Solo traveling can be exhilarating and empowering, but there are a few extra items I always bring to ensure my safety. The products listed below are ones which I have personally used while traveling alone. While this is obviously written from a female perspective, these products would be beneficial to have for solo travelers of all genders- you can never be too cautious!
This portable lock has come in handy for me in Airbnb’s and even some hotels. It adds an extra layer of protection which gives me peace of mind when staying somewhere by myself. It is super easy to use and has become an essential to help me sleep well at night. This one comes with an additional safety measure in the form of a door stop alarm which I will be purchasing for my upcoming year of travel.
Birdy alarm and off-brand safety siren
Unfortunately, many countries in the world do not have self-defense laws in place or there may be fewer protective measures in place for non-residents. Carrying pepper spray is also illegal in some countries (including a few popular EU countries like the UK and Greece) and using it or another similar product may get you into legal trouble. Because of this, I carry a mini portable alarm as an added safety measure so that I could A) alert nearby people of an issue and B) potentially scare an attacker off. I use the brand Birdy and bought it from the official site, but have linked the official Birdy alarms found on Amazon as well as a cheaper knock-off with good reviews.
One of the most annoying things that can happen while traveling is having your phone die. However, this can pose a bigger issue for solo travelers than just pure annoyance- getting lost in a foreign place without means of communication could actually be quite dangerous. You should always make sure that you have a portable charger with you when traveling to prevent being without access to a phone. Linked here is a different one as well.
Portable carbon monoxide alarm
Something you may be unaware of is that Airbnb listings are not required to have carbon monoxide alarms inside. Buying this is certainly an extra precaution, but I finally purchased my portable carbon monoxide alarm when I stayed in an Airbnb in Norway over Christmas break. Although these are not necessary, I will be bringing mine along for all long-term Airbnb stays this upcoming year for peace of mind.
