Solo Travel: Staying Safe While Vacationing

Nothing spoils a vacation like having your safety comprised. Remaining safe in a foreign land should always be your number one priority. Here are a few tips for staying safe while traveling solo.

Be aware of pick pocketing and other crimes:

Pick pocketing is a big issue in Europe, especially in Paris. My doctor’s husband was a victim of pick pocketing, but fortunately, he realized what happened, chased the thief and retrieved his wallet. I really don’t recommend that you chase after someone because you never know what could happen especially if the person decides to retaliate.

To prevent from being a victim of pick pocketing, don’t carry items in your pockets. Instead, use bags that are designed to safe guard your valuables. Travelon has a great line of anti-theft bags. They can be purchased from https://www.travelonbags.com or Amazon.  Another option is the USB Charging Anti-Theft Backpack which can also be found on Amazon.

According to Rick Steves who is dubbed the go to expect on traveling in Europe, buy black bags because it is the anti-theft color. Even with these bags still take precautions such as:

 Keep the opening faced towards your body.
 Buy crossbody bags instead of should bags.
 Purchase bags that have straps made of metal. They are more difficult to cut than cloth.
 Use hidden money pouches.

Also, don’t be misled into thinking that pick pocketing is the only form of crime tourists encounter. When I was in Paris with my children my son, who was about 10 at the time, was swiping his unlimited travel pass to enter the train station when out of nowhere a man ran up on him while he was going through the turnstile. I’m not sure what he was trying to do. However, I was quick enough to put my arm between him and my son, grab the card, and confront him. The man mumbled something and ran off. Who knows what would have really happened if I weren’t an extremely observant overprotective parent.

Jewelry:

It’s best not to travel with jewelry, but if you insist, be cautious.

If you are not familiar with the area and will be out at night partying or drinking it is best not to wear jewelry. I had a co-worker who was vacationing in the Dominican Republic and one night while he was extremely intoxicated he walked around town wearing several pieces of jewelry. Needless to say, he was robbed. I can hear you saying, “Well he should have known better.” But you’d surprised how many people do foolish things like this. They naively believe no one will bother them or they think they can handle the situation if something were to happen.

Documents:

When boarding planes always keep your passports, birth certificates or any other important documents with you. Never pack them in the bag you are checking.

Use a safe to safeguard your documents while you are touring. If you don’t feel comfortable with the safe provided by your lodgings consider the Pacsafe Travelsafe 12L GII Portable Safe https://www.pacsafe.com You can put your items in it and then lock it in the hotel safe.

Never give your passport to anyone and travel with copies. Some European hotels will ask for your passport to make copies for their records. It is a safety feature for them. Just give them one of the copies. If they insist on having the original to make their own copy or say they need to hold it for a while or for the duration of your trip, you might consider finding another place to stay. Even hotels can have scammers.

Use your driver’s license when possible instead of the passport. For example, when I am cruising, I use my driver’s license when returning to the ship.

Keep in touch:

Register with STEP—Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This is a free service provided by the American Government that allows its citizen to register with a local Embassy or Consulate whenever they leave the country. You will be notified if something happens in the place you are visiting. It could be as simple as a mud slide or as severe and urgent as terrorist activity. There have been times when America sent planes to return its citizens home during periods of unrest. They will even contact you if your family needs to communicate with you in case of emergency. The website is https://step.state.gov.

Keep others posted of your activities with apps like WhatsApp and Viber.

Share your travel itinerary with a trusted friend or family member. Or send texts and/or emails updating a trusted source of your whereabouts.

Don’t standout or draw attention to yourself:

During my ride from the airport to my hotel in Rio the driver was nice enough to tell me how dangerous Rio is (something I already knew). He advised me not to do anything that would cause me to stand out too much such as carrying excessive technical equipment. He even warned me of taking too many pictures.

You should also be mindful of your wardrobe, especially if the style of dress is conservative where you are visiting.

Become familiar with the customs and the do’s and don’ts and always show respect for the people and their culture.

Research your travel destination:

Research the places you will be visiting. Find out what the areas are like, which ones are safe and which ones to completely avoid. Inquiry about the neighborhood where you will be staying.

Learn about their forms of transportation. Is it available 24 hours a day? If not, find out the hours. Is one form of transportation better than the other? You can even find out the cost prior to traveling especially when vising places that have a standard transportation system like Japan or Paris.

It is easy to take certain things for granted such as traveling with medication. This can be a hot topic depending on where you are going. Keep pills in their original container. If possible, bring a letter from your doctor listing which mediations you are taking. Only bring the amount needed for the length of your travel. Several countries are also dealing with drug problems and are not as lenient as America. If they feel you are trying to bring drugs into their country you can be detained or even arrested.

The more you know about where you are going the more stress free and enjoyable your travels will be. When I first started traveling I was a novice. I did not know to research the place I was traveling to. As a result, I did not enjoy myself very much. I now know better.

General safety Tips:

For additional security while in your room consider purchasing a basic door stopper or a portable door lock.

If you find yourself in danger, remain calm. You can think better when you are focused and in control.

Become familiar with travel apps. They can be used to help you communicate and even convert currency.

Be friendly but cautious when interacting with and befriending strangers.

Inform your bank of your travel dates and locations. This will prevent them from stopping any transactions you are making. I even let my bank know my location during a layover in case I want to purchase something in the airport. I was in Rio and forgot to notify my bank that I was traveling. My first transaction was processed, but a later one was declined. The bank thought I was a victim of fraud. I was so thankful I had another card with me.

The best piece of advice I can offer is to always use common sense. And remember, if something does not feel right it probably isn’t and you should take the necessary steps to remove yourself from that situation ASAP!

Do not allow safety concerns to prevent you from traveling. There is no such place or area that is 100 percent completely safe. Some of the places you travel to may be safer than the country, city, or area you live and work in. Do not allow fear to hold you hostage.

Safe travels!!!