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Keeping safe is one of the biggest worries for all travellers. In reality, most trips are trouble free. While I can't guarantee that nothing bad will happen to you, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of being a victim of crime. While being careless is never a good thing, I believe that being too cautious is also a bad thing because travel is like anything that involves taking risks - where there are risks, the rewards can be great. Take precautions, but don't barricade yourself in your room. You will probably just have a miserable time and be overcome with panic. The rewards are a far better experience through seeing the place, experiencing the culture, learning about the place your visiting and meeting people. Remember that as you read this, thousands of women around the world are travelling alone and having a great time, and they are safe and well. This will not be reported in the news however, as that is not a good story.
Safety starts before you go
A thorough knowledge of your destination, whether through a guidebook or internet research, will improve your trip... it can also provide useful inside knowledge about such things as local customs and laws
(UK Foreign Office advice).
* Check out your government advice on your destination. They give health and safety information specific to each country and constant updates on the political situation, and list countries where travel is not advised. It is important to try to keep a balanced view - I find some of these to be too paranoid - with some government sites you would think anyone going abroad won't return home alive.
* Research ahead and ask questions. Find put ahead from guidebooks, online destination guides, online bulletin boards (such as Lonely Planet Thorn Tree), anyone you know from the area, or ask a local at hermail or MeetURplanet. Finding out about things like areas to avoid, safe transport options and the like can make your trip easier. Don't worry about your question looking stupid - being armed with information can be your best defence.
* For the really paranoid, check out Come Back Alive, listing the worlds most dangerous spots. There are some suprises on there!
* Photocopy important documents like the photo page of your passport and flight tickets. Take a copy with you or scan it to an e-mail address, and leave a copy with someone you trust back at home. Also, e-mail yourself important numbers like bank cards, credit cards, passport, travellers cheques and emergency contact numbers. By e-mailing it, you will be able to read it anywhere.
* If you are particularly worried about being attacked, learning some self defence techniques before you go may help. I would recommend getting professional advice on this as you need to know what you are doing.
The best defence of all - common sense
I believe a lot of things about safety is simple common sense. Don't leave your brains behind at home just because your on vacation. Take the same safety precautions as you would at home, and a few extra. Places like parks are best avoided after dark anywhere (unless there is a big event like an outdoor concert or firework display on). If your meeting someone you don't know, do so in a public place. At night, stick to well lit streets and avoid dark, isolated shortcuts. These are all things that many people do in their normal lives anyway. But, keep it in perspective. My view is that I could get mugged - or worse - in my home city of Newcastle. But I cannot stay safely indoors - I have to go to work, shop, meet friends and live my life.
Avoiding Theft
Sadly, in most parts of the world, tourists are seen as easy targets for theft. Not all thefts are violent crimes - pickpockets are numerous. Having things stolen does not automatically mean a trip is ruined altogether, but it causes a lot of inconvenience and frustration.
* Don't keep valuables in your pockets. The main crime committed against tourists is pickpocketing.
* Carry handbags with the strap across your body. It is easy for bag snatchers to grab a bag slung across one shoulder.
* Don't be flashy. Try to avoid displaying expensive cameras, jewellery, camcorders, laptops etc. If you must wear jewellery, keep it low key. If something looks expensive, it may become a target for thieves - they will grab first and assess the value later. A tip I read once is to carry stuff around in a carrier bag from a local store. It may not be glamourous but doesn't get the same attention.
* Split up cash and cards. I prefer to have various stashes, so if I lose one I have not lost it all. Try and have different sources of cash - hard currency, travellers cheques, credit cards, travel money cards etc.
* I wear a moneybelt under clothes. Again, the advice varies for this. It is purely down to personal choice. If you chose not to, try to have a safe place for money and vital documents. Other hiding places for valuables mentioned by women travellers include shoes, secret pockets and hems sewn in clothes, and even in underwear.
* Don't leave luggage unattended. An unattended bag is an open invitation to thieves. A further note on this - if your sitting down anywhere, put your leg through a strap. It is easy to put your bag down on a vacant chair or on the floor beside you while eating/drinking/taking in the place. Then, you find that it has gone. Also remember that an unattended bag may cause a security alert in stations, airports, government buildings etc. One of the advantages of travelling light is that is easier to keep your luggage on you!
* Take special care at stations and ports. Thieves love airports and bus and railway stations. When they are busy, it is easy for them to get lost in the crowd and escape detection by cameras and security guards. They also know that travellers arriving tired and disorientated after a long journey may be less alert than usual. A Dutch bus driver told me once how bags get stolen in a crowded international bus station. It is so easy to put your bag down and turn around for a minute while you look at a timetable or buy a drink or ticket - he said "they turn around for a few seconds and then their bag is gone and no-one sees anything".
*Don't try to be a hero if the worst happens. Your money, passport, credit card and any other valuables can be replaced. You can't. If you are mugged, you are more likely to get hurt if you put up resistance. Hand it over. Some travellers carry a dummy wallet in case they are mugged. This is perhaps made up of a few low value local bills on the top, while filled with low value notes in other currencies underneath, expired credit cards etc. This is based on the theory that most muggers will not hang around to check the contents and search you. They will take what you give them and run.
If anything important is lost or stolen: Stop any credit or debit cards as soon as possible. This is where easy access to emergency contact numbers come in useful - they should operate 24 hours a day. Contact the emergency number for travellers cheques to organise a replacement - this could take a few days. Also, if your claiming back for lost items on your insurance you will most likely need a police report. Don't expect them to make efforts to catch the criminal/s, but you will need that piece of paper. Your nearest embassy will be able to organise a passport replacement, or at least an emergency passport to get you home. Bear in mind opening hours may be limited. Contact the airline in the event of lost tickets. Although it is a lot of inconvenience, lost or stolen possessions does not automatically mean an awful time.
For more tips on avoiding theft, see Avoiding Theft and Art of travel - thieves. Or Theft and mugging has extensive advice for all travellers.
Scammers galore
I cannot list all of these as there are far too many known. New ones keep appearing as travellers get wise to old ones so you need to keep up to date for your destination. Among the well known ones, these include:
* The distraction scams. Well known is the mustard/ketchup/any other substance squirted on you trick - a helpful stranger will 'help' you clean up, while another takes your belongings because you are concentrating on the mess on you. 0ther distraction techniques include lots of money being dropped around you, someone bumping into you or children crowding around you. There are always new distraction scams and they get more sophisticated. Your attention is likely to be on what is happening around you rather than your belongings. Other scams play on your helpful nature to distract you - for example the 'distressed tourist' or the person 'collapsing' in front of you. While you stop to help and your attention is on the 'distressed' person, your belongings are taken.
* Other people are more direct, trying to take you in. Here is where the con tricks and befrienders, the fake police officers, the fake antique sellers, fake travel agents, fake porters and the ticket touts come into play. There is no simple solution. Try to think rationally - if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
*Travel scams are especially rife in places where there are lots of 'rich' foreign tourists. In some places where there is no regulation, it is not unknown for people to wear fake uniforms. If buying tickets, do so from an official reservation office of the company. If there are a choice of private providers doing the journey you wish to make, ask around locally for advice about reputable agents. No matter how long the queue, be wary of anyone approaching you and offering you tickets then and there, or asking you to come with them to a much better office next door where the queues are shorter and tickets cost less. Be wary of agents selling you tickets for 'deluxe' buses and it turning out to be a normal state bus, 10 times cheaper - this actually happened to me. Another common one is selling you a 'first class' ticket which is actually a standard/second class seat.
*Tout and comission scams also exist in these areas. Taxi drivers may tell you that your hotel has burnt down, is full or is closed because they get comission by taking you to a hotel they work with. Official information officers won't be official where money is concerned and may tell you that there is no local bus and you must only take a certain taxi company - the one he gets paid by for sending you there of course. Drivers and guides will do all they can to get you into a craft shop, where they get comission and you get the aggressive hard sell. Touts can be especially aggressive and persistant with tourists because often they earn comission only, and will stop at absolutely nothing to get that money.
* Another one that targets tourists in heavily touristed areas is someone on the street - often in an official looking uniform - selling you a book of restaurant and/or hotel vouchers, for either free/cheap meals/accommodation. The buyer later finds that these establishments don't exist, or the establishments have never heard of the vouchers. Anyone with basic desk top publishing software and a colour printer can make these vouchers easily. Don't buy from unverified sources. The money off vouchers given out by official tourist offices, musuems, major hotels and licenced tour operators are likely to be genuine.
For further information about scams and tips to avoid them, see Avoiding travel scams.
Dealing with sexual harrassment
Sexual harrassment is a real thorn in the side for women travellers. I have heard reports about female travellers suffering harrassment in Morrocco, Tunisia, India, Pakistan, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Greece and Turkey, but there are other countries. The local men may have seen western women in porn, and may have witnessed female visitors behaving in ways local women would not in public and then believe that they are all desperate for sex and will have it with anyone, anywhere on demand. Cultural differences can mean that it is easy to give the wrong impression...
I am always surprised at the large number of women who, respectful of foreign cultures in every other way, still believe that Western ideas about men and women should and do apply in other cultures. It just is not so, and pretending otherwise will only bring heartache. Women ought to dress conservatively in most places, and limit their relations with men to what is appropriate in the culture. In return, they will receive respect and a degree of access to the women of that culture that is denied to men.
Larry Lustig
* In these very macho cultures, a man many see a smile or eye contact as a come-on signal. This is hard for people brought up in cultures where this is normal behaviour. In my culture, a person who does not make eye contact may be seen as being dishonest, untrustworthy or hostile. I find it very hard to not look at someones eyes as I speak to them because making eye contact is a lifetime habit for me. However, in some places not making eye contact is a sign of respect. Sunglasses can be useful to avoid eye contact.
* If your not fluent in the local language, ignoring hisses and calls is the best option as responding may increase their intensity even more. Appealing to women might get you somewhere. This can be hard to adjust to if you are brought up in a culture that sees men and women as equal and sexual harrassment is not acceptable.
* Some women wear a fake wedding ring, or carry photos of 'my husband'.
* Do take time to find out cultural differences. In some cultures, men and women are not 'just friends'. In these places, casual flirting with men without any intention to take it further is potentially dangerous.
* Of course, you may meet someone and want to get to know him/her better. Try not to become so blinded by romance that you take crazy risks with a stranger. Meet in a public place at first and don't go somewhere private until you really feel you can trust him/her. The same goes for giving out personal details. Unless you want to take it further, make arrangements to make your own way back to your accommodation. Remember that cultural misunderstandings do happen - dating etiquette is not universal the world over.
For further advice on dealing with harrassment, see Round the world travel - women travellers and Security for women travellers.
Explore your world - safely
Enjoy meeting people and exploring the place your in, but take care. Travelling solo is very much based on contact with other people. This is part of the joy of solo travel. Do so safely though. If you want to meet up again, meet in a busy public place. If possible, take their number or give a mobile number or e-mail address rather than telling someone you don't know where you are staying. Trust your instincts about someone. If you feel uncomfortable around someone, make your excuses and leave.
* Check out no-go areas. This is important for all travellers. Some places are best avoided day or night. Remember an unfamiliar area can be intimidating purely because you don't know it - it may not be dangerous. However, in a travelling situation, trust your inner feelings on it. If you don't feel comfortable there, get out as soon as you can.
* Know where your going. I prefer to check maps discreetly, perhaps in a cafe or while sitting reading. Try to work out ahead of time where you are going and how to get there. Check in advance what time the last bus/train/subway runs if your going out late at night.
* Get around safely. In some places, you can safely hail a taxi on the street as they are licensed. In other places, it is advisable to pre-book. These are things you should ideally have researched beforehand. Ask at the reception of your accomodation if there are any taxi companies that they recommend. If you have booked a cab by phone, check its yours and not someone just looking for an extra fare or worse by asking the driver for your name and destination. For more cab advice seeAvoid taxi scams.
If using public transport at night, try to sit near the driver on a bus. On a train or subway, get into carriages where there are lots of other people. Try to know in advance where your stop is and where you need to go from there. Arriving in a place late at night is never ideal, but sometimes it is unavoidable due to schedules and delays.
For more tips and advice on getting around safely, see How to avoid subway crimes.
* Tell someone where your going. Give regular updates with people at home. Leave a message with reception if your concerned. Some travellers leave a note in their room.
Safe drinking and drugs
* Know your limits. Try not to get very drunk in a place you don't know, especially if you have to get back somewhere. I am not suggesting at all that if you travel solo you should be curled up in bed by nightfall. Far from it - I want you to go out, explore and have fun. Enjoy a drink, but keep your wits about you. Be aware that standard measures may be stronger than you are used to, and it is very easy to drink much more than usual if alcohol is a lot cheaper than at home. Someone who is so drunk that they don't know what they are doing or where they are going is an easy target.
* On that note, be drink aware. The drugs used to spike drinks are generally colourless and tasteless. If someone you don't know well is buying you a drink, try to be present at the bar. If your drinking out of bottles, try to see it being opened and keep your hand over the opening. If you go anywhere, take your drink with you. Don't leave it unattended.
* Beware of drugs also. Even if they seem to be openly used, they may still be illegal and the penalties for being caught in possession of illegal drugs can be severe. You are subject to the laws of the country you are in, whatever your nationality, and you will have the same punishment. Buying drugs puts you at risk of being mugged and worse, and it is not unknown for sellers to be undercover police officers. Don't take drugs if you are alone because being under the influence puts you at risk as you are less aware of your surroundings. Accidental overdose is also a high risk. Finally, be aware that most travel insurance policies have a clause stating that they will not pay claims brought about as a result of drugs and alcohol.
*If you are offered food or drinks from strangers, be careful. Watch to see if everyone is sharing the same food or pouring drinks from the same bottle. Don't take ready poured drinks, unless you see the bottle being opened or open it yourself. This is not an easy area as in some places, offering strangers food and drink is an essential part of the culture and refusing may cause offence. Do so tactfully.
One more thing... luggage aware
In reality, drug set ups without the knowledge of victims are rare, but if it happens it's devastating. Check your luggage carefully when you pack. Don't allow someone else to guard it for you unlocked. Don't offer to carry anything across a border for anyone else. Even if it looks very innocent, remember that drugs, illegal gems and illegal currency have been found in places most of us would never think to hide anything! Don't agree to watch someone else's luggage at an airport or border crossing. It may go against your generous nature but this is not the time to be helpful. If something illegal is found on your person or in your luggage, you take the punishment regardless of who it belongs to. Period. This is one area where being very cautious about your luggage is worthwhile. Don't trust anyone with it.
For extra articles on travel safety, try...
Finally - GET OUT THERE!
From reading this, it may sound like the entire world is out to relieve you of your belongings and take advantage of you. It isn't. In fact, solo travellers often discover how kind and generous strangers can be. Most trips are trouble free, but being aware of the risks is important and taking simple precautions allows you to enjoy yourself safely. So go out there, discover the world and have a great trip!