For almost 20 years I’ve been taking students abroad, and a big part of my job is educating them on staying safe during travel. I’ve boiled it down to seven simple strategies that anyone can use to feel safe during their travel excursions.
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1. Research Destination in Advance
The key to feeling safe and comfortable during travel is research, research, research! Knowledge inspires confidence! Here are a few things to focus on while you are researching your destination:
- Transportation – find out what type of transportation is safe to take and what is not. Research public transportation, figure out how it works and if it’s safe. Find the answer to these questions:
- Is Uber or a local alternative available? If yes, download the app and link it to your credit card in advance.
- What taxi companies are legit?
- Are taxis metered or should you negotiate in advance?
- Scams – research what scams are prevalent in the country you are visiting. Just Google “scams while traveling to [X country].” There’s a wealth of information online that will tell you what to watch out for.
- Emergency numbers and resources – look up the country’s emergency numbers (AKA 911 equivalent) and program them into your phone. Also locate the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate and add the address, phone number, and email address to your contacts as well. Finally, lookup health clinics/hospitals near your hotel. The Air Doctor (iOS, Android) app is a good resource for finding a doctor no matter where you are.
- Apps – download our recommended travel apps. Two additional apps provide information to promote safe travel: Sitata and Smart Traveler. Both will send real time alerts about travel disruptions and advisories. Sitata also gives tips on local scams and locations on medical clinics while Smart Traveler gives locations of U.S. Embassies.
2. Try to Blend In
Another tip for staying safe during travel is to blend in. Do a bit of digging to find out what locals typically wear so you know what clothes to pack. Honestly, it’s very difficult not to broadcast loudly that you are an American during travel no matter how hard you try. But you can try by not wearing t-shirts with graphics/phrases, athleisure, and shorts which all scream American.
Although you may want to wear your nicest jewelry during your trip, it’s usually best to leave your best stuff at home. I always leave my engagement ring at home and just wear a simple wedding band during my travels. And I keep the rest of my jewelry simple. Flashing expensive jewelry and watches are a good way to attract unwanted attention from pick-pocketers and other thieves.
Another thing that makes us stand out as tourists is standing in the middle of busy streets or sidewalks to take photos or simply gawk at the sites. Sure, it’s only natural to do some of this. But make sure you are moving to an inconspicuous out of a heavy traffic area before stopping.
3. Stay Aware of Your Surroundings
Staying safe during travel requires an increased level of vigilance than what you may practice at home. Don’t move about on auto-pilot! Stay aware of where you are at all times and keep tabs on who is around you.
When you check into your hotel, ask the staff about unsafe areas to avoid and make sure you understand where these are located. As the old adage says, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
It’s inevitable that you will get lost, but try not to broadcast this fact to others. Walk with purpose to a shop or café and go inside to look closely at your map app or ask for directions.
Finally, if you drink, do so responsibly. This isn’t the time to over-imbibe. Being drunk makes you more likely to get lost and to be a target for scams and various crimes. If you do drink, make sure your drink is in your possession at all times. Criminals can put drugs in your drink that will incapacitate you so they can take advantage of you. This goes for both men and women – no one is immune!
4. Manage Your $$$
We have a post about getting cash abroad that covers best practice on how to navigate paying for things while traveling. If you determine you need local currency, get it from an ATM at the airport or at a bank. Other ATMs are more likely to be tampered with.
Once you have that cash, you will need to keep it safe. The number one recommendation is not to carry a lot of cash. In most places, you shouldn’t need to, anyway. But if you have a lot of cash, make sure to carry only what you need and keep the rest locked up in a hotel safe. I also like to travel with two credit cards and two debit cards, and I only carry one of each with me and keep the others in my room safe. If I’m robbed, I’ll still have most of my cash and a credit and debit card back in my room.
When selecting what type of day bag you plan to carry with you, choose a cross-body style. This can prevent or deter people from grabbing your bag as they go by you on foot or vehicle. Refer to our post on recommendations for the best bags for every type of trip. There are also cross-body bags appropriate for men as well. If you prefer a backpack, wear it facing frontwards rather than on your back.
5. Keep in Touch
Another way to stay safe during travel is to make sure people know your plans and where you are supposed to be at any given time. This starts with leaving an itinerary with a family member or friend back home and making a plan to do regular check-ins with them. See our post on how to stay connected while abroad for ways to make it easy to check in back home. This is particularly important for solo travelers, but it’s also a good idea when traveling with others.
6. Digitize Important Documents
Before you leave home, scan your passport, visa (if applicable), credit/debit cards, and other important documents you are taking. Leave a copy with a trusted friend or family member at home, and upload a digital copy to a password protected cloud-based storage site so you can access it while abroad. I also like taking a hard copy as well that I leave in my hotel safe.
These documents will make your life so much easier if you lose something. Getting a new passport is much easier if you have a copy of your old one. And if you lose your credit/debit card, you will have all the phone and account numbers you need to quickly report the loss.
7. Trust Your Gut
Probably the most important thing to do to stay safe during travel is to trust your gut. If you feel uncomfortable about anything, there’s probably a good reason for it. Now there is a certain amount of uncertainty that goes with travel, In fact, I think the entire point of international travel is to make you feel a little uncomfortable because that causes personal growth. But you will be able to determine the difference between managing the ambiguity of travel and feeling unsafe. If you feel unsafe, you probably are and you should get out of the situation as soon as possible. Seek out a safe space such as a store, restaurant, or hotel to regroup and determine a new plan of action.
What are your strategies for staying safe during travel?
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