Traveling is the perfect way to take a little trip down memory lane or simply get away for a minute. But it can also pose some unique risks. Whether you’re flying across the country or taking a drive to visit your niece or nephew, there are some things that you should always bring with you. 

Traveling alone can be exhilarating. You get to do whatever you want, whenever you want. But it can also be nerve-racking. If you’re planning a trip, here are a few things you should pack for that solo journey.

Here Are the Things to Bring When Traveling Alone:

  • Don’t Forget Your Passport. 

Whether you’re taking a trip to another country or going to another state, no trip is complete without a passport to leave the country. A passport is an identification card that certifies the identity and nationality of anyone that wishes to travel internationally. If you have one, all you need to do is get to the airport. Or, if you’re planning a long trip, the first thing you should do is get your bags packed and then grab your passport and tickets before you do anything else.

  • Don’t Forget To Take A Copy Of Your Itinerary With You. 

This will come in handy if anyone ever gets lost or you have an emergency. Traveling alone can be liberating, exhilarating, or frightening, depending on the circumstances. It can even be all of the above. But traveling alone can be exhilarating when you choose your destination carefully, make sure you have everything you need, and make sure your travel arrangements are secure.

  • Having A Flashlight Is Also Essential. 

You never know when an emergency situation will arise. When traveling alone, it’s safe to assume that (or hope) that you’ll always have your cell phone with you. However, your cell battery could run out anytime (especially during a layover at the airport). Therefore, it’s better to bring along a portable flashlight, as you may never know when you will need it.

  • Keep Your Cell Phone Charged At All Times.

Traveling alone can make you feel vulnerable, especially if your travel plans include going somewhere potentially dangerous. Being stranded in a foreign place and having no way to contact family or friends can be a scary situation, but it doesn’t have to be. When you’re traveling alone, be sure to keep your cell phone charged at all times. Even if you expect to only have access to cellular data, keeping your phone charged means you can still use your phone to make an emergency call.

  • Take Local Currency With You. 

You’ll be grateful that you did. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, there’s nothing worse than arriving somewhere in the unknown only to discover that your dollar bills don’t buy as much, or at all, as you’d expect. And if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll find yourself wishing you had local currency in hand to buy groceries, get a cab, or even fill that tank up. So, before your next vacation, be sure to pack plenty of dollars, euros, and yen—then you’ll be able to enjoy more of what your destination has to offer.

Few things are as exhilarating as traveling solo, and few things are as terrifying as traveling alone. Either way, the prospect of solo travel can excite or terrify you, and the former is often what keeps you from doing it. There are many valid reasons to avoid solo travel—family obligations, work, lack of funds, fear of traveling alone, etc.—but these are excuses. 

Traveling alone can be scary, yes, but it’s also exciting, and it’s one of the best experiences you can have as a human.