Introduction
Traveling is about discovering new places and expanding your horizons. But what if you are unable to let go of your worries and enjoy your travels? While every journey is a great adventure, there might be some shortcomings and challenges along the way. Staying safe should be your number one priority while traveling abroad alone or with friends. Indeed, being in a completely different country and society might be stressing you out, when it comes to safety, as you don’t know what to expect. However, considering these best tips for safe travel will help you to bring peace to your mind and enjoy your holidays to their fullest. As the old saying goes “prevention is better than cure”.
Never Wear Expensive Jewelry When Commuting in the City
Do you know what pickpockets and street thieves love the most? Innocent tourists with half of the jewelry shop on them. Wearing flashy accessories like a gold watch, necklace, bracelet or earrings draw their attention towards you right away and you become a target. Once you have been noticed, it’s super easy for them to intimidate you and rob you. Even if you avoid getting robbed with the help of police or local people, the experience is so stressful, that it can spoil all the fun of your trip. So why risk it?
Instead, if you still want to wear some jewelry, opt out for the cheapest possible options. Don’t have the latest edition Rolex Watch on you. No one will care about that, except thieves.
Try to Look Like a Local
Once you are at your destination, try to wear the same way as the locals do. This doesn’t necessarily mean choosing the exact same outfits as locals do wear, but you can keep up with the style. Don’t wear like a proper tourist. You will be detectable and you might encounter some problems from scammers and pickpockets.
Tourists are more likely to be scammed because they tend to have larger cash and more valuables. Avoid being an obvious tourist. Be like the locals. Don’t stop in the middle streets taking photos. And don’t make it obvious that you are lost. Play it cool, and walk alongside the street as if you are having a certain destination in your mind. Alternatively, you can ask for directions or maps at the markets or local cafes.
Never Drink too Much. Especially in Bars
In many European cities, scammers have many different ways to totally bankrupt you. One of the most common scams is to invite you to a bar over drinks. Once you are a bit tipsy, they become very insistent to have another glass and then another, and another, until the sum hits a good chunk of money. And then they disappear and you have to pay all this money on your own, otherwise, you might get in real trouble. The problem with this type of scam is that you are super drunk, so you can’t oppose properly even. So, make sure that you don’t engage with people who make you drink more and definitely don’t get wasted in bars. Remember, you are in Europe for traveling, not for becoming the victim of scammers.
Always Have Digital Copies of Important Documents
A passport is a holy grail of travel. You are everything with a passport and no one without it. So, make sure that you have a digital copy of your passport, visa, travel insurance, flight tickets, and other related documents. While traveling many things can go wrong, and losing your backpack full of documents is one of them. While you will still need to visit your embassy, having digital copies of your papers will reduce the waiting time for a new notice or travel document to go back to your country.
Always Tell Your Friends and Family Your Whereabouts
No matter whether you are traveling alone or with friends, updating your friends and family back home regularly is a great way to stay safe. While something might happen to you, your beloved people will at least know where to start looking for you. While this might sound a little bit far-fetched, it’s better safe than sorry. And we don’t even need pigeons anymore to send little messages to them, so why not do that?
Conclusion
While traveling is an ultimate fun-generator, there are some best tips for safe travel, so you can avoid getting into trouble. And even if you encounter one, you can be sure that you will come back from it sane. Getting scammed, losing your belongings, and spending your money irresponsibly is never a pleasant experience, especially when tight on budget. Make sure to take these best tips for safe travel into consideration, so you can enjoy your holidays to their fullest and come back with new inspirations and a clear mind.
