Meaning & use
safe travels
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
A friendly good-bye said to someone who is about to go on a journey, wishing them a trouble-free trip.
Grammar: Used on its own as a farewell; it is not part of a longer sentence like "I wish you safe travels" although that also works.
Patterns
- safe travels!
- safe travels to someone
- wish someone safe travels
Safe travels! Text me when you land in Lisbon.
Her whole family stood at the gate saying safe travels as she checked in.
Safe travels, and don't forget to send us photos from the coast.
phrasefixed phrase
A short written farewell at the end of a message to someone who is traveling or leaving soon.
Grammar: Common as a sign-off line in emails, cards and text messages, often followed by a name.
Patterns
- safe travels, + name
- safe travels and see you soon
Thanks for booking the taxi for us — safe travels, Marta.
Safe travels and see you at the conference in June.
He ended every email to the visiting students with "Safe travels."
Common combinations
- wish someone safe travels
- We all wished her safe travels before she set off for the airport.
- safe travels home
- Safe travels home — the roads may be icy tonight.
- safe travels and see you soon
- That's everything from me. Safe travels and see you soon!
- say safe travels to someone
- I didn't get to say safe travels to him before he left.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bon voyage
- The same kind of farewell, but it is borrowed from French and sounds more formal or playful, often used for a long sea or air journey.
- have a good trip
- A plain everyday alternative that works in the same situations but is less warm and less fixed as a sign-off.
- take care
- A general parting phrase for any goodbye; it does not mention travel, so it fits when the person is only leaving the room.
Commonly confused: safe travels or safe journey?
safe travels vs safe journey
British speakers often say "Have a safe journey" for one specific trip; "safe travels" is the set farewell phrase and is more common in American English.
Practice
Which sentence uses this farewell correctly?
Choose one answer.
The fixed farewell is plural: "Safe travels!" The singular "Safe travel!" is not the set phrase, and the other two options do not form grammatical English.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “safe travels”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.