7 Critical Items To Pack When Traveling Alone

From the experts at AAA—smart safety solutions for solo travelers…

Traveling alone can be an exhilarating experience in more ways than one. While there’s freedom in forging your own path, every self-reliant traveler knows there are certain situations that can be tough to navigate solo.

But never fear! When common challenges arise, you’ll be glad you packed these seven essential items for solo travelers from the experts at AAA.

Sabre Red® Pepper Spray

CHALLENGE 1: NAVIGATING SKETCHY SURROUNDINGS SAFELY
Good instincts go a long way when traversing unfamiliar streets, trains, or landscapes alone. But if you need to defend yourself, you’ll need a sure-fire plan of attack.

Solution: With its compact keyring-compatible design, Sabre Red® Pepper Spray slips easily into any purse, pocket, or backpack for quick retrieval and non-lethal protection when you need it. Made in the U.S.A., Sabre Red is the top choice for consumers and law enforcement agencies worldwide, boasting a four-year shelf life and up to five times more spray per canister than leading competitors.

Smooth Trip RFID-Blocking Aluminum Card Case

CHALLENGE 2: PROTECTING YOUR DATA FROM WANDERING EYES
Business travelers don’t take breaks, and neither do tech-savvy criminals. Keeping your personal and financial data safe means staying one step ahead of sophisticated spyware.

Solution: This RFID-Blocking Aluminum Card Case from Smooth Trip is the best way to protect your sensitive info against would-be thieves. Its lightweight, clip-closure design keeps up to seven cards neatly organized, while an RFID-blocking layer guards against illegal scanning of card information and personal data.

SPIbelt in black

CHALLENGE 3: STASHING SMALL ITEMS ON THE GO
Making time for exercise while you’re on the road is challenging enough without the hassle of finding a place to stash your phone, keys, wallet, and other essentials while you’re working out.

Solution: SPIbelt® slips seamlessly under athletic apparel without bulking or shifting. Plus, it expands to hold even larger smart phones firmly in place—including the iPhone® 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy® S20+—making it the ultimate accessory for marathon runners, casual walkers, and mountain hiking enthusiasts alike.

Chipolo ONE Bluetooth Finder

CHALLENGE 4: TRACKING LOST ITEMS
When it comes to finding items lost mid-travel, they say two heads are better than one. But solo travelers don’t always have the luxury of teamwork. Sounds like a job for technology!

Solution: The Chipolo ONE Bluetooth Finder attaches easily to any bag or keyring to enable GPS location of backpacks, keys, wallets, and other easily misplaced items. It’ll even notify you via the app if you accidently leave something behind. But what if it’s your phone that’s gone missing? Not a problem. Chipolo is available on desktop, too.

NightCap Drink Cover Scrunchie

CHALLENGE 5: GUARDING YOUR DRINK
Whether you’re getting ready in a tiny hotel bathroom or stepping away from your drink at the bar, you need a way to keep liquids in your glass—and unwanted substances and debris out.

Solution: Multi-functionality is the name of the game with the patented NightCap Drink Cover Scrunchie. It’s a scrunchie you can wear on your wrist to tie hair back in a snap, and its hidden pocket conceals a cover that fits most cups and glasses. With a physical barrier protecting your drink from mishaps—whether accidental or intentional—you can enjoy your beverage safely and confidently.

Sabre Portable Door Lock from Sabre

CHALLENGE 6: GETTING A SECURE NIGHTS SLEEP
Not all door locks are created equal, and that’s perhaps especially true when renting a private residence, or when traveling abroad to places where standards for safety and privacy can vary.

Solution: Savvy travelers trust their sleep, privacy, safety, and valued possessions to this Portable Door Lock from Sabre. Its innovative design ensures the door cannot be opened from the outside—even with a key—allowing you to sleep soundly and wake up refreshed for your next adventure.

Bling Sting Mighty Mini Personal Safety Alarm

CHALLENGE 7: CALLING FOR HELP WHEN NEEDED
Whether you’re facing down a bear in the woods or a sinister person on the sidewalk, some moments call for making a big commotion and alerting others to a dangerous situation.

Solution: The Mighty Mini Personal Safety Alarm from Bling Sting is a smart choice for feeling safe and secure when you're on the go. The easy-touch panic button features a 125-decibel siren to ward off potential threats, and the LED safety light is super handy in dimly lit environments. Best of all, it's TSA-compliant so you can take it on all your adventures.