Protect yourself – Don’t let a thief spoil your vacation
You have finally gathered enough money to travel, got your brand new backpack and a new passport. Everything is going according to the plan. Getting to your dream destination makes the things even more exciting and finally, you feel free and ready to explore your new surroundings.
In these situations, we often lose our heads and think that nothing can go wrong, after all, we know the rules. But, you need to resist being too self-confident while in a foreign country that you’re not familiar with.
Traveling by bus can be very challenging especially at night when everybody’s asleep. This doesn’t mean you need to stay awake all the time, but make sure that all your valuable belongings are safe. You never know who’s sitting next to or close by you.
Money pouches can be a good idea, but thieves these days know all the tricks you’ll try to pull. So, the most important thing is to be careful and don’t wander around showing off your expensive gadgets. Be simple and travel wise.
Avoid being pickpocketed
Pickpocketing is the most common robbery technique. It can happen on the street, on the bus or a train. Here are some useful tips on how to prevent it.
- Avoid walking in big crowds of people.
- Never wear a purse.
- Chain your wallet to your pants.
- Frequent check the zippers on your bag.
- Hold bags close to your body and don’t dangle them.
- Separate your money in different wallets or secret pockets.
- Don’t carry a passport, credit cards and all your cash in one place.
Have copies of your passport
Sometimes, being careful is not enough. There are unpredictable situations and despite all the safety precautions, you can still get robbed.
- Have copies of your passport in paper form and also in your email or online storage
- Have your bank contact info ready
- Extra passport photos
- Learn how to replace your passport in case of emergency
Be aware of your surroundings
No, this doesn’t mean be paranoid and don’t talk to anybody. Just be aware of your surroundings and keep a comfortable distance from people you consider as a possible threat.
Also, local thieves are not the only ones. There are many cases of other travelers stealing things in a desperate situation. So, don’t be too trusty just because someone seems closer to your culture.
Avoid trusting people you just met and listen to your instinct. Try to stay modest and don’t attract too much attention to yourself. In some countries thieves wear cop costumes, so be careful with this too.
If something is meant to happen, no matter how much you try to protect yourself, it will happen. Thieves have hundreds of methods to do it, and sometimes it’s nearly impossible to catch on to what’s going on until it’s too late.
What’s important is to follow the rules of the place you’re staying, there will be advice online and from the embassy etc, and don’t get involved with any suspicious people. Listen to the tips of friendly local people and avoid dangerous districts. Don’t play a fearless hero in a new territory. Keep it simple and enjoy your vacation.
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