How to correctly use the expression “safe travel(s)”?
A colleague of mine recently reached out to me. I asked if he would like to meet up sometime to which he notified me that he would be traveling the remainder of this week. In what context is it okay to use the expression safe travel or safe travels? Does it depend on the method of travel (seeing as for flying this could come off as ominous)?
Thank you for your quick reply.
Safe Travels,
John Doe
Solution 1:
"[I wish you] safe travel." uses the uncountable form of the noun. It refers to an amalgamation of all of the travels one might undertake in the specific time period.
"[I wish you] safe travels." uses the countable noun. We understand that a number of separate travels will occur, perhaps in a single trip with stopovers.
Notes:
Although I have added 'I wish you', that doesn't mean I endorse the phrases that way - it's just to make the grammar clear.
The expression "Safe Travels" as a valediction seems perfectly acceptable to me. It may not be what most native speakers would say but it is polite and meaningful.
EDIT
A better known phrase is "Travel safely!" This is a friendly imperative. You'll find lots of examples online. Try searching Google Images for example.
Solution 2:
Technically, you are to assume that he will be traveling at least twice. Once to his destination and once back. So I would stick with "safe travels" as you have done.