Safety First
Staying safe starts before your trip even begins. I like to check to see if there have been any safety issues recently in my destination country that would make travel there a risk: War? Terrorism? Crime? You can do a google search but that will obviously pull up everything that's made the news, it doesn't tell you if those issues are common.
A better place to look is the US State Depart Website 🔗. It has a color coded system to rate how risky
any destination country is, lists security alerts and tells you which parts of the country to avoid.
It will also give you information about Visa requirements, currency restrictions, where the US Embassy
is located, what the medical facilities there are like, details about local laws and the safety of the
various local transportation options.
Are there Covid Restrictions 🔗 in place? Any recommended or required vaccinations 💉 like Hepatitis?
Check the CDC Website 🔗 for recommendations in addition to the destination countries requirements. And always talk to your travel physician about any unique health issues you may have.
Travel restrictions may not prevent travel, but you want to be aware if there are extra documents required, areas you should avoid or extra precautions to take.
Info to Know - TripWhistle 🔗 is a great resource for medical or police emergency numbers while abroad.
🚫 Don't keep all your 💰 eggs in one basket
Spread out your cash and credit card across different luggage in case any one of them gets lost or stolen.
Know the Local 411 & 911 ☎️
Plan ahead: save local emergency services number, your hotel/ hostel & home country's embassy number in your phone.
Back up Contact Cards
Keep an index card of emergency contacts in all your bags incase your phone dies or gets lost/ stolen. It's a good idea to have a local emergency contact on there as well, like your countries embassy number.
Take Back-Up Photo's 📸
Uploaded pics to a cloud server of all important documents, as well as electronics, should you need to make an insurance claim on lost/ stolen items. I also make hard photo copies of IDs, insurance etc. to keep in each of my bags with my emergency contact info.
Be Aware & Trust Your Instincts
It sounds simple but the best way to avoid dangerous situations in the first place is to stay aware of your surroundings.
🚫 Don’t stare at your phone while walking, (in some cities you shouldn't even have your phone out on the street - in London for example, there's been a rash of 'drive by' phone nabbings) & keep yourself to yourself.
This includes keeping personal & travel business private. If you're traveling solo as a female, be cautious about who you share that with (it’s ok to pretend you have a husband waiting for you at the hotel.) Don't be generous with info about where you're staying or where you will be in the future.
Trust your gut 🚩 if it tells you something is off about someone's attention even if it means being rude.
Ask For Help 🆘
Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance if you’re not sure where you are or if you're at the right train stop, for example. It can be embarrassing but it's way better than ending up in the wrong part of town because you got turned around.
As a solo female traveler it's even a good idea to approach a safe looking male or couple in public to ask for help if you're getting too much attention from someone that's making you nervous. Most will be happy to let you sit with them a minute until the threat passes.
📣 Make Some Noise
Mace / Pepper Spray may be illegal in your destination and are difficult to travel with (you can't take them through security, but you can tuck them in checked-bags and cross your fingers.) A Safety Whistle or Personal Alarm is a great alternative.
For women in particular, a noisemaker on your key chain is really smart. I have an old, shrill brass whistle of my late mother's (she was a teacher and would use it to call the kids in from recess.) But they also have electronic noise makers you can yank to activate an alarm.
Leave the Important Stuff at your Hotel/ Hostel
🛑 Stop carrying hard to replace items like, passports, on your person day to day. Carry photocopies (& a picture on your phone.) Leave the real thing in a secure locker 🔒 where you're staying. Use electronic payments systems on your phone whenever possible so you don't have to have your credit card 💳 on you and only carry a small change purse for a few local bills.
I also carry a thin “dummy" card wallet with expired ID and inactive credit cards in high crime areas, so if I'm ever mugged I can hand that over without the assailant digging further to find my actually ID and active emergency card.
Don't Flash Cash 💵
I use a flat waist pouch that slips inside my trousers where street security is an issue. I keep a bit of emergency cash, a credit card and ID in it. When I know I am going to make a cash purchase I keep an appropriate amount of money in my small change purse. If I need more from the waist pouch I take it out before I go in to the store so pickpockets don't see me dig in the pouch.
Practicing Safe Travel
Making new friends when traveling is half the fun! ⚠️ But you do need to exercise caution... ⚠️
When meeting for the first time do it in a PUBLIC PLACE & NEVER GO TO A SECOND LOCATION in a stranger's car.
You always want to be in control of your own transportation options back to a safe place if needed.
If you are a Female Traveler, particularly Solo, do some cultural research into the local attitudes towards women.