Is travelling alone safe?

Yes, definitely. It may not be suitable for everyone to head off travelling alone, but for the many people who do it, it can be a very liberating and confidence building experience.

You may want to be more cautious in the country you pick to visit, and the activities you plan when you get there. There are definitely things that you could easily do with a friend which you should think twice about doing alone. Make sure you do lots of research and planning, and visit some forums to get advice from those who have already done it.

Think carefully about your travel safety, and take some precautions to keep you safer. Avoid dark lonely places, carry an alarm or whistle and keep telephone numbers of your hotel and a local taxi service with you. Trust your instincts, dress conservatively and don’t be afraid to go into a shop or hotel for help if you are worried about some unwanted attention. Don’t accept drinks from strangers in case they are spiked.

When travelling with friends, there are always people who know where you are, or where you should be, and when to start worrying about you. When travelling alone, there will always be times when you are out of contact with family & friends. Make sure you set up a timetable for contacting family & friends, so that they know when to expect you, where you are going to be and when (& how) to take action if something has gone wrong. Staying in touch should be a reassuring lifeline, not a restrictive source of paranoia.

Book your first night’s accommodation in advance, so you know where you are going and are not so susceptible to the gangs of touts that haunt traveller arrival places. This also means that if your arrival is unexpectedly delayed, you don’t risk turning up in a strange city in the middle of the night, not knowing where to go.

It is even more important to try to pick up some of the local language to add to your independence and stop you having to rely on others.

Many cities have well-known meeting places for independent travellers, such as cafes, bookstores and bulletin boards in hostels. You could find out about social gatherings, tours, meet travel companions or find rides wanted/available.

Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers, especially women, children and elders. Don’t be afraid to accept invitations to join a person, family or group for dinner or an activity – some of the most meaningful travel experiences come from spontaneous invitations from strangers. People who travel alone say that they met more friends and local people than they would have if travelling with others. Be brave and take the plunge!

If you're a woman traveling on your own, you'll have to take that extra little bit of care. Women on the Road has plenty of information on safe travel for women, as well as general travel information for the solo female backpacker.

If you would rather travel in a group, but none of your friends are up for going with you, think about joining an organised tour. You may be more restricted in your movements, but it could enable you to go places that you couldn’t alone. Or you could advertise for a travel companion on a forum. Find someone who wants to do what you want and meet up in advance to make sure you get on well. You may even get on better than you would have with a lifelong friend!