There’s a question I get more than almost any other: “Is it safe to travel?”

Here’s my honest answer: every place carries some level of risk — including your own hometown. The goal was never to eliminate risk entirely. It’s to prepare well, stay aware, and make smart decisions along the way. That’s it. That’s the whole secret.

I’ve traveled with my family, with girlfriends, in big groups, and completely on my own. And the thing I’ve learned, over and over, is this: confidence comes from preparation. The more you’ve thought through before you leave home, the more relaxed you’ll actually feel once you’re standing in the middle of somewhere new.

So whether you’re planning a girls’ trip, a family vacation, or your first solo adventure, here’s everything I share with people who ask me how to travel smart — not scared.

It Starts Before You Ever Leave Home

Good travel safety isn’t something you figure out on the fly. It’s built in advance, so you barely have to think about it once you’re actually having fun.

Make copies of everything important. Passport, driver’s license, Global Entry card, travel insurance, flight confirmations, hotel reservations, emergency contacts, and both sides of your credit cards. Store digital copies in the cloud and tuck one printed set in a separate bag from your originals. If anything ever goes missing, you’ll be glad you have it.

Tell someone your plans. Share your flights, hotels, and major excursions with someone you trust at home, and check in every couple of days on longer trips. It takes two minutes and it’s one less thing to worry about.

Get travel insurance. It’s the thing nobody wants to need — medical emergencies, trip interruptions, lost luggage, delayed flights, emergency evacuations — but it’s also the thing that turns a bad day into a manageable one.

Do a little homework on your destination. Local emergency numbers, common scams, cultural customs, currency, and how people typically get around. Once you know what’s normal, it’s so much easier to notice when something isn’t.

Traveling internationally? Consider registering your trip with the U.S. government’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). It’s free, it takes a few minutes, and it means the nearest embassy can reach you in an emergency.

Traveling With Your People

Group trips — whether it’s your sisters, your college friends, or the whole family — are some of the safest ways to see the world, as long as everyone’s communicating.

• If someone wants to wander off and explore solo for an hour, that’s great — just tell each other where you’re going, agree on a meeting spot, and share your location if you can.
• Make sure everyone has each other’s numbers, messaging apps, and the hotel address saved before you even land. If cell service is spotty, Wi-Fi messaging apps are your friend.
• Watch out for each other. The best travel companions notice when someone’s had a little too much fun, looks uncomfortable, or has gotten separated from the group.
• Keep everyone in the loop on the daily plan — departure times, transportation, hotel address, emergency contacts. Nobody should ever feel lost in their own trip.

Going Solo? You’ve Got This.

Solo travel might be one of the most empowering things you ever do. The trick is pairing that independence with a little smart planning.

• Share your itinerary with someone back home and send the occasional update so someone always knows roughly where you are.
• Put a little extra thought into where you stay — read the reviews, and choose a safe, walkable neighborhood. Paying a bit more for location is almost always worth it.
• When you can, check into a new hotel during daylight hours and get a feel for the neighborhood before dark.
• Trust your gut. If something feels off, you’re allowed to leave, change plans, hop in a cab, duck into a busy café, or ask hotel staff for help — no explanation required. You never owe anyone politeness at the expense of your own safety.
• And if someone asks whether you’re traveling alone, you don’t owe them the truth. “I’m meeting friends” or “my group is just ahead” ends the conversation just fine.

A Few Extra Notes for Women Travelers

Women travel the world successfully every single day — millions of us, all the time. A little extra awareness just makes those experiences even better.

• A quick look into local customs can tell you whether dressing more conservatively will help you blend in and move through a place more comfortably.
• Stick to well-lit, populated streets after dark, and skip the “shortcut” through the quiet block.
• Enjoy the evening out, but keep an eye on your drink and know how you’re getting home before you need to.
• Keep a portable charger, emergency contacts, and your hotel’s business card easy to grab.
• And remember — you don’t owe anyone your personal details, your hotel name, or your itinerary. “No, thank you” is a complete sentence.

A Few Extra Notes for Men Travelers

It’s easy to assume personal safety is someone else’s concern, but a little awareness goes a long way for everyone.

• Keeping expensive cameras, jewelry, and large amounts of cash a little less visible can help you blend in rather than stand out.
• Nightlife areas are where a lot of scams tend to concentrate — watch for the overly friendly stranger, the invitation to an unfamiliar club, or a bill that’s suddenly much higher than expected.
• Save the risk-taking for another day — skip the unsafe viewpoint, the spot locals avoid swimming, the late-night wander through an unfamiliar neighborhood. Adventure and good judgment can absolutely coexist.
• A crossbody bag, a money belt if it suits your style, and the hotel safe for your passport go a long way toward keeping petty theft a non-issue.

Getting Around Safely

A few habits that work no matter where in the world you are:

• Double-check rideshare license plates before you get in, and stick to licensed taxis.
• Keep valuables close on public transit and know your route before you head out — offline maps are a lifesaver when data isn’t.
• No need to advertise the electronics in your bag.

At the Hotel

Once you’re checked in, a few small habits make a big difference: confirm the door locks securely, know where the emergency exits are, use the deadbolt when you’re inside, and let the safe hold your valuables. No need to say your room number out loud at the front desk.

Protecting Your Money

Split it up rather than carrying it all in one place — keep a backup card separate from the rest, carry only the cash you need, lean on credit cards when you can, and give your bank a heads-up before you travel internationally so a charge in another country doesn’t freeze your card.

Health & Emergency Basics

Pack your prescriptions, a small first aid kit, copies of those prescriptions, electrolytes, and basic over-the-counter meds. And if you’re settling into one destination for a few days, it’s worth knowing where the nearest hospital or urgent care is — one search now saves a stressful scramble later.

Common Scams Worth Knowing

A little awareness goes a long way here. Keep an eye out for fake taxi drivers, distraction thefts, “broken” ATMs, currency exchange scams, friendship bracelet scams, fake petitions, and anyone claiming to be police and asking to see your wallet. None of these are unique to any one place — they show up in cities everywhere, and recognizing the pattern is usually enough to sidestep it entirely.

The Real Point of All This

I believe the world is full of incredible people, unforgettable places, and experiences that change you a little for the better. And here’s the truth: most travelers come home with amazing memories, not scary stories.

Travel was never about being afraid. It’s about being prepared — so you spend less time worrying and more time actually living inside the moment you traveled all that way for.

That’s the kind of confidence I hope every traveler finds. Not just from reading a guide like this one, but from taking that first trip. And then the next one. And realizing, somewhere along the way, just how capable you really are.

Happy travels — and travel confidently.