The Top 10 Security Tips for Safer Travel



1. Wear a money belt.

Credit cards, passports and bigger notes should be kept in a money belt when you are travelling. It is best not to wear the money belt all the time, and don’t keep everything in there. Remember – muggers will know a traveller is probably wearing a money belt, and they will make you drop your pants. Keep money in different places about your person, some in your day pack, in your toiletry bag and in your shoe – just make sure you have clean socks. Remember to keep your plane tickets (e.g. your bali flights) stored somewhere safe.

How to travel safe

2. Don’t carry the important documents.

Plane tickets, travel insurance, bank statements – leave them at the hostel. The risk of having your belongings stolen from a hostel is far less than walking around a city with them on you. Also, most hostels have lockers, so make good use of them. You will no doubt need a padlock for most hostel lockers, so remember to pack one. It’s a good idea to carry a photocopy of your passport when sightseeing and walking around cities, should you be stopped by police. As a general rule, you should have all of your important documents photocopied or have electronic versions as a backup. Remember to also record credit card cancellation numbers.

3. Only take the really necessary trips with your luggage

Nothing says ‘Tourist’ more than 20kgs of luggage strapped to your back. Ask any traveller, and they will agree that when you are moving with your backpack, you feel the most vulnerable. It’s heavy, hard to move and you are carrying all your worldly possessions. Keep this time to a minimum to avoid attracting too much attention. Once you get off the bus, get into a taxi and away.

4. Carry small notes.

If you are approached by a gang of local lads wielding knives, then your best option is to hand over the cash. With a knife to your throat, never take the risk. But try to play it cool. Don’t rush to hand everything over all at once, if you have a bundle of smaller notes in your front pocket, give that away – it may be enough to satisfy the cheeky beggers. If you refuse or have nothing to give them, they will become frustrated, nervous and unpredictable.

5. Take a Taxi.

The first thing when travelling by taxi is to check they are registered and metered. If they say the meter is broken, get out and try another. In South America, most of the taxis genuinely don’t have meters, negotiate and agree the price before you depart to avoid being ripped off. If you travel with luggage, lock the doors and keep bags on the floor out of sight. Depending on the area, keep your night time walks to a minimum, and rely on taxis – they are cheap and much safer.

Travel safer in a taxi


We heard from other travellers that older taxi drivers are less likely to be involved in organised crime, but we have no proof to back up this statement.

6. Be aware.

This is one of those general ‘instinct’ rules. Keep your wits about you when moving locations with your luggage, and be sure to check who is behind you as you board buses or move through busy streets. Don’t let strangers approach and invade your personal space; if you are carrying your luggage they could easily be looking to distract you. Push them away and step up your pace. Be aware of walking down deserted streets at night, if you have any doubt – take a taxi.

7. Don’t take any nonsense.

Try not to look like the geeky kid that got bullied at school. The geeky kid walked around with his shoulders slouched, hands in his pockets, and his head down avoiding any eye contact. You’ll look like an easy target. Even if you’re not a confident person, you can project it easily – it’s all an act. Push your shoulders back, walk like you’ve got a purpose and hold your ground. Have a rough idea of where you are heading, and take a small, foldaway map with you just in case. Check the map in a shop if you are worried about others around you. Even if you are lost, try not to act it.

8. Easy on the bling.

Having a flashy watch is an instant sign of wealth in non western countries. Think for a moment how much a $300 watch would be worth to someone who earns less than $1 a day. Close to a year’s salary, walking past on your wrist. Would you wonder around your home town with $35,000 around your wrist, and expect not to attract attention?

Travel safer without jewellery

You should take precautions with other jewellery too, necklaces can easily be snatched from your neck for example. Don’t wear anything too flashy. As a general rule you should try to blend in as much as possible with regard to what you wear, and also how you act. Keep your camera out of sight, not around your neck. Be discreet when taking photos, and don’t linger around holding an expensive camera.

9. Don’t take sweets from strangers.

Mum knows best. Anything given as ‘free’ should set warning bells off. Be careful in clubs and bars, food and drinks can easily be laced with a tasteless, odourless drug which will make you drowsy and eventually pass out, leaving the evil doers to do as they wish. Don’t take sweets, or anything else for that matter, from strangers. Of course, free chocolate samples from respectable establishments shouldn’t be passed up!

10. Use common sense and trust your instincts – don’t let security concerns spoil your trip!


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