So many posts out there on travel safety tips from those who do not have a background in security. There are great opinions on this topic and all can help keep you safe. But how can we just keep travel safety tips easy to remember? Keeping yourself safe while traveling can be a foreboding thought. I meet people every day that either don’t give safety a second concern or have the ostrich effect of keeping their head buried in the sand. Sadly, the world we live in isn’t always a safe one and with the threat of terrorism you have to stay vigilant. It is hard to prepare for a terrorist attack since they are random and most times unsuspecting. In 2004, bombs exploded in Madrid on commuter trains killing many civilians and injuring thousands. In 2014, a terrorist opened fire in the Jewish Museum in Brussels. In 2018, an Afghan man in Amsterdam stabbed two Americans and was later shot by police. Of course, who could forget the terrible attacks in Paris when a series of coordinated attacks that happened in six different locations where gunman fired into crowds at restaurants and night clubs, which also included bombings. You get the idea! In each of these events, would you have been able to foresee it and avoid it? Probably not. However, the question remains what would you do after? Who would you call and where would you go? Having a plan like this is vital when it comes to safety and security.
Planning for today to avoid failures of tomorrow
1. Put the Embassy on Speed Dial
Go to the State Department’s website for travelers (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html). On their website is an “Assistance for U.S. Citizens” area that will have the embassy address and phone numbers for emergencies. Be sure to put this in your address book on your phone so that you don’t have to go looking it up when you are shaking with adrenaline. It would also be advisable to register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) so that the embassy knows you are in the country in case something like a terrorist attack or natural disaster happens (https://step.state.gov/). This is a travel safety tip that is my first recommendation.
2. Control your possessions
Aside from terrorism, there is also the crime factor. Many tourist locations are quite often the hot spot for thieves and muggers. I had a friend of mine who flies for a major Airline in Asia tell me that he and his crew were in Barcelona just recently and coming home from dinner one night. They were robbed and mugged just before reaching the hotel, which was in a nice area of Barcelona! You just never know so be prepared. Controlling your possessions is a good first step. For the ladies its recommended you use a crossbody purse so it is difficult for a thief to grab your bag and snag it off your shoulder from you and run. Keep your purse small and avoid those high dollar designer bags if you can. For those of us who carry wallets, avoid placing your wallet in your back pocket. Keep it tucked in the front of your pants, which makes it harder for a pickpocket to get at. I use a dummy wallet that has reward cards and a $100 dollars in U.S. currency. This way if I am mugged, I at least have something to give my attacker without giving up my real wallet. This includes making a copy of your passport and not carrying the real booklet.
3. Dress like you belong
Dressing like a tourist with running shoes, Hawaiian shorts, and a big camera strapped around your neck screams tourist. Americans love their running shoes because we love comfort! The rest of the world however does not always do this. Also, when you wear professional sport team attire like your favorite NFL team, or maybe a major league baseball team shirt, it will for sure paint a target on you. Instead, do your research before you go into a new country, or state for that matter, and do your best to dress like the locals to blend in. Recently, I was just in Nairobi, Kenya, one of the world’s most popular destinations for safaris. It’s also a place to have known terrorist activity like the bombing in 1998 and more recently, the hotel siege and shooting spree that occurred in 2019. Overall the country is poor and the corruption is high. I chose to leave my Apple Watch in the hotel safe and our flight attendant left her jewelry in her safe as well. No reason to broadcast that you have money to those looking to take it from you. We also dressed in shabby clothes, hats, and sunglasses. All of these things won’t stop the bad guys from acting out, but it is a preventive measure to mitigate the risk of an attack. Using these tips just might prevent something bad from happing and will also empower you by being prepared and engaged in your travel. Stay safe out there!
