Is it more dangerous to travel than to stay home? The answer to this is controversial, but for me, the risks of travel are far outweighed by all the great things that I experience. What’s more, I follow a few simple safety principles to ensure I’m unlikely to have any problems on the road. Planning ahead, fitting in to the local area and abiding by a few simple rules will help you have the same experience.
Traveling to a new place, especially in a foreign country, makes some people nervous. Sometimes, it makes their family and friends even more worried! And it’s true that more than a few tourists do find themselves victims of crime – usually pickpocketing or other kinds of thefts, or more serious crimes like muggings or assaults. If you follow a few basic safety principles, and stay alert and thinking, your chances of spending a hassle-free holiday increase dramatically.
Don’t Look Like a Tourist
Your personal safety abroad increases dramatically if you blend into the crowd. That’s the crowd of locals – not the tourists. Your outward appearance is the first way to fix this. Depending on your destination, you might need to change your outfits, but follow one basic principle: dress like you live there. Touristy T-shirts advertising where you’re from or where you’ve been are usually a give-away; shiny new joggers are often another way to pick out someone who doesn’t belong. Of course, dress comfortably, but try to look neutral and ordinary.
Beyond your physical appearance, there are other ways to fit in, too. Particularly if you’re in an area known to be somewhat dangerous, it’s important to walk as if you’re going somewhere. Of course, you probably are going somewhere, but you might not be in a hurry – tourists (and therefore, often good targets for petty crime) are usually the ones walking along with heads held high, gazing around at new buildings and new people. Locals are more likely to look at the ground and appear unfazed by what they see. Try walking with a purpose to a point on a street, then stopping to look around. You’ll look much less like a stranger, plus you won’t trip over bumps on the pavement.
Finally, you should avoid a few other actions that make it clear to onlookers – and potential attackers – that you’re a tourist, particularly a tourist with money. Even though you might have no idea how much your wad of Estonian crown bills are worth, don’t sort through your money in public. This is a job for inside a bank just after changing your money, or in the privacy of your hotel room. It’s also a good idea to separate your money and keep it in different safe places, and if you are traveling with your family, share it out amongst each member. If the worst comes to the worst, letting a pickpocket get his hands on a quarter of your money is much less traumatic than losing the lot.