Today’s post covers essential travel safety tips for travelling abroad. Travelling abroad can be one of the most exciting and enriching experiences in life—new cultures, delicious cuisines, stunning landscapes, and unforgettable memories await. But along with the adventure comes your responsibility to stay safe in unfamiliar environments.
Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or heading overseas for the first time, being prepared and aware can make all the difference between a smooth journey and unexpected trouble. In this post, we’ll explore essential travel safety tips that every international traveller should know, so you can enjoy your trip with confidence and peace of mind.
Disclaimer: This post is based on my own experiences, and the views expressed are from my own personal points of view and in no way derogatory or discriminatory to any race, nationality, or culture. And of course, please always use discernment with everything you read and practice what my teacher calls intelligent evaluation.
Stay Safe Abroad: 6 Essential Travel Safety Tips for Every Explorer
1. Secure Your Precious Items and be Vigilant With Your Bags
It seems obvious but also easily done, to put your keys, passport, or travel documents within easy reach for convenience when going through customs and passport control. However, it could also mean easy and convenient access for those with ill intent to grab what is at the top of your bag, if it is in open view.
Rather place these items in a zipped pocket or travel bag, inside your main bag. Or carry it on your person in a zipped pocket or small bag that you can hide under a layer of clothing. If you want to carry your passport or phone in your pocket, it’s a good idea to put your hands in your pockets when moving in large crowds. This way you can secure them safely in your pockets, making it more difficult for someone to slide their hand into your pocket when yours is already there.
My own experience:
At the beginning of my journey, on the train into London, I was waiting for the train to stop and the doors to open so I could get out and find my next station. A gentleman motioned for me to go in front of him. I smiled and said thanks. I had my backpack on my back, and as the doors opened and people started moving forward, I felt a tap on my bag like someone had accidentally bumped into it from behind.
When I got to the next station, I took my bag off to get some water from the side pockets of my bag (I had one in each side pocket), and noticed that one of the water bottles was missing. I smiled to myself because no harm had been done, it was just a bottle of water. I had no attachment to it – but it made me realise how quick and easy it was for him to take it.
I was greatful for this experience because it taught me to be more aware of my surroundings and the people within close proximity. This helped me to avoid similar situations twice over the coming days where something could have potentially been taken.
2. Be Wary of Pick Pockets
Nowadays pickpockets blend in more seamlessly, especially in crowded places. They tend to wear expensive clothing and accessories. Please also bear in mind that modern-day pickpockets could be men or women. From my personal experience, I came across two scenarios, once at the Eiffel Tower and once at the River Seine. In both instances, it was three young ladies.
They were speaking quite fast over each other, in a raised, excited tone of voice, as if they couldn’t wait to share exciting news with their friends. At the Eiffel Tower, they were walking behind me and got closer and closer – so close that if I had moved my hand backward, I would’ve been able to touch one of them. I moved to one side so that they could walk past and pretended to look for something in my bag.
As soon as they walked past; they stopped talking in loud high-pitched excited tones and their conversation suddenly seemed to fall away and their voices dropped down to the average decibel. I found this to be quite odd behaviour. At the River Seine, I was sitting on my own with two ladies on my right, smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, and having a quiet friendly chat.
On my left a little further on, a couple sat chatting in the sun. After a short time, three ladies meeting a similar description as the three mentioned above; came down the stairs to where everyone was sitting along the Seine and were loudly chatting in the same excited tone of voice. They chose to sit between myself and the couple on my left.
I noticed that the lady closest to me was near enough that if she stretched out her right hand, she’d be able to touch me. I got an uncomfortable and uneasy feeling, so I decided to leave and go to the park near Notre Dame instead. As I got up and walked away, something similar happened where they stopped talking in such a loud and excited tone, their voices became quieter, and their conversation all of a sudden seemed to fall away.
Maybe it didn’t mean anything, but I noticed this repetitive pattern of behaviour which was quite unusual. It’s always a good idea to trust your instincts, and if you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, rather remove yourself from an environment or situation where you could be a potential target. These individuals might not have been pickpockets and were simply enjoying a fun day out. But it could also be the opposite scenario.
It’s always a good idea to stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings and those around you, especially when you’re travelling abroad in unfamiliar territory. Unfortunately, many tourists are easy targets and are specifically sought out by pickpockets to make a quick buck.
Tourists are generally more focused on getting to a destination, trying to get that great selfie to post on social media, or spending the day out with friends or family. In both these cases, I noticed these ladies didn’t have their phones out and weren’t taking selfies, which were red flags in my book.
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3. Get an App Transcribing Tool
4. Know The Numbers of Emergency Services For The Countries You’re Visiting
I really hope that your travels yield wonderful memories and fantastic adventures. However, it’s always smart to be prepared for the unexpected, just in case. Before you travel, look up the emergency services numbers for the cities you’re travelling to.
Save it on your phone for easy access. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use it, but if there’s ever an emergency and you have to act in a hurry, you don’t have to worry about internet reception or trying to find the right number on Google.
5. Befriend a Local
Also known as networking, becoming friends with people you meet along your journey, and meeting up with them the next time you’re in their city. Not only do you get to engage and have a great catchup with a lovely friend; but you have someone you can rely on and trust, someone who knows how things work, the good places to go, and which places to avoid, etc.
6. Plan and Prepare in Advance
Whether you’re going out for a few hours or will be away for a few days; always be prepared. Take a small bottle of water with you – this is really important. You might find yourself in a place where you can’t buy anything to drink, at least then you will have your own with you until you get to a destination that offers something to drink.
Take a battery bank and charging cable. Most people have their phones with them at all times, but let’s be honest, a smartphone is like a handheld mini computer. And if you’re using it to take photos, find places on Google Maps, or transcribe some information, the battery will run empty pretty quickly. The worst thing that can happen is having a low-percentage or flat battery when you need your phone in an emergency.
A good hotel room will have a safe where you can store important items like your ticket, keys, and passport. It’s up to you to decide whether to take these items with you when you’re out and about, or rather store them in a safe place back at your hotel room. I also prefer to have some cash with me. Some places, especially food markets or local places still only accept cash.
Some of the more upmarket or well-kept public toilets charge up to a euro to use them. I try to have between €5 – €10 cash on me for these reasons. From my personal experience, I also enjoy sparing some change to buskers who create that beautiful ambiance when I’m walking around a foreign city while on vacation.
Other items I like to keep in my bag are things like a black pen, hand sanitiser, hand cream, and lip balm. Not necessarily essentials, but more on my “nice to have” list. Sometimes I use them, sometimes I don’t.
In Conclusion
As mentioned earlier, my intent with this post is to share useful travel safety tips for those travelling abroad. Please don’t go on holiday looking at every person you pass as a potential threat, or expecting something bad to happen around every corner.
Have fun, enjoy yourself, create good experiences and memories; but also be aware and vigilant. Always keep these travel safety tips in mind when you travel, even if it’s just a short trip to neighbouring towns.
If you notice unsavoury behaviour or a situation that looks like it could be putting someone else at risk the next time you’re out in a tourist destination, step in and help and make others aware too.
Have you had a similar experience? What are the essentials you carry in your bag?
Sending you much light, love, and safe travel vibes!
Anthea