Solo travel is safe if you know how to do it. Here are 50+ updated solo travel safety tips for planning and enjoying a great trip alone. Research your solo travel destination and learn smart solo travel tips to help avoid scams, creeps, and loneliness.
- Don’t tell everyone you’re alone. This rule is important whether you’re traveling solo in Amsterdam or Tulum.
- Cabin bags must be under 10kg and less than 55x40x25cm and fit into the overhead locker. Some airlines may charge for this 10kg bag. Traveling carry-on only allows you and your backpack more breathing room in the bathroom stall and makes luggage fit easier.
- Consider using porters or larger carts for passengers with heavy luggage. When traveling alone, you will be responsible for all luggage management. If there are only stairs in a place, you may have to use a carry-on bag.
- Carry-on packing lists for women and men with tips for packing light and having all the travel essentials. Start with a relatively small suitcase, as carry-on luggage is ideal for solo travel. Stick to a suitcase on wheels, as they are usually more spacious, protect your content better, and are easier to carry or drag.
- Pack your carry-on realistically, wear comfortable clothes, keep your passport and tickets on your person, and don’t forget to pack your belongings in a secure and organized manner.
📹 8 Little Known Travel Hacks for Flying Carry-on Only (Secret Packing Tips)
There are SO many reasons why you should travel with just a carry-on and no checked bags. I’m going to teach you my best …
Is it risky to travel alone?
When traveling alone, personal safety becomes a significant concern. Follow the same rules as anywhere else, such as sticking to public, well-lit areas, knowing your destination, and walking with purpose. When meeting new people, don’t tell them you’re alone and keep your accommodation address private. Be mindful of your drinking habits and never leave your drink unattended.
To help your friends and family feel less alone, send regular emails and updates on social media. This will reassure them of your safety and enjoyment. Eating out at small, friendly restaurants or cafés that attract single people or groups can be a great way to enjoy the experience. Eating alone can also be a great time to catch up on emails or read your favorite book. By following these guidelines, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Is it safe to travel alone as a woman?
Solo female travel can be both safe and enjoyable, as it requires taking necessary precautions and preparing for potential risks. To avoid missing out on life-changing experiences, it is essential to research the country thoroughly before visiting. This can be done through personal accounts, blogs, forums, and travel groups. Additionally, it is beneficial to ask other solo female travelers about their experiences, as it can provide valuable insights and help navigate the challenges of solo travel. By doing so, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for your first solo trip.
Do I really need a carry-on bag?
When choosing between carry-on luggage and checked baggage, consider the amount of clothing you need to pack. Carry-on bags can fit ten days of clothing, including two bottoms, five tops, and undergarments. For longer stays or storing gifts or business equipment, check-in suitcases are better. Carry-on bags can be mixed and matched for different outfits. Consider using a garment bag for wrinkle-free, organized travel.
Check-in baggage can pack thirty days of clothing for hot and temperate climates. For cold destinations, check-in suitcases can fit fifteen days’ worth of clothing. Choosing the right bag depends on your needs and the length of your trip.
Do airports look through your carry-on?
TSA screens 3. 3 million carry-on bags daily for explosives and other dangerous items. When flying, passengers must remove personal electronic devices larger than a cell phone from their carry-on bag and place them in a bin without anything placed on or under them for X-ray screening. Common examples include laptops, tablets, e-readers, and handheld game consoles.
What is the safest way to travel alone?
To ensure safety while traveling, use common sense, avoid advertising alone, maintain wit, be cautious with alcohol and drugs, and maintain control over your transport options.
Should you travel with carry-on only?
Traveling with a carry-on bag is a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and safer option for both domestic and international travel. It allows for quick and easy access to destinations, reducing stress. To create the perfect carry-on only packing list, follow these seven steps:
Choose the right luggage: Research your options and invest in high-quality materials that will last for years. This will ensure you have the right tools for your job, such as the right size carry-on bag.
Pack your belongings securely: Secure your belongings with a strong, durable material, such as a zippered bag or a sturdy backpack. This will prevent the risk of theft or damage to your belongings.
Is it normal to be scared to travel alone?
Solo travel can be a daunting experience, often causing anxiety and fear. Some may fear loneliness, boredom, homesickness, or the cost of traveling alone. However, there are some tips to help navigate solo adventures and overcome these fears.
One of the main fears is feeling lonely or homesick while on the road. However, travel is a magical experience that pushes you outside your comfort zone and puts you in unfamiliar situations. Lean into the discomfort of your own company and use the quiet time to observe the surroundings, share updates with family and friends, or start a travel journal.
Trafalgar offers guided tours for group travel, while seeking peace and quiet in your room or free time. It’s often easier to interact with locals, such as waiters and hotel staff, while traveling solo. Take the opportunity to be more observant and strike up conversations with others.
Why you shouldn’t be afraid to travel alone?
Solo travel offers a unique chance to discover oneself, become comfortable in one’s skin, and grow in confidence. Experiences that challenge you beyond your comfort zone provide the perfect growth opportunities.
How do you protect yourself as a woman traveling alone?
To feel more secure when traveling alone, consider sharing your travel plans with trusted family or friends, creating an emergency plan, securing your valuables, avoiding reckless behaviors, doing safety research, and getting travel insurance. Solo travel offers numerous benefits, such as exploring new places at your own pace, enjoying beautiful scenery, and spending extra time at landmarks or attractions. However, it’s normal to feel nervous or uncomfortable, especially when traveling to unfamiliar countries.
To stay safe, share your travel plans with trusted family or friends, send your itinerary, hotel reservation information, and planned activities to a family member or friend back home, and inform the hotel staff of your destination and return time. By following these tips, you can enjoy the benefits of solo travel while maintaining your safety and comfort.
Which country is the safest for solo female Travellers?
Japan is a safe destination for solo travelers due to its respectful culture, etiquette, and traditions. It offers a variety of accommodations, including female-only train carriages and women’s hotels, and offers efficient transport options like the bullet train. Dining alone in Japan is considered normal.
Central America is gaining popularity among independent female travelers due to hostels, tour routes, great infrastructure, and affordable food and attractions. Meeting new friends is easy, as most people follow the same trail to visit stunning sites like Lake Atitlán, Tikal’s ancient pyramids, and Semuc Champey’s blue falls. Antigua’s colorful streets are also perfect for hiking up Acatenango to watch Volcano Fuego erupt at sunrise.
In Southeast Asia, Thailand and Vietnam are the safest destinations for women backpacking, but Vietnam is a good starting point. With a well-trodden tourist route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam offers mountains, beaches, islands, ancient villages, and delicious cuisine. Whether traveling by train, sleeper bus, or scooter, thousands of other solo travellers will share the same journey.
What is the 3 1 1 rule?
Passengers are allowed to carry 3. 4 ounces or 100 milliliters of liquids, gels, and aerosols in travel-size containers, but are limited to one quart-size bag. Common items that must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule include toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, and lotion.
📹 How to Avoid Carry On Luggage Fees (Even If You’re Overweight)
If you follow these packing tips, you can avoid carry on luggage fees almost every time. Click “show more” to see links mentioned …
I flew recently with United Airlines and their fees are ridiculous (first time flying with them, first time encountering pricey baggage fees). Idk if this is a hack, but what I found worked for me. Two days before I was on their website looking at the costs for extra bags and overweight fees. They have different requirements for different ticket levels. So if you’re traveling economy, you’re allowed 2 checked bags with a fee at 50lbs (not sure if per or total). If you’re traveling Premium Economy, 2 checked bags, no fee, 50lbs. If you’re traveling business or first class, no fees for both bags, 70lbs. So when I got to the check-in, I was on an economy ticket, I had my two regular bags and a case that had my equipment. In total I was gonna be charged $440+. I asked the agent what the charge was to upgrade to business class, $229. All my bags and case were now under the limit AND checked through to my final destination. I was on 3 connecting flights with an overnight layover in Atlanta.
Visiting Thailand, I purchase four large, locally-made hats for gifts. Then I realized I couldn’t possibly fit them in my luggage without crushing them. And the four together would have needed another entire checked bag. So I stacked them, one upon the other, pressing them together just enough that they’d stick together so I could pass them off as a single, tall, multi-brimmed hat. My two-foot-tall hat did get a little attention at the counter, but I maintained that this was just my one (somewhat unusual) hat, and I did get on wearing it.
I don’t fly much but I was stupid enough to go to the counter even after checking in with their free kiosk. They tagged my 3lbs over the combined weight so I got charged $100. I saw so many people with much larger two bags of carry-on’s walk in without checking in at the service counter. I was so mad!
I traveled for four months with only a 40 Liter carry on backpack which did fit all my stuff and photography gear. It was always above the weight limit by probably 2x, but as I always checked in online, I could go through security without waiting at the check in desk. This saved so much time and money and nobody ever said anything about my 15 kg bag in the airplane.
Alaska airlines will not let you carry anything extra. They tell you to consolidate all your Fanny packs, shopping bags.. everything! You are only allowed a carry on and one personal item. I did manage to keep my cross body bag on by wearing it under my jacket. They kept repeating the instructions over and over.. “consolidate all your items into your carry on and your one item.” I even had to put my water bottle into my backpack. This was June 2 of 2024. I’ve never had this problem with United or Delta.. they let a shopping bag or a neck pillow slip through.
I once had a really heavy backpack and it helped to carry it on one shoulder. It looked super comfy so I was the only one not being asked. On another flight they checked the bag but didn‘t complain when they saw the cameras inside. They didn‘t want to take the risk of damaging or losing one of the cameras.
On a trip to Panama, I once packed some fragile goods in my checked bag and used some unwanted cheap sweaters I had bought from a Chinese online retailer for padding. These were terrible sweaters. Felt like terry cloths. Anyway, on my return home, all my clothes picked up moisture from the humid climate in Panama so it put my bag overweight. They wanted to charge overweight fee of course. Since it was just a few pounds, I went to a corner, opened the bag, threw away all those cheap sweaters, zipped up and bag went through. There’s always a few tricks! There is also re-distribution of goods like you mentioned depending how many bags you have with you!
Love the code red…i pretty much have done the things you’ve suggested each time i travel the only other thing i can think of would be to minimise weight is to consider the size of items when you purchase them. Powerbanks as an example. Why buy 20k amh when 10 will do me just fine, half the size and weight. I also travel with two phones. They are multi use as opposed to travel with an additional tablet and/or laptop. Size and weight matters with carry on so we all have to get creative at times.
Sorry code red level 3 is just shady.. Call me a hater but it really is. I think one thing you as well as other people sharing these hacks is if you wear extra coats, take filled neck pillows and blankets with you they should stay with your person and not in the overhead compartment. One reason airlines are cracking down (not the only one) is people trying to hack the system and the shoving all that extra junk in the overhead bins leaving other passengers with no storage space.
My tip is to try to travel light. I once went on a travel on a budget ticket that only allowed one backpack and one small laptop bag. I stuffed everything I thought I’d have needed in the backpack, yet it turned out that after one week of traveling I didn’t even use half of my packed clothes! (There were washer and dryer where I stayed). I would have saved that space for other stuff I liked to purchase at the local. You may think you need this or need that in case something happened and you end up packing more than needed, but most of the time the “case” rarely happens.
I usually wear my purple puffy jacket and my backpack is also purple! When I have the bag on my back, my jacket hood lies just on the top and tbh it’s hard to see where my coat ends and my bag begins! Bright, multi colour bags appear far bigger than they actually are… so you’re right… don’t draw attention!
i was 2 pounds overweight. the clerk told me it ws to sure be that the weight was adjusted in the cabin, I aske dif that was based on totql weight of passenger area. Did that include the passengers weight and the carry on luggage weight? she said total weight,. I asked her to look at the person behind me as aI am petite. I remarked that the tall person weighted about 100 poubnts more than me. She let me take my bag with no charge.
Great article. I travel carry on All the time and have utilized these strategies many times. Another good trick is making sure that i have a hoodie with large internal pockets. when i arrive at the check in counter i take my plastic bag with my 100 ML liquid bottles in it and place it in the pockets whilst wearing it. Cheers, great article.
I just want to THANK YOU for that tip about putting clothes inside your travel neck pillow! Pure genius! I can only take 22 pounds for a combined weight for my backpack and rolling bag for a 2 week trip to Japan. Very tough to do, but that 1 tips saved me a precious half a pound! Loved the pocket vest idea too but I am not ballsy enough to try it. LOL
Interesting article. I’ve travelled the globe for many years through my employment and also for personal trips. I learned way before they brought in the post 9/11 security measures that the best way to travel was with minimal luggage. I do like the idea of using lightweight bags though. It’s always cheaper to buy any additional clothes or shoes on your travels. Often you can purchase things duty free at airports. Other tips I’d pass on is to fly direct without any stopovers and take the first flights of the day in the morning.
Kudos to you for mentioning ScottEvest! I even have the trench coat which is actually a great travel coat even without the benefit of the many pockets. It’s extra weight on you when packed but still feels balanced and not crazy heavy on my neck. I actually like it’s on me than some heavy bag I have to throw over my shoulders. The only time you even get a second glance is when it goes across the belt at TSA check! 😂 I don’t even fly that much and feel it’s been a great investment. Highly recommend. Now, the company ought to pay me for this endorsement LOL
As recently as 2023 American Airlines has been giving passenger grief about fanny packs and neck pillows, counting them as “personal items”. They even tried pulling that sh#t with my nylon double cell phone holster (separate phones for work and personal use). Operative word ‘tried’ a more senior airline employee talked the gate person down.
Thinking “luggage weight” has more to do with the folks and equipment needed to get it from check-in, to under the plane and back out again, than the actual weight. So it is not about weight in the plane, it is about weight and issues of the poor folks having to lift and move them behind the scenes.
I have only travelled in Europe and mostly use Ryanair since it is the cheapest I can find. Only take a personal item. While I do not think it is ok to charge people more to take a carry-on, at the same time I think it makes it a fun game to try to get only the basics in a personal item. The problem I have seen over the years is that people overpack and ignore the size regulations. They clearly state how big the bags have to be. If you pack way too much or the bag is too big, well… I know everybody is different and every person has different needs but try to travel more minimalistic if possible. Do you need 10 t-shirts, 10x underwear, 10x socks and 10 trousers for a 10-day trip? Take half or even less and wash them in the sink of your ho(s)tel. If you are travelling with friends, gather all your dirty stuff and do a load of laundry. I’ve been to England twice in winter with only a 16 L Kånken backpack. I am glad I do not use make-up or need a ton of different skin-care products so a 1 L toiletry bag is enough. I could travel with that for a month too. Thanks for the tips!
Hacks I have not tried! Well, if they do not define what a belt is, what I would do is make a belt out of long shirts and put shoes inside and where the whole thing as a belt. I would have the shoes sit the long way just under my stomach. Also, instead of packing clothes in that suitcase, I’d wear them all, put my lightest shoes inside, and only go with 2 pairs of shoes. Plus, learn the army way of folding clothes. They are ace for use inside of that travel pillow that is really a bag for your clothes that can go around your neck.However, a better hack would be to get the quilting club to make you a better neck pillow that is larger and goes around your neck but still looks like a neck pillow. It would be deeper in the back and sides.
5:45 “in the end, the same amount of weight is entering the airplane” => actually it matters a bit. As you may have noticed, the overhead bins often contain a big sticker stating the max weight of the stuff that can be put in it. Overloading these bins could aggravate an in-flight issue, as it moves up the center of gravity of the plane. Could also damage the compartment in case of a high-G event. Not a problem if just one passenger does it, but if everyone does it, that’s another story. On a side note, at CDG, if you get picked for a luggage weight check, they will definitely put all your cabin bags on the scale at once.
Sometimes I hate the tourists (most of whom are Westerners) carrying backpacks that are so huge they almost can’t fit in the compartment. I don’t know how they get past the checkpoint, but this is annoying because it takes up so much space. As a result, I had to put my luggage a few rows away. Since the cabin crew isn’t saying anything, I can only remain quiet.
I know someone who is working at an airport and some airlines and some are doing this already are thinking to start to weight the carry on at the gate and also check the size at te gate, if it is to big or to heavy you have to pay at the gate. He has heard of an airline in North Afrika thzt is weighting the hold baggage at arrival and if the baggage weight more than 20kgs the passenger has to pay before they receive their baggage.
If everyone is sneaky about carrying on extra weight this could be a safety issue as the plane is fulled according to the distance and weight it is carrying,and carrying large cabin luggage also impacts on the safety and comfort of other passengers. Don’t be a tight ass and pay for a check in end of,
Fact. Philippine Airlines only has a 15lb. carry-on limit. Near impossible. That’s a dry bag backpack with 1 pair of socks, one pair of shorts, 1 pair of pants, a few pairs of underwear, a small shaving kit, couple short sleeve T-Shirt, and long sleeve T-shirt (light dry fit), and computer. No cord for the laptop, and nothing else. 14.9lbs. If luggage is lost, I’m screwed with about 3 days of gear. Small fanny pack/tactical bag (man purse, lol) with two cell phones, power bank, two GoPro’s, all the cords and adaptors, selfie sticks/stands etc.. @ 6lbs. So unless you take the long 36-38 hour flight instead of Philippine Airlines 25 hour flight (from where I’m at), you get shorted about 5-15lbs.. I can fit a weeks worth+ of clothes in a 20-30lb. backpack with the electronics. Just to note*, Philippine Airlines representative did say the checked bag is 70lbs., 50lbs. in the U.S./Canada. Carry on in U.S. for Alaska Airlines and Horizon is no limit for carry on. So I thought when I got to my International hub, I’d just swap over the 15 or so pounds into my checked, but there is no checked, direct plane to plane, so I won’t see the checked luggage to be able to do that. 65lbs. isn’t much for 2 Months of travel actually to do a motorcycle tour, have gear needed to do that in the checked baggage.
D U P B A G Y :yt:as my travel bag that I don’t have to take care of. By the way, I’m sure no one will have a hard time telling the difference. Thanks for the comparison.For a long time, as the price of Chanel increased, I no longer thought I could afford it. I think I’ll be happy that I have the:yt:
Ignorant people need to be reminded this is a safety issue. I am a frequent traveler and always check a bag, unless it is a very short trip with a small bag that meets the carry on limits. I resent the many people who selfishly take more than one carry on or skirt the weight and volume limits. People who resent the overweight fees need to find their missing empathy. “Stupid” rules were made for stupid selfish people. If I observe that an airline is clearly lenient and enabling these people I will make a mental note not to use them in the future.
Next time you open an overhead rack, notice the lettering inside. The value, in pounds or kilos, is the maximum allowed design weight. Your continuous recommendations in this website, “advising” people on how to exceed the maximum carry-on weight is borderline criminal. You will understand it in full when the plane you’ll happen to be traveling in makes a particularly hard landing with the bin overhead particularly overloaded and everything falls on top of you and fellow unlucky passengers.
if you really wanna hack the system, you should not fly and just get a bus or train or a car and go to your destination. By the time you get done dealing with all the people staring at you for acting like a fool by putting your underwear or jackets in a neck pillow and having the gate agents take your bag anyway then charge you a fine for being overweight, you could have saved yourself a hella lot embarrassment. I find these articles hilarious. I’m happy to contribute to your views, but completely disagree with this methodology.
I bought a great bag at Salvation Army about two years ago. It was a bag an old hotel chain probably gave their employees. (Unfortunately, there’s no name of the company who made it.) This bag had a place for a laptop, three document slots, a section for various supplies, an outer pocket…and an area for clothes with straps to keep them in place! In this one area I was able to fit two pair of jeans, two collar shirts, two pairs of socks, and two pairs of underwear! This seems to be a perfect solution to hide some weight. (Is there a name for these type of bags? I did a quick Google search but couldn’t find one.)