10BEST editor Kyley Warren photographed solo traveling in Iceland; here she’s pictured on Iceland’s famous black sand beach. – Photo courtesy of Photo by Kyley Warren
Growing up as an introverted only child helped prepare me for solo travel in the best ways; not only am I comfortable with solitude, but in many cases, I actually prefer it.
Now, with 9 solo travel adventures under my belt (and counting), including solo trips to Iceland, Paris, the Dominican Republic, and more, I’ve learned how to better trust my instincts while abroad — and how to better prepare a solo travel safety kit with portable items that are essential for anyone going at it alone (but especially solo female travelers).
From hotel security staples like portable door locks to location tracking devices like Apple AirTags, below, see the travel safety items I always pack, plus the best solo travel safety rules to abide by.
What to pack in your solo travel safety kit
1. A portable door lock
Shop portable door locks for safer solo travel on Amazon. – Photo courtesy of Amazon
In classic over-protective parent fashion, my dad got me this portable door lock before my first-ever trip to Europe. At first, I scoffed at the medieval-looking tool — but after a sketchy stay in a boutique hotel in Amsterdam — wherein which I awoke to hearing my hotel doorknob being toggled at 3 a.m. — I now use this portable hotel door lock in every place I stay. It slides in easy and gives me total peace of mind at night.
2. A personal safety alarm
Shop personal safety alarms for safer solo travel on Amazon. – Photo courtesy of Amazon
In the same way that my home alarm feels like a secret-weapon against intruders, this personal safety alarm feels like a secret-weapon against pickpockets or predators who could try to harm me while traveling abroad. It’s small but mighty, with a pocket-size design and a searing alarm system that’s so loud, it shocks even me when I activate it.
3. A location tracking device
Shop location tracking devices for safer solo travel on Amazon. – Photo courtesy of Amazon
Apple AirTags have become popular luggage trackers, but they’re equally helpful for when you land, too. I like to slip one in my pocket or backpack when I’m traveling, that way there’s always a real-time way to track my location — even if I lose my phone.
4. An RFID-blocking passport holder
Shop RFID-blocking passport holders for safer solo travel on Amazon. – Photo courtesy of Amazon
It’s not the most stylish travel bag (I know), but in cities like Paris or Berlin — where pickpockets are prominent — it offers a meaningful layer of protection with multi-layer RFID-blocking fabric shields that can guard your passport and credit card info.
Beyond what to pack for solo travel, here’s a couple tips on what to practice, as well:
Do your research: No amount of travel safety products will protect you from a poorly-planned (and poorly-researched) trip. Map out the safest neighborhoods and do a deep dive into your destination’s local laws.
Share your plans with an emergency contact(s): You might be on location alone, but that doesn’t mean the people back home have to be in the dark, too. Keep several contacts looped in on your itinerary, hotel and flight details, and even live location (if you can).
Keep your headphone volume low: As someone who loves to listen to music while traveling, you still have to exercise caution; at the very least, keep your music volume on the lower end, that way you can still hear your surrounding.