In 2019, I began a solo trip by accident. I planned everything myself — the schedule, transport, and places to stay. Without someone to take photos for me, I spent more time simply feeling the moment, observing my surroundings, and thinking about how to capture them as they were.
It was just before the pandemic started. Taiwan was still calm then. I packed my things into a single backpack, leaving behind anything unnecessary — and just went. I travelled alone to other cities, met relatives I hadn’t seen before, and spent the rest of my days soaking in hot baths at Japanese-style guesthouses or quietly sitting in restaurants and bars, listening to the conversations around me while enjoying the local food and atmosphere.
I love exploring different sides of life — modern cities, quiet villages, and towns full of history. Sometimes I plan my days carefully; sometimes I wander without direction. “Let’s go see a waterfall in the mountains today,” I’d think. “Tomorrow, how about walking along the beach?” One trip I might take the bus proudly by myself; the next, I might just walk slowly and chat with someone along the way.
The way you travel reflects how you live your daily life. It can always hold more possibilities — just like life itself. Maybe I can try a little more, without setting limits for myself, as long as I stay safe.
Here are 10 tips for women travelling alone, including 3 especially for those going abroad.
Prepare a basic travel plan – one on your phone, one on paper
Before your trip, make a simple travel plan. You don’t have to follow it strictly — it all depends on how you feel at the moment.
If you’re travelling in a country where you speak the language and have friends who can help if something goes wrong, then keeping the plan on your phone is enough. You can even travel without a fixed plan — sometimes that’s the best way to explore.
But if you’re travelling alone abroad, make sure to print a paper copy of your plan and keep it in your bag. That way, even if you lose internet connection, you’ll still have a rough idea of your route to follow.
Pack light and mix your outfits
When you travel alone, try to keep your luggage light. Especially if you’re going somewhere away from the city, you might need to carry everything by yourself. Packing too many “just in case” items will only make your bag heavier.
Think carefully — which items do you always use on every trip, and which ones are only imagined needs?
For clothes, I often use the “V-style outfit rule” — one pair of trousers can match two different tops.
Spending a little time before your trip to plan your outfits is worth it; you’ll save space and still get nice travel photos.
For example, on a two-day trip, I only bring a fresh top and underwear for the second day, plus pyjamas.
Some travellers go even simpler — they wear a comfortable T-shirt as both sleepwear and the next day’s outfit, bringing only one pair of sleep shorts.
I’ll never forget a news story about a young woman who went missing while travelling alone abroad. The police were only able to trace her steps through her Facebook check-ins. It made me realise that while reporting your whereabouts might feel unnecessary when everything’s fine — it becomes crucial when something goes wrong.
Thankfully, there are many apps that let friends or family track your location for safety. For example, when my friends travel abroad, we always remind each other to turn on a location-sharing app so we can be sure everyone’s safe.
The downside is that constant location updates drain your phone battery quickly. Since I don’t like using these apps, I usually send photos or tell friends my plans ahead of time instead, so they still know where I am.
Plan your day to finish before dark and return to your stay
Try to return to your accommodation before sunset, when most people are heading home to rest. This helps you avoid walking through empty streets or small alleys after dark.
Of course, I don’t always manage this myself. For example, when I travelled alone in Hong Kong, I wanted to visit bars and the racecourse — activities that happen only at night.
In those cases, I paid extra attention to the time and hotel location. Before booking, make sure to check reviews about the area’s safety or ask a few locals online. If many people say a place is safe (or unsafe), it usually reflects the truth rather than just one person’s opinion.
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Watch out for pickpockets in crowded places, and stay alert in quiet areas
I always pay attention when someone gets too close. But honestly, I can be a bit careless — like when I travelled alone in Hong Kong, I forgot to zip up my backpack again! A kind passer-by even reminded me (there really are good people everywhere).
When walking on a quiet street, I choose the side facing oncoming traffic, so I can see any car approaching. That way, if something happens, I have time to react — instead of letting a car come up from behind unnoticed.
Go to the toilet before sitting down – never leave your food or belongings unattended
This is something I still find hard to handle. When eating alone, it’s usually easy to get a seat — but if you go to the toilet mid-meal, you might come back to find the staff have already cleared your table! It’s such an awkward and funny situation, haha!
Some considerate restaurants have a “Please don’t clear this table” sign to show you’re just away for a moment, but most places don’t.
Now, I always try to use the toilet before sitting down, so I don’t have to leave my seat later. The bonus is I can also make sure no one touches my food while I’m gone. It might sound a bit paranoid, but when travelling alone, being careful is always the smart choice, right?
Spread out your money and documents
Keeping all your cash and important documents together is risky — if you lose them (or get pickpocketed), it’s basically game over for your trip!
I’ve heard of clever travellers who keep one set in their suitcase, one in their backpack, and one in their jacket’s inner pocket. Think of it as your chance to show your best “secret money-hiding” skills!
When abroad, stay in city areas if you don’t speak the local language
If you’re visiting a country where you don’t know the language, it’s better to stay within the city — unless you have local friends or join a guided tour for trips to the countryside. That way, you won’t face communication problems if something unexpected happens (which can leave you feeling powerless).
I tend to be extra cautious about this (and yes, maybe a bit lazy too).
Luckily, many travel platforms now offer day tours to rural areas, making it much easier to explore places that used to be hard to reach by public transport.
Thanks to technology, even hidden gems are now just a few clicks away before your travel day!
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When abroad, prepare two SIM cards from different providers
Many people might think, “Why bother? One SIM card is enough — and they’re not cheap!” I used to think the same, until I learned my lesson. Before my first solo trip, I accidentally ordered two SIM cards without realising it (classic me!). I decided to bring both — one as a backup.
On the second day of my trip, the main SIM card suddenly stopped working, and by the third day, I had no signal at all. Thankfully, I had saved all my itinerary and transport info in a notes app. That night, I switched to the second SIM card, and everything worked perfectly again.
Since then, whenever I plan a family trip, I make sure we all use different SIM card brands. This way, if one card fails, someone else can still stay connected and help the group stay in touch.
When abroad, don’t tell strangers you’re travelling alone
Of course, we all hope the people we meet while travelling are kind and friendly — but it’s still important to protect ourselves. After all, we don’t have a super-spy dad like in Taken (though we all wish we did!). Since no one’s there to protect us, we have to take care of ourselves.
If a friendly stranger casually asks, “Are you travelling alone?” you can simply smile and reply, “I’m just looking around first.” Then, try to stay in busy, well-populated areas as much as possible.
Have fun and enjoy your trip!
Travelling alone is such an exciting experience. You get to understand places more deeply and move at your own pace. There’s no need to worry about anyone else’s moods or preferences — it’s just you. Sometimes you’ll feel lonely, sometimes you’ll feel joyful, but as long as you stay safe and enjoy yourself, it’s all worth it!
Do you have any of your own safety tips for solo travel?
Share them in the comments and help other solo travellers stay safe too!🙂
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