Solo travel can be a bit scary since you are going out into the unknown world all alone, but you have the power to protect yourself. Self-defence isn’t ninja moves and crazy movie stunts; it is taking action to prevent bad situations from happening in the first place. We all deserve to be safe, but to do that, we must learn how. That is why I am sharing these tips on solo travel safety with the readers of Ars Currendi. I want you to be safe wherever you wander on this beautiful planet, so check it out!
Guest post by Chelsey from The Ninja Gypsy
Solo travel safety starts with your planning
While I am not asking you to dictate every moment of your life, I do think that it is vital to have a game plan for when something goes wrong. I always tell my students and those interested in (solo) travel to play the “What If?” game.
This game is pretty simple. All you need to do is think of things that could go wrong on your trip and find a solution to solve them. For example:
- What if your car breaks down?
- What if your backpack gets stolen?
- What if your credit card stops working?
- What if your flight gets delayed?
- What if someone tries to hurt you?
What are you going to do? While this may not be the most fun game to play, it is vital for your solo travel safety. Addressing these possible scenarios in advance will help you conquer them quickly if they do arise.
Don’t be caught unaware, without any idea on how to handle a problem. Take preventive action to ensure that you can eliminate any challenge that comes your way by having a plan.
Related post: Planning a solo trip: solo travel 101
Knowing your community
Similar to having a plan, it is wise to know the communities in which you are travelling.
The world is a big place filled with fascinating cultures and ideals. It is ignorant to assume that our way of life will be accepted everywhere we go, especially for those female solo travellers out there.
Before you travel somewhere, look up the customs and expectations of the culture. You may need to dress a certain way, hide your tattoos, or any other variety of things.
I am not saying that their culture is correct, but for your safety, it is wise to respect and adhere to the norm. As a super pale, blonde, blue-eyed woman, I know what it is like to stick out.
Doing some research, for both guys, gals and non-binary people, on how to blend in and packing your suitcase appropriately will help save you from unwanted attention.
In addition, learn about the dangers of where you are going. Is the area known for pickpockets, or is there civil unrest?
You can learn about it by visiting the Department of State‘s website, and I would suggest signing up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (or something similar) to be notified when something goes wrong in your location.
Solo travel safety 101: Be aware
A big part of solo travel safety is being aware of your surroundings, but what does that mean?
It means engaging all of your senses to be mindful of your environment. This could be while you are walking down the street, attending a festival, relaxing in a dorm room at your hostel, or partying at a club.
I am NOT asking you to be paranoid or scared; I am simply asking you to use your head.
Your brain works like a computer.
It gathers information on what is going on around you, filtering out the unimportant, and notifying you when something is worth noticing. This may be the scrape of a shoe that is too close behind you, a person intently staring at you from the corner of your eye, or that uneasy feeling when something doesn’t seem right.
Your brain is automatically doing all the work; you just have to listen to it. Don’t ignore those warnings, but acknowledge them.
Your brain can’t do it by itself, though, you are a team. If you plug your ears with headphones or cloud your senses with alcohol, it makes your brain’s job significantly harder.
Always be wary of things that impede your ability to be aware. I’m not saying that you can’t listen to music while you run, but instead, only have one ear in with the volume low.
I’m also not saying that you can’t drink but know your limits. Adhere to safe alcohol practices so that you are never left at the mercy of someone else.
Don’t take this as a reason why you shouldn’t travel solo. Just keep in mind that, while you are on the road alone, you need to be aware of your surroundings.
Trust your instincts
You are responsible for your safety when travelling solo. Friends, parents, and significant others can’t help you when you are on your own, and they can’t tell you when something seems off.
You must trust yourself and trust your instincts to keep you safe.
We have base instincts, they are built-in, but society today has led us to ignore them even when they point out danger. We might tell ourselves that we are being silly or paranoid, but your instincts are a powerful tool that should not be ignored.
If your instincts are telling you that something is off, that you are in danger, then leave.
Whether you are in a hostel, a bar, on a date, or walking down the street, listen to yourself. If you were wrong, oh well. But if you were right, you might have just saved your life.
Solo travel safety is all about communication
Verbal communication is a large part of self-defense, and thus, a large part of solo travel safety. In most scenarios, there is a way to verbally de-escalate the conflict without it coming to blows.
The key to communicating with confidence is being concise, clear, and repetitive. Whatever is going wrong, repeat these critical steps.
Be concise. Tell the person exactly what you want in a short sentence. It could be “don’t touch me,” “please back away,” “I don’t want to dance,” or any other variety of messages.
Keep it short and straightforward.
Be clear. Use a strong, determined voice with a body to match. Communication is not only through your words but with your body language. You always want both of those actions to be in sync.
If you are looking like a mouse and speaking in a tiny voice, a person with ill intentions may think that they can change your mind. Don’t let them think that.
Stand up straight, look at them, and say what you want in a clear and confident voice.
Be repetitive. Some people have pretty thick heads, and it may take a couple times before the message gets through, so repeat yourself. If they try to coax you, repeat yourself. If they try to rephrase, repeat yourself. If they try to manipulate you, repeat yourself.
The same phrase on repeat like a broken record.
With each rendition, get a little louder and move further away. Your rising voice will alert those around you of what is going down while your body language shows that you want none of it.
Remember, it is always okay to say no to any question or request. You owe them nothing.
Grabbing a buddy
Just because you are travelling solo doesn’t mean that you are alone. If you are feeling unsafe, you always have the option of grabbing a buddy.
It could be a bouncer, a bartender, a receptionist, a friend that you made earlier, or even someone similar to yourself in the crowd.
Team up with them when you are in a situation that you don’t like until you can both get to safety; there is truth in the statement “there is safety in numbers.”
Getting away
If you are ever faced with a dangerous situation, the most important thing is to get away.
It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as you get to a safe place. Safe places can include police stations, fire departments, hospitals, large stores, and crowded areas.
Make your way to a busy, well-lit place and find someone who can help you. Emergency services personnel, clerks, bouncers, bartenders, and others are prepared and ready to help you if you need it.
Once you get someplace safe, you need to report what happened. If you got hurt or hurt someone else, you want to be the first to report it. This way, you will avoid the “she said/he said” aspect that could get you in trouble. Get to safety and then call for help.
For those who are travelling alone, I recommend taking a self-defense class first. This will not only teach you critical self-defense techniques, but it will show you safe practices that will help you avoid those conflicts altogether.
You deserve to be safe
If there is just one message that you can take away from this post, it is that you deserve to be safe.
It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, or what your station in life is, you deserve to be safe and to feel safe. But the only person who can give that to you IS YOU!
Take preventive action when it comes to your safety, in whatever form works best for you.
You have the power to learn. You have the power to act. You have the power to keep yourself safe. So before you head out on your next daring solo adventure, take the time to learn how to be safe.
Chelsey is the creator of The Ninja Gypsy, a travel safety website designed to keep you safe wherever you travel. Chelsey is a 3rd-degree black belt, digital nomad, and author. She recently published a book called “Inspired: The Stories of Nine Solo Female Travelers,” combining her travel experiences with other women who have been around the world. If you would like to learn more about Chelsey, you can follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
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