15 Best Solo Travel Essentials for Seniors

Whether it’s a road trip with friends, a weekend getaway to some tropical locale, or exploring a new neighborhood in NYC, my mom is always up for an adventure. She calls my daughter and me her favorite travel buddies, and I’ve been lucky enough to explore some of the most beautiful places in the world with her.

On our trips together, my mom gets out and explores as soon as she can, especially by walking or using public transportation. Sometimes, I would wake up in our hotel room and she was already out, seeking a local cafe for a morning coffee and breakfast treat, like an arepa in Cartagena or the perfect croissant in Paris. I usually got dressed while noshing on whatever delights my mom brought back in a paper bag. Because of her adventurous spirit on these trips, I wasn’t surprised when she eventually embraced solo travel later in life to some of her favorite hotspots. 

I’ve watched as a proud daughter as she now expertly navigates new cities solo. As big gearheads, we love sharing recommendations, especially items that make our journeys safer, easier, and more comfortable. Here are 15 items that I, as a travel writer, recommend to my mom as she’s embraced solo travel later in her life, from personal safety devices to comfy walking shoes.

Sabre 120 DB Wedge Door Stop Security Alarm

A wedge door stop is a packing must-have for my mom and me as women who love to travel alone. Whether it’s a hotel room or the front door of a rental, placing this door stop at the entrance adds an added layer of security. I love this particular Sabre door stop as it is extremely loud — it’s audible up to 1,500 feet away. If someone really is trying to get into your hotel room at night, it can wake even the deepest of sleepers.

She’s Birdie The Original Personal Safety Alarm for Women

As my mom navigates new destinations, she applies her New York City street smarts, but the She’s Birdie key chain alarm gives her an added layer of comfort. There’s no fear about not knowing the word for help in the local language as this alarm sound transcends language. Should you be in danger, you pull on the top pin to start a loud siren and flashing strobe light. And, it’s not a problem to carry on flights; she can keep on her keys in her personal item or packed away in her carry-on. Right now, you can get the Birdie alarm for 25 percent off, bringing the price to just $23.

AceMining Portable Door Lock

It’s a little disconcerting how easy it can be to get into a hotel room. To add an extra layer of security, you can travel with this portable door lock. The lock prevents the door from being opened from the outside, even with a key, and it’s relatively easy to install and remove. Super compact, it’s a great added layer of protection that doesn’t take up much space in your bag. I highly recommend it to all women traveling solo.

Sabre Pepper Spray

Some people get their kids pepper spray when going off to college on their own; I got my mom a keychain canister for her travels. Only allowed in checked luggage, pepper spray can give an added layer of protection, though I understand it might feel a little extreme to some. Keep in mind that not all states allow delivery or even the use of pepper spray. The one I got for my mom is pink and looks like lipstick, so it’s perfect for her to tuck in her purse before going out exploring.

Galvaran Knee Brace

Travel can be physically exhausting on the body. My mom, now a seasoned traveler, has some preventative go-to’s in her travel bags, like compression socks, ankle wraps, and this arthritis-relieving knee brace and stabilizer. The brace is perfect for long days exploring new places, and it’s adjustable for more or less support. Though my mom does love a foreign drug store run, it gives her some relief knowing that she can support a tricky ankle with this in her bag.

Donnain Genuine Leather Sling Bag

My mom loves bags. She loves big bags, but when traveling around, she’s very vigilant about keeping her valuables close to her body. We were visiting a European capital and saw two older women being pickpocketed right in front of us (I think they attempted me at first but my spidey sense kicked in at the thieves’ hovering, and I gave one of them what I thought to be a terrifying look as I gathered my things). Since then, my mom has really leaned into using a crossbody bag while she’s traveling so she can carry it across her chest — and we’re always on the hunt for stylish options.

I am obsessed with The Row’s Small Slouchy Banana Bag. In nylon or beautiful soft leather, it’s the perfect bag: it’s discreet, timeless, and perfect for travel. The price, however, can give some sticker shock. Instead, this Donnain bag retails at Amazon for around $60 and has a similar wide, adjustable strap that can be worn close to the chest. Yet it’s still plenty stylish — it does not evoke a tourist carrying everything in a fanny pack. It’s also quite roomy, so my mom carries everything she needs inside: foreign currency, her wallet, passport, and even an extra bag for cute souvenirs she picks up.

Vaydeer Metal Travel Pill Organizer

An organized pill case is such an essential item when traveling. While your body may be thrown off by a different time zone and schedule, you’ll still need to stay on top of taking medication at the right time — and a pill organizer will help. This Vaydeer metal travel pill organizer has a sleek design that protects from water and humidity with a silicone seal and desiccant. It’s also compact enough for my mom to easily slip into her purse or luggage. 

Apple AirTag

With the prevalence of lost luggage, especially when traveling during peak seasons, I wanted to do as much as I could to make sure my mom’s trips went off without a hitch. So, I gifted her a few Apple AirTags that she could easily keep in her checked luggage, passport holder, and anything else she wants an extra set of eyes on during her travels. 

Skyborne iTravel Mini Anti-theft Passport Holder

While there are a lot of designer passport holders, I decided to give my mom this elegant and functional one favored by business travelers. The Skyborne passport holder is lightweight and durable with high-quality leather, and it comes with a mini pen, so no need to join the communal pen search when filling out those customs forms (although my mom is always the one with the pen, anyway). With three card slots on the back, the holder is integrated with RFID-blocking technology, protecting you from electronic pickpockets as well. It’s also compatible with the company’s Sky-tag Mini GPS tracker; however, if you have an AirTag, you can slip that into the case instead. 

Cadence Travel Containers Bodycare Capsule Set

I was gifted this Cadence Travel Set as a part of a travel beauty event, and once I started using it to pack my daughter’s toiletries, I loved it so much that I needed more — especially for my mom. Cadence capsules are magnetic, stackable, and leakproof cases to hold liquids in the most convenient way. Each capsule is easy to fill, and the set really is beautiful, elevating my mom’s toiletry bag; she doesn’t have to wrap the little bottles in plastic anymore to safeguard against spills!

First Aid Kit for Home Car and Travel

My mom was indeed a scout and considers herself prepared for anything. Her medicine cabinet at home is like a pharmacy, so I wanted a first aid kit that would let her somewhat take that on the road. Band-Aids, safety pins, gauze, burn treatment — you name it, this kit has it in its 107 pieces of comprehensive medical supplies. Plus, it’s compact enough to keep in your luggage or car.

Q Store 10000mAh Power Bank

My mom is pretty amazing about staying connected, and whether she’s taking videos or photos or FaceTiming, she keeps me updated on her travels. Naturally, I always want her phone to be charged when traveling alone, so I got her this fast-charging portable power bank that especially comes in handy on long travel days. Its easy to charge with the built-in AC wall plug, and it has a slim profile, so it can be stored in any bag.

New Balance Women’s DynaSoft Nergize Sport V2 Cross Trainer

Once, on a trip to Lisbon, my mom slightly sprained her ankle tackling the city’s hills. Now, traveling with the right footwear for long days exploring is of the utmost importance to her, and she frequently raves about the comfort of her New Balance sneakers. She appreciates how stylish they are while keeping her feeling supported and comfortable. 

Tripped Travel Gear Compression Packing Cubes

I actually leaned into the usefulness of packing cubes after seeing my mom so expertly organize her luggage for multidestination trips using them. Being able to keep her things neat with a good packing cube set gives her peace of mind on the road and saves her wasted time digging through bags to find an item.

Casetify Rope Phone Strap

On a recent trip, my mom admired my purse-free approach as I have this Bandolier leather crossbody phone case. While she’s a bit skeptical of having her ID and wallet attached to her phone, she loves the security of holding her cell on her crossbody or wristlet. I got her this adjustable Casetify phone strap that easily attaches to her phone so she can navigate airports with one less thing to worry about in her hand.

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