Considering solo travel? Avoid oversharing, plus 5 more tips to do it safely

• The holiday season is approaching, and some may want to travel solo.
• Though this may raise safety concerns, it happens more often than we think.
• Here are some tips on how women can successfully travel solo.

The holiday season is fast approaching, and this may mean a solo vacation for some, and according to booking.com, it's mostly women.

There’s been a lot of buzz around the concept of solo travel. While it is a great concept, there are still safety concerns, particularly for women.

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Solo travel is simply the idea of travelling on your own and during your trip, you choose and decide everything from services to activities, according to your own individual needs and desires. The trend has been around for a long time but is growing. Blogger Christopher Damitio, the founder of Vagobond.com, says he has been watching the trend grow since the 1990s but has noticed how it has changed.

"The loneliness and isolation that used to be hard for people to deal with no longer really exists because everyone can stay connected via smartphones," he says.

Solo travel also developed a bad reputation in recent years as Black women opened up about their horror stories online. One such traveller is Zainab Oladehinde who shared her experience on social media regarding her solo travels to Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Zainab’s experience left many social media users in shock and having second thoughts about travelling solo, especially Black women. So, we’ve compiled tips you can keep in your back pocket should you decide to entertain the idea of travelling alone.

1. Find hostels or similar accommodations - the atmosphere in hostels is usually very social, making them the perfect place to meet other women who are travelling alone

2. Pack light - you’re most likely going to have to carry everything by yourself so the lighter you travel, the better for you.

3. Be organised - for the trip, in general, as well as for some things to go wrong, by having a plan. You can look up local destinations online if you're looking for places that are safe for solo travelling in South Africa.

4. Don't overshare - keep important details like your accommodation and location to yourself.

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5. Stay local, buy local, meet locals - staying and buying local helps boost the economy. Additionally, speaking to locals helps as they can tell you which areas are safe to travel alone, and which restaurants are worth visiting.

6. Meet and connect with other women travelling alone - this is great for when you’re looking for advice opinions, or even someone to meet up with while travelling

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