Exploring the World Alone? Here are 20 Travel Tips That Every Solo Traveller Should Know

Travelling with friends and family is fun and all, but have you ever travelled solo before? Exploring a foreign country alone is a whole other experience.

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Everyone always says that travelling overseas solo, at least once, is life-changing. Cliche as it sounds, it’s true. But along with the excitement, comes a lot of precautions and dangers that solo travellers should be prepared for – particularly for younger or female travellers.

Also, travel tips and advice can vary quite substantially depending on which country or region of the world you visit. Nonetheless, these are 20 popular (and obscure) tips that we think every solo traveller should take note of. 📝🤓🌎

Table of contents

• Essential solo travel tips
• Miscellaneous solo travel tips
• Should you bring a credit card or multicurrency card?
• Best credit cards for booking flights & accommodation
• Best credit cards for overseas travel
• Best travel insurance plans in Singapore 2023 

What are some essential travel tips for solo travellers?

It might be tempting to just be completely spontaneous and #yolo your solo trip for maximum fun and excitement; but let’s be real, it’s still safer to err on the side of caution for certain aspects of travelling.

Jump to:

• Download necessary apps before departure
• Download an offline map
• Download translation apps
• Know the country’s police hotline
• Have a mini first-aid kit
• Don’t overpack
• Distribute cash across belongings
• Keep emergency cash
• Never make your real-life location public
• SIM card, portable wifi egg, or data roaming

#1 Always download the necessary apps before departure

One of the first lessons I learnt when travelling solo overseas is to always download important apps before my departure flight. Important apps could be apps for immigration clearance or highly-integrated super apps like Kakao. 

When I travelled solo in Seoul for a week, I thought I’d be relying mostly on the subway and not taking any taxis, so I wouldn’t need the Kakao app.

Unfortunately, I soon realised that switching between accommodations alone with overweight luggage by public transport was easier said than done. It was not practical whatsoever. I had to take a taxi. 

As a result, I gave in to download the app but ran into a roadblock: I was prevented from registering an account.

Confused, I didn’t understand why I couldn’t register an account with my existing Singaporean [+65] number despite using a Korean SIM card. But no matter how many times I refreshed for an SMS verification code, I never received one. Hence, I couldn’t complete my Kakao account registration and couldn’t log into the app to book a taxi.

In the end, I had to resort to requesting the hotel concierge staff to book a taxi (with their Kakao app) on my behalf.

The moral of the story is, don’t assume that you can just download important apps when you reach your destination country. Sometimes you might have unstable wifi connection, or have limited data usage, or need to register and verify an account with a local number that you don’t have.

#2 Download an offline map

Never underestimate the importance of downloading an offline map. 

You never know when it might come in handy. It comes in clutch for times when you have no internet connection, especially if you’re extremely unlucky and both your phone and portable wifi eggs run out of juice. 

It becomes even more of a necessity when travelling to more rural areas.

#3 Download a language translation app

If you’re still relying on Google Translate when travelling in a foreign country, we’re judging you. All jokes aside, although Google Translate has improved over the years, there are other better and more robust translation apps out there.

One such recommendation is Naver Papago.

Source: Papago

I used Papago for the first time during my solo Seoul trip and I was pleasantly surprised by its consistency and accuracy in Korean-English translations. It even offered useful functions like speech-to-text, which enabled me to communicate with Korean strangers back and forth whenever I was requesting something.

Other good translation apps include iTranslate, SayHi, and Reverso Translate and Learn.

#4 Know the police hotline of the country you’re visiting

Whenever you’re travelling solo, it definitely adds to your safety if you know the police hotline of the country you’re in. Because whenever you find yourself in a bit of a pickle, your family and friends won’t be able to offer immediate help. Instead, your first point of contact should be the police.

💡 Pro-tip: Consider setting the police hotline on speed dial for swifter calls.

#5 Have a mini first-aid kit on hand

You never want to go out alone unprepared, especially if you’re intending to go on some solo nature hikes in rural areas. 

Your mini first-aid kit should contain essentials like band-aids, assorted bandages, blister treatment, anti-allergy meds, painkillers, bug spray, Mopiko, antibacterial cream, and more – you know your medical history best.

But if you’re just hitting the town with convenience stores at every corner, then maybe just bringing some ibuprofen, nausea meds, and a few band-aids out will suffice for a night out.

#6 Don’t overpack; carry light

Now, this might sound a bit contradictory to whatever tips we’ve mentioned, but there’s merit to packing light. 

Admittedly, this tip is more relevant to solo backpackers because you'd want to pack sufficiently and intentionally. While being prepared for emergencies is good, you don’t want to be lugging around unnecessary baggage all day either.

Bring the essentials you need, but at the same time, if they can be found at a supermarket or convenience store easily, then you can weigh your choices on whether to bring them or leave them in your accommodations.

Moreover, packing light can help you avoid falling victim to potential theft.

Carrying a huge backpack or luggage (when you’re just casually exploring the area and not moving between places) is sure to draw unwanted attention from scheming pickpockets. Not only do you stick out as a tourist, but your bulkiness makes you vulnerable to having your belongings stolen without realising it.

#7 Don’t bring all your cash out with you, always keep spares in other belongings

Speaking of travelling light, don’t bring out all your cash or valuables on your person. Storing all your money for the trip in one single wallet when going out is never a wise choice because again, pickpockets.

Distribute your travel money across your belongings. We recommend setting a budget amount to bring out each day and storing the rest in your luggage, or even the safe box that comes with hotel rooms. 

If you brought along a credit card or multicurrency card for your trip, you can afford to store more cash safely in your accommodation.  And for whatever cash or card you bring out, always keep it safe in more hidden pockets/compartments of your clothes and bags. 

💡 Pro-tip: Carry a smaller fanny pack or cross-body bag in front of you and zip it up underneath a jacket for the best protection. However, this might be a double-edged sword because you might also look awkward/clumsy when taking out money to pay.

#8 Always have emergency cash on hand

Even if you rely mostly on credit or multicurrency cards on your travels, you should always have some spare, emergency cash. This is because not all merchants will accept cards or contactless payment, especially when it comes to traditional marketplaces, bazaars, or transport.

#9 Never share your real-life location with the public

Only share your real-life location with your family and friends; never make your current whereabouts public to strangers through location tags or social media apps tracking your location.

Stalking incidents are no joke, and you always want to play it on the safer side, especially for female solo travellers. 

And if you ever suspect yourself being followed, find the nearest police station immediately. Or if there’s none nearby, go to the nearest crowded venue to call for help. Because in case anything happens, at least there are eyewitnesses to assist you.

💡 Pro-tip: Only post your social media stories one or two hours after leaving the premises.

For greater assurance, create and entrust an excel sheet or document containing all your essential travel details (e.g. flight number, accommodation) to someone trustworthy/reliable, like a family member. 

This is a good safety precaution to practise because at least one person is aware of your main whereabouts at all times.

#10 How to choose SIM card, Portable Wifi Egg, or Data Roaming?

This depends on the location you’re visiting.

SIM cards 

SIM cards are good for city areas, offering high-speed connectivity and it equips your phone with a local number. However, it’s noticeably worse for rural areas because of their reliance on a single network provider. 

But if you prefer SIM cards regardless, how do you decide between local SIM, travel SIM, or international data roaming?

Local SIM is good for obtaining a local number and typically offers a good selection of data package variations. They can come in flexi-contract or SIM-only plans, allowing you to choose a customised plan for your period of stay overseas. 

The downside is that it might be in a foreign language so set-up and topping up prepaid value might become inconvenient or difficult.

Alternatively, travel SIM is good for long-term travellers visiting several countries consecutively for a longer period of time, tends to be cheaper than data roaming but more expensive than a local SIM card.

Lastly, eSIM is the most straightforward of the bunch. It allows you to connect to a mobile network by downloading and installing a prepaid plan (requires an unlocked eSIM-compatible cell phone). 

It doesn’t have any hidden roaming fees, allows you to stay connected in multiple countries and regions, and can be easily switched between data plans (no need SIM removal) so can use it alongside your regular SIM card.

Portable wifi egg

A portable wifi egg is good for both city and remote areas because it has access to multiple network providers, so it has an extended range of coverage as compared to a SIM card.

It also provides internet connection to multiple devices at a go (e.g. phone and laptop requiring internet simultaneously), which makes it ideal when travelling with others.

The major downside is that you’ll probably need to share your portable charger’s battery between multiple devices if both your phone and wifi egg suddenly run out of power.

Nevertheless, popular vendors to rent a portable wifi egg from include Klook, Shopee, or Changi Recommends.

International data roaming

International data roaming is the most convenient but has a very low data allowance. It can become costly in the long run, if you keep busting your data limit and have to constantly top up and buy new data.

Read more:
Mobile Data Roaming: What are Your Cheapest Options When Travelling?
Cheapest Prepaid SIM Card Plans in Singapore (2023)
Best SIM-only Mobile Plans in Singapore (2023)

What are some miscellaneous travel tips for solo travellers?

That’s enough about essential solo travel tips, what are some fun and interesting ones?

Jump to:

• Travel during low-peak seasons
• Book overnight flights to save on accommodation
• Be familiar with the country’s common scam tactics
• “No single supplement” tours and cruise packages
• Hostels, Airbnbs, or hotels?
• Find likeminded travellers
• Download podcasts, audiobooks, and music playlists
• Buy city or activity pass bundles
• Visit free museums and festivals
• Bonus: Apply for miles credit card to book flights, accommodations
  

#11 Visit the country during low-peak seasons

Identify the months of low-peak travel for your country of destination. Flight, accommodation, and experiences all tend to be cheaper during those periods.  

However, if travelling during low-peak months is not an option, opt for the shoulder season. Shoulder season refers to the margin months just before or after the high season so that you can avoid heavy crowds while still enjoying favourable weather – truly the best of both worlds. *chef’s kiss* 👌

See also: Revenge Travel: 16 Top Travel Tips to Satisfy Your Wanderlust

#12 Book overnight flights to save on accommodation

This one is kind of common sense because you want to be as cheap cost-effective as possible to maximise your solo trip experience. So why not just save on accommodation by booking an overnight flight and just sleeping on the plane? 😁🛫

You might not wake up the most refreshed but hey, saving money is saving money.

#13 Research what the common scam tactics are

Better be safe than sorry; learn how to recognise the signs or behaviours of potential scammers to avoid being caught in their trap.

For example, a common scam that happens in Paris is the “friendship bracelet scam”. Essentially, a stranger will walk up to tourists, grab their arm, and start braiding a friendship bracelet around their wrist under the pretence of a goodwill gesture. 

However, once they’re done braiding the bracelet, they begin demanding payment for it, despite initially fronting it free of charge. And if the tourist refuses to pay, a horde of other scammers from the group will come forth and won’t stop hounding until payment is made.

See also: 6 Tops Financial Scams in Singapore & How to Protect Yourself

#14 Find tours or cruise packages with “no single supplement”

Single supplement refers to the surcharge imposed on solo travellers when purchasing tour and cruise packages. Oftentimes, if tour packages usually charge on a “per person based on double occupancy” basis, solo travellers end up paying more than what half a couple would. 

Essentially, you’ll be paying a much higher premium than the quoted or advertised price.

So when booking your next tour, cruise, or activity package, be sure to check the minimum pax requirement per booking to ensure you don’t get double-charged or overcharged a premium.

#15 Choose between hostels, Airbnbs, or Hotels

Depending on where you go, opinions on hostels, Airbnbs, and hotels vary (and can even be controversial). 

Hotels

Whenever we travel with friends or family, we tend to opt for hotels, stay in our little bubble and don’t interact with locals or other foreigners very much – because there’s not much point really.

Hostels 

Meanwhile, hostels are some of the easiest and best ways to make friends with other solo travellers overseas. It’s a great opportunity to meet people of different cultures and experience the local scene with some company. 

But, be sure to choose a favourably-rated, reputable hostel for a safer stay. One kind of hostel I personally enjoyed was the pod hostel, specifically those with gender-assigned rooms. You get to enjoy your own little private pod, and can even draw the blinds/curtains for more privacy.

The pod hostel I stayed at while in Queenstown, New Zealand was the JUCY Snooze. Each pod was really cosy and cute, with a mini side ledge to charge my phone and hold other miscellaneous bedtime items.

The toilets were also clean, well-lit, and easy to use. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there.

Source: JUCY Snooze 

Airbnbs

On the flip side, Airbnbs are also a good way to get connect more with locals and enjoy a more authentic experience overall through your host. 

They’ll be able to provide guides, tips, and other underrated recommendations/secret gems that you wouldn’t have otherwise gotten from tourist information centres or visiting “overrated” tourist spots.

However, because Airbnbs are solely hosted by individuals and not proper management, they would be less equipped to resolve issues like power outages and water supply cut-offs. 

Moreover, safety might be questionable if the Airbnb doesn’t have security or is situated in an unsafe neighbourhood. But the onus is on you to research the accommodation’s vicinity thoroughly first before choosing an appropriate stay – unless the Airbnb’s facilities and neighbourhood were falsely advertised.

💡 Pro-tip: When visiting tourist attractions, don’t be afraid to ask for free guided walking tours. You’ll be surprised how many/easily available they are. It’s highly recommended for those who want a more enriched experience visiting tourist spots.

See also: Best Hotels, Promotions and Deals For Staycation in Singapore

#16 Find other likeminded travellers through online platforms

Who said you have to be completely alone while solo travelling? Sure, you might start off your adventure alone, but with the right opportunities or resources, you can easily find and connect with other solo travellers in the area.

For instance, meetup.com is a website organised by cities and interests all over the world. It’s a fun (usually free) method to make friends with locals and other tourists looking for spontaneous hangouts or activities to do.

#17 Buy city or activity passes

Another fun method to explore a country is to take advantage of city or activity passes. These usually come in Day Pass packages and comprise public transport and activity discounts (e.g. Discover Seoul Pass on Klook).

In general, they’re cheaper than buying individual tickets.

See also: Klook Promo Codes & Credit Card Promos in Singapore (2023)

#18 Visit free museums, parks, or ongoing festivals/events

In the spirit of spontaneity and free stuff, just google for “free activities to do in ____” or “things to do in ____” to find the ongoing or upcoming activities happening in the city. 

Another method I’ve been liking recently is using TikTok as a pseudo-search engine itself because of how good the search algorithm is.

Usually, there’s a good chance that museums offer free entry. 🤓🎨🖼

Read more:
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Late-Night Activity Ideas: Singapore 2023 Edition
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#19 Eating out alone AKA Table for one

Don’t be afraid to dine out in restaurants or eateries alone. Just because you’re a table of one, doesn’t mean you have to always order takeaway to eat alone at your accommodation. 

Dining out on your own is underrated because not only do you get to enjoy eating at your own pace, but it also teaches you to enjoy your own company; and who knows, you might even have an opportunity to strike up a conversation with neighbouring diners and make new friendships.

#20 Download your favourite podcasts, audiobooks, or music playlists

In line with our previous point, you soon learn to get used to your own company when travelling solo. It might be daunting and intimidating at first, but a good audiobook, podcast or favourite music definitely helps you get through the initial loneliness.

That’s why we recommend curating and downloading these media files in case you wind up in a place with limited data connectivity. But as long as your favourite tunes are downloaded, you can listen to your tunes offline, anywhere you like.

📝 Bonus tip: Apply for a miles credit card to book all your flights, accommodations, and activities

Want one of the fastest and most fuss-free methods of collecting miles? 

From our experience, applying for a new miles card and subsequently charging all your flight, accommodation, and overseas activity transactions to it is the easiest way to both rack up miles and meet minimum spend requirement for sign-up reward/welcome gift (if any).

The minimum spend requirement usually hovers between S$500 to S$1,000 eligible spend per month. This amount can be easily fulfilled with a couple of flight tickets or a 3D2N stay at a 4-star hotel.

See also: Top Credit Card Promotions And Deals On SingSaver (February 2023)

Should you bring a credit card or multicurrency card overseas?

As more countries are increasingly adopting cashless payment practices, which cards are best to bring overseas? Credit card or multicurrency card?

While there’s no right or wrong, the general consensus is that multicurrency cards tend to be the more popular option these days. In a nutshell, multicurrency cards hold multiple currencies in an e-wallet to facilitate overseas transactions seamlessly. 

Furthermore, the following benefits give them an edge over credit cards nowadays:

• Low to zero foreign currency (FCY) fees 
• Attractive currency conversions based on interbank exchange rates
• Free overseas ATM withdrawals

Examples of multicurrency cards include YouTrip, Revolut, Wise, Instarem amaze, and Wirex.

Meanwhile, the only credit cards worth using overseas are miles credit cards that reward bonus miles for overseas expenditures. Such cards include DBS Woman’s World Card, UOB PRVI Miles Card, UOB Visa Signature Card, and the Citi Rewards Card + Instarem amaze combo.

Miles credit card	Miles earn rate
DBS Woman’s World Card Apply Now	1.2 mpd on overseas spend   Extra 5% cashback on overseas shopping and dining
UOB PRVI Miles Card Apply Now   Apply Now	2.4 mpd on overseas spend (including online shopping on overseas website)
UOB Visa Signature Card Apply Now	4 mpd on online and overseas spend
Citi Rewards Card + Instarem amaze Card Apply Now	Citi Rewards: 4 mpd on online and shopping purchases   Instarem amaze: 1 InstaPoint per S$1 in FCY spend (Equivalent to 1% cashback)
DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card Apply Now Apply Now	2 mpd on overseas spend
Citi PremierMiles Card Apply Now
OCBC 90°N Card Apply For Your OCBC Credit Card Now!	2.1 mpd on overseas spend

But even then, overseas transactions paid with credit cards are subjected to FCY fees (between 2.5% to 3.5%) and currency conversion fees charged by Visa, MasterCard, and AMEX payment processors (1% for Visa/MasterCard, 2.5% to 2.7% for AMEX).

Read more:
Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Singapore 2023
Credit Card Comparison: DBS Altitude vs Citi PremierMiles vs OCBC 90°N
Best Credit Card Types For Miles: By a Miles-Hacking Expert

Best credit cards for booking flights & accommodations in 2023

Curious to know which credit cards are best for booking your next flight and accommodation lodging overseas? Click on the article below to find out our top 7 miles credit card recommendations as well as what each card’s strong suit is.

Best Credit Cards For Booking Flights And Hotels

Best credit cards for overseas travel in 2023

Best Miles Credit Cards

Credit Card	Best for/Benefits	Details	Min. Annual Income	Promotion/Sign-up Bonus
Citi PremierMiles Card Apply Now	- S$1 = 10 miles on Bookings at Kaligo - S$1 = 7 miles on Hotel Books at Agoda - S$1 = 2 miles on Overseas Spend   - S$1 = 1.2 miles on Local Spend   - 2 free airport lounge visits per year with Priority Pass - Complimentary Travel Insurance	- Miles awarded as Citi Miles, which never expire - S$27 per redemption - Annual fee: S$194.40 (First year free)	- Local/PR: S$30,000 - Foreigner: S$42,000	Apply and spend S$500 within 30 days to get a Dyson V8 Absolute™ (worth S$609) OR a Sony WH-1000XM5 (worth S$575) OR a Flujo Ayla Ergonomic Office Chair (worth S$1,139) S$300 cash. Valid till 2 April 2023. T&Cs apply
DBS Altitude Card Apply Now	- S$1 = 10 miles on Hotel Transactions at Kaligo - S$1 = 6 miles on Flight & Hotel Transactions at Expedia - S$1 = 3 miles on Online Flight & Hotel Transactions (capped at S$5,000 per month) - S$1 = 2 miles on Overseas Spend   - S$1 = 1.2 miles on Local Spend   - 2 free airport lounge visits per year with Priority Pass	- Miles awarded as DBS Points, which never expire - S$27 per redemption - Annual fee: S$194.40 (First year free)	- Local/PR: S$30,000 - Foreigner: S$45,000	Apply with promo code 150CASH and spend S$800 within 60 days to get S$150 cashback. Valid till 30 June 2023. T&Cs apply.
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card Apply Now	- S$1 = 3.1 miles on Grab Transactions (capped at S$200 per month) - S$1 = 2 miles on Singapore Airlines and KrisShop transactions (no cap) - S$1 = 2 miles on Overseas Spend in June and December (no cap) - S$1 = 1.1 miles on Local Spend (no cap)	- Receive 5,000 KrisFlyer miles on your first spend - Annual fee: S$178.20 (First year free)	- Local/PR: S$30,000 - Foreigner: S$60,000	N.A.
Maybank Horizon Visa Signature Card Apply Now	- S$1 = 3.2 miles on Dining, Petrol, Taxi Fares and Agoda Hotel Bookings - S$1 = 2 miles on Air Tickets, Travel Packages and Overseas Spend - S$1 = 0.4 miles on General Spending - Complimentary Travel Insurance	- Miles awarded as TREAT Points ,which is capped at 30,000 per month   - Min. S$300 monthly spend - Annual fee: S$180 (First 3 years free)	- Local/PR: S$30,000 - Malaysian Citizen: S$45,000 - Foreigner: S$60,000	Apply for a credit card and CreditAble account, and spend and/or withdraw S$300 from your CreditAble account for 2 consecutive months to get a Samsonite Harts 68/25 Spinner (worth S$500).  Valid for the first 4,500 applicants. Remaining applicants will get S$100 cashback. T&Cs apply.
UOB PRVI Miles Card Apply Now	- S$1 = 6 miles on Selected Online and Flight Bookings at Agoda, Expedia, and UOB Travel - S$1 = 3.2 miles on Overseas Spend - S$1 = 1.4 miles on Local Spend - Complimentary Travel Insurance	- Miles awarded as UNI$   - S$25 per redemption - Annual fee: S$259.20 (First year free)	- Local/PR: S$30,000 - Foreigner: S$40,000	Apply and spend S1,000 for 2 consecutive months to get 50,000 miles. Valid till 31 March 2023. T&Cs apply. Plus, score a BRONZE ticket (1x chance) in our March Madness Grand Lucky Draw when you apply, for a chance to win your share of over S$20,000 worth of prizes! Valid till 2 April 2023. T&Cs apply.

 

Best travel insurance plans in Singapore 2023

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