Copenhagen Downtown Tips for Solo Backpackers
Solo travel can be one of the most exhilarating ways to explore and discover a new destination, but it can come with some hazards of its own; take the hassle out of travel with our tips for staying safe for solo backpackers.
Choose your Destination Wisely
Some destinations are much more solo travel friendly than others and have a long tradition of seeing backpackers passing through. These well-trodden paths are also more used to seeing solo female travellers and have a better infrastructure for backpackers to enjoy the sites and find accommodation – they probably even speak a few languages to help you. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy more unusual destinations off the beaten track but planning in advance is advised for these. Turning up in the middle of nowhere might mean there aren’t any places to even stay.
It is much easier to travel in countries that are culturally open (Scandinavia loves backpackers!) and have good transportation and hostel networks. You will also meet more travellers as you go, which makes it a little easier to find new friends on the road! For female travellers in particular, countries that are more liberal to women’s rights are much more accepting of women travelling alone. Locals will be less used to seeing women travel alone, and although usually just curious, you can offend some locals just with your presence, and experience higher levels of harassment or unwanted attention.
Plan like a Ninja
Planning is key to being prepared and making the most out of your trip, if you plan like a ninja, you are sure to minimise unforeseen problems. Book your beds in advance if possible, and let friends and family know where you will be (but be cautious what you put on social media as this information could be misused.) When travelling alone, choose safer transport options, such as avoiding overnight journeys or hitchhiking. If you feel in danger then ask someone for help, and if in doubt always take a taxi back to your accommodation if you can.
That’s not to say you should not visit places you want to go, or to remote locations, but make sure you have let friends and family know where you will be going, have booked your accommodation in advance, and planned your transport there and away. No one wants to get stuck somewhere they don’t feel safe that has few transportation options.
Stay in a Hostel of Course!
Not only are hostels basically designed for meeting and mingling other people and sharing experiences, they are the easiest and most suitable accommodation for backpackers generally and if you are on your own, you will make new friends! Solo travellers make up around two thirds of bookings travelling annually, according to Hostelworld, so it’s no surprise to find that hostels now are geared more and more towards solo backpackers walking through their doors, and these are also mostly female. This is great news for travellers who can now benefit from the added extras, and no longer have problems with single occupancy rooms and being left out of tour groups as an odd number. Many activities in hostels are geared towards meeting new friends and having fun, which is open to anyone, whether you’re travelling solo, with friends, family, or significant other!
Safely Precautions and Being Prepared
We also have to address travelling safely, which is something female solo travellers in particular need to pay attention to, but also relevant for male solo travellers. 12% of male solo travellers have reported feeling unsafe during travel, so this isn’t just an issue for the ladies, although we have some tips for them specifically on our blog for Female Solo Travellers here:
If you are on your own, you can be seen as more of a target to petty street crime such as pickpockets as can be easily distracted while you are carrying your bags and checking your Google maps. Other scenarios to avoid include general common sense and the same rules as at home; obviously walking around an unfamiliar destination at night can be hazardous, and if you become lost and feel unsafe, the best thing to do is find a taxi and get to somewhere you feel safe, such as your accommodation. Beware of drinking too much alcohol also, you can put yourself in an unsafe situation without realising and make decisions with impaired judgement!
So that said, we want you to get out there and have the most fun you can, in the safest way for you, and enjoy backpacking! Some of the more usual problems include:
- Being distracted while at bus stations or train stations. While you are holding all your bags and a map looking for your hostel reservation for directions on your phone, you are a target for opportunist thieves to grab a bag. When travelling solo try to check where you are going before you arrive and be aware of your surroundings.
- Drink Safely: accepting drinks from strangers should be done with a little bit of precaution, you are better off if you can see it being poured and know the strength of any cocktails or mixed drinks in case you drink a bit more than you intended!
- Know the local currency exchange and familiarize yourself with the paper notes: this will make you less likely to be short changed or overpay by accident when you are unused to the costs.
We Love Solo Travellers at Copenhagen Downtown Hostel
We welcome solo travellers here at Copenhagen Downtown and our hostel and activities are geared towards meeting like-minded international travellers and making friendships. We also have plenty of chill out zones for those wanting some down-time, and female only dorms, for those preferring not to share a unisex one. We have been welcoming backpackers to our hostel for years now, so we like to think we have got it right! Enjoy happy hour with us in an environment that is geared towards safe fun with a friendly crowd!
Book directy with us for the best prices and added benefits, and check out our friends at St Christopher’s Inns Hostels and Famous Hostels for the best hostels around Europe for Genuine Backpackers.