Lettie Goes Travelling

Whilst stuck on a stationary train over the weekend, I started thinking about what I would have found useful when I first began travelling on my own. And I realised I have learnt a lot; from getting it wrong on occasion to other travellers sharing their golden nuggets.

So here’s a checklist of what I do naturally now when I travel, that you may find useful.

My Solo Travel Safety Checklist

The simple things I do to travel calmly and confidently on my own.

A quick note before you start

This isn’t a list of things to be scared of.

It’s simply a collection of practical habits — many of them shared with me over the years — that I now do without really thinking.

They’ve helped me remove unnecessary stress, feel more confident, and actually enjoy travelling solo.

Take what’s useful. Leave what isn’t. There’s no single “right way” to travel.

1. Choose bags that work with you

Backpacks are great for keeping your hands free, but I always choose one where the openings sit against my back. Mine’s leather too — it feels more secure and is harder to cut into.

2. Photograph your essentials before you leave

Before I go, I take photos of:

my passport

my driving licence (if I’ll be driving)

my suitcase — both closed and open with the contents inside

If anything goes missing, you’re not trying to remember details under stress.

3. Keep visuals of your accommodation handy

I always keep a photo of my accommodation and the booking confirmation on my phone.

It’s often easier to show someone where you’re going than try to pronounce it — and it can help at check-in too.

4. Label luggage discreetly

I label my bags, but I don’t display my name, address, or phone number.

If the label has a clear holder, I turn it around and write PTO, so details are only visible if someone takes it out deliberately.

5. Put contact details inside your luggage

If external labels fall off, having your details inside gives your bag a second chance of finding its way back to you.

6. Save key numbers in one place

I save my travel insurance hotline and policy number in my phone contacts before I go.

One place to look — no digging through emails when you don’t need the stress.

7. Check your phone’s emergency details

I always make sure my emergency contact information is up to date on my phone.

You hope you’ll never need it, but it’s reassuring to know it’s there.

8. Think about how you get from the airport

I’ve used both taxis and public transport. Counter-intuitively, I often feel safer using public transport on arrival — it’s visible, predictable, and helps me get my bearings.

Getting into a taxi alone, with someone I don’t know, heading somewhere unfamiliar, can feel more stressful — even if it’s perfectly legitimate.

I’m much happier taking a taxi back to the airport once I know where I am.

Female logic? Maybe. But it works for me.

9. Check security rules for your return flight

UK airports generally don’t ask you to remove liquids from cabin bags anymore — but many destinations still do.

It’s worth checking before you fly home so you don’t end up throwing away expensive products at security.

10. Know your airline options

If you fly with EasyJet and have Speedy Boarding or EasyJet Plus, and decide you don’t want to take your cabin bag onboard, they’ll often let you check it in for free at check-in.

It can be one less thing to think about — and avoids liquid restrictions altogether.

A final thought

Travelling solo isn’t about being fearless.

It’s about removing small points of friction so you can feel steadier and more confident.

Most of these are things I now do without thinking — habits built over time, shared by others, and refined through experience.

I hope they help you too.

Lettie

@lettiegoestravelling ✈️