Retirement often changes the way we travel. One year, you may be organising trips around family schedules or a partner’s plans, and the next, you are exploring the world entirely on your own terms.
For many people, that freedom is exactly the appeal. An AARP travel report shows that travellers over fifty are increasingly choosing more independent international trips, often appreciating the joy of slow travel, which allow more time to truly experience a destination.
Solo travel in retirement can be wonderfully liberating. You set the pace. You wake up when you like, wander further when a place catches your interest, or linger over coffee simply because the view is good.
While many retirees do not initially think too much about safety when travelling alone, staying safe rarely requires complicated rules, just simple awareness and a slight change in some habits, which quickly become part of your trip.
Feet Do Travel share a few practical tips to help you travel confidently and enjoy the independence that retirement travel offers.
For many people, that freedom is exactly the appeal. An AARP travel report shows that travellers over fifty are increasingly choosing more independent international trips, often appreciating the joy of slow travel, which allow more time to truly experience a destination.
Solo travel in retirement can be wonderfully liberating. You set the pace. You wake up when you like, wander further when a place catches your interest, or linger over coffee simply because the view is good.
While many retirees do not initially think too much about safety when travelling alone, staying safe rarely requires complicated rules, just simple awareness and a slight change in some habits, which quickly become part of your trip.
Feet Do Travel share a few practical tips to help you travel confidently and enjoy the independence that retirement travel offers.
Safety starts at the airport - and how you reach your first accommodation
Be Mindful When Using Rideshares and Transport
For many travellers, the journey from the airport to their accommodation is the very first introduction to a new country. Stepping outside the terminal, you are met with unfamiliar sounds, languages, and streets, a mix of excitement and uncertainty that awaits you. It is also the moment when basic safety awareness should begin. When we visited Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we made a point of applying these simple precautions from the moment we landed.
Transport apps such as Uber or Grab etc have made exploring new cities far easier than it once was. Taxis and rideshare services can be especially useful when distances are long, public transport feels confusing in a new destination, or you simply want a straightforward ride to your hotel.
However, it is still important to treat a rideshare as you would any unfamiliar transport service. After all, concerns have been raised in the past about whether companies such as Uber have consistently screened drivers thoroughly enough to ensure passenger safety.
Before getting into a car, check that the number plate and driver details match the information shown in the app. Sitting in the back seat and sharing your trip details with a trusted contact are simple precautions many experienced solo travellers take.
Most rideshare journeys are perfectly safe, but it is still sensible to stay aware of your surroundings and confirm the driver’s identity before starting the trip. Some travellers also take time to understand passenger safety issues and the steps available if something ever goes wrong, including learning about support resources such as an Uber sexual assault lawyer.
Finally, avoid entering private cars offered by drivers outside official taxi ranks or rideshare apps, particularly at busy airports where unofficial drivers may approach arriving passengers.
For many travellers, the journey from the airport to their accommodation is the very first introduction to a new country. Stepping outside the terminal, you are met with unfamiliar sounds, languages, and streets, a mix of excitement and uncertainty that awaits you. It is also the moment when basic safety awareness should begin. When we visited Phnom Penh, Cambodia, we made a point of applying these simple precautions from the moment we landed.
Transport apps such as Uber or Grab etc have made exploring new cities far easier than it once was. Taxis and rideshare services can be especially useful when distances are long, public transport feels confusing in a new destination, or you simply want a straightforward ride to your hotel.
However, it is still important to treat a rideshare as you would any unfamiliar transport service. After all, concerns have been raised in the past about whether companies such as Uber have consistently screened drivers thoroughly enough to ensure passenger safety.
Before getting into a car, check that the number plate and driver details match the information shown in the app. Sitting in the back seat and sharing your trip details with a trusted contact are simple precautions many experienced solo travellers take.
Most rideshare journeys are perfectly safe, but it is still sensible to stay aware of your surroundings and confirm the driver’s identity before starting the trip. Some travellers also take time to understand passenger safety issues and the steps available if something ever goes wrong, including learning about support resources such as an Uber sexual assault lawyer.
Finally, avoid entering private cars offered by drivers outside official taxi ranks or rideshare apps, particularly at busy airports where unofficial drivers may approach arriving passengers.
Think practically about your chosen accommodation
Choose Accommodation with Safety in Mind
Where you stay can shape your entire travel experience. Many retirees are drawn to charming guesthouses, heritage buildings, or small bed-and-breakfast properties full of character. Wooden staircases, historic architecture, and tall windows with morning sunlight certainly have their appeal.
But charm should always be balanced with practicality.
When researching accommodation, take time to read recent reviews carefully. Look beyond the photos and check what other guests say about the area and the host.
Useful things to look for include:
Some solo travellers also prefer rooms close to lifts/elevators or reception areas, particularly in larger hotels. These small considerations help ensure you settle in quickly and sleep comfortably, which makes a big difference when travelling alone.
Where you stay can shape your entire travel experience. Many retirees are drawn to charming guesthouses, heritage buildings, or small bed-and-breakfast properties full of character. Wooden staircases, historic architecture, and tall windows with morning sunlight certainly have their appeal.
But charm should always be balanced with practicality.
When researching accommodation, take time to read recent reviews carefully. Look beyond the photos and check what other guests say about the area and the host.
Useful things to look for include:
- Well-lit entrances and surrounding streets
- Clear communication from hosts or staff
- Easy access to transport
- Positive reviews from solo travellers
Some solo travellers also prefer rooms close to lifts/elevators or reception areas, particularly in larger hotels. These small considerations help ensure you settle in quickly and sleep comfortably, which makes a big difference when travelling alone.
Don't rush to share every beautiful view on social media
Be Careful About Sharing Your Location Online
Travel at any age naturally invites storytelling. There is the automatic urge to post on social media all the beautiful viewpoints, colourful markets, or memorable meals, however, many travellers now choose to delay posting photos or updates until after they have left a location, and there are things you should never post online when travelling.
A recent survey found that around 76% of travellers worry about sharing their real-time location on social media, which has led more people to post travel updates after they move on to the next destination.
This approach allows you to enjoy the moment without constantly staring at your phone. It also protects your privacy by avoiding real-time location updates that strangers could potentially see.
Similarly, it is wise to avoid logging into sensitive accounts when using open public Wi-Fi networks in cafés, airports, or hotels. Technology should support your travels, rather than distract from the experience itself.
Travel at any age naturally invites storytelling. There is the automatic urge to post on social media all the beautiful viewpoints, colourful markets, or memorable meals, however, many travellers now choose to delay posting photos or updates until after they have left a location, and there are things you should never post online when travelling.
A recent survey found that around 76% of travellers worry about sharing their real-time location on social media, which has led more people to post travel updates after they move on to the next destination.
This approach allows you to enjoy the moment without constantly staring at your phone. It also protects your privacy by avoiding real-time location updates that strangers could potentially see.
Similarly, it is wise to avoid logging into sensitive accounts when using open public Wi-Fi networks in cafés, airports, or hotels. Technology should support your travels, rather than distract from the experience itself.
A quiet street may look enticing - but trust your instincts when exploring
Trust Your Instincts While Exploring
One advantage many retirees have when travelling solo is experience.
Years of life experience often make it easier to read situations and sense when something feels slightly off. This experience and emotional awareness can influence how older adults assess social situations and risk, in practical terms, this means simply trusting your instincts.
If a situation, road you are walking along, or a conversation makes you uncomfortable, simply leave. There is no need to explain or stay polite at the expense of your own safety or comfort.
When meeting new people while travelling, choose public spaces such as cafés, or busy parks. These environments are relaxed and social while still offering a sense of security.
Most encounters during travel are positive and memorable, but trusting your instincts is always a good guide.
One advantage many retirees have when travelling solo is experience.
Years of life experience often make it easier to read situations and sense when something feels slightly off. This experience and emotional awareness can influence how older adults assess social situations and risk, in practical terms, this means simply trusting your instincts.
If a situation, road you are walking along, or a conversation makes you uncomfortable, simply leave. There is no need to explain or stay polite at the expense of your own safety or comfort.
When meeting new people while travelling, choose public spaces such as cafés, or busy parks. These environments are relaxed and social while still offering a sense of security.
Most encounters during travel are positive and memorable, but trusting your instincts is always a good guide.
Solo travel when you're over 50 or any age doesn't mean you can't stay connected
Stay Connected with Family or Friends
Solo travel at any age does not mean disappearing entirely from the people who care about you. A simple check-in routine can provide reassurance for both you and loved ones at home.
Some travellers send a quick daily photo or message, others share their travel itinerary before they leave and update it only if plans change. Temporary location sharing during long walks or unfamiliar excursions can also act as a helpful safety net without feeling intrusive.
The aim is not to give constant updates, but simply to keep a light connection with loved ones back home. Choosing to travel solo does not mean you want the people who matter to be absent from the experience. Sometimes a beautiful view or a memorable moment makes you want to share it. A quick message, photo or even telephone call allows others to enjoy the moment with you, even while you are travelling independently.
Solo travel at any age does not mean disappearing entirely from the people who care about you. A simple check-in routine can provide reassurance for both you and loved ones at home.
Some travellers send a quick daily photo or message, others share their travel itinerary before they leave and update it only if plans change. Temporary location sharing during long walks or unfamiliar excursions can also act as a helpful safety net without feeling intrusive.
The aim is not to give constant updates, but simply to keep a light connection with loved ones back home. Choosing to travel solo does not mean you want the people who matter to be absent from the experience. Sometimes a beautiful view or a memorable moment makes you want to share it. A quick message, photo or even telephone call allows others to enjoy the moment with you, even while you are travelling independently.
Preparation and awareness makes solo travel safer and more enjoyable
Why Awareness Makes Travel More Enjoyable
Conversations about safety can sometimes sound heavy, but in reality, they make travel easier. When you know how you plan to move around a city, where you will stay, and how you manage digital privacy, there is less to worry about. This leaves more room for you to enjoy the reasons you travel in the first place.
Retirement travel often encourages a slower pace. Morning walks through local neighbourhoods, unhurried coffees at local cafés, and conversations with people who live there. You begin to notice details you might have rushed past years earlier.
Travelling later in life often brings confidence. You embrace slow travel, and are no longer racing to tick destinations off a bucket list. Instead, you allow places to unfold naturally.
Some travellers like to plan carefully, while others prefer to go with the flow. Both approaches work when paired with awareness. Preparation does not limit freedom — it protects it, giving you the confidence to explore further, whether that’s wandering city streets or trying more adventurous activities like hiking solo safely.
And once those simple habits are in place, every journey becomes what travel should be — another story waiting to be discovered.
Conversations about safety can sometimes sound heavy, but in reality, they make travel easier. When you know how you plan to move around a city, where you will stay, and how you manage digital privacy, there is less to worry about. This leaves more room for you to enjoy the reasons you travel in the first place.
Retirement travel often encourages a slower pace. Morning walks through local neighbourhoods, unhurried coffees at local cafés, and conversations with people who live there. You begin to notice details you might have rushed past years earlier.
Travelling later in life often brings confidence. You embrace slow travel, and are no longer racing to tick destinations off a bucket list. Instead, you allow places to unfold naturally.
Some travellers like to plan carefully, while others prefer to go with the flow. Both approaches work when paired with awareness. Preparation does not limit freedom — it protects it, giving you the confidence to explore further, whether that’s wandering city streets or trying more adventurous activities like hiking solo safely.
And once those simple habits are in place, every journey becomes what travel should be — another story waiting to be discovered.
