How to Travel Safely
Travel is adventure and safety concerns commonly accompany adventure. Add an unknown travel destination or international country and safety concerns can evolve into fear.
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” Helen Keller
I am a high anxiety person. I don’t sit around and ‘worry’, I go straight to chest pain and freeze mode. I have missed a lot of great experiences as a result. But, the truth is, it is not possible to be 100% safe anytime, including at home. I’m not saying to run around the world in a laissez-faire manner. I am saying, don’t let visions of worst-case scenarios stop you from seeing the world.
“Better safe than sorry” Samuel Lover
Most criminals are opportunistic, remove the opportunity. It is possible to minimize your chances of something bad happening to you during your travels with a little preparation and a lot of situational awareness. Use these travel safety tips to increase your awareness and minimize risk.
Top 10 Travel Safety Tips
Know Your Destination
Check the U.S. Department of State travel alerts and travel warnings lists of difficulties and current threats to the safety of visitors at the destination.
Learn the politics, customs, and religion of the destination. Check What to Wear on Holiday or Wikipedia for clothing laws by country.
Educate yourself about travel scams. Awareness is the first defense. If you know about it, you can spot it and avoid it. Google: common scams in (country) OR is (destination) safe.
Read hotel reviews and check the crime rate of the hotel’s location.
Have an Emergency Plan
Utilize the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to inform the destination U.S. Embassy or Consulate of your travel plans and receive safety updates.
Save contact information for the local police and directions to the nearest embassy to your phone. Check Wikipedia for the emergency telephone numbers of your destination.
Create an email folder or Google Drive folder to store all your important information online including a copy of your passport, driver’s license, credit card numbers, emergency plan, vaccination records, travel insurance policy, a photo of your luggage, and your travel plans.
Learn to ask for help in the local language. Download a translation app.
Keep a color copy of your passport with you.
Leave a note in your hotel room stating where you will be that day.
Grab several hotel business cards in case you get lost and need help finding your way back.
Give a copy of your itinerary to a family member or a trusted friend and check in regularly.
Practice Self Defense
Purchase a tactical pen, personal alarm, and whistle.
Avoid stairwells, dimly lit tunnels, and walking at night.
Ignore catcalls and be on guard if someone approaches you.
Keep your head up, stay alert, and be aware of your surroundings. Smile and walk with confidence. You will not blend in, but you can look like an expat.
Do not look at your map on the street, step into a store. If you need assistance, ask a family, woman, or store for help.
Put your phone away in large crowds and at subway stops to avoid someone snatching it and running.
Download Lonely Planet Destination Guides directly to your phone for easy reference.
Keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings. Use an earbud for GPS directions.
Try to walk close to other people. If you think you are being followed step into a store. Yell, scream, act crazy, blow your safety whistle, and use your personal alarm without hesitation.
Monitor how much you drink, alcohol makes you vulnerable. Take your drink directly from the bartender and never leave your drink unattended.
Protect Your Money
Notify your bank you will be traveling and use your debit card at the airport ATM on arrival as an extra signal to the bank.
Consider sewing secret pockets into clothing, using a bra stash, or wearing secret pocket underwear.
Only withdraw cash from ATMs during the daylight on busy streets and do not let anyone help you. Pull the card reader to see if it has been tampered with. Cover the pin pad with your hand when keying in the number.
Wear clothing with hidden pockets and carry your wallet in your front pocket. Do not carry a large amount of cash; request small bills.
Do not keep all your money in one place. Consider concealing some cash in an empty Chapstick, tampon, or another hidden compartment.
If someone wants something you have, give it to them! Consider creating a fake wallet with old canceled credit cards and a few small bills, if robbed hand over the fake wallet.
Protect Your Belongings
Never, ever turn away from your belongings. Keep them tethered to you or within eyesight at all times.
Leave flashy or irreplaceable jewelry at home, and purchase an alternative wedding ring for travel.
Do not use a camera case. Do not use bags with fancy names or special padding. It will draw attention to you.
Purchase a travel safety purse or crossbody bag with RFID protection and RFID card protectors. Keep your bag tethered to something by a clip in an obvious way to discourage thieves.
Keep your valuables in front of you close to your body, and place one arm over them. Do not keep anything in your back pocket. Wear your backpack in front of your body in crowded markets. Take your bag to the bathroom with you.
Pack all your valuable electronics (laptop, camera, iPhone, etc.) in a small bag. Do not check this bag or store it under the bus, keep it with you at all times.
Keep luggage with you at all times or use a wire cable to lock the bag to the luggage rack on the train. Lock bags to the shelving unit or to each other when using a hotel luggage room.
Lock your valuables in the hotel safe or a personal safe. Put belongings in your locked luggage before leaving for the day.
Always keep your phone charged and carry an external charger. Turn on find your phone and GPS. Be cautious of public WiFi, it is easily hacked if you are not using a VPN (virtual private network).
Trust your instincts
Build a buffer into your budget and use it in situations where you would feel a little bit safer if you spent more money on accommodations.
Attempt to arrive at the destination during daylight. It will be easier to find your way and there will be more people around.
Dress modestly and consider wearing a fake wedding ring if you are single.
Do not tell anyone you are traveling alone. Lie. Say your husband is waiting for you at the hotel.
Do not tell anyone where you are staying, be vague.
Choose safety over-politeness. If you are uncomfortable, walk away.
Transportation Safety
Use Uber if it is an option; payment is electronic and the app tracks your location. Be aware of fake Uber drivers. Check the license plate and ask “who are you here to pick up?” when you approach the car.
Be aware of taxi scams. Pay attention to the taxi’s number or snap a picture of the license plate in case you lose an item. Track yourself on Google Maps during the drive.
If you rent a car, keep the gas tank full. Use valet parking when it’s available. Park close to the hotel lobby door. Be alert in parking garages.
Sit close to the driver during bus trips and state where you are going.
If you take the train, choose a car with other people.
Wait for public transportation near a public place.
Hotel Safety
Request a room close to the reception desk. Enter and exit the hotel through the main lobby.
Make it look like there are two people in the room when traveling solo.
Ask the hotel’s front desk to show you the bad areas of town on a map. Also, ask if there are any scams you should be aware of.
Keep blinds closed, hang the Do Not Disturb sign on the door, and keep the TV turned on when you leave the hotel.
Ensure the windows are locked each time you come back to the room.
Use the deadbolt and keep windows shut and locked when you are in the room, purchase a door jammer.
Only open the door if you are expecting someone.
Reduce Health Risks
Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for travel health notices including vaccines.
Refill prescriptions and purchase over-the-counter cold medicine, motion sickness pills, bug repellent, and sunscreen.
Research if the water is safe to drink.
Be cautious of street food, go to the vendor with a long line.
Wear a helmet and long pants when riding a moped.
Purchase Travel Insurance!
Research travel insurance policies. Choose one that covers loss of belongings and medical emergencies.
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