Travelling solo is a great way to live life on your own terms and learn about yourself. You’ll be rewarded with rich experiences and great stories to take home. But going it alone can be risky, especially for women. So how to stay safe on the road if you’re planning a trip once the world’s borders reopen?

Research, research, research

Take the time to check out your destination. Find out where the safest places to stay are, how you’ll get around, what areas are best avoided and how you should dress. Online forums and review sites such as TripAdvisor are a useful way to get information.

Keep in touch

Leave your itinerary and contact details with someone at home and check in with them regularly. Keep a hard copy of your itinerary and important phone numbers with you at all times.

Be sensible

Be careful what you eat and drink. It’s a good idea to stick to bottled water in some countries. If you’re planning a big night out, go with people you know and stick together. Beware of over-friendly strangers. Take drinks only from the bartender and avoid trying to keep up with people who can drink more than you.

Do as the locals do

Dress modestly to minimise attention, especially in countries where the sexes are not treated equally. Take your cues from the locals. If you don’t look like a tourist, you won’t be as easy a target for swindlers or pickpockets. Act confident (even if you’re not). Walk purposefully with your head up and pretend you have somewhere to be.

Be careful on the road

Take a photo of a taxi’s number plate before you get into it. En route, fake a phone call to tell someone you’re on your way so the driver thinks you’re meeting someone, and track the cab via Google Maps so you’ll know if you’re going off-route. Get a GPS if you’re renting a car; looking at a map or your phone in a strange place can be dangerous.

Fill up your gas tank when it’s half-full to avoid running out in a dodgy area. If you’re taking public transport at night, wait in a café or at your accommodation until you need to go to the station. On trains, avoid sleeping in empty compartments. Consider asking for a female roommate on overnight trains.

Safety first

Keep two room keys with you — one in your bag and one on your person. That way if your bag is stolen you won’t be locked out. If you order room service, never say you’re alone. Leave the do not disturb sign on your door and the TV on when you leave your room. Befriend female hotel/hostel employees and ask them for tips about getting around and where not to go. Have the address of your hotel or hostel written down to give taxi drivers. If you’re arriving somewhere late at night, splash out on a hotel that provides airport or bus/train station transfers. You can’t put a price on safety. Use taxis at night and pay more to stay in a busy, central area.

Guard against theft

Pack lightly. You’ll be a target if you have lots of bags and you’ll be less mobile. Carry a day bag big enough for all your important items and never put these things into luggage holds or checked baggage.

Take your bags with you to the bathroom. If you stop to buy tickets or are otherwise distracted, put them between your legs or keep hold of them. Most reputable hotels and hostels have lockers or room safes for guest use.

Don’t keep all your money in one place.

Be street smart

Don’t tell people you’re traveling alone. If you’re arranging to meet someone, choose a public place. Let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. Stay around people when you’re exploring and don’t walk alone at night, particularly in unlit areas. If you get lost, duck into a café or shop to look at a map or your phone rather than doing it on the street. Use cash machines on busy streets and in daylight, not at night when it’s quiet.

And there you have it. It’s common sense, really, but safety tips are easy to forget in the excitement of travel. Stay alert, keep your cool and you’ll be safe and sound while you see the sights.