At Joshua Tree National ParkAt Joshua Tree National Park

Travelling solo is one of the most liberating and confidence building experiences. However, among the undeniable moments of beauty and growth, there are some precautions that one should take (especially if you are a female traveler, it’s a sad reflection on society’s attitude toward women’s equality globally), to prioritize safety and ensure your trip is as free of incident and as enjoyable as possible. All my solo trips have been without incident, including my latest trip to Joshua Tree – where I was worried about getting lost in the desert and being bitten by snakes more than anything else!

Below are my top tips for to ensure I create optimal conditions to have a great trip when travelling solo:

Before The Trip

Research where you are going

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

  • Find out about the local attractions that you want to see, the language spoken, customs, dress and areas to avoid. Seek information from people who may have traveled there before. I often use Instagram and a mix of online based and hard copy travel guides to find out more about what attractions are in the area. Read every single review of the place you are planning to stay. the time you are sleeping is when you are most vulnerable, so the extra time invested, will pay off to stay safe and have an uneventful trip. If you are staying in an Air Bnb, do not stay anywhere where there are no reviews yet. It’s not worth the risk.

  • As you plan what to pack on your trip, it’s helpful to consider the local dress. While sneakers, shorts and T-shirts in hot weather is fine in the US. it may be a bit out of place in the center of Paris, or in Fes, Morocco. While it is important to dress comfortably, it is helpful to try and blend in with the locals, to ensure you are not marked out as a tourist and a potential target.

Make Copies of Important Documents

  • Make a copy of your passport, and other important travel documents and upload them to the cloud and maybe share them with a trusted family member or friend (i.e. your safety “Network”). This way, if your passport or other important documents go missing, you have a copy.

  • Make a copy of of your credit card and put it in the cloud (and encrypt/password protect it so the information doesn’t get stolen from the cloud!), or copy the number of the credit card company into you phone’s contacts, so if it gets lost, you are able to contact the company to notify them as soon as possible.

Make Hard Copies

  • Have a hard copy of your Network’s telephone numbers in your luggage and wallet, that way, if your phone goes missing, you can at least still call for assistance.

Leverage Technology

  • Don’t wait until you are out there, tell your Network your itinerary and use the “find my friends” app on the iPhone to share your location. Learn how to use google maps to drop pins and make sure you know how to do it and your network know how to access the information on your whereabouts before you go!

  • Download an offline map of the place(s) that you are going (google maps allows you to do this), for the moments that you have spotty or no reception. If you have the time, it can be helpful to mark on the map the main points of interest, so that you have a good idea of where everything is in proximity to each other.

  • Get an external phone charger! We rely on our phones so much, running out of battery means you may not be able to navigate or call for help if needed.

While you are there

Climbing Rocks at Joshua Tree National ParkClimbing Rocks at Joshua Tree National Park

Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

Pay attention to the people in your surroundings, both near & far. Scan your surroundings. Is someone walking close to you? Does someone appear to be watching you? Did that car just pull up beside you & slow down? Is that road empty? Should you try to take a longer route that is more well lit with more people? Better to be paranoid, than have your trip spoiled by an unpleasant incident.

This probably goes without saying, no matter where you are; be careful of what and how much you are drinking. Never drink so much that you lose your bearings, never leave your drink unattended and drink it again, no matter how friendly the locals seem.

Update Your Network on Your Whereabouts Constantly

Let your Network know where you might be going and update them on arrival and departure. If you are travelling to an area with low/limited reception, like Joshua Tree, I let my Network know approximately how long I am planning to spend in the area with limited reception and if they haven’t heard from me within 1-2 hours after the time I said I would be back, they know that I have run into trouble. Of course, you can only estimate how much time you will spend somewhere if you have done your research before your trip! Alternatively, schedule regular check-ins, so if you are off schedule checking in your network knows you may need help.

Make Friends With The Locals & Trust Your Gut

I always approach some friendly locals, to find out about some off-the-beaten path places to go to and places to avoid. When you are travelling solo, you are dependent on strangers for so many things. Listen to your gut, if something feels weird, or someone makes your skin crawl, don’t worry about not being “nice” and extract yourself from the situation as quickly as possible and say you are meeting a friend/boyfriend/girlfriend.

If you are a female traveler, make a point to chat to the female employees at the hotel/hostel/bar/restaurant, or other female traveler for tips on areas to avoid. I have often found other female travelers give the best tips on staying safe in a new location, or a great place for a manicure!

Consider Whether to Share Photos in Real TimeArch Formation At Joshua Tree National ParkArch Formation At Joshua Tree National Park

Me in the Arch Me in the Arch

when i am standing in the Arch formation, you can see the scale of the Arch Formation more.CCool Rocks at Joshua Tree National Park

Cool Rocks at Joshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree at Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree at Joshua Tree National ParkArch Formation At Joshua Tree National Park

  • When posting on social media, I never post in real time and do not tag locations until after I have left. You never know who may be lurking. Posting in real time is announcing to the world where to find you, this is particularly true if you have a public account.

Be Aware of Your Limits

While there are a lot of amazing things to see when you are travelling, you have to ensure that you take the time to look after yourself during the trip too. I am the guiltiest of this! If you feel yourself getting sick – sleep in and take some vitamin C. Or if you are tired from hiking/shopping (fill in the blank) the day before, take a day to do something more relaxing. You never want to push yourself so hard that you make yourself unwell, or less aware of your surroundings because of sleep deprivation, muscle pain etc.

Fake It, ‘til You Make It

If you get lost or feel scared on your solo trip, do your best to carry yourself with confidence and walk as if you know where you are going!. Try to find a cafe or a shop to duck into before you get out your phone or map to reorient yourself, stopping to read a map/pull out your phone in the middle of the street is announcing yourself as a potential target, as you will be distracted by the map/phone and others know you are not local.

Always, Embrace the Moment

While it can be scary, the road less traveled offers a lot of opportunities to grow and let go of the expectation that you need to be with someone or entertained every single moment. As Eric Klinenberg, Sociologist at New York University (NYU) and author of the book Going Solo, says, “There’s so much cultural anxiety about isolation in our country that we often fail to appreciate the benefits of solitude.” Solitude and time to reflect, can help us process thoughts and feelings that we didn’t know needed processing and spark creativity.

A lot of the above, are applicable anytime you are solo, but I always find a reminder helpful and add some of the items to my “to do” list before any trip. Is there anything you would add to the list? Let me know in the comments.

Wishing you happy travels, however and wherever you go.

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