Here at Mobal, we feel that the best people to give advice about traveling is you. They say knowledge is power and we believe that we should all share our thoughts about how we all stay safe while traveling.
Please make a comment and leave your Top Tip for Staying Safe when Traveling.
At the end of the month we’ll put this altogether for everyone to see in a lovely article.
Change your currency before you leave. I used my credit card at my hotel to purchase local currency, and a month later a dozen fraudulent charges were attempted. Also, I wear an ankle wallet. I keep my spare cash and documents in it. When you need to retrieve anything from it, do it in a place where no one sees you as in the men’s room, or your hotel room.
Earlier Ruth said , don’t take anything on a trip that you can’t bear to lose, That goes for your Mobal phone too. I left mine in the hotel room for a short time , when I returned my phone was gone. Remember that many people have the key to your room, take anything of value with you because they do go through your things that you leave in the room , believe me.
Re Ruth, and “never take anything you cannot afford to lose.” I also take clothes I can afford to leave behind or give away in case I acquire something else that fills my luggage or the weight limit on air travel (a silk rug in Nepal). Nuns in a Lahdok nunnery and orphanage were delighted to have sweaters, boots in Peru, a nice skirt and sweater from the second hand store to a young interpreter in Kazakstan. Plus the world is always getting smaller and almost anything is available somewhere if you really need it.
Always register with the American Embassy in whichever country you plan to travel to or through. It’s easy to do on the State Dept website. Women, leave your diamond wedding ring at home. Wear a band or something simple. Nothing says “rob me” more than a distinct piece of jewelry. Be aware of your surroundings and always have a rendevous point with your group in case you get separated.
Don’t carry your wallet in ANY of your pants pockets, guys. My husband had his wallet stolen from his right front pants pocket (wearing a pair of khakis with very deep front pockets) on a regional train in Italy recently. The pickpockets are much better than you give them credit for being. You need zipper pockets or a document pouch under your clothing in order to really protect yourself.
Great tips. Thank you.
For guys. Always wear a sport coat and make sure one inside pocket is large enough for a passport and slim wallet and has a zipper and a button flap closure as well.
Keep your wallet in your front pants pocket. It’s more difficult to pick a front pants pocket.
Women should not carry a purse – too easy to be grabbed our lost. Have secure pockets in your clothes instead or wear a vest. Men should never carry money or credit cards in their back pockets Again, zipper pockets are helpful.
Never take any item on a trip that you could not bear to lose. This probably means underdressing- no flashy jewelry, handbags or designer clothes. Investigate the dress norms for the places you plan to travel. Make sure you do not stand out like a tourist. For Americans, this means no logo t-shirts or sweatshirts, no white tennis shoes, no jeans. Dress like that on the Paris Metro, and expect to be pick pocketed! Also, anticipate your cash needs for the day, and have that money in a secure pocket so that you can avoid pulling out your wallet. Always have small bills handy.
Women traveling alone can benefit greatly from having a plan and making sure they stick to it, and especially choosing a hotel where the manager is trustworthy enough to be able to tell him or her where you are going and when you expect to return. With the exchange of phone numbers, it might be possible to have a kind of verbal protection from unwanted attention by being able to call and say “Honey, I will be back soon; meet you in the lobby, OK?”