a good tip for tourists, too. If you need more than lunch money, stash a card in a money belt. I use a WISE currency card instead of a credit card. Not only is it cheaper than a normal credit card, but you can easily control how much money is on the card at any time, and it's not linked to any bank accounts. Although I always travel with multiple cards, I leave them in my room or hotel safe for emergencies only and keep digital versions on my phone. If cards are lost or stolen, cancel them as soon as possible and request a new, digital card for your phone. They are usually issued immediately.
Sydney Morning Herald
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As a solo traveller, four simple rules keep me safe and thriving
This article is part of Traveller's Holiday Guide to solo travel. See all stories. As more people than ever are unwilling to postpone their travel plans to wait for a partner or travel buddy to join them, interest in solo travel has exploded. Yet despite this, tackling a first solo trip can seem intimidating. Founder of the Scouts, Robert Baden-Powell, knew a thing or two about self-reliance. Beyond 'be prepared', add these tips to your solo travel toolkit. Find one's way by night and by day On a recent trip to Morocco, I had a few days on my own before joining a tour. On my first morning, the hotel manager brought me some mint tea and pulled out a copy of a hand-drawn map. 'This is a map I have created for guests,' he said, 'because I want everyone to know how to safely explore the Medina, and most importantly, how to find their way back to us.' Mohamed set me a task: on my first excursion into Marrakesh's thousand-year-old maze, he wanted me to ignore temptation and focus exclusively on finding specific landmarks. He showed me all the places on the map I needed to recognise so I wouldn't get lost. It was a fun game, and it worked. This exercise set me up to explore the rest of the city with confidence. No matter where I was, and even if I was temporarily lost, I knew that I'd be able to find my way home. It's a strategy that's useful for any new destination. Add in local taxi or rideshare and public transport apps on your phone (enable global roaming or buy a local e-sim), pre-book transport for late arrivals into new destinations, and you'll feel confident getting around alone. Notice things rapidly and at a distance This is where solo travellers often have an advantage over people travelling in pairs or groups. If you're travelling alone, you're always aware of your belongings, who's nearby, and what's happening around you. Implementing the orienteering tip above will make sure you're not always looking at your phone for guidance, too. Keep your luggage light. Every time I take a large suitcase with me on a trip, I regret it. A small bag means you can move around easily, and there's no reason for opportunists to offer unwelcome 'help'. If your gut tells you you're not in a great area, backtrack until you feel comfortable or duck into a cafe or shop to recalibrate. My Marrakesh experience reminded me that hotel managers and rental hosts are a goldmine of local information and destination safety advice. Make the most of their knowledge. Use resources wisely In Naples, a local told me he never carries a wallet. Dario just keeps enough euros in his pocket to pay for basic needs. It's a good tip for tourists, too. If you need more than lunch money, stash a card in a money belt. I use a WISE currency card instead of a credit card. Not only is it cheaper than a normal credit card, but you can easily control how much money is on the card at any time, and it's not linked to any bank accounts. Although I always travel with multiple cards, I leave them in my room or hotel safe for emergencies only and keep digital versions on my phone. If cards are lost or stolen, cancel them as soon as possible and request a new, digital card for your phone. They are usually issued immediately.
