This Travel Safety Tips post covers in-depth theft and other types of crime, related to travelling. Some of the more common tips you might be familiar with, I will be covering from a different angle. Some other ones could be something you’d never think of…
1. Strap your backpack around your leg, when sitting
When you’re sitting on the bench, anybody can easily pass by behind you, grab your bag and run away. So, instead of holding it tight all the time, you can just strap it around your leg & relax!
2. Party as close as possible to your room
Under the influence of alcohol, you are simply not sharp, not alert, and have a false sense of reality… You tend to care less about any of the travel safety tips from this post. That being said, if you wanna party, it’s less likely you’ll do something stupid if you party close to your room.
3. Be careful in the back streets
They are not necessarily dangerous. In there, it’s too quiet for the thieves. They don’t wanna sit around for days, weeks, even months for a victim to pass by. Instead, they rather go to the busy streets, which guarantee more opportunities. However, since the back streets are quiet, you may wanna look back, every once in a while. Just in case…
Also, before entering, you may wanna check on your GPS, and make sure it’s not a dead-end street… in case you have to run.
4. Use the hidden waist bag or a money belt
This product became pretty much a backpacker’s essential. That’s why it’s one of the most common travel safety tips. I use it so much, that I take my 6-month journeys with 2 of them. I use one, pretty much at all times, under my pants (at the front) and keep money, passport, and ATM card inside. The other waist bag I use for two purposes: 1. As a backup (in case the first one gets broken or stolen); and 2. For the beach towns, (not hidden) to carry my cell phone and some cash, which would normally get wet in my swim shorts.
Another popular item great for hiding the valuables is the money belt like this one or this one.
5. Keep intentionally a few bucks in your back pocket
You’re probably wondering what does this have to do with Travel Safety tips? This is a great way to test the area for safety, and test your ability to notice somebody pick-pocketing you. Also, by applying this strategy, you are investing a few bucks for a potentially cool story and an interesting experience!
6. Dress discretely
Leave your bracelets, necklaces, watches, and all the other decorations a home. Save your fashionable shoes and the coolest pants for some other time. Your goal is to look unnoticeable.
Europeans and other light-skinned people stand out in the countries of dark-skinned people by default. No need to ask for more attention, with special outfits.
Also, I remember one evening walking around in Kochi, India, with 2 of my travelling buddies. One of them was dressed in long pants and a T-shirt. The one was in shorts & a tank top. I happen to notice how the shorts/tank top dude was significantly more noticeable because he was exposing more of his skin… Especially at night, because of the light skin/darkness contrast!
For that reason, I like to wear dark, simple clothes. Even better, if the colors are faded. Makes me look cheap! Although clothes can not do a miracle. In Africa, white skin always stands out, and for them, it’s the synonym of wealth.
7. Keep your voice down
Being loud drives attention, and on top of that, it’s rude!
8. Be careful with your new friends
The reality is while traveling the world, you’ll run across plenty of friendly, kind, and generous people. It is important not to generalize those experiences and assume any smile you get is honest. When somebody’s friendly with you, you should assess them carefully. I am always trying to find out what could be the motive behind one’s friendliness. That being said, I have categorized them…
Types of friendly people you may encounter
- Truly genuine people – They wanna be kind and helpful, without asking anything for return. Meeting them is a true pleasure. Hanging out with them is a blessing. Whenever I have this privilege, I ask myself, What have I done to deserve this?
- Drunks – People that are super friendly, just because they are under influence of alcohol. They provide a great short-term company, but I wouldn’t rely on their help, assistance, or advice of any kind. Since people under the influence of alcohol tend to be less sharp, their advice & assistance could easily be misleading or inaccurate.
- Hustlers – The people that are friendly, cause they want something from you. They wanna sell you something or try to get you to buy them something. Long story short, they are not friendly cause they like you. They are simply driven by some sort of material benefit. Hanging out with them is generally not hostile. On my first two backpacking trips in Africa, I would meet local friends from this group, and I actually enjoyed their company. Even if they would squeeze me a bit every once in a while, I still had plenty of adventures while hanging out with them and learned a lot about the local lifestyle. Once I became more experienced, more confident, and more independent, I started to dislike hanging out with these kinds of people. Even now, I find them annoying and am trying to avoid them. Bottom line, it’s a two-way friends with benefits relationship: they benefit from you by squeezing you, you benefit from them by having a local to hang out with. You can also look at it as a cheaper and more adventurous way of hiring a local guide.
- Bad people – Those are the ones that have an intention to harm you, trick you, lie to you, steal from you, or hurt you somehow…
If you hang out with the person that you believe they are genuinely friendly, and eventually you realize they’re friendly for a reason, you’ll probably feel disappointed, cheated, and even stupid… You should not look at it that way. Simply, take it as a travelling experience and lesson that will only make you smarter and stronger! Reading people is an amazing skill.
9. Don’t use headphones while walking
Obviously, if you shut down one of your senses, you are less sharp and more distracted from the surroundings.
That’s the fact. On top of that, I’d like to share my personal belief: it’s rude! I know, having headphones on is part of the 21st-century lifestyle. The idea is to detach yourself from your surroundings, in order to relax. Great tool while you are on a train coming home from work. On the other hand, if you are in a foreign country and trying to detach yourself, you are being ignorant! If you are in nature, on top of what you see, you can also experience the sounds of nature. If you are in a noisy city, you need to experience the vibe of the city chaos. For the same reason, I am avoiding wearing sunglasses. Eye contact is an essential part of honest and genuine communication between people.
10. Don’t walk too much at night
This is one of the most common travel safety tips. Let’s break it down a bit. Generally, places that are not safe for walking at night are the big cities in developing countries. That rule also applies to the locals. Typically, 7-8 PM is still fine. After 9 PM is the time you don’t want to be exploring the city.
Smaller towns are significantly safer, cause the thieves and other sorts of criminals would have limited places to hide. Another reason why criminals prefer hanging out in the cities: If caught, they have more chances of being released, simply because the city prisons are usually at the full capacity. No joke!
In some instances, smaller tourist towns can be sketchy. That’s because thieves like to stop by from the cities, get some tourist robbing done, and drive back home the same day.
11. Carry your backpack in front
This strategy is the most useful in the public transport, also in the street markets, where you are not walking at a consistent pace. More like moving, stipping, moving… In that environment, you wanna move your backpack from your back to the front.
That is also a polite thing to do. If you wear your backpack on your back in the crowded space and turn around, you may kick somebody behind you.
12. Take pictures discreetly
Obviously, if you are at the tourist site, or anywhere on a trail surrounded by stunning nature, it’s normal and safe to take pictures. However, if you are at the street market in a city, where locals go shopping, and you just look around and take pictures of everything, you are driving attention. In order to be more discreet, when you see something interesting, target your frame before you reach for your phone, then take it out, pull the trigger and move on!
13. Look like you know where you’re going
Obviously, if you look like you don’t know the area, you are driving attention: Sometimes of good people, and sometimes of bad ones. If I need help, I rather approach somebody. If I wait till someone approaches me, the risk is higher…
How about, if you are at a crossroad, and you simply need to check your navigation app in order to find out which way to go?
Here’s how I deal with that situation… I just keep walking straight ahead, while looking at the phone. If I find out, that wasn’t the right direction, I just go back and turn where I was supposed to go. I risked 10 meters extra walk, in order to avoid looking like a tourist or a stranger. On top of that, GPS apps are more precise while you’re moving… Even if somebody noticed you walking back, it still looks perfectly normal (You pulled up your phone, and for instance, read a text that resulted in a change of plan). So turning around and going back is a lot more discreet action than standing on one spot, looking at your phone, then looking around… Then looking back at your phone.
Backpackers love to take their time and do it as a collective activity: All of them together stare at their phones and look around (and they tend to do it in the middle on the crossroad). Don’t be like them!
14. Get travel safety tips from the locals
This is one of the most useful travelling tips. Talk to the front desk staff at the place where you’re staying. It is in their interest you have a safe and comfortable stay. Sometimes, they may be over-protective and prevent you from your adventurous intentions. That’s why it’s better to ask other people as well. The more different points of view you get, the more accurate safety picture you’ll have. Usually, I like to ask for safety tips at the place where I’m getting street food. Especially if I come back to the same place the second, or third time, after establishing a better connection.
15. Heads up, while in crowded places
That’s where pick-pocketing usually occurs. Keep an eye on your belongings in the crowded buses, and streets, where, you are unable to walk at a regular pace. You should read about my experience from Togo. Rio Carnival is another great example of a pick-pocketing environment.
16. Secure your pockets
This one is also related to pick-pocketing. If you like travelling in comfortable hiking-friendly clothes, your pants will probably have loose pockets. Sometimes, things could easily disappear from them. After my experience from Togo, I have decided to install the zippers on the pockets of my pants. I thought that project would be secure enough. I was wrong…
Next year, while I was on a crowded bus in Cuenca, Quito, somebody successfully managed to unzip my front pocket and steal my phone. No joke! I have decided to take the security to a next level. See the pictures below…
17. In your room, make sure the window and balcony is not accessible from the street
…or if it is, make sure you’re located in a very safe area. In Sal island, Cape Verde, in the middle of the night, somebody entered my dorm through the window, stole my phone, and another traveller’s kindle. The host apologized to me for this inconvenience and told me this has never happened before. Then I found out the hostel has been open for only 5 months. So another valuable info about the safety of the accommodation would be: find out how long has it been open.
18. Use the ATM and money exchange during the daytime, and in the busy streets
I would advise not to hang out around the ATM, or the Exchange office, right before, or after you use it. Have your stuff ready. Once you find your brunch, get in, get it done, get out, and keep moving. Not a good place to take selfies, or stare at your GPS.
19. If you’re using a car, avoid keeping your belongings in it
On my first visit to Costa Rica, my companion and myself were road tripping with the rented car. One night, we arrived in Montezuma just after sunset. Before searching for accommodation, we decided to go for a quick swim. It was about 8 pm. When we came back to the car, all of our belongings were gone!
20. Be careful if someone offers you a drink
This is one of the scariest travel safety tips. In Colombia, there’s a plant growing, called Burundanga, or Scopolamine, which contains a dangerous powder. It is super light, so besides mixing in one’s drink, it can easily be digested through the air (if somebody blows it in your direction). The effect is very unusual: you became incredibly naive and trustworthy. So if the person that’s trying to take advantage of you asks:
“Hey, how about we go to the ATM, you withdraw as much money as possible, and give it to me?”
Under that drug, you would enthusiastically say: “Sure, let’s go!”
Then, after withdrawing and giving the money to the complete stranger, if he asks you: “Do you have any other ATM card, so you can withdraw more money and give it to me?”
Your answer could be something like this: “Yes, it’s in my hostel!”
“Can we walk over there and get it?”
“Sure!”
“And do you have any cash in the hostel?”
“I have 100EUR bill hidden in my bag.”
“Can I have that as well?”
“Of course!”
…Too crazy to be true, right? It’s like a story from the Holywood movies! Then next morning you would wake up without remembering any of this. The drug is also very popular for sexual abuse. There have been reports of drug presence in the neighboring countries to Colombia, as well as in Spain.
Obviously, Burundanga is not the only drug in this world that can end up in your beverage, and make your trip miserable. That being said, even if you are far away from Colombia, you should be careful when someone offers you a beverage.
21. Be flexible and adaptable
I remember years ago before I became an experienced traveller, I’ve read an article: 3 Most Important Travel Safety Tips. The no. 1 was: Always carry your passport on you!
After I gained some experience, I started to disagree with that statement. I am not saying, carrying the passport on you is a bad idea. My opinion is, it depends… On what’s your accommodation like and what’s the outside surroundings like. If you are staying in a very safe and reliable hotel, that has a safe at the front desk, with a 24-hour attendant, and security… it might be better, just to keep it there. Anyway, if I keep my passport on me, it will definitely not be in my pocket. It will be in my waist bag that goes underpants (described under #4)
Bottom line is, you can not just generalize the rules, and stick with them at all times. Every country, location, and the situation is different. What worked for you on your last trip, may not on the next one. You need to be able to, approach every situation as new and unique. That’s why they say, travelling is an art …and that is just another awesome thing about it!
22. Hang out where women & children are
Generally, the family environment is pretty safe, but not 100% though. Small kids could still as well. I had a situation in Guinea Ecuatorial, that made me feel very uncomfortable. Women and children around me gave me hope everything will be fine.
23. Assess the people hanging out in your hostel/guesthouse
Goa, Bali, and Thailand are the destinations famous for the broke backpackers, also known as begpackers, that ran out of money, but just don’t wanna go back to real life. Instead, they are begging for money, trying to work a bit, and hustling for free stuff. Some of them might even steal…
In Goa, this phenomenon is more common during the party season (from mid-November to mid-February). Westerners are partying hard, doing drugs, and… well, you know what it’s like with the drugs… They just want more and more and more… So they need some funds to feed their desire… And funds could be found in the dorm you might be staying…
Alternatively, you should assess the locals that are hanging out in the hostel. Particularly in the very cheap, loosely controlled, and loosely managed hostels, if there are locals hanging out and drinking, you may wanna be alert with your belongings (or change the hostel). I have heard of a hostel like this in Caye Caulker, Belize (Sorry, dunno the name of it).
24. Diversify your funds
Make sure you keep your funds hidden in different parts of your belongings. That way, if you get robbed, the thief most likely won’t be able to steal everything you got.
Also, make sure you have your money stored in multiple bank accounts. I love Debit cards! If they get stolen, you can just cancel them, and no money will be lost. I travel with 3 of them (3 different bank accounts), 2 different credit cards, and about $500 cash – $200 hidden in my waist bag, $200 hidden somewhere deep in my backpack, and the last $100 under the sole of the shoe. You don’t have to do it my way. Just be creative and hide your money and the cards in the different spots!
25. Don’t be fooled by the Western-style surroundings
If you visit a destination that appears clean, modern, and well organized, that’s just not enough reasons for you to feel safe. On the other hand, if you visit a destination that is dusty, dirty & chaotic, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s more dangerous. Bottom line is, development and safety are simply not correlated.
To Summarize
It does seem like there’s plenty of safety rules and so many things to think about. But once you get into the rhythm of travelling cautiously, all those rules will spontaneously get under your skin, and you’ll be able to follow them automatically!
I would also like to point out, in 99% of cases, if something goes wrong safety-wise, your phone will get stolen, maybe a laptop, maybe $50, and some other cheaper items. It sucks, and it feels humiliating… However, it’s such a cheap price for such a valuable lesson, crazy experience, and an awesome story to tell! I always like to say: Visiting a new country is a million dollar experience, so losing $1000 of belongings still makes a trip worth it!
Did I miss any of the Travel Safety Tips? It’s quite possible. Please, remind me, and share in the comments below.
Marco, great post with valuable advice!
Thanks a lot, Scott!