In the last 30 years the majority of my international trips have been ones in which the majority of the time I was traveling alone. This began in my early 40s. I love the freedom to consult only myself about what I want to do on a particular trip or travel day, without worrying about the impact on someone else, even though I love traveling with others too.
My list isn't exhaustive but these are the thoughts that come quickly to mind today. What would you add?
1. Leave most of your important stuff in your hotel room safe. There's little reason to worry endlessly to the point you don't enjoying sightseeing; after all, that's why most of us travel. But it is important to do some thinking about how little you actually need to bring in your wanderings around your new city or town. The more you leave in your hotel room safe the less you have to lose or haul around. Bags get heavier as the day goes on, right?
2. Consider how to style your look with accessories factoring in safety, in addition to how good you’ll look in keepsake photos. This is the time to consider leaving bulky and showy pieces at home as they take up precious space and add weight to your carry-on (you are going to try traveling light, right? You’ll be so glad you did). A scrunchable scarf as substitute perhaps? Cute little inexpensive bracelets that don’t telegraph “rich tourist” even when you don’t feel rich? Instead of feeling deprived as you pack, make it a game. “Stuff management” will be one less thing to worry about on the road.
3. Be alert to your surroundings and walk like you know what you're doing. You don't need to be hyper vigilant but you can perhaps make yourself a little less a target if you move around looking more certain than confused. I'll sometimes step into a store to consult a map rather than unfolding one--or consulting a map app--in a crowded plaza.
4. You already know to have photos or paper copies of important travel documents like your passport and travel insurance in case you lose it or need it in a hurry. Accidents happen.
5. Consider a hidden money belt and carrying your important things in pockets or handbags with zippers you can see. Side zippers on bags and back pockets are notoriously vulnerable.
6. Be mindful of your hotel's surroundings when you make bookings. Less expensive places to stay are generally in sketchier locations and while it's helpful to save the money, I save up until I can afford to stay in a bit safer neighborhood when I'm traveling alone. I look for spots in areas likely to be diverse and with easy close access to public transportation.
7. Eat your bigger meal at midday to save on walks, buses, trains, and rideshares after dark. I still do evening things, but only when I know I can get safe transportation close to the venue with minimal distance to cover on foot alone after I leave whatever brought me back to my hotel. By the way, just like at home you'll save money eating big meals during the day.
8. Take your hotel name with you. You’d be surprised at how quickly you can forget it when you’re jet lagged and lost, and wandering around trying to stay awake your first day or two in a new time zone.
9. Dress respectfully--that is, cover up--when you are in locations where that matters. That may mean taking a light shawl or big scarf you can use to cover your head or shoulders or both, and if you chose smartly they'll take up little space in your bag or carryon. If you travel to warm places where women are expected to cover their arms and legs, be sure you're prepared to do the same. Close-toed shoes are also appreciated in some of those same places. Dressing respectfully just might keep a solo traveler safer.
10. Manage your grooming products—I’m thinking hair care. I’ve spent decades experimenting with the right products to get my hair to act the way I want and now that I’ve found them for my current climate conditions, I want to travel with them. This goes for skin care products as well. If you’re traveling out of a carry-on using multiple airlines and traveling to different countries, be sure you know the liquid restrictions of each. Label the little plastic bottles with what’s in each one so you don’t accidentally use hair conditioner as face cream (yup!) when you’re exhausted. At some point you made need to replace hair products on your trip because you can’t bring enough for longer travels. There can be a dazzling array or not wherever you’re headed, but do some advance research to know what might work for you. Maybe order some ahead of your trip if you can get it shipped to you, to see if it acts the way you want. Bring a cute scarf or hair clips to wear in public in case your hair goes sideways, or consider braids to reduce travel hair uncertainty. There’ll likely be people with hair like yours where you’re going so if you’re desperate you could try asking one of them to recommend something, though you’ll remember that asking folks about their hair can be tricky, right?
11. If you're a person of color, be prepared to stick out sometimes and realize it's rarely about you in particular, though of course in the moment it can feel like it's only about you. In my case I discovered a long time ago that it's not a rarity to see a Black woman in a particular locale. But you may be somewhat unusual or unexpected in certain circumstances, especially if you seem to represent a social class where it's less routine to see someone who looks like you. Most times people have been more curious about me than anything else.
12. Embrace the times someone’s excited to connect with you because you’re a person of color. I’ve had it happen so many times, and some have become warm happy memories I reflect on years later. Yes it can be a bit awkward to feel you’ve been asked to become a cultural informant, and I manage to reduce it by using a light tone to say something like, “Well—I can only speak for myself but I’ve noticed that sometimes…” or “Hmmm, I’m not sure what others would say but it’s like this for me…”
So what have you noticed in your travels?
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