The Solo Traveller
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‘Solo smart’ tips …
Photographer: Kieferpix.
‘Solo smart’ health tips while you are travelling
By Dr James Knox
When you’re travelling alone, you need to take care of yourself. Preparation helps, but even the best-planned trips can take a turn for the worse. If you find yourself feeling unwell while away, here are our tips on how to get the help you need and keep your adventure on track.
1. In an emergency, act now.
If it feels urgent, it probably is.
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Call the local emergency number immediately. Most countries have one, and it’s worth saving them in your phone or prominently in your journal before you go.
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If you don’t need an ambulance:
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Head to a public hospital or 24-hour clinic. In big cities, these facilities are well used to treating travellers and often have English-speaking staff.
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Contact your travel insurer’s 24-hour hotline. They can help coordinate care, recommend hospitals, or even arrange transport if you need it.
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2. For minor illnesses, find a qualified local doctor.
Not every problem needs a hospital visit, but it’s still important to get reliable care.
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Ask at your accommodation. Hotel or hostel staff usually know reputable local doctors.
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Contact your embassy or consulate if you’re unsure. They can provide lists of English-speaking doctors and guidance in tricky situations.
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Visit a local GP. A qualified local doctor can advise on minor ailments and medications.
For extra reassurance, the International Society of Travel Medicine directory lists English-speaking doctors in more than 85 countries. You can also explore the organisations’s website here for destination-specific health advice before you travel.
3. Before you go, pack a mini health plan.
A simple health checklist can save you trouble later:
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Bring a copy of your travel insurance and note the emergency contact numbers.
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Pack your regular medications, with a letter from your doctor, plus a basic first-aid kit.
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Research local emergency numbers and medical facilities at your destination.
A little preparation goes a long way toward keeping your trip on track. Keep your essentials – passport, insurance details, emergency contacts – in one waterproof pouch. Easy to grab in a hurry.
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As a travel doctor, there’s one golden rule I’ve seen come into its own, time and time again – trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, get it checked out. Travelling solo doesn’t mean you’re on your own, but it is important that you don’t hesitate to access the resources, networks, and professionals who are ready to help.
Dr James Knox, BSc (Med), MBBS, DTM+H, FRCPA, FRACP, is an Australian Infectious Diseases specialist and the Director of Glide Online Travel Clinic.
Disclaimer: The information provided by The Solo Traveller Group, Firestar Studios, and our contributors on this website is intended for general guidance, informational and illustrative purposes only, and does not constitute professional advice. Always seek expert and qualified advice and guidance from specialists in your particular areas of interest and expertise (such as, but not limited to, health, finance, and personal safety). The Solo Traveller Group, Firestar Studios and our contributors are not liable for any loss, injury, or inconvenience sustained as a result of using this website.
Photographer: Joa Souza.
Travelling ‘solo-smart’ beyond the headlines
By Josh Chandler
The world is more interconnected than ever, yet conflict, civil unrest, and political instability can emerge or escalate with little warning. Situations that feel distant when we’re planning a trip can shift rapidly on the ground. Borders close, demonstrations erupt, transport systems stall, and once-familiar streets take on a different tone. For solo travellers who don’t have the buffer of companions or group infrastructure, these changes can feel particularly acute.
Travelling solo doesn’t mean travelling recklessly, and understanding risk isn’t about fear, it’s about awareness, adaptability, and preparation. Smart solo travel is rooted in staying informed, reading your surroundings, and having practical strategies in place for moments when plans unravel or conditions change unexpectedly. The following tips are designed to help you navigate uncertainty with confidence, clarity, and a steady head so you can respond thoughtfully rather than reactively.
Make sure your research is current
Understanding risk is about being and staying informed, not becoming immobilised, and thorough, up to date research from authoritative and reputable sources is your best friend. Learn about local laws, customs, recent news, and political, conflict, or climate-related developments at or in your destination.
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Locals and your community of fellow travellers will be useful collaborators – and collaborating on research with trusted and knowledgeable insiders can be a useful strategy. Social media also has its place in your research ecosystem, but be smart and alert about what, how, when, and where you consult it.
Practice the language basics
Practicing important words and phrases in the local language is extremely useful, and even just 10–15 phrases can go a long way. One of the most important phrases, especially when you need to follow instructions from someone talking to you in a language you can’t understand, is to be able to tell them that you do not speak their language, and that you really need to find someone who speaks yours. Civil unrest and conflict can escalate rapidly and unexpectedly, and you will need to be in the company of someone who speaks your native tongue as quickly as possible.
Understand and observe cultural differences
Dress codes and social etiquette not only show respect, but they can also be critical to diffusing potentially difficult and dangerous situations. Three of the most important of these are: making sure you are wearing the appropriate attire; knowing when to be taking photographs and when not to be; and honouring the significance of sacred sites where certain kinds of behaviour are completely unacceptable. When tensions are elevated and unpredictable, travellers who show little or no understanding of cultural differences can inflame situations.
Prepare to be offline
Don’t expect to be able to rely on Wi-Fi, and our safety begins with a fully charged smartphone battery. Download an album of offline maps, and screenshots of embassy contacts, local emergency numbers, and contact numbers (including the relevant area codes) of your primary emergency contact(s), family and/or friends at home.
Josh Chandler is a travel writer based in Europe.
Photographer: Sutadimages.
My ever-reliable smartphone, until …
By Josh Chandler
We’ve all been there, and there is nothing that compares with the moment when you realise that your trusty travelling companion has … well, vanished. In whatever shape or form … it really doesn’t matter. It is a universal sinking feeling – that sudden, frantic patting of pockets and diving into bags, only to find a hollow space where your phone used to be.
Our phones hold everything near, dear, and important … until they don’t. Phones get lost, stolen, soaked, run out of power, or become suddenly useless in places where Internet coverage is patchy, slow, or non-existent. When we’re travelling solo, that digital silence can feel impossibly loud and can really disrupt what had been, up until this moment, a grand solo adventure.
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The easiest and most practical solution is to carry a small travel journal and treat it as your offline safety net. Somewhere prominently inside, write down essential details including emergency contacts, accommodation addresses, flight numbers, insurance information, and any local contact numbers you might need.
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When the screen goes dark, or the signal disappears, this little notebook becomes reassurance you can hold in your hands. Low-tech, lightweight, and quietly powerful, it’s one of the smartest travelling companions we can journey with.
Josh Chandler is a travel writer based in Europe.
The Alexandre III Bridge across The Seine, Paris, France. Photography: Muratart.
Travelling ‘solo smart’ beyond “Bonjour!”
By Josh Chandler
Even the most experienced and capable solo travellers carry a quiet, deep-seated anxiety within us everywhere we go – a perfectly natural tension between caution and curiosity. It’s the constant undercurrent – no matter how confident and prepared we are – of not knowing exactly how to navigate misunderstandings. In a foreign place, even common everyday experiences such as finding a meal, asking for directions, or catching a bus, can feel loaded with the pressure of ‘getting it right’. That constant and slow-burning uncertainty isn’t weakness, it’s our instinct sharpening, and our awareness expanding to learn, remember, and understand about how to meet moments with confidence and surety. Acknowledging that this anxiety exists – and learning from it – is an essential part of our growth as solo travellers.
Start with survival, not small talk
Polite phrases like “Hello” and “Thank you” are useful, but in a moment of confusion or danger, survival phrases matter more. Prioritise what will help you get clear and calm assistance. You can be polite once you’re safe.
Carry a language card
A card with the name of your native language, written in the languages of the countries you’re visiting, is a simple, essential tool. Flag badges and pins can help, but only if someone recognises them. In a crisis, clarity beats symbolism – it’s not a quiz, and it may be an urgent moment where words matter most.
Learn and rehearse key safety-related phrases
Focus on functional phrases, the most important of which are “I’m sorry, but I don’t speak [your language], do you speak [my language]”, “Is there someone here that speaks [my language]?”, and “I need help to understand”. These lines can unlock kindness and assistance and help avoid confusion or conflict. Pair them with a shrug, a puzzled look, or an open expression. Practise with a friend or app. And remember, your tone and body language often say more than perfect pronunciation.
Keep key phrases handy
Memorise or carry a few essential phrases like “I don’t understand” and “Can you help me?”. If pronunciation is tricky, write them phonetically. Carry a small card in the local language with your accommodation address, as it can help hotel staff, shopkeepers, or drivers speak on your behalf if necessary.
Body language is your backup
Non-verbal cues are universal. Read faces, postures, and tone before reacting. Look around, because your ally may not be the person speaking to you. Stay aware of your own body language too – calm, open, and prepared wins more trust than panic or defensiveness.
Pause, listen, and scan the space
Don’t rush to respond if you don’t understand someone. Take a breath, use one of your prepared phrases, and look around. You may be focused on one person, but someone nearby could already be listening and ready to help. Often, the answer is in the room, and you just need to remember to slow down to notice it.
Josh Chandler is a travel writer based in Europe.