If you are a man reading this, you are in the right place. From my personal experience, this post is written from a woman’s perspective. This year, more people, especially women, will travel solo. And since safety is important to me as a solo female traveler, a good travel safety gadget is important for solo travelers.
Safety isn’t just about being safe because you are afraid – it is more about preparation. You have to prepare to stay safe as a solo traveler, especially in a new city. If the travel destination is not my home or city, I owe it to myself to return home safe and sound.
In this guide, I shared my must-have travel safety items for solo travelers, especially female solo travelers, to help you stay protected. And if you are new to traveling or want to start exploring the world alone, do well to review my solo travel guide.
Related post: Solo travel 101 – The ultimate guide to traveling alone
CONTENTS:
Sometime ago, I saw a comment on TikTok that read: “Isn’t it ridiculous that women have to be over-vigilant while traveling?” Well, it’s not our fault.
But let’s get one thing clear: safe travel is for everyone. But in recent times, women have traveled more and faced the most prejudice while traveling solo.
So, while I’m preaching to everyone, solo female travelers will likely benefit more from this post.
Also read: 47+ travel hacks and tips for a perfect trip
5 Must-Have Travel Safety Gadget for Solo Travelers
1. Safety Personal Alarm
I bought this one before my solo trip to Brussels, and whether I’m at work or on a trip, my safety alarm is always in my handbag. You never know!
I like the personal safety alarm because it is lightweight, easy to carry, and can be easily attached to your keychain. If you ever feel unsafe anywhere or feel like you are being followed, just pull the pin. The alarm is as loud as a police siren, and even the flashlight will scare an assailant away.
Some safety alarms have an additional feature that connects with your phone and shares your location with your preferred contacts, but it comes at a small fee. The goodnews is that the personal alarm is also allowed in hand luggage.
I call it ‘a panic button’ because with a simple pull, you will attract attention to yourself.
2. Portable Door Stop Alarm and Door Lock
The portable door lock was the first safety gadget I bought for my solo trip to Barcelona. Fortunately, there was no use for it on that trip, but I was delighted to have it.
The portable door stop alarm works as a stopper to make sure that anyone outside the door cannot enter the room. But with a battery, this door stopper activates a high-pitched alarm if anyone tries to open your door. The alarm alone is enough to deter any intruder and keep you safe.
The portable door lock uses a latch mechanism to align with an existing lock and secure the door. It is very easy to use and will give no damage to the door it is attached to.
I always travel with these two gadgets at the same time, because you never know if your hotel has two doors. Even if my room has one door, I use the door stop alarm and the portable lock on the same door.
If these two safety devices are used together, you can sleep soundly. Better safe than sorry!
3. Extra Padlock
If you stay in hostels or find lockable closets in your hotel, a portable safety padlock will be best for you. Additionally, if you have a zippered luggage, a padlock can come in handy for extra security on your luggage.
Portable padlocks come in various sizes and styles – old-fashioned or numeric padlocks. I always have one in my cabin suitcase to make sure I don’t forget it. This padlock came in handy to me when I visited Rome last year, and it ensured that my personal items were safe.
All you need to do is attach the lock to a hook on your door, closet, or bag, and clip it in place. That’s it! It is one of the handiest travel safety gadget for solo travelers.
4. An Airtag
An AirTag comes in handy if you’re always on the go and have to check in your bags. They have a sort of GPS tracker inside them, which allows you to connect it with your phone. And from your phone, you can track the location of your luggage, making sure that it is secure.
I have one of my Samsung Galaxy SmartTag permanently inside my cabin suitcase, and it is connected to my phone too. With this tag, I know where my suitcase is and can easily track its location in case of theft.
5. Portable Pepper Spray
When I was younger, I always carried pepper spray because I worked in shifts and came back late sometimes. At that time, it was the only self-defence I could carry and it was ready to use any time.
The Pepper spray is an oldie but goldie, and has been the oldest self-defence weapon for women. Depending on the size of the container, some airlines have a limit on how much liquid you can carry on a hand luggage.
Do well to check if your airline allows pepper sprays on carry-on luggages. But a pepper spray will come in handy if you are hiking or exploring the city at night.
Also read: How to spot red flags before booking your hotel
Sure, there are a plethora of travel essentials available for travelers in the market. But these safety items are also travel essentials for anyone who wants to feel safe while traveling alone. The good thing is that these safety gadgets are affordable and can be found for cheap on the web.
FAQs – Travel Safety Gadget for Solo Travelers
Yes, except power banks! Safety devices, like the portable door lock, personal alarm, whistle, and extra padlocks, can be packed in your hand luggage.
However, devices with batteries and pepper sprays are not allowed on the flight. Air France provides more information about this.
Every travel safety accessory I listed in this post is the best one you should pack for your solo trip.
They are the best because they are smart and essential travel safety devices for your solo trip.
Pack both! You’ll need them.
Sometimes I use both gadgets for one door, other times you might have a hotel room with two doors. It is an important travel safety gadget for solo travelers.
Yes, you should!
They would be necessary when you get to your destination. But you don’t need to carry all of them around with you when you are seeing the city.
You can walk around with your pepper spray, personal alarm, and whistle, and leave the rest at your hotel.
It depends!
Some countries in Europe have laws that prohibit carrying self-defence weapons of all sizes in public. You can have them, but it is frowned upon to carry them outside your home without a reason. For example, this law applies to France.
Ensure that your travel destination allows this, but you can safely carry pepper sprays up to 100ml.
Also read: Headed to Paris? Top scams to avoid while in Paris
Recap
These days, travel safety items have gotten lighter and easier to use, so you don’t have to worry about their weight. If you want to travel smarter and safely, especially as a woman, packing a travel safety gadget should be non-negotiable.
You don’t need every travel safety device on the market, but any of the travel safety gadget for solo travelers I listed is enough to give you peace of mind.
As solo travel continues to grow this year, packing a few travel safety items can make all the difference. Together with these devices, make sure you travel safely, trust your instincts, and avoid moving around late at night. Prepare yourself and enjoy your trip!
Happy travels!
