Whilst most trips abroad pass without any problems when a problem arises and you are in a foreign country it can be very stressful and quite frightening. There are a few things that you can do to minimise the odds of finding yourself in such a predicament though – and here are a few of them.
Try not to stand out
Tourists are often considered easy pickings by crooks, pickpockets and fraudsters. Their lack of local knowledge, customs, money and language can make tourists vulnerable so avoid standing out from the crowd and try not to look like a tourist. It is worthwhile learning a few key phrases in the local language too.
Get some local knowledge
It is easy to learn about where you going before you get there. Most cities have their good and their bad areas; you are inviting trouble by wandering around a notoriously rough area on your own late at night so make sure you’re aware of where they are.
Different countries have different laws too and some places are quite sensitive to foreigners flouting these so be sure to find out what they are before departing. The same can be said of local customs. Giving someone the thumbs up gesture in some parts of the world will have very different connotations to that at home so it’s best to read up on this before inadvertently causing offence on your travels.
Don’t flash your valuables
Carrying valuables around with you makes you far more likely to be pick-pocketed or robbed. Flashy expensive cameras might get you some superb pictures to remember your holiday but it also suggest you may be carrying other valuables and a lot of spending money.
Before leaving your hotel or accommodation, go through every item and ask yourself if you really need to be carrying it. Having your wallet stolen is a nightmare so avoid flashing cash and make sure your credit card is returned to you after each transaction. Credit card protection is an important consideration and if you stay somewhere with a lockable safe it may be worth storing valuables here when away from your room.
Use your common sense
You would think it goes without saying but people like nothing more than ‘letting go’ whilst on holiday. However, combining that with a diet of alcohol can lead to trouble. Jumping off the hotel balcony into the pool might seem like a good idea but the fact that you wouldn’t do that at home should stop you from doing it on holiday. Regardless of where you are, trust your gut instincts and if something feels wrong then it probably is.
Good suggestions for staying safe while traveling! One thing we do in sketchy places is to leave the big camera back at the hotel when sightseeing – nothing says tourist like a giant camera.
Yea – I worry about this during some of my travels – with the iPhone and Instagram and or other online filters – you can actually take really awesome photos made for the web without needing a larger camera. One of my photographer friends recently went on a trip and left her large SLR at home – opting instead for just using the iPhone. I always enjoy not having my heavy SLR to carry around – but it still takes the best pictures!