~ Travel Safety ~

  Tourists are often targeted in foreign countries for crimes such as theft/mugging because they often carry a great deal of cash with them and can sometimes be unfamiliar with certain less friendly areas of towns or cities. Items such as passports or important personal documents are a much sought after in the criminal world as they will fetch a high price from illegal buyers and obtaining new documents can be a lengthy, aggravating process that has the potential to ruin your entire stay. In some cases the robberies that occur can result in violence, which is of course a great concern for both travelers and local alike. While the authorities in many countries are aware of the problem many of the crimes go unsolved because there is little evidence to help them prevent such activity. Understanding the most common reasons for and how to avoid the pitfalls that general lead tourists into these kinds of predicaments can help you to feel safe and secure when you travel so far from home.

  Believe it or not, many people get robbed before they even set foot on the plane. Despite the excellent security provided by most airports there are tricks that many thieves use that are difficult for security to prevent. One of the most common ways in which bags/luggage items are stolen is to make use of a rather embarrassing situation: the bathroom. When you enter a stall in the bathroom you will most likely need to set your luggage down on the floor; in many cases there will be a gap between the stall walls/door and the floor, it is through these that your thief will snatch up your luggage. Many of these kinds of robberies are timed so that when your bag is stolen you are caught in an awkward moment where it would be difficult to chase your assailant; not only will you need to redress yourself, but most people lock there bathroom stall doors, this lock will also need to be opened before you can even catch a glimpse of the thief.

Solutions:

• Have a friend or travel companion that you know well and trust hold your items if you need to use the restroom so that you do not have to place any items within reach of thieves.
• If you are traveling alone and do not have many items with you try to place your items in a location where no one would be able to reach them while you are inside of the stall; this may prove awkward, but far less so than having your baggage stolen.
• Never leave your bags unattended; not only is it unsafe, in many airports it is unlawful to do so.

  Once in transit, though you may be confined to a small area for a time, thieves will watch for an opportunity to snatch your belongings. This can prove difficult during flights when a trip to the restroom would be extremely awkward with your belongings.

Solutions:

• Store any bags that you will not need in transit in a secure location where they will either be inaccessible during transit, or in plain view of other travelers if accessed.
• Keep your bags zipped, buttoned or otherwise closed if you need to step away for a few minutes and cannot take them with you; this alone can prevent theft as it will take time to access the contents of your bag.
• Always be aware of the important contents of your bag; personal documents and identification, along with cash and credit cards, are usually the target of thieves; make sure you know where these items are at all times.

  Many robberies occur because a tourist(s) may not know the area well and may venture into a neighborhood where they will be a more accessible target. In certain areas, there may be advisories about not leaving a designated area; or not venturing out after dark because there is greater danger in those locations, or during those times.

Solutions:

• Before you begin your trip, know where your hotel and airport are located. If you will be venturing out to see the sights or enjoy some of the local dining, try to map out where you are going before you begin your journey; it is always a good idea to choose a hotel with one or two restaurants close by.
• Speak with someone who is knowledgeable about the area that you intend to visit so that you can learn ahead of time which parts of town are best to avoid.
• Know enough of the local language that you can be sure of what you are saying when giving a cab/shuttle driver your destination request.
• Buy a local map and be sure that you can understand it well enough to find your way back to your hotel from any of the areas that you would like to visit.
• Always respect and follow any rules about location, or time restrictions for tourists because they are often posted for your own safety.

  Though in many countries a credit card can be accepted, many people are still reluctant to depend on them entirely should they need cash for cab fare or some special, local item from a shop that refuses credit cards. While you may always want to keep a little of the local currency handy, keep in mind that the more cash you have on you, the more you may attract attention if someone notices the thickness of your wallet’s contents.

Solution:

• Use traveler’s checks when possible, they attract less attention than cash.
• Keep enough cash on your person that you can safely get back to your hotel and buy a meal; do not walk around with too much more than that.
• Inquire at your hotel about any local shops/ restaurants payment restrictions so that you can know ahead of time how much cash you will actually need.
• If you do come across an item that costs more than the cash you have on hand and is located in a shop that will not take credit, ask if you can perhaps have it held for you while you obtain cash and immediately after purchasing, return to your hotel.

  Even the best hotels have some difficulties with robberies, though you may often inquire about the efficiency of hotel security before your stay. Whether it is because of another guest or a member of the staff, hotel robberies do take place from time to time, especially when items of great value are easily located in a guest’s room.

Solutions:

• Whether you are toting expensive items from home; or you find some rare purchases on your visit, store anything of value that you will not need regular access to in the hotel safe. Many hotels offer this complimentary feature to protect your belongings and while some may require a small fee for the service, it is well worth it to ensure that your valuables are safe.
• Upon your return, you may be better off having items a great value shipped and insured rather than entrusting them to a cargo area. If you have already decided that you will be shipping items back a good way of making sure that they remain safe is to ship them immediately, as long as you are able to have someone sign for them at home.

  One of the most common tourist victims of robbery are those who are taken in by professional scam artists. From fake tour guides to traders there are many people who have become greatly skilled at the art of taking advantage of a poorly informed tourist. This kind of robbery is much more covert and you may not even be aware that you have been taken in until a much later date, (such is the case with a misrepresentation of an item’s value.)

Solutions:

• In some cases people have been led out, by thieves who claim to be tourists, to remote areas where they are then robbed and in some cases harmed physically; try to arrange for any tours of the area through your hotel so that you can be sure that the person, or business, is a legitimate one.
• Be cautious of strangers who urge you to visit locations that are not in an area that you can easily familiarize yourself with. While many people on vacations hope to find clubs or social places that are genuinely “local”, this is also a common set up to lead unsuspecting tourists to locations that are deserted, therefore making the tourist(s) vulnerable to attack. If you are invited by a local person to a location that you feel unsure about, ask about the location at your hotel and be sure that you can establish that it is a legitimate local hangout.
• When purchasing rare/valuable items make sure that you are able to reach the person or business after the transaction has taken place. If you are unable to authenticate an item, make sure that you are able to return it after having it inspected by a professional who can give you an accurate appraisal of the item.
• Always be sure that you understand what an item should be worth before you make an expensive purchase.
• Be sure to have an accurate understanding of the currency exchange; you wouldn’t want to end up spending five hundred dollars on a hamburger simply because you did not understand the value of the local currency.

  Though it may prove difficult when vacationing, the less you advertise that fact that you are a tourist the better. Because many tourists become targets the minute it is discovered that they are just that, blending in is recommended in many areas.

Solutions:

• Don’t rely on random strangers for directions or advice; make use of your hotel and other sources of information that will allow you to travel as if you know the area well.
• Save your tourist apparel for times when you have no need to be concerned about standing out. Funny hats; buttons and the classic tourist t-shirt are common ways to send a message that you are not local and may therefore be an excellent candidate for a robbery.
• Prepare for your trip with a basic understanding of both the local spoken and written language. You may not need to write, but certainly being able to read road or shop signs can help a great deal in protecting your origin. Having a basic, working knowledge of the language may not protect your origin as many locals can often pick up on mispronounced words, or accents; however the ability to understand and speak in the local language may prove useful in keeping you out of harm’s way. If possible, try to research how locals feel about tourists using the local language, in some places it is better to avoid using the language at all rather than risk a mispronunciation and offend someone.

  For the most part, many robberies take place simply because people were not careful to take a few precautions before setting out on an adventure. Always follow any local laws, or rules posted about your safety and make sure that you do everything that you are able to ensure the safety of yourself and others that you may be traveling with.