Travelling Safe: 25 Important Tips You Should Know
Throughout my travels, travelling safe has become a huge priority for me. Especially after getting robbed in Morocco 2 weeks into my first solo trip around the world. Here are my best tips to making sure you can be as safe as possible while on the road!
This post may contain affiliate links to things like hostels and products. These help me earn a small commission to keep the blog running at no cost to you!
Travelling Safe, It’s Important!
Travelling is fun and always has been fun! But, nothing spoils a trip more than getting sick, injured, robbed or stranded on the other side of the world with no way home! Throughout my travels, i’ve picked up so many essential tips to make sure i’m travelling safe.
I’ve done some stupid things that I shouldn’t have done and i’ve also been the victim tourist in some situations!
In Laos, I rode in the back of a tipsy lady’s ute after a few drinks on the way to the pub.
I’ve been robbed in Morocco.
I’ve been scammed by a tuk-tuk drivers.
All have been experiences that have shaped my strategy to travelling safe. Here’s what I have learnt throughout my travels and how you can also be travelling safe:
1. Let Your Family Know Where You Are
I always let my family know where I am and where I’m going on my travels. In the case that something goes awfully wrong, they’ll know where to find help.
I’ll try and check in with them once a day to let them know i’m still kicking it too! You don’t need to be in constant contact with them either. Some photos from the day or a quick “good morning!” will do to let them know you’re travelling safe!
2. Research Common Travel Scams
Unfortunately, travel scams are in pretty much every tourist destination. Depending on where you’re going, you might not encounter any! But in others, it can feel like there’s someone aiming for your money on every corner.
So, it really pays to research common travel scams. This way, by the time you arrive you will have no problems avoiding them and brushing them off.
3. Walk With Intent
Walking with intent is key to travelling safe. If you look like you know where you’re going, you are less likely to become a target for scammers and robbers.
Pairing this with some sunglasses can help a bunch too! There’s a reason so many poker players wear them, it can be hard to tell if they’re worried!
4. Choose Accommodation Wisely
It is SO tempting to book the cheapest hostel available, especially when travelling on a budget. But, a lot of the time this can mean that the security really lacks! Some don’t have lockers and some don’t even have locks on the front door or for the dorms, meaning anyone off the street can just walk in and grab what they want! My hostel in Marrakech was like this.
I always scour through the reviews and make sure I pick a safe and secure hostel.
Here’s my guide on how to choose a hostel, where i’ve found the best ways to get the right hostel.
5. Don’t Share Too Much With Strangers
Sometimes, strangers will ask you about your travel plans. Try to be as vague as possible! I would never mention where i’m staying, or as a matter of fact, the area of the city i’m staying in!
But, if they try and dig a little bit further, some little white lies won’t hurt. Don’t be afraid to tell them you’re staying at a different hostel and even if you’re travelling solo, mention that you’re meeting up with a friend!
Travelling safe is all about being vague, so if you can do this you are already being safer than a lot of people!
6. Buy Travel Insurance
To be real, shit happens even if you’re travelling safe. You don’t want to be stuck without travel insurance if you get seriously injured, stranded after a cancelled flight or without any of your luggage in a foreign country .
Travel insurance means you don’t have to worry about your medical bills, stolen belongings or even flight cancellations!
You can save money by not buying travel insurance, but you may pay the price when you’re left with a six-figure bill after being in a hospital for a few days.
In short, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel!
Personally, I always use WorldNomads on my long-term trips. They are by far the best option for me as they have great coverage for not only things regarding theft or sickness, but also has coverage for my camera equipment.
7. Get Your Head Out Of Your Phone
Being situationally aware when roaming the streets is crucial if you’re keen on travelling safe. This means you need to get your head out of your phone!
Let’s set the scene, you’re in a country of your choice and you’re scrolling through Instagram while you’re walking. It’s all fun and games until you accidentally step into oncoming traffic or you don’t notice the creepy looking man eyeing you up to rob you.
If you need to check your phone for whatever reason, step aside into a shop or even leaning against a wall. Please, please, please, don’t stand there looking confused as you figure out where to go. This will make you target number 1!
8. Try Not To Get Legless Drunk
I’ve had my fair share of nights getting really drunk on my travels, but thankfully i’ve always been with people or at my hostel so nothing bad has happened!
When you’re travelling solo, it can be very easy to go out and lose control. Next minute, you’re lost in a dark alley in the city you only just arrived at ready for people to rob you.
You need to have some level of sobriety and situational awareness when travelling safe. Even the smartest travellers can fall victim to this and they lose all common sense!
That being said, if you can’t resist the temptation to set a new world record for most shots of vodka downed in under 10 minutes, go out with someone you trust to look out for you.
9. Get Cash From Banks Only
If you’re from a country like Australia, the UK or Canada, you wouldn’t even think about where to get cash out of an ATM as all of them are safe.
Whilst it’s always good practice to get money out inside a bank so no one can run past and snatch a wad of cash from you, there is something else you have to worry about…
Card skimming.
Especially in Central & Eastern Europe, there’s no shortage of standalone ATM machines not connected to any bank. This makes it easy for scammers to put a fake carder reader over the real one and steal all of your information.
Next minute, all of your money is gone.
10. Spend For More Safety
I think this is so crucial to travelling safe! If you’re like me, you LOVE saving every last cent so you can extend your trip. Even if that means walking 40 minutes uphill in the scorching heat you’ll do it!
That being said, I think you need assess the risk in some situations. Travelling on a budget can mean you arrive late at night in a foreign city because that was the cheapest bus. Personally, it’s worth it to splash out on a taxi if it means you don’t have to walk through quiet streets alone at night.
If anyone were to try something, 9 times out of 10 they will outrun you when you have all of your luggage!
11. Don’t Be An Idiot For A Photo
Ah yes, “doing it for the ‘gram”. A phrase that was once used to describe doing silly little things such as sliding through your kitchen with your socks, or adding an extra patty on your Big Mac, is now being used for people doing some of the dumbest things you’ll see.
Yeah, the photo of you doing a handstand on the edge of the Grand Canyon looks pretty neat but like, you could die. People have died doing this type of stuff, so don’t be that person.
12. Ask Your Accommodation For Advice
Whether it be hostel or hotel staff or your AirBNB host, they will know the area more than you. They can let you know areas to avoid and whether it is safe to wander around at night by yourself.
Trust their opinion!
13. Lock Up Your Stuff!
As someone who is backpacking with camera gear, I know that travelling safe AND long is all about protecting your belongings. That starts with locking up your stuff! Don’t leave anything you don’t want stolen on your bed or anywhere in the hostel for that matter.
If you want to learn more about how I travel on budget with camera gear, I wrote an article detailing exactly what I do. Check it out here:
Most hostels have lockers for their guests, so use them! In the case that they don’t, make it as hard as possible for someone to snatch anything. I lock my bag zips together and shove my bag so far under my bed it’s almost not worth trying to steal!
14. People Don’t Talk To Strangers
OK. People do talk to strangers, but generally simple things like the time, directions or a simple hello when walking past. People don’t generally try and strike up a big conversation with you at 12pm on a Thursday in the middle of a bustling market.
If i’m travelling safe, and I always try my best to – I assume people speaking to me on the street want something from me. Ignore them and carry on!
Sure, that might seem a bit too harsh on the people who are generally interested in having a conversation with you. But, the one time there’s something sinister behind it you have already let your guard down!
I travelled to Morocco and came across this a lot, so many random men tried speaking to me in the street and I knew to ignore them because of a common scam. That being said, I did get robbed at one point despite doing my best but I think I would’ve been scammed a lot more if engaged in conversation with them.
15. Make Friends!
I love travelling solo, it has changed my life so much and opened my eyes to so many things. I encourage everyone to do it at least once in their lives.
Other than beating solo-travel loneliness, making friends can make all of the difference in travelling safe! Strength in numbers really is true and you’ll be so much more safe with me.
16. Let Your Bank Know You’re Travelling
Imagine being stuck abroad with no way to get any money! That’s a real possibility if you don’t contact your bank to let them know you’re travelling. They will lock your cards leaving you no way to get any cash out or even paying for things with card.
If this does happen to you, it can take days for the bank to resolve after proving your identity. It only takes 5 minutes, do it!
17. Use A Money Belt
Having all of your money in a wallet in your back pocket is a pickpocketing waiting to happen. I’m always using a money belt that I put under my shirt and is very inconspicuous, no one would know it’s there. And, the great thing is that it is impossible to pickpocket or steal when you’re wearing it.
18. Eating & Drinking Safely
In certain parts of the world, like South East Asia or Africa – the food sanitation levels are usually not on the same level as the Western world. This means you have to take some extra precautions so you don’t get the runs!
Here’s what I do to not get sick:
It is so important to eat and drink safely, and travelling safe through parts of the world is all about it!
19. Know What To Do In An Emergency
In the rare case that you’re in an emergency, it will be super handy to know what to do so you’re not left stranded.
This could include, missed flights, medical emergencies, robbery and more.
I always have my travel insurance contact ready and I know what I need to provide in the case of any emergency so I can use it. Also, knowing where a police station is located wherever you are travelling is crucial if something happens and you need to report it. The quicker you get to a police station after you get robbed, the more likely they will be able to help you!
20. Stay Where The People Are
This is so important when travelling safe. If you’re alone, try to avoid quiet streets (especially late at night) where things like robbery is more likely to happen with no one around.
If you stay where the people are, whether that be just a few groups of people or a huge crowd I guarantee you will not only feel safer but actually be safer.
21. Don’t Flash Your Belongings
Don’t flash your belongings! You don’t want to give anyone any ideas…
It can be your money, a watch, phone – anything. Please don’t flash it around.
For example, if you’re paying for something at a night market – don’t take out all the cash on you and flick through it looking for the right notes! Someone could notice this and begin following you around and then try and snatch it off you when there is less people around.
22. Don’t Stick Out Like A Sore Thumb
Try and blend in as much as you can! Sure, it will be harder to do in certain parts of the world but avoiding wearing super bright colours, being really loud, or walking around with a big fold out map (please don’t do this, it’s like you’re asking to be approached) will make a lot of difference when travelling safe!
23. Make Digital Copies Of Important Documents
As i’ve mentioned previously, shit just happens. It just does. Losing your passport or insurance papers isn’t unheard of and can leave you in a tricky situation if you don’t have any form of backup.
I have photos of any important document I have, so if something does happen, i’m prepared!
24. Learn To Say “No”
I completely get it. You want to be as nice as possible! Sadly, if you’re too nice – you are a tout or scammer’s favourite customer.
I remember when I was in Marrakech, a city known for its scams – I quickly learnt how to ignore and say “no” with confidence. If you engage, they will latch onto you and never let go!
25. Trust Your Gut
Your gut is a wonderful tool for travelling safe. People trusting their guts has saved lives for years and years and years.
If any situation you’re in seems a bit sketchy, it probably is! Get out of there before you get in any trouble.
My Final Thoughts On Travelling Safe
Travelling is meant to be fun, and it will be! You get to meet new people, discover new cultures and see things that you wouldn’t see back in your home country. But it is so important that you know what to do in ANY situation and be adaptable. Not everything is going to be smooth sailing!
Hopefully you can take these tips with you on your next trip so you’re able to enjoy it without having to worry too much!