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Travel + Leisure

I've Been a Solo Traveler for 15+ Years, and I Won't Go Anywhere Without These 13 Safety Devices—From $7

Look, I've done a fair amount of world travel with male partners—living in an Airstream and camping around the USA, chasing an ex down scary ski runs in the Colorado Rockies, wandering Italy following in the footsteps of a Napolitan boyfriend. But honestly? I feel better, safer, more confident, in control, and aware when I'm traveling solo. After 15 years of world travel, I've learned it's not my partner that keeps me safe, it's me. My most powerful tools are my awareness and intuition, and I've honed both over countless solo journeys traveling as a touring dancer, travel writer, and photographer. Of course, a few thoughtfully chosen safety accessories don't hurt either. From keeping track of my gear to staying in good health, these are a few of the products that help me feel safe when I'm off exploring solo. Luckily for you, many of them are on sale during the Amazon Memorial Day sale, so don't miss this chance to add them to your collection while they're up to nearly 45 percent off. Whether I'm with a group or traveling solo, I always have an Apple AirTag affixed to at least one piece of gear. The flight attendant-approved gadgets keep an extra eye on your belongings and provide real-time location tracking via Bluetooth. When I'm on my own, they give me extra peace of mind that I know exactly where my suitcase (they've saved Travel + Leisure editors plenty of times when their luggage didn't show up at baggage claim), camera equipment, and other valuables are. For an added layer of protection, Apple AirTags can also give your family and friends your location so they know that you're safe when you're on a solo adventure. Complete the bundle: While you're at it, pick up a new battery for your Apple AirTag. I've talked before about how annoying it is to replace AirTag batteries (the CR2032 batteries typically only last about a year, which goes by faster than you think), and before you know it, you're buying another pack of replacement batteries. Even then, some CR2032 batteries don't always work with AirTags because of the child safety anti-ingestion bitter coating. So when I came across this (on-sale) Apple AirTag life-extender, I was intrigued; it's perfect for the AirTag I always keep in my main piece of luggage, but I could also see this being handy to keep in a car or RV used for full-time vanlife. There are plenty of Apple AirTag holders and keychains out there, but I've found that the most secure way to attach them to my gear is with these ultra-strong sticker holders from 3M. The adhesive backing sticks to any surface (think hardside luggage shells, wallets, bike frames, and more). I personally use them on my camera lenses. Pro tip: When the lens is on your camera and in use, remove the tagged cap and place it in your camera bag (usually full of other pricey gear) so that if that gets nabbed, you can track the thief. Speaking of experience gear, as a travel photographer, I'm always traveling with camera equipment that's worth anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. Needless to say, I don't want to lose these pricey lenses and camera bodies. So I looked into ways to add a tracking tag to my gear and found this hidden AirTag Arca-Swiss tripod plate for my camera bodies. It looks like a normal base plate, but actually has a hidden Apple AirTag compartment that can only be opened with a special included wrench, so thieves won't be able to access the tracker. When I'm traveling alone, I always have one hand on my passport. It's my most important travel document, and I don't want to lose it or have it stolen. That's why I recently upgraded my passport cover from an aesthetically pleasing one to a functional one, which has built-in FindMy capabilities should we get separated. Just like all my tech, I can now ping my passport and geolocate it in the event of theft. I was recently talking to a fellow travel writer who told me of a friend whose hotel room got burgled while she was in the bathroom taking a shower. Although these incidents are rare, the story got me thinking about some of the hotel rooms I've encountered that don't have an extra interior chain or latch to prevent the door from opening from the outside. I'm eyeing this portable door lock to add to my safety kit in case I come across a hotel or Airbnb door that doesn't have that extra safeguard. Keep in mind that if you're traveling on a cruise ship, these kinds of locks are prohibited. In the event of a fire, crews need to be able to get into a room and extinguish it quickly. My passport and my phone are my top two most important tools as a solo traveler. In fact, I have a picture of my passport saved to iCloud, should the passport ever go missing and I need its information to secure a replacement. All this is to say, my phone is full of useful information and tools that help keep me safe—contacts, copies of documents, health insurance, GPS maps, and more. That means my phone needs to be charged at all times in case of an emergency. So I'm never without an extra battery (or two)—the more compact the better. This one is 20 percent off, and it can charge your iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. Shopping on a budget? The popular Charmast portable charger is on sale for $19. It's a traveler-favorite for its powerful battery life, fast charging abilities, and built-in cables. When I travel alone, I like to keep my purse snugly under my arm where it's impossible to be pickpocketed. Crossbody slings are the perfect purse design for solo travelers because you can swing them around to your front when you're navigating crowds, or keep them under your arm. Even when I sit down at restaurants, I usually keep my crossbody on so as not to leave it vulnerable on the ground or loose over the back of my chair. This adjustable crossbody sling from Wandrd, which is hardly ever on sale, is stocked with hidden pockets that are hard to tamper with, a weatherproof exterior, and a roomy interior to hold everything you need. Shopping on a budget? On sale for $47, the Travelon Anti-Theft Active Waist Pack's convenient hands-free design is enhanced with the brand's signature 5-Point Anti-Theft Security System to protect your belongings from common types of theft. Thankfully, I've never had to use a personal safety alarm or pepper spray, but a keychain siren can help you feel safer if you're walking around after dark by yourself (T+L's senior writer takes one on every trip). This one has rave reviews for its loud sound and only costs $23. Even if a thief doesn't steal your phone, they can still glean a lot of information from just looking over your shoulder—your hotel address, banking info, social handle, next destination, and more. All of this information can jeopardize your safety when you're traveling alone. Bad actors can use this to follow and stalk you or steal your private information. This $7 anti-spy tinted glass and screen protector for your phone makes it so that darting eyes can't see what you're looking at on the screen. When I turned 30, I departed Girona, Spain, to cycle the Pirinexus 360…by myself. The 360-kilometer ride was safely routed for me by Eat Sleep Cycle and took me five days, navigating rural mountainous gravel, winding roads through the Pyrenees, and busy beachside trails along the Costa Brava. But even when I'm not embarking on an ambitious solo ride, I always pack a bike light in my bag because cycling is how I prefer to get around cities like Paris and Amsterdam. City biking is perhaps even more hairy than rural road cycling, so always illuminate yourself if you're riding alone at dusk, and after dark with a portable and easy-to-charge bike light. I first learned about Recco reflector technology when I tried out a Nivis ski jacket this winter skiing in Ketchum, Idaho, and Samnaun, Switzerland. The tech helps rescue teams locate you in the event of an avalanche or if you get lost off a trail, and the Nivis Protego Pro ski shell comes with it built in. It's easy to add the tech to any outdoor gear, and arguably essential if you're headed out on a hike, kayak, etc. alone. If you plan on embarking on outdoor adventures solo, always let someone know (like a park ranger) where you're headed. And hike with plenty of extra water, food, and basic emergency supplies in your pack. There's also a $38 backpack version that you can attach to the handle or zippers to get the same level of safety. Summer's almost here, and when I'm traveling to the beach, or even just to the pool, I protect my phone in a watertight pouch like this on-sale duo from Syncwire. If my phone breaks when I'm solo traveling because I drop it in water, it's almost as bad as having it stolen. Watertight pouches are also great for protecting your phone from summer downpours and sand, too. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.