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50 Travel Safety Tips
Simple things that could save your life.
Street Smarts
19. Study a map before going out. Once on the street, use a pocket-sized guidebook to avoid looking like the vulnerable tourist you probably are. Have your hotel’s concierge or a female employee mark any dangerous areas on your map.
20. Dress down. Fur coats and Prada heels scream “mug me.” If you do go out with the good stuff (for a nice dinner or some other formal event), use private transportation.
21. Ditch the jewelry – even a chain that’s fake gold can be ripped off your neck. Do consider wearing a wedding ring.
22. Loop a money belt through your belt loops so if someone cuts it, it won’t fall from your waist.
23. Be wary when getting off a bus or train, or riding stairs and escalators; that’s when pickpockets tend to strike.
24. Carry just one credit card and photocopies of important documents. Divide money for small and larger purchases so you don’t have to expose a wad of bills. (When sharing with friends, keep a kitty for common expenses to make digging for cash in public places unnecessary.) Become familiar with foreign currency before you need to use it.
25. Have tips prepared for porters and doormen.
26. Use prepaid phone cards instead of carrying your card number.
27. Ask the concierge to make any restaurant reservations, and have him or her say, “Please take care of our guest, she’s coming alone and will need a taxi home.”
28. Should a car start to follow you, immediately turn and walk the opposite way.
29. If you must ask for directions, approach families or women with children. To be extra safe, say, “Where is the –? I’m meeting my husband there.”
30. On sidewalks, keep your handbag and other valuables away from the street side (and on escalators, away from the opposite ramp).
31. If attacked, run, fight, and yell as loud as possible.
Catherine White
Oh my gosh. So much drama in the comments section. This article is saying here’s how to be an adventurous woman and still be safe. An anti-feminist would write about to never travel alone or better yet, to never travel ever. Most of these tips work just as well for men; nobody, male or female should EXPECT to be robbed, killed, kidnapped or raped, but you know what IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY. So as unfortunate as it may be, in order to enjoy life one is better off knowing the safety tips.
Emma Blackwood
Can everybody stop with all the drama please? This article isn’t about whether women are weak, strong, smart, or dumb. It’s about how, as a women, you can take care of yourself when PEOPLE AROUND YOU are dumb, stronger than you, and can’t keep from breaking the law.
Amanda Roberts
I love the article, and I really appreciate that you care about our safety. But I can’t not say something about some comments… This isn’t saying that women are weak. It’s a reflection on the rest of society and the fact that women are targeted more frequently for violent crimes like assault and rape, especially when they’re alone. Women are not to blame if these things happen to them, but some women (like me!) may want to take precautions. You can be scared and still be a feminist.
Kimberly Thompson
No offence but Yyu are ignorant. And worse, you are deliberately staying ignorant instead of choosing to educate yourself. Feminism does not deny that women are at greater risk for certain dangers. Feminism exposes, protests and seeks to change that fact.
Frances Seifert
Its a pity a woman has to do so many things to be safe. I saw comments about wearing a fake wedding ring? Seriously? This world is no place for women. :/
Roberta Bennett
As much as I love being a woman sometimes I wish I was born male instead female… 🙁
Lynn Hayes
It’s sad that there has to be articles like these but I really appreciate how this is written. It’s good to be informed as a woman traveling alone. Unfortunately some people see a lone woman traveler and will do bad things to her. It’s not an article stating women are weak! This is an informative article that is good for a future traveler.
Diana Hewitt
I find it absolutely disgusting that being a woman in today’s society we have to learn how to travel safe so we avoid harm. Instead of society teaching boys not to rape, we are teaching girls how to avoid being raped. Also half of the tips in this “guide” could be helpful to men too, so to label it as tips for women is completely ridiculous. I agree that anyone should know how to feel safe traveling, but when a woman has to go so far out of her way, and constantly be an alert simply because she is a woman, all of the fun that comes with traveling is ruined.
Sabrina Grattidge
Not sure why this has to be aimed strictly at women. We often forget that many countries across the globe are not as safe as the western world, but it doesn’t mean that caution shouldn’t be exercised by both men and women travelling abroad. Most of these are applicable to everyone.
Sasha Rosswell
Men need to read this so they can maybe start to understand the term ” male privlidge”. Not all of these things are really gender specific, but enough sadly are.
Jennifer McSween
I know right?!!! Not hating on the article but this shouldn’t even have to be a thing!
Amelia Beckons
I always fasten everything I have to the chair I am sitting in with a wire and a snap. You don’t even need to lock it, if you just slow down a purse snatcher when they grab your stuff then they will let go and run away…or they take off with the chair too! You can also tie with rope, wind your purse straps around the back of the chair once. Of course I do this in the USA too. I travelled six months by bike and train through Europe alone, it was the best thing I ever did.
Kim Hartford
Ha, I do it at the grocery—if I put my purse in the seat area, I put the little kid seatbelt through my purse strap and lock it. Anyone who tries to grab it will get the whole damn cart!