10 Best Travel Safety Devices Under $35 at Amazon

As carefree as travel may appear on social media feeds, the realities can be sobering. Lost luggage, cancellations and delays are all unforeseen possibilities, but there’s one aspect of travel that you do have some control over: personal safety.

I’ll admit that I was fearless when I first started solo traveling as a woman, but as the years went on, I grew more cautious as I heard about incidents among my peers: from high carbon monoxide levels in hotel rooms to being followed in a foreign city. In order to make my solo travels as secure as possible, I discovered some of the best personal safety products that are packable and portable, so I can bring them with me even when space runs slim in my carry-on.

Here, 10 products to make you feel safer while traveling, especially when staying in a hotel room alone.

Winonly Door Stop Alarm 

When safety content creator Dannah Eve showed off this doorstop alarm on TikTok, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about it before. The influencer has built a following for her motto: “Live aware! Not in fear” which is exactly what this product permits. No matter how luxurious a hotel is, the realities are unavoidable: locks break, there are master key cards, and break-ins happen. But, if you place this doorstop alarm under the door crack to your hotel room (or Airbnb) it provides two-fold protection. First, it prevents entry by stopping the door from opening further. Then, it sounds an alarm to scare off the intruder. The small but mighty device weighs less than a pound and can be tucked into a shoe to optimize precious space in your luggage.

Gray Rhino Portable Carbon Monoxide Detector

Though hotels are outfitted with smoke detectors, most rooms aren’t equipped with carbon monoxide devices. And, when you’re in a room with no windows or you can’t open them, there’s little air flow, which could cause a carbon monoxide build up. In fact, I had just returned from Mexico last year when a news story broke about this exact thing happening at another hotel in the same area. My mom (thanks, Mom!) immediately texted me and said to check out portable carbon monoxide detectors. There are a number of them available on Amazon, but this pocket-size version is a best-seller, even among firefighters. One of the five-star reviews from a fire captain said this detector is more reliable than the ones the department provides them with, adding, “It is a solid, simple to operate, accurate device.”

Master Lock Portable Small Lock Box

A hotel’s in-room safe may work for some travelers, but for accommodation that doesn’t offer a safe, a portable lock box is a great option to keep your most prized possessions locked up. Even when I stay at a hotel with a safe, I feel more comfortable securing my jewelry, passport, and cash in this simpel grab-and-go lock box. It’s helpful when changing hotels or locations frequently so that you always know where your valuables are or in case an incident should arise in the middle of the night. Even though easy to travel with, it’s large enough to fit a smartphone, wallet, watch, and more.

Venture 4th Travel Money Belt

One of the most popular qualms I hear from travelers is the challenge of staying organized while on the road. A money belt may seem over-the-top, but they are more helpful than you think because they keep your items safe and organized. Keeping a wad of money as well as credit cards in your belt while in your hotel room ensures you always know where your cash is. And, when you leave the room, you know that your money is physically on you — which means so are your cards and cash. Even if you’re carrying around quite a bit of money, you can feel more comfortable knowing that these belts conceal your stash (unlike a bulky wallet in your back pocket or a backpack) and are tricky for pick-pocketers to access. This slim belt also has space for your passport and features a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) blocking system to keep your documents safe.

Elegoro Portable Door Lock

Many solo travelers feel safer when relying on their own door lock. The screw-like design of this portable one may look intimidating but it doesn’t require any tools or installation; simply fasten it to the door lock and tighten the system until it’s in contact with the door. Sold as a two-pack also means you can throw the compact, sturdy lock into a carry-on bag as well as your purse so that you never forget it, even on a quick trip.

Selowea Hidden Camera Detector

Hidden cameras in a hotel room may seem like something out of a horror movie, but they can actually appear in real life. When it comes to personal safety, why take a chance? To protect yourself, pack this hidden camera detector to your safety toolbox. It will put your mind at ease by beeping or vibrating within 26 feet of a hidden camera, bug, or GPS tracking device.

Ceptics Universal Travel Adapter Kit

Imagine leaving your laptop (or any electronic) charging in a hotel room only to return to it fried thanks to a power outage and ensuing voltage surge. Combat this by traveling with a converter that offers built-in surge protection if you’re traveling internationally (or just a surge protector for domestic travel) This universal travel adapter offers built-in protection from voltage surges and spikes with six global adapters so you can take it just about anywhere.

She’s Birdie The Original Personal Safety Alarm

This popular key-chain personal safety alarm may have been designed for walking alone at night or commuting on public transportation, but it works in any situation when you’re alone. It works by giving off an extremely loud alarm and strobe light when activated; it will keep your mind at ease when you go to sleep at night. Keep it under your pillow just in case; all you need to do is remove the top pin, which activates an alarm that can run for up to 40 continuous minutes.

Boxiki Travel RFID Blocking Sleeves

This handy pack of 12 RFID-blocking cards and 3 RFID-blocking sleeves protect your wallet and travel documents from electronic fraud or theft. The sleeves block signals to RFID-enabled cards to prevent unwanted and unwarranted access to credit cards, money cards, identification cards, and passports (which fit in the larger sleeves). These sleeves tend to get beat up over time, so stocking up on a dozen means you can tuck an extra in your travel bag and keep a few in the closet to refresh after multiple uses.

BV TSA Approved Luggage Travel Lock

If you want to ensure the safety of your bags without using the hotel safe, travel with a luggage lock. Personally, I don’t tend to travel with more than carry-on luggage so I never thought I had the need for a luggage lock. But, I found that using a lock for in-room instances has its perks, especially the added security to your belongings when you’re out enjoying your destination. I like that these locks don’t require keys so that I don’t have to carry that around when I’m traveling. Plus, being TSA-approved, I can also use them if I need to check a bag on my way home.

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