3 safety tips for a solo trip

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July 20, 2016 2:14 PM

Travelling alone is not always fun, neither is it always safe. Here are three things to do before and during a solo trip.

Be polite and friendly to people especially those you meet on the plane

Visiting a new place alone can be a thrilling experience, but it may also prove to be a dangerous one.

For safety and emergency purposes, here are three tips for a solo trip/ vacation.

1. Research your destination:

It is important to research your destination thoroughly; get as much information as you can lay your hands on. Check actual statistics for violence and crime rates and be sure to look up safety information on the city you plan to visit.

If you're a woman, from your research, you'd know cities with high rates of rape and gender specific violence to avoid.

ALSO READ: How to sleep comfortably on a plane during long distance flights

2. Have travel insurance:

Travel insurance save your life - literally. If you happen to lose your luggage, get robbed, get thrown into a political crisis or if a natural disaster occurs while you’re abroad, travel insurance is the cover you need.

If the worst happens and you die while on vacation abroad, a good travel insurance plan will ensure that your family brings your body home without getting buried with paper work, or huge costs.

However you must be sure to read through travel insurance policies carefully and check for loopholes. A lot of insurance plans don’t cover certain countries or accidents from certain types of adventures.

3. Check in with someone back home regularly:

Make sure a relative or friend back home knows your itinerary and check in with them at designated times so that they know you’re okay. Give them details such as your flight number, hotel address, places you plan to visit etc.

You and said person should agree on how often you check in, whether daily, hourly, every six hours or every two days. Make sure you are consistent once you agree on a plan so that you don't cause them to raise false alarms.

You should also agree on how long they should wait after not hearing from you before they alert the authorities.

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