Solo travel after 60 has grown substantially as a travel category, driven by widowhood, divorce, friends with different travel preferences, or simply a personal preference for independent exploration. The good news: solo travel for retirees can be both completely safe and deeply rewarding with the right preparation.
Before You Leave
Share Your Itinerary
Give a trusted family member or friend your complete itinerary, including accommodation details and flight numbers, before departing. Set up a simple check-in schedule — even a daily text message confirming you're safe provides meaningful peace of mind for both you and those at home.
Register With Your Embassy (International Travel)
The US State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is free and allows the embassy to contact you in an emergency and provides updated safety information for your destination throughout your trip.
Research Healthcare Access
Know the location of the nearest hospital or clinic to your accommodation before you need it. If traveling internationally, confirm whether your health insurance provides any coverage abroad, and consider supplemental travel medical insurance if it does not.
Choosing Accommodation Wisely
For solo travelers, accommodation choice meaningfully affects both safety and social opportunity. Smaller, well-reviewed hotels or guesthouses often provide more personalised attention from staff than large anonymous hotels. Reading recent reviews specifically mentioning solo travelers or older guests can reveal useful insight into how welcoming and safe a property genuinely is.
Practical Daily Safety Habits
- Keep a physical and digital copy of your passport, ID, and important documents stored separately from the originals
- Avoid displaying expensive jewelry or electronics prominently in unfamiliar areas
- Research the general safety reputation of specific neighbourhoods before booking accommodation
- Trust your instincts — if a situation feels uncomfortable, it is always acceptable to leave or decline
- Keep your phone charged and consider a portable charger for long days of exploring
- Use hotel safes for passports and valuables rather than carrying everything with you daily
Staying Connected Without Feeling Isolated
Solo does not have to mean alone for the entire trip. Group walking tours, cooking classes, and small-group day excursions offer natural opportunities to socialise during the day while maintaining full independence over your overall itinerary. Many solo travelers find that dining at communal tables or hotel bars creates organic conversation opportunities without requiring any formal group commitment.
Fund Your Travels With Passive Income
Our 25-page covered call ETF guide shows how retirees generate $1,000-$2,000+ monthly from their savings — income that arrives whether you're home or halfway around the world.
Health Considerations Specific to Solo Senior Travel
Carry a printed list of your current medications, dosages, and any significant medical conditions — useful both for your own reference and in case emergency care is needed and you are unable to communicate this information yourself. A medical alert bracelet or card noting any critical conditions (allergies, pacemakers, diabetes) provides an additional safety layer that costs little but offers real protection.
Solo travel after 60 carries no greater inherent risk than solo travel at any other age, provided reasonable precautions are taken. The independence, confidence, and personal growth many retirees describe from solo travel experiences are, for many, well worth the modest additional planning required.