Solo Travel--Safety On The Road

Solo travel–Safety on the road

Solo travel can seem a bit daunting. Regardless of your background, we all have concerns about safety.

Safety

Being safe while traveling is a concern for everyone who goes on vacation. It's especially important for those of us who travel solo. Although there is safety in numbers, a group of people can stand out in a crowd and attract attention. Anyone can be a victim of crime whether a person is thousands of miles away from home or in their own bedroom. Do you see what I'm getting at?

No doubt, crime is a horrible fact of life. Unfortunately it happens everywhere. What are a few things that can be done to make a solo trip safer?

Gear

Money belt–Put your extra cash and at least one credit card close to you in a money belt. If your wallet gets misplaced or stolen, you still have the majority of cash and your credit cards on you.

Safety clips–Many countries in Europe have problems with pickpockets. The best way to avoid being robbed is to make your personal belongings inaccessible to the crooks. These inexpensive clips loop though the zipper pulls on your bag. Easy access for you, but a hurdle for those unscrupulous individuals.

Crossover bag–The bags keep belongings close to you. It’s much easier for you to pay attention when someone is trying to slip your wallet away.

Hotel

Spend a little more time researching for a better hotel. This can be tricky because there are great motels all over the country. Especially the little mom and pop motels. These spots are quaint places to stay and enrich the experience of any road trip.

Whenever I'm on the road, I look for quaint places to stay when I drive through a small town. However, if I'm staying in one particular area and need a room as my base, I get really picky about my hotel. Personally I like searching Booking.com. This site has prices comparable to other sites, but I find it gives me more pictures and information than other sites. Best of all, you can speak to a genuine human being without a lot of hassle. I've had a couple of issues with my bookings and the representatives at booking.com went out of their way to make sure I was happy.

As far as the room itself, there is more security with hotels that require guests to use their door key to get onto their floor. This ensures outsiders not registered to the hotel have little access to hotel rooms. In addition, hotels now write room numbers on door key holders so anyone within earshot can’t hear a guest's room number. Most hotels refuse to give room numbers to anyone not registered to the room. Also, be sure to utilize the bolt lock to secure your hotel room door. Consider avoiding hotels that have the room door facing outside.

Outdoor-facing hotel rooms expose you to easy break-ins especially if your room is on the ground floor. Besides, these rooms don't offer as much privacy and outside noise can be an issue. In my early solo traveling days, I had an issue with my motel door facing outside. Now I wasn't in any apparent danger, but it did make me think twice about how I chose my hotel. Six months into my job as a traveling auditor, I randomly chose a motel closest to the businesses I had to visit. I didn't think much about safety, I just wanted to make a good impression.

Around 11:30 p.m. one night, I was having trouble sleeping. The noise from the cars and the people in the street was loud and distracting, keeping me awake. I could hear voices outside. Two guys were talking about a movie they went to. One guy was trying to get the other to come into his room, while the other was playing coy.

It went on so long, I remember muttering for them to make a decision. Finally, the guy stopped talking and the outside noises quieted down. I fell asleep only to be awoken by my head board violently moving. They were having sex! I could hear everything. Needless to say, I got no sleep for the rest of the night. Now I'm no prude, and I don't care what people do if they are consenting adults. I just don't want to be in on it!

It was that day I put more thought into how I chose my hotel. Those two fellows were harmless. Moreover, they probably would have been mortified had they known my experience with their encounter. But what if someone across the street had seen me go into my room alone? if the doors and walls were that thin, how easy would it have been to kick in my door? So please, get a proper room. especially when you travel alone.

Don’t Creep Yourself Out

Solo travelers should always be aware of their surroundings, but they should not let their fears get the best of them. It can be counterproductive. This happened to me when I was in Paris.

Paris is a beautiful city at night. This evening I had a great dinner and walked to the Eiffel Tower to see the lights flicker in the evening sky. The scene was amazing. It was a beautiful sight, one I'll remember and cherish always. When I decided to go back to my hotel I chose to ride the train then walk the rest of the way.

Paris is a walk-able city and it’s easy to get around on foot. Just like any town at night, the city has quiet, dark places. I walked past two homeless fellows who were sleeping. The two weren't bothering anyone and they probably didn't notice me walking past them. The men didn't frighten me, actually I was glad to know there was someone else who was on the streets while I walked.

I heard the click of my heels echo throughout the streets and I got a bit of a chill. Nervous, I scanned my surroundings. I was alone, walking late at night in a strange city. After a few minutes of myself inflicted fear, it hit me. The town I was raised in was much tougher than Paris. At least where I was walking.

I checked myself. I let my fears get the best of me even if it was only for a few minutes. I walked with confidence humming to myself. I was aware of my surroundings, but I was no longer in fear of them. I walked home enjoying the city at night.

I've solo traveled all over the world and thankfully I've never had a problem with safety. I do my research on the places I travel to and stay away from dangerous areas. I study up on how locals dress and behave, so as not to be conspicuous in the areas I visit. I walk with purpose and with confidence. Although I'm friendly and will strike up a conversation with just about anyone, I'll walk away if I feel uncomfortable.

Solo travel helps build self-confidence and that's what helps keep you safe. Remember, you have the right to travel as you wish even if it's just you. Keep that in mind as you walk with confidence and keep your head up. Walk with purpose. your vacationing alone for the many benefits solo travel has to offer you.

Safety is a concern everyone should be aware of regardless if you travel solo or with a large group. Take the necessary precautions. Most important, don't go on your vacation terrified that something bad will happen to you. That negative attitude can result in a self-fulfilling prophecy and it's no way to live, especially on vacation.

Trust Your Gut

If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't right. If you find yourself in a place or around people that make you feel uncomfortable, it is definitely something you should not ignore. EVER. That sixth or spidey sense is there for a reason. Think back to anytime you've ever ignored your gut and did it anyway. How did it turn out? Probably not so well.

This seems obvious, but do not go off with strangers. Beware of the overly nice local who wants to give you a private tour. That nice guy who wants to take you on his boat for a sunset cruise. Or the sweet hippie-type gal who can take you to a better hiking trail than the one listed on a regular map. These people might be genuine, but you should never put yourself in a vulnerable situation.

There is a difference between letting your fears get the best of you and having a true sense of dread. If you're somewhere or with someone that makes your skin crawl, leave. Don't make a scene, just quickly and with purpose get out of the situation. Don't be concerned with looking foolish or hurting someone's feelings. You have every right to feel safe whether you're on vacation or not. Go with your gut, always.

Keep these things in mind and take precautions. Stay aware and get the proper safety gear for your trip. But don't overdo it. Remember you have the right to enjoy yourself wherever you are even if you are vacationing on your own.