Traveling solo is no longer a niche trend—it’s a growing movement. Whether you’re single, seeking solitude, or simply craving the freedom to explore on your own terms, solo travel offers flexibility and opportunities for personal growth. But if you’re new to it, it can feel intimidating. These seven tips will help you travel smarter, safer, and more confidently in 2025.
1. Share Your Itinerary with a Trusted Contact
Before you go, send your full travel itinerary—including flight details, accommodations, and key activities—to a friend or family member. Schedule regular check-ins via text or email. This not only gives peace of mind to loved ones but ensures someone can reach you in case of an emergency.
2. Review Your Health Coverage—Especially for International Travel
Health insurance rules can vary by state and country. If you’re traveling within the U.S., check with your provider to confirm coverage in your destination. If you’re traveling internationally, find out if your Medicare plan covers foreign travel. Original Medicare typically doesn’t cover health care while you’re traveling outside the U.S., so this is something you’ll want to thoroughly investigate and plan for before embarking on any trip.
3. Plan for Connection to Avoid Loneliness
Solo doesn’t have to mean isolated. Book group tours, cooking classes, or walking excursions to meet fellow travelers. Use platforms like Meetup.com or Eventbrite to find local events. And if you’re active on social media, consider posting (privately) to see if friends have connections in your destination. Just be cautious about sharing real-time travel plans publicly.
4. Try Housesitting for a More Local Experience
Instead of booking a hotel, consider housesitting. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in a neighborhood, enjoy home comforts, and even care for pets. As seasoned solo traveler Kelly Hayes-Raitt and author of How to Become a Housesitter: Insider Tips from the HouseSit Diva shares, “I feel safer in homes than in hotels, which are usually located in more touristy areas that attract pickpockets and scammers. Also, I appreciate amenities I wouldn’t have in a hotel, such as free laundry and movie channels, faster, more secure internet and a full kitchen. Plus, I get to hang out with fabulous pets! Sometimes I ask my homeowners to introduce me to a neighbor or friend I can meet for a meal or a cup of coffee.” Just be sure expectations for pet or home care are clearly outlined before agreeing to housesit.
5. Blend In Like a Local
Responsible tourism expert Johanna Read recommends observing how locals dress, carry their belongings, and interact in public. Mimicking these behaviors helps you avoid standing out as a tourist—a key safety strategy. For example, keep your phone tucked away in crowded areas and avoid flashy accessories that might attract attention. She shares, “Blending in and minimizing how much you look like a tourist is the secret to travel success especially when solo. On my first day in a new country, I take a walk to check how people are dressed and, especially, how they carry their belongings (e.g. Is a purse nonchalantly on a shoulder or carried more carefully in front of the body complete with a hand over the zipper? How cautious are residents with their phones?) and follow suit.” Johanna also says this is also a good opportunity to check out local customs about crossing the street (Do pedestrians have the right of way? Is jaywalking common? Do you need to check three times before you step off the sidewalk?)
6. Stay Alert with Your Belongings
Pickpocketing and distraction thefts are common in tourist zones. Use anti-theft bags with lockable zippers, wear them across your body, and keep valuables in interior pockets. Be especially cautious in busy markets, public transit, and when using your phone on the street. Johanna shares, “Tourists, solo or not, are most at risk of distraction crimes and crimes of opportunity like pickpocketing or leaving your bag slung on the back of your chair at a cafe. When you’re admiring the architecture or looking at Google Maps, you’re not paying the attention you should to the people around you.”
7. Choose Wisely When Asking for Help or to Take a Photo
If you need directions or assistance, approach someone who looks like a staff member or go into a business. Avoid accepting unsolicited help from strangers on the street. That said, most people are kind and helpful—especially to solo travelers—so trust your instincts. Also be careful if you ask a passerby to take a photo of you, if you hand them your phone be on guard, it’s best to use a selfie stick if needed.
Want more? Check out our travel related blogs, 20 Winter Travel Tips, 6 Places to Travel During the Off-Season, and Multigenerational travel: 5 tips for planning your family vacation
Thinking about long-term travel in retirement? Check out this related read from our sister brand Colonial Penn, Is the RV Life Right For You?
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