The Essentials

Helpful Apps: Solo Travel Edition

Traveling by yourself can be a rewarding experience. But it also needs to be a safe one.

There are now a number of apps that can help you enhance your solo trip.

Try downloading an app called TripWhistle before you embark. The app stores the emergency numbers for 196 countries, so if you’re in danger, you can push a button and the app will call the local authorities.

Then, there’s Eatwith, which pairs solo travelers with local hosts offering meals.

And don’t forget about Meetup. That’s an app that displays get-together options in your city — whether it’s yoga class or a concert. You can always go solo, but it’s always nice to find common ground.