Travel Safety Tips
Meeting new travel companions is exciting, but you should always be cautious when interacting with someone you don’t know. Use your best judgment and put your safety first, whether you are exchanging initial messages or meeting in person to travel together. While you can’t control the actions of others, there are things you can do to help you stay safe during your Trippii experience.
Online Safety
Never Send Money or Share Financial Information
Never send money, especially over wire transfer, even if the person claims to be in a travel emergency. Wiring money is like sending cash — it’s nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace where the money went. Never share information that could be used to access your financial accounts. If another traveler asks you for money for “shared accommodations” or “trip deposits” before meeting, report it to us immediately.
For tips on avoiding travel scams, check out some advice from the U.S Federal Trade Commission on the FTC website.
Protect Your Personal Information
Never share personal information, such as your passport number, home or work address, or details about your daily routine with people you don’t know. If you are a parent, limit the information that you share about your children on your profile and in early communications. Avoid sharing details such as your children’s names, where they go to school, or their ages or genders.
Stay on the Platform
Keep conversations on the Trippii platform while you’re getting to know someone. Because exchanges on Trippii are subject to our Safe Message Filters, users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email, or phone right away.
Be Wary of Long Distance and Overseas Travel Plans
Watch out for scammers who claim to be fellow travelers but keep changing travel plans, especially if they ask for financial help for “emergencies” or “booking fees.” Be wary of anyone who will not meet in a public place or talk on a phone/video call—they may not be who they say they are. If someone is avoiding your questions or pushing for complex travel arrangements without getting to know you first — that’s a red flag.
Report All Suspicious and Offensive Behavior
You know when someone’s crossed the line and when they do, we want to know about it. Block and report anyone that violates our terms. Here are some examples of violations:
Requests for money or donations
Underage users
Harassment, threats, and offensive messages
Inappropriate or harmful behavior during or after meeting in person
Fraudulent profiles
Spam or solicitation including links to commercial websites or attempts to sell products or services
You can report any concerns about suspicious behavior from any profile page or messaging window. For more information, check out our Community Guidelines.
Protect Your Account
Be sure to pick a strong password, and always be careful when logging into your account from a public or shared computer or using public Wi-Fi while traveling. Trippii will never send you an email asking for your username and password information — if you receive an email asking for account information, report it immediately.
Meeting Travel Companions in Person
Don’t Be In A Rush
Take your time and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or plan a trip together. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to screen for any red flags or personal dealbreakers. A phone or video call can be a useful screening tool before meeting.
Start Small Before Big Trips
Consider meeting for a day trip or local outing before committing to longer travel together. This gives you a chance to assess compatibility and travel styles without being far from home.
Meet in Public and Stay in Public
Meet for the first few times in a populated, public place — never at your home, your potential travel companion’s home, or any other private location. If your new contact pressures you to go to a private location, end the meeting.
Tell Friends and Family About Your Plans
Tell a friend or family member of your travel plans, including when and where you’re going, your itinerary, and who you’re traveling with. Share your new contact’s profile information and phone number with a trusted friend. Have your cell phone charged and with you at all times, and consider regular check-ins with someone at home.
Be in Control of Your Transportation
We want you to be in control of how you get to and from your meeting so that you can leave whenever you want. When traveling, ensure you have access to your own transportation or know how to use local transportation services. If flying to meet someone, book your own return ticket. If traveling together by car, consider meeting at the destination rather than starting a road trip with someone you’ve just met.
Know Your Limits
Be aware of the effects of drugs or alcohol on you specifically — they can impair your judgment and your alertness, which can be especially dangerous in unfamiliar locations. If your travel companion tries to pressure you to use drugs or drink more than you’re comfortable with, hold your ground and consider ending the trip.
Don’t Leave Drinks, Food, or Personal Items Unattended
Know where your drink comes from and know where it is at all times — only accept drinks poured or served directly from the bartender or server. Many substances that are slipped into drinks to facilitate sexual assault are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Also, keep your phone, purse, wallet, passport, and anything containing personal information on you or secured at all times.
If You Feel Uncomfortable, Leave
It’s okay to end the meeting or trip early if you’re feeling uncomfortable. In fact, it’s encouraged. Have a backup plan for accommodations and transportation. And if your instincts are telling you something is off or you feel unsafe, ask hotel staff, a bartender, or server for help.
Accommodation Safety
When possible, book your own accommodation or ensure you have your own private room for the first trip together. Share your accommodation details with a trusted friend or family member. Be cautious about sharing rooms with someone you’ve just met, regardless of their gender.
LGBTQ+ Travel
Be careful while traveling
We recognize and believe in the importance of being inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations, but the reality is this: nowhere in the world is without potential risk, and some countries have specific laws that target LGBTQ+ people.
Check out the laws around you when you travel to a new place and research what types of legal protection, if any, are available to you based on sexual orientation. In the event that you’re in unsafe territory, we suggest toggling off “Show me on Trippii” which you can find under the settings page.
If you have added a sexual orientation to your profile and choose to be shown on Trippii, we will hide your sexual orientation from your profile until you leave that area.
It’s important to exercise extra caution if you choose to connect with new people in these countries – as some law enforcement have been known to use dating and social apps as tools for potential entrapment. Some countries have also recently introduced laws that criminalize communications between individuals on same-sex dating applications or websites and even aggravate penalties if that communication leads to in-person meetings.
Visit ILGA World to see the latest sexual orientation laws by country, and consider donating to support their research.
Source: ILGA World, Updated March 2019
Health & Consent
Protect Your Health While Traveling
Travel with necessary medications and a basic first aid kit. Be aware of health advisories at your destination and take appropriate precautions. Consider travel health insurance that covers medical evacuation if traveling to remote areas.
Know Your Boundaries
Not all travelers have the same expectations or comfort levels. Stay on top of your wellbeing by clearly communicating your boundaries regarding accommodation arrangements, activities, and personal space.
Talk About Travel Expectations
Communication is everything: Before you embark on a journey with a companion, talk about travel styles, budgets, activity preferences, and accommodation arrangements. Need help starting the conversation? Here are some example questions:
How do you feel about shared accommodations?
What’s your daily travel budget range?
Do you prefer structured itineraries or spontaneous exploration?
How do you like to divide travel responsibilities?
Consent
All physical contact and shared spaces must start with consent and should include ongoing check-ins with your travel companion. Verbal communication can help you and your travel companion ensure that you respect each other’s boundaries. Consent can be withdrawn at any time. Do not proceed if your companion seems uncomfortable or unsure. Read more about respecting boundaries from RAINN.
Resources for Help, Support, or Advice
Remember — even if you follow these tips, no method of risk reduction is perfect. If you have a negative experience, please know that it is not your fault and help is available. Report any incidents to Trippii, and consider reaching out to one of the resources below. If you feel you are in immediate danger or need emergency assistance while traveling, contact local emergency services, your country’s embassy or consulate, or call your travel insurance emergency assistance number.
Register your travel with your country’s embassy through programs like the U.S. Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Visit ThroughLine for help finding local mental health and crisis support
Contact the Crisis Text Hotline or Black Emotional And Mental Health Collective if you are experiencing an issue related to mental health
International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT) provides medical resources for travelers
