A selfie stick can work, but it has limits: it’s not ideal for heavier DSLR cameras, it usually puts you very close to the camera so less background shows, and the extended arm/stick can be hard to hide.

For better travel self-portraits, the most useful alternative is a small tripod plus the camera’s self-timer. This gives you wider, more natural shots and works better for including scenery.

A more flexible option is a compact flexible tripod (often called a Gorillapod-style tripod). These are light, portable, and can be wrapped around railings or placed on uneven surfaces, which is handy while traveling.

If your camera supports it, adding a remote shutter release is even better than relying only on the self-timer, because you can trigger the shot at the right moment.

In a pinch, you can rest the camera on available objects, but that’s less stable and generally not recommended.

So the practical ranking is:

1. compact tripod + self-timer
2. flexible tripod + self-timer
3. tripod + remote release
4. selfie stick only if using a light camera and you accept tighter framing