Solo travel from the UK: what to check before you go alone

The FCDO's advice for solo travel from the UK comes down to three habits: leave an itinerary with someone at home, book your first night's accommodation before you travel, and make sure you can reach your money in an emergency.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) describes solo travel as travelling by yourself, independent of a group or organised tour. This guide follows the order of the trip: documents and plans before you go, safety once you arrive, advice for particular travellers, then who to call.

Everything here is taken from GOV.UK and dated. This is not a ranking of countries, so we show how to check the country you have in mind.

Entry rules are set by the country you visit, so start with its FCDO page. On the France entry requirements page, for example, GOV.UK says your passport must have a 'date of issue' less than 10 years before the date you arrive, and an 'expiry date' at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.

The FCDO's foreign travel checklist adds two small steps: sign your passport, and record your emergency contact details in the section provided. It also says to take an extra form of photo ID with you, other than your passport.

Whether you need a visa depends on where you are going. Our entry requirements guide for British passport holders covers the visa side destination by destination.

The FCDO asks you to put the details of your trip in someone else's hands as well as your own. Its solo and independent travel guide and its checklist give six checks.

For the health line, our travel vaccinations guide explains where the advice for each country comes from.

The FCDO's solo travel guide and checklist list a short set of habits for the ground. They are plain ones.

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  First night: Book accommodation before you travel, in particular your first night's accommodation.
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  Address: Make sure you know the address of where you are staying.
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  Taxis: Use only official and reputable taxis.
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  Police: Contact the local police if you are fearful for your safety or in danger.

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  Poorly lit areas: If you are walking alone, avoid them, particularly at night.
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  Spiked or contaminated drinks: The checklist asks you to be alert to the risk, including methanol poisoning.

Each country page has its own section on crime, and it is worth reading before you go. The France safety and security page, for example, says pickpockets can work in gangs, with one person distracting you while the other goes into your bag.

The FCDO has a separate page of advice for women travelling abroad, dated 8 September 2026. It says that in some countries or cultures, women travelling alone or in female-only groups can face extra risks and obstacles, and that violence towards women and girls is a risk in many countries.

On drinks, it says not to leave them unattended and not to accept drinks from strangers. For anyone spending time alone, it sends the reader back to the solo travel guide above.

Yes. The solo travel guide links to two more FCDO pages. The LGBT+ foreign travel advice says to research your destination in advance, including legal restrictions and social attitudes, and to research everywhere you intend to go, not just at a country level. That page is dated 19 June 2023, so read it alongside the current country page.

The other is Disability and travel abroad. We do not summarise it here: read it in full on GOV.UK.

Instead of a list of places, here is a method. Every country has its own FCDO travel advice page, split into sections, and we suggest reading them in this order.

1. Warnings
   Read the warnings section of the country page first, for any warning that applies to your trip.
2. Entry requirements
   Check your passport and whether you need a visa or other permission to enter.
3. Safety and security
   Read the sections on crime, laws and cultural differences, and transport.
4. Health
   Check vaccinations at least 8 weeks before you travel.
5. Getting help
   Note how to contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate.

You can sign up for email updates on each country's page, or get email alerts for all countries on GOV.UK, so a change after you book does not pass you by. For ideas on where to start looking, our holiday destinations from the UK page is the place.

The checklist says to make a note of how to contact the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate before you leave. For advice, it gives the FCDO in London, 24 hours a day, on 020 7008 5000.

The FCDO says it can help British nationals in emergencies, and that it prioritises helping those who are vulnerable and need its help the most. Local emergency numbers differ by country: the France page, for example, gives 112 for the emergency services.

Solo travel is one set of checks among several. Our travel tips for UK travellers collect the others, and the driving abroad guide covers the licence and the rules of the road if you plan to hire a car.

• What counts as solo travel?

  The FCDO describes it as travelling by yourself, independent of a group or organised tour.

• What should I tell someone before I travel alone?

  The FCDO says to leave an itinerary with someone at home and agree how regularly you will be in contact.

• Should I book my first night's accommodation in advance?

  Yes. The FCDO’s solo travel guide says to book accommodation before you travel, in particular your first night’s accommodation.

• Which taxis does the FCDO say to use?

  The FCDO says to use only official and reputable taxis.

• Does the FCDO have advice for women travelling alone?

  Yes. It has a separate page of advice for women travelling abroad, dated 8 September 2026, which says women travelling alone can face extra risks and obstacles in some countries or cultures.

• Where is the FCDO advice for LGBT+ and disabled travellers?

  The solo travel guide links to two separate FCDO pages: LGBT+ foreign travel advice, and Disability and travel abroad.

• What should I do if I feel in danger abroad?

  The FCDO says to contact the local police if you are fearful for your safety or in danger. For advice, the FCDO in London can be reached 24 hours a day on 020 7008 5000.

• How early should I check vaccinations for a solo trip?

  The FCDO checklist says to check what vaccinations you need and what health precautions you should take at least 8 weeks before you travel.

• What passport rules apply to a solo trip to France?

  GOV.UK says your passport must have a date of issue less than 10 years before the date you arrive, and an expiry date at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area.

• What backup should I keep of my trip details?

  The FCDO checklist says to have a backup plan for key information such as your accommodation details and flight details, and to share it with friends or family.