Traveling alone means you’re your own backup plan and support system. So, you need to make sure you stay safe above anything else. So, after 10 years of solo traveling as a woman (2026 being my 10th year), it’s safe to say that the following list of travel essentials includes what you need to have as a solo traveler.

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Solo Travel Essentials for Safety 

#1 Anti-theft bag, money belt, or fanny pack

Whichever of these travel essentials you choose, just make sure your choice of daypack is either anti-theft or close enough to your body so that it cannot be easily pulled away. If you opt for the latter, I often go for a fanny pack or a messenger bag/crossbody bag if I’m carrying more items than what I could fit in a fanny pack. 

#2 Anti-theft apparel

Anti-theft solo travel essentials aren’t limited to bags; you can get stylish apparel as well. That’s why yours truly has designed a pickpocket-proof travel hoodie with a hidden zipper pocket. I love wearing mine at the airport for easy access to my passport and boarding passes. I also wear it while getting around a foreign city with my money, credit cards, or smartphone hidden away from the prying hands of pickpockets. You can order yours through Curls en Route – THE SHOP.

#3 Padlocks

I can’t stress enough how important padlocks are, whether to keep your luggage safe at the airport or to keep strangers out of your locker at the hostel. Personally, I prefer the old-school lock and key padlocks over the combination ones, as you can never go wrong with them. And if you’re concerned about misplacing your keys, I have a cool hack for you. I usually attach them to my mini-wallet or to my spiral hair tie. 

#4 Door Stop Alarm or Portable Door Lock 

Not all solo travelers stay in hostels, or at least, not every single time. We sometimes stay at hotels or Airbnbs, be it for comfort, convenience, or availability. This is when a portable door lock or door stop alarm comes in handy. You can never go wrong with an extra layer of security.

#5 Personal Safety Alarm

This is one of the travel essentials that might feel over the top at first, but it’ll at least keep the ladies’ minds at peace when they’re walking alone at night or when they don’t feel the safest. You can keep this personal safety alarm in your pocket, purse, or attach it to your keychain. If you feel unsafe, as soon as you pull the clasp, a super loud alarm will go off, giving you time to create a diversion or bring attention to you if needed. 

Solo Travel Essentials for Health & Hygiene

#6 First-aid kit and meds pouch

Those who know me know really well that I learned this the hard way: a meds pouch must be at the top of your list of travel essentials. I fell incredibly ill on my first-ever solo trip, and if you’ve been following me for long enough, then you definitely know the story by heart by now. The moral of the story is: don’t be like 19-year-old Nadine and travel with a mini-pharmacy. I’ve included a list of everything you can include here. 

#7 Travel insurance 

Travel mishaps are more common than you think; flight delays, lost luggage, getting sick, electronics theft, you name it! That’s why you should never travel without getting insured. My favorite travel medical insurance is SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance. You can choose from their Essential and Complete plans depending on your travel lifestyle and criteria. 

#8 Menstrual Products

This one’s for the solo travel girlies, obviously! Even if your period projected dates aren’t coinciding with your travel days, menstrual products are absolute travel essentials. Changing your environment, along with stress and other factors, can contribute to messing up your cycle. 

I can’t remember how many times I got my period earlier or much later than expected on trips. This can also happen to you, and you can be in the outdoors with zero resources or in a foreign country where you may have no access to your preferred menstrual product. So, whatever that is, pads, tampons, or menstrual cups, always include them in your packing list. Getting your period while traveling, especially solo, can be quite stressful, so better be prepared.

Tech Solo Travel Essentials 

#9 Power bank

Spending a whole day out exploring will not just drain your physical battery but your smartphone’s battery as well. And you need that for navigation, staying connected, travel apps, and so on. That’s why you should always pack a fast-charging power bank, especially if your trip features content creation or taking endless footage of your favorite artists at a music festival.

#10 An eSIM 

Staying connected to the internet is crucial for safety above anything else, and downloading an eSIM is hassle-free and even cheaper in a lot of destinations than buying a physical SIM card. Lucky for you, I got my own discount code (CURLSENROUTE) from Airalo that grants my readers and followers 10% at checkout!

And if you’re new to using eSIMs, my recent guide will walk you through the whole process, and you can also learn more about other eSIM providers I like, such as Jetpac, Saily, Yesim, Drimsim, and Nomad.

#11 AirTag/Tracker

This one is hands down one of the most important travel essentials, in my opinion. Ever since I started using AirTags, my travel game’s never been the same again! Keeping track of my luggage using my iPhone’s FindMy app has kept my anxiety to a minimum, especially during connecting flights. It’s also kept my mind at peace in public transportation or roaming busy foreign streets, as I like to keep one in my fanny pack/daypack just in case, God forbid, it gets snatched. 

If you’re not an iPhone user, don’t worry, there are alternatives for Android users.

#12 Universal Travel Adapter

Packing a universal travel adapter is a non-negotiable! This is another fact I learned the hard way. For some reason, I always forget to pack my travel adapter every time I visit Dubai, and I always need it there! In Dubai, electric sockets use type G plugs, while in Egypt, we use type C, so you can see why this is frustrating.

Experience-Enhancing Travel Essentials

#13 Multiple payment methods 

Make sure to bring a mix of cash and cards; several ones, both debit and credit. This way, in case it stops working for whatever reason, or if it gets stolen, you have a backup plan. Cash is also important, as in some countries, like Egypt, cash is king in so many situations!

#14 Emergency cash stash

Speaking of cash, it’s also very helpful if you keep an emergency cash stash in case anything goes wrong. 

#15 Copies of Important Travel Documents

Be it your passport, visa, insurance, or flight ticket, always have multiple copies on you. Soft copies on your phone are great for convenience, but hard copies are huge for backup. You won’t know unless your phone breaks on a trip (true story). 

#16 Packing Cubes 

Many consider packing cubes as optional travel essentials; I know I did it at first. But ever since I started using them, I’ve leveled up my packing game. Using them isn’t just an organizational hack, but an ADHD-friendly one as well!

#17 Reusable Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is not optional. That’s why I always carry around a water bottle wherever I go, and you should too. A reusable one, though, is more eco-friendly and saves more money. You can also invest in a water bottle with a built-in filter if you’re refilling tap water. 

#18 Packable Tote Bag

Packing a foldable tote bag has come in handy so many times on my trips. Be it on day trips, beach days, or when I went shopping for souvenirs. It literally requires little packing space, but offers you extra space at other times. 

Closing Remarks…

Tested and approved by yours truly, and now I can pass on these travel essentials so you too can travel safely and smarter. If you have other travel essentials you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to drop them in the comments section below! Happy travels 🙂

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Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!

Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.

SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.

This travel medical insurance is perfect for frequent travelers. It covers lost checked luggage, travel delay, doctors, hospitals, and more. It even covers the COVID-19 emergency quarantine period if deemed necessary by a physician.

Explore SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance Essential and Complete plans now.

OR REGISTER FOR FREE!

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You might also like:

• Nomad Insurance: 6 Reasons Why Travel Insurance Is Essential
• Traveling Solo as a Female: How to Stay Safe & Travel Confidently

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