How to
Solo Travel Essentials
Solo travel is freeing, but a few essentials keep it safe and smooth. The bookings and prep that matter most when you are on your own.
Published April 21, 2026 · AI-assisted editorial
Traveling solo is one of the most freeing things you can do — your schedule, your choices, your pace. A handful of essentials keep it safe and smooth so the freedom is the only thing you notice.
The solo essentials
- Insurance that fits a long or open-ended trip: SafetyWing is built for nomads and long-term solo travelers — subscribe and cancel anytime.
- Reliable data: an eSIM so your map, messages, and ride apps work the moment you land — essential when there is no one else to ask directions.
- Company when you want it: solo-friendly group trips let you travel alone but never lonely, with a ready-made group for the harder-to-do-alone parts.
Stay safe and connected
- Share your itinerary with someone at home.
- Book the first night's stay and a transfer so arrival is sorted and you are not wandering after dark.
- Keep offline maps and emergency numbers saved.
Lean into the freedom
Solo travel is the best way to do exactly what you want — linger at the museum, change the plan on a whim, meet people you would not in a group. The essentials just clear the worries out of the way.
What we are watching
Solo travel keeps rising, especially among first-timers and older travelers. Better insurance, connectivity, and solo-friendly tours have made going alone safer and more sociable than ever — turning a daunting idea into one of travel's great pleasures.