Travel Tips
After traveling the basis for the past times ix years, I’ve learned a lot almost staying safe – sometimes the hard way. Here are my best locomote security tips for avoiding problem on your trip.
Nothing ruins an adventure quicker than getting scammed or robbed!
One fourth dimension inwards Panama, women distracted me piece stealing my laptop from a backpack. I thought it was gone, until this happened three months later. I got lucky.
In Mexico, a pickpocket i time grabbed my iPhone on the street. I managed to acquire that dorsum too, chasing the thief downward the route screaming similar a maniac as well as brandishing a bottle of tequila! LOL.
You don’t fifty-fifty demand to locomote internationally to have got bad stuff happen. In Miami Beach, my photographic television camera was stolen when I wasn’t paying attention.
After years traveling the world, I’ve grown accustomed to deceitful taxi drivers, two-faced tour guides, insincere offers of help, as well as an occasional theft or scam.
For the most part, the basis is a pretty safe identify for travelers. I don’t desire to scare you lot also much! However, it’s wise to live prepared.
With that inwards mind, hither are my best locomote security tips to assist minimize your chances of something bad happening to you lot during your travels.
Top Travel Safety Tips For 2019
1. Learn Common Travel Scams
Wherever you lot go inwards the world, you’ll e'er discovery people ready to flim-flam you lot out of your hard-earned cash. If you’re lucky, they’ll live kinda obvious – but at that spot are plenty of craftier, professional person con-artists out at that spot too.
Everyone thinks they’re also smart to live scammed — but it happens.
Here are some of the most mutual locomote scams I’ve come upwards across. I recommend you lot larn them all – as well as then dismiss upwards the Google as well as do fifty-fifty to a greater extent than in-depth inquiry into the worst scams happening at your specific destination.
For example, the milk scam inwards Cuba. Broken taxi meters inwards Costa Rica. Or the band scam inwards Paris. Every province has its ain special ones to ticker out for!
Forewarned is forearmed, as well as this inquiry tin assist defend you lot from beingness tricked out of hundreds, peradventure thousands of dollars (while suffering the form of frustration as well as misery that ruins a dream trip).
2. Write Down Emergency Info
If disaster strikes, you lot mightiness non have got fourth dimension to search for numbers for local police describe or ambulance services, or directions to the nearest diplomatic mission for your country. You may also live also stressed as well as panicky to think straight.
Don’t pose yourself inwards that position. Instead, tape that information inwards advance, as well as create an “Emergency Plan” for you lot to follow if things go badly. Save it on your telephone somewhere (I usage the Evernote App).
I also recommend you lot write it downward on a modest carte or sail of paper, acquire it laminated (easily done at your local usage provide store) to protect it from moisture, as well as proceed it inwards your wallet/purse.
That way, if something goes incorrect out there, you’ll e'er know just who to telephone telephone as well as where to go for help.
3. Check The State Department Website
The U.S. Department of State has a page for every province inwards the world, where it lists all known difficulties as well as electrical current threats to the security of visitors.
However, a large caveat for this one: it’s the State Department’s chore to warn you lot almost everything that could go wrong, which is sometimes dissimilar to what is likely to go wrong.
This agency their advice is by as well as large on the hyper-cautious side. Factor that in, piece you lot dig upwards to a greater extent than on-the-ground information.
But researching locomote warnings volition give you lot a full general thought of what’s going on inwards the province you’re visiting, as well as specific employment areas you lot may desire to avoid.
For example, just because for sure parts of Thailand or United Mexican States have got problems, doesn’t hateful you lot should completely avoid those countries.
4: Lock Up Your Valuables
Putting aside the fact that traveling amongst anything super valuable is usually a bad idea, at that spot volition e'er live something you lot absolutely cannot afford to have got stolen. I locomote amongst a lot of expensive photographic television camera gear for example.
Your chore is to minimize the piece of cake opportunities for theft.
Firstly, know that most travel backpacks aren’t really secure. It’s piece of cake to experience that a zipped, fifty-fifty locked handbag is a sufficient deterrent to whatsoever thief, as well as doze off side past times side to it. Waking upwards to discovery someone’s slashed a hole inwards the side!
Unless it’s a slash-proof backpack, the stuff tin live cutting or torn past times anyone determined enough. Many zippers tin live forced opened upwards amongst sudden objects similar a writing pen.
Always live aware of your valuables, as well as attempt to proceed an optic on them inwards such a way that it would live impossible for someone to steal without you lot knowing. I’ll usage my backpack as a pillow on train/bus routes that have got a reputation for theft, as well as volition sometimes lock it to a spot using a thin cable similar this.
Secondly, telephone telephone your accommodation to enquire almost secure storage options similar a room safe, lockers, or a locked storage area. Carry your ain locker padlock when staying at backpacking hostels.
5: Get Travel Insurance
You never think you lot demand it, until you lot do. If you’re really worried almost the security of yourself as well as your gear piece you lot travel, you lot tin almost completely relax if you lot have got some goodness insurance.
People enquire me all the fourth dimension if I’m worried almost traveling amongst an expensive figurer as well as camera. I was, when I didn’t have got insurance for them. Now that I do, I’m non worried. If stuff gets stolen, it volition acquire replaced.
Everyone should deport some form of wellness as well as belongings insurance when traveling. Why? Because shit happens. Whether you lot think it volition or not. It doesn’t affair how careful you lot think you lot are.
My recommendation is World Nomads for short-term locomote insurance (less than half-dozen months). They construct it super piece of cake to purchase online. Just live aware that they have got “per item” limits on coverage of $500. So it’s non going to encompass a whole $3000 camera.
If you’re going to live traveling for a long time, at that spot are goodness long-term options similar a mixture of expat wellness insurance from IMG Global as well as photography/computer insurance from TCP Photography Insurance.
READ MORE: Is Travel Insurance Worth It?
6: Ask Locals For Advice
If you lot really desire to know which neighborhoods are safe as well as which mightiness live sketchy, enquire a local resident of the area.
Most locals are friendly, as well as volition warn you lot almost straying into unsafe areas. On the other hand, if a stranger offers upwards advice, it’s also wise to acquire a 2d sentiment – just inwards instance they don’t really know what they’re talking almost but just wanted to assist (or worse, are trying to scam you).
Taxi drivers tin live hitting or missy inwards this regard. Some tin live fantabulous sources for goodness information, others are poor assholes who mightiness really Pb you lot into trouble.
I’ve establish that hostel or hotel front end desk workers are by as well as large pretty goodness sources for local advice.
Don’t live afraid to enquire them which parts of the metropolis to avoid, how much taxi fares should cost, as well as where to discovery a dandy identify to eat!
7: Register With Your Embassy
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, from the U.S. Department of State, is designed to construct a destination’s local diplomatic mission aware of your arrival as well as proceed you lot constantly updated amongst the latest security information.
It’s free, it’s available for all U.S. citizens as well as nationals living abroad, as well as it’s a dandy way to acquire reliable, upwards to appointment security information as you lot travel, along amongst an extra score of security inwards instance of emergencies.
Canada has it’s ain version, called Registration Of Canadians Abroad.
That way if an emergency happens, similar a natural disaster or terrorist attack, the local diplomatic mission tin acquire a concur of you lot chop-chop to portion of import information or assist amongst evacuation.
8: Email Your Itinerary To Friends/Family
Once you’ve worked out where you’re going as well as when, construct for sure someone else knows too.
The best way is to e-mail the total itinerary to a few household unit of measurement members (and double-check amongst them that they received it – don’t just assume it landed inwards their Inbox, construct for sure it did). Then, if you lot can, banking concern fit inwards from fourth dimension to time.
Before I locomote anywhere, I construct for sure my parents know where I’m going, what my full general plans are, as well as when I should live back.
That way, if they don’t take away heed from me for a few days after I’m supposed to return, they tin assist notify the proper local authorities, the embassy, etc.
9: Don’t Share Too Much With Strangers
If you’re ever tempted to construct your itinerary to a greater extent than public, say inwards a Facebook post, just yell upwards it tin live a roadmap of your movements – just the sort of thing someone amongst ill-intentions would dearest to know.
I also don’t recommend sharing also many details almost your locomote plans or accommodation details amongst people you’ve just met. For example, don’t tell a local store possessor or street tout where you’re staying when asked.
If someone does ask, rather than live rude, you lot tin live vague almost an surface area of town rather than the yell of your hotel. Or prevarication as well as yell a hotel you’re non really staying at.
Sometimes people volition enquire if it’s your get-go fourth dimension visiting their province or city. If you lot don’t trust them yet, you lot tin pretend it isn’t your get-go trip. Because sharing that you’re novel mightiness also betoken you’re a goodness target for scams.
When feeling vulnerable inwards a unusual place, trivial white lies won’t hurt.
10: Be Aware Of Your Clothing
When it comes to travel, the incorrect clothes scream “TOURIST” as well as construct you lot a target for scammers, thieves as well as worse. The less land a visitor you lot look, the less attending you’ll acquire from the incorrect form of people.
Wearing the correct clothes is a sign of respect. Many Islamic countries have got specific wearing apparel code guidelines that are oftentimes strictly enforced – as well as other destinations have got laws that may grab you lot out (for example, walking topless through the streets of Barcelona is illegal for both sexes).
However, it’s possible to rest inside the law as well as withal scandalise locals amongst what you’re wearing – generating a lot of hostility towards you lot inwards the process. Ignoring local customs tin come upwards across as both arrogant as well as ignorant.
In conservative countries, it’s just safer to wearing apparel to a greater extent than conservatively yourself. Obviously as a foreigner you’re withal going to stand upwards out a bit, but much less than those who ignore the local customs.
Start past times checking out Wikipedia’s full general advice on clothing laws past times country – as well as and then narrow downward your inquiry until you lot discovery someone giving advice you lot tin trust, ideally a resident or expat turned local.
11: Splurge On Extra Safety
If you’re traveling as a budget backpacker, similar I was, it tin live tempting to relieve as much coin as possible amongst the cheapest accommodation, the cheapest flights, the cheapest activities.
But it’s of import to know that this isn’t e'er the safest way to travel.
Ultra inexpensive backpacker hostels aren’t e'er the safest places. I’ve stayed inwards some without locks on the doors, that felt similar make-shift homeless shelters for drug addicts as well as other seedy people.
Budget flights tin oftentimes construct it inwards the optic of the nighttime — usually non the best fourth dimension to live hailing downward a cab inwards a unsafe metropolis as well as hoping the driver doesn’t abduct you.
Sometimes it’s worth the extra few bucks to splurge on a slightly improve hostel, a to a greater extent than convenient flight, a taxi dwelling from the bar, or a tour operator amongst a strong security record.
12: Stay “Tethered” To Your Bag
Most quick snatch-and-run type robberies make because the thief tin do it easily, as well as has fourth dimension to acquire away. Therefore, anything that slows them downward volition assist forestall it inwards the get-go place.
If you lot tin proceed your handbag tethered to something immovable at all times, as well as do hence inwards a really obvious way, thieves volition consider it way also risky a chore – as well as leave of absence you lot alone.
A uncomplicated as well as effective method is to usage a carabiner clip. Even a regular strap around your leg or chair.
It doesn’t demand to live secured amongst a steel cable as well as padlock all the time, just attached to something that volition construct a snatch-and-run travail also difficult.
13: Learn Basic Self-Defense
You don’t demand black-belt skills, but joining a few self defence classes is a worthwhile investment inwards your personal safety. Some goodness street-effective styles to consider are Krav Maga or Muay Thai.
Next, larn WHEN to apply it. Just because you lot tin boot someone’s ass, doesn’t hateful you lot should inwards all situations. In the words of writer Sam Harris:
“Do whatever you lot tin to avoid a physical confrontation, but the 2d avoidance fails, onset explosively for the purposes of escape.”
A dandy way to neutralize a threat is to acquire yourself as far away as physically possible. If someone amongst a gun or knife just wants your phone, give it to them, run away, as well as alive some other day.
Use strength only when your life is threatened & at that spot are absolutely no other options available.
If you lot desire an extra score of personal security, pick upwards a tactical pen (and learn how to usage it). I oftentimes deport one, as well as it doesn’t laid off whatsoever alarms when going through customs.
14: Project Situational Awareness
Did you lot know that a bulk of human communication is based on non-verbal trunk language? This projection of confidence tin forestall you lot from becoming a target.
Keep your caput up, rest alert, as well as aware of you’re surroundings. When you’re confident, potential attackers tin sense it through your trunk linguistic communication as well as optic contact.
Most volition pick out to displace on as well as discovery an easier victim to attack.
In many places, making direct optic contact amongst potential threats tin assist ward off an attack, ensuring they notice you lot run into them as well as what they may live planning. Yet inwards other parts of the world, also much optic contact mightiness invite trouble…
Generally you lot should rest aware of who is around you, walk amongst a purpose, as well as don’t aspect worried, lost, or scared (even if you lot experience that way) — but I’d also avoid staring contests amongst sketchy looking strangers.
15: Tell Your Bank Where You’re Going
Imagine the agony of doing absolutely everything correct as well as keeping yourself perfectly safe as well as secure – only to have got your trip ruined because your banking concern thinks you’re the thief, as well as locks downward all your cards.
If this happens as well as you’re lucky, you’ll live asked security questions to create upwards one's heed your identity. The remainder of the time, you’ll acquire a notification from the bank’s fraud detection squad that irregular activity has been recorded on your card, as well as they’ve pose a concur on all transactions until the province of affairs is resolved – which mightiness take away days.
The solution is simple. Most online banking services have got a facility for letting the banking concern or credit carte provider know almost your upcoming travels. Make for sure you lot usage it, shortly earlier leaving – as well as proceed them inwards the loop if your locomote plans change.
I also recommend using your debit carte at the airdrome ATM machine as before long as you lot construct it inwards a novel country, as this also helps allow the banking concern know you’re traveling.
READ MORE: Travel Banking Tips & Advice
16: Hide Emergency Cash
While it’s goodness to do everything you lot tin to forestall worst instance scenarios – it’s every bit smart to assume it’ll make as well as programme ahead for it. This is the thinking behind having an emergency stash of funds, stored inwards a safe place.
Some of my favorite hiding places include:
- Secret pocket sewn into your pants
- Behind a patch on your backpack
- Rolled into an empty chapstick container
- Inside a hidden compartment (like this hair-brush or belt pouch)
How much emergency cash? This volition live personal preference, but I usually prefer $200 spread out inwards 2 dissimilar places. Some hidden on me, some hidden inwards my bag. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 hidden backup credit carte is wise too.
Now if things got really dire, as well as everything’s gone, what then? You telephone telephone upwards a friend or household unit of measurement member, as well as enquire them to transportation you lot the emergency coin you lot left amongst them earlier you lot went traveling, via a Western Union or Moneygram transfer.
Hopefully it volition never come upwards to that. But these things do make occasionally, as well as it’s improve to do safe locomote techniques than to remain ignorant almost the possibility.
17: Food & Water Safety
After traveling extensively the final seven years, to over 50 countries, eating all kinds of weird stuff, I’ve only had nutrient poisoning a twosome of times.
Don’t live scared of the nutrient when you lot travel! In fact, eating unusual novel foods tin live a highlight for many people on their adventures around the world.
My food-obsessed friend Jodi recommends the next tips:
- Eat at pop places amongst long lines
- Try to ticker how your nutrient is prepared
- Pack translation cards to limited your allergies
- Fully cooked nutrient is e'er the safest
- Only swallow peel-able fruit to avoid bacteria
I also recommend getting a filtered H2O bottle. In many modern cities around the basis the H2O is safe to drink, but exterior of those places it oftentimes isn’t.
Sure, you lot could proceed buying bottled H2O everywhere you lot go, but that plastic waste matter is a huge environmental problem. Why non acquire i sturdy filtered bottle, as well as re-use it for years?
It pays for itself as well as saves the surroundings at the same time!
18: Use ATMs Wisely
You may have got been told to encompass your manus when keying inwards your PIN number at an ATM. That’s goodness advice worth following, both for others looking over your shoulder, as good as hidden cameras trying to tape your pin.
Always take away a unopen aspect at ATM machines earlier you lot usage them. Pull on the carte reader a bit. Does it have got whatsoever questionable signs of tampering? If so, go into the banking concern as well as acquire someone to come upwards out as well as banking concern fit it (and as well as then usage some other machine, regardless of what happens).
If an ATM machine appears to have got eaten your card, run a finger along the carte slot to run into if you lot experience anything protruding. The “Lebanese Loop” is a flim-flam where a sparse plastic sleeve captures your carte (preventing the machine from reading it) – as well as then as before long as you lot walk away, a thief yanks it out as well as runs off amongst your card.
Another overlooked ingredient is where other people are when you’re at the machine. Can someone peer over your shoulder? Are they unopen plenty they could grab the cash as well as run off?
If so, usage some other ATM elsewhere. Better safe than sorry! Never allow anyone “help” you lot amongst your transaction either.
19: Stop Using Your Back Pocket
It’s the get-go identify whatsoever pickpocket volition banking concern fit – as well as brusk of putting a loaded mousetrap inwards at that spot (not recommended if you lot forget as well as sit down down), the best way to bargain amongst the dangers of having a dorsum pocket is to never usage it…
And if putting coin inwards the dorsum pocket of your pants is a habit you lot can’t seem to break, grab some needle as well as thread as well as run upwards it shut!
Your front end pockets are a lot harder to steal from without beingness noticed.
If you’re REALLY worried, or programme to locomote to a metropolis where pickpockets run rampant, you lot tin have on a money belt. I’m non a fan, but I know many who usage them for peace of mind.
20: Travel In Numbers
The to a greater extent than people around you, the to a greater extent than eyeballs are on your valuables – as well as the to a greater extent than legs are available for running after thieves.
A grouping is also a much to a greater extent than intimidating physical presence, which helps ward off predators of all kinds. It volition assist to proceed you lot safer than trying to go it lone inwards a unusual country.
If you’re traveling solo, consider making some novel friends as well as go exploring together.
Staying at backpacker hostels is an fantabulous way to construct some novel friends. Often you’ll discovery other solo travelers there, who may desire to do some of the same activities you lot desire to.
However, I’d also similar to highlight the importance of non trusting novel people TOO quickly. There are some professional person scammers who usage the backpacker trail to take away wages of other travelers looking for a friend.
Don’t leave of absence your expensive or of import stuff amongst someone you lot just met. No affair how friendly they seem.
21: Pack Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 First Aid Kit
Injuries tin make when you lot locomote abroad, non affair how careful you lot are. That’s why traveling amongst a basic get-go assist kit is e'er a goodness idea.
You don’t demand to go crazy as well as convey your ain needles as well as scalpels, but stocking the basics to care for cuts, sprains, tum issues, as well as burns tin assist if you lot or people around you lot may demand them.
I prefer a basic waterproof adventure get-go assist kit amongst a few additions of my own:
- Small tube of sunscreen
- Re-hydration salts
- Anti-histamine tablets
- Small pair of scissors
- Extra hurting pills (Ibuprofen)
- Emergency infinite blanket
- Small tube of stone oil jelly (helps forestall blisters)
22: Stay (Relatively) Sober
Getting also drunkard or high when you lot locomote is almost e'er unacceptably risky. If you’re wasted, you’re non present, as well as anything could live happening around you lot (or to you).
I’m non proverb don’t bask yourself. Hell I have got plenty over the years! Just do it responsibly, rest hyper-aware of how much you’re consuming, proceed hydrated & fed, as well as construct for sure you lot don’t lose command of the situation.
Harder drugs are peculiarly risky — it’s a goodness way to go into problem amongst the police, who may non live as forgiving (or fifty-fifty law-abiding) as government dorsum home. Not to yell having to bargain amongst potentially nefarious people who are providing those drugs — as well as their ain alternative motives.
On a similar note, if you’re partial to belatedly nights out partying until pre-dawn hours, live careful assuming that unfamiliar destinations volition live as forgiving as dorsum home.
Many by as well as large safe destinations (especially ones filled amongst tourists) go far less secure belatedly at nighttime – as well as if you’re stumbling around intoxicated, you’re far less aware of your surroundings – as well as a VERY piece of cake target for all kinds of bad stuff.
23: Trust Your Instincts!
This i is easily overlooked – as well as incredibly important.
You are a walking surveillance network. Your trunk sees as well as hears to a greater extent than things than you lot could ever procedure into coherent thought. Let’s telephone telephone it your “spidey sense” — the powerfulness to sense danger.
Your trunk mightiness sense signs of danger earlier your encephalon is fully aware.
This is why gut feelings are e'er worth examining! If you’re feeling uneasy as well as you lot don’t know why, attempt non to write it off as irrational fear. Stop as well as pay closer attending to the situation. Can you lot figure out what the employment is?
It’s piece of cake to dismiss your instincts as “silly”. Never care for them as such. Those gut feelings as well as intuition have got kept humans safe for millions of years.
24: Travel Safety For Women vs. Men
All the tips on traveling safely inwards a higher identify are every bit of import for both men as well as women. I don’t think the powerfulness to locomote safely should live focused on gender.
Unfortunately women are victims of violence everywhere, including hither inwards the USA & Canada. Traveling doesn’t necessarily growth that threat, it just changes the location.
Women worried almost beingness assaulted or harassed mightiness prefer to see a local street bazaar or nightclub inwards a grouping rather than alone. Especially if it’s a mutual employment for the area.
I know some women who experience safer carrying a safety whistle as well as rubber door stop when they locomote solo too.
However men also have got specific security concerns they demand to ticker out for, related to their egos. Like getting goaded into a physical create do that isn’t necessary. Or beingness scammed past times a beautiful woman.
Travel security is really almost staying street smart, prepared for the unexpected, as well as minimizing your exposure to risky situations inwards a novel as well as unfamiliar country.
25: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Few Words About Risk…
If you lot desire to travel, you lot cannot avoid risk. There is no way to live 100% safe from whatsoever threat, inwards whatsoever component division of life. Risk is an integral component division of adventure too.
This agency when you lot hitting the road, you’re jump to acquire scammed sooner or later, or discovery yourself inwards unexpectedly challenging circumstances. It happens to all of us.
Risk is unavoidable – but it tin live managed, hence you lot tin rest safer.
How do most people take away heed almost events inwards other countries? It’s usually through the news. This is a large problem, because the media is biased – but non the way politicians would similar you lot to believe.
The media reports on unusual events (most oftentimes negative ones). Things acquire featured inwards the word because they rarely happen. That’s the Definition of “newsworthy”.
If the word was genuinely representative of what’s happening inwards the world, 99.9% of each study would audio like: “Today inwards Namib-istan, absolutely cypher unsafe happened, as well as everyone had a perfectly normal twenty-four hours – yet again.”
The word media makes other countries experience a lot less safe than they really are. In fact, the basis seems to live getting safer every decade, according to information collected past times economist Max Roser as well as psychologist Steven Pinker.
This isn’t proverb that bad things don’t happen. It’s proverb they’re usually a misleading representation of what usually happens.
Don’t believe the over-hype. Generally speaking, it’s never been a safer fourth dimension to travel! So go out at that spot amongst your new-found knowledge, bask your trip amongst confidence. ★
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist you lot start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a locomote backpack, photographic television camera gear, as well as other useful locomote accessories.
Book Your Flight
Book inexpensive flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to discovery deals. Also read my tips for how I discovery the cheapest flights.
Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a dandy site for comparison automobile prices to discovery the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking inexpensive hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget locomote insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than almost why you lot should e'er deport locomote insurance.
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READ MORE TRAVEL TIPS
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Best Travel Tips For Beginners
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Ultimate Travel Vaccination Guide
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Have whatsoever questions almost locomote safety? What almost other suggestions? Drop me a message inwards the comments below!
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