Staying Safe While Traveling

This is a post that I did a year ago.  I thought it would be worth re-posting. Safety is always an issue. 

"The worst thing about being a tourist is having other tourists recognize you as a tourist".
Russell Baker

Safety is always an issue when traveling. Here are a few safety tips, which could help you when traveling.

1. Think about how you dress. Clothing that might be acceptable in your own country could attract unwanted attention in another. Also, you don't want to stand out in a crowd, to draw attention to yourself as a tourist. T-shirts with sayings can sometimes be offensive. Just be aware of where you are, and what would be the normal wear there, and pack to blend in.

Times Square, New York

2. Leave the bling at home. Expensive jewelery is best left in your jewelery box at home. If going on a cruise where you will have a dress night, then take some nice jewelery, but keep it in the room safe until the dressy night.

3. In your own city you know which areas are safe to walk around in at night, in a strange city you do not. Use common sense and don't go into areas that seem questionable, stay in lighted areas where there are lots of people around.

Having a beer in Croatia

4. Don't drink too much! One of the great things about traveling in Europe is experiencing the rich nightlife, and trying new foods and drinks. But be careful, you don't want to become a vulnerable target.

5. If a thief attmpts to rob something from you, hand it over. Anything they steal is replaceable. Go to the police and report it. You will need this report to make any claims with your insurance company.

6. Don't keep your valuables in one place, spread it out. If you have 2 credit cards, then put them in separate places. If there are 2 of you traveling together, then each of you carry one. Store your other valuables, such as passports, in hotel safes, or in your luggage. But make a photocopy of passports and credit cards, so that if they are lost or stolen, you have all the information on you to replace them. Keep those copies separate from the originals. Also, make sure you make a note of phone numbers for the credit cards in case you need to call and report them stolen.

Driving in Tahiti

7. If traveling by car, keep items hidden in the trunk, not out where they can be seen while you are parked. If you are at the beach for the day, do not leave anything of value on the beach while you take a swim.

8. Men should not keep their wallet in their back pockets, it's the easiest place for a pickpocket to get it. A suit jacket or the front pockets are preferable, but even then not completely safe. Better yet, buy a money holder or passport holder that goes under your shirt, and keep credit cards and cash there, along with your passport.

9. Women need to keep their purses to the front of their bodies, not slung over their shoulders so that the purse is behind them. And keep them zipped or fastened shut,

10. Have fun, but use common sense, and be aware of what is going on around you.

Botin Retaurant, Madrid

Quick story from our travels. We were in Madrid, Spain. It was our first night. We were heading out to dinner and I told my husband that I didn't want to carry my purse, but that I wanted my wallet with me. He said he would put my wallet in his front pants pocket. He put his wallet in the other front pants pocket, and we went to dinner, at Botin Restaurant (which is the oldest restaurant in the world). In Spain, dinner is not until around 10 PM, so we were following that custom.

Walking back to our hotel after dinner, we were in an area that had vendors selling things from tables along the street. Even though it was around midnight, the area was crowded and well-lit, so we were not worried. I was meandering along, looking at all the neat stuff for sale. My husband was a little ways ahead of me. When I caught up to him he was upset. He told me that someone had dropped some coins in front of him, and had stooped to pick them up. While he was diverted watching this, 2 different pickpockets managed to each get the wallets from his front pockets. He realized almost immediately what had happened and was able to grab my wallet back from the one guy, but his wallet was gone. We were standing there trying to decide what to do next, when a very nice man came racing towards us. He had George's wallet in his hand and was waving it at us. He had seen what had happened and had raced after the thief and retrieved it. We were very lucky, we didn't lose a thing. But it was only because of a good samaritan who helped us. So, be aware of your surroundings, and if something unusual happens, remember it could be just a diversion.

Travel safely everyone!