Awareness and a touch of street-smarts are the keys to safe and happy travels. Whether you’re travelling solo or with a companion, knowledge is power.
For instance, it is always a good idea to learn essential phrases in the local language and research a country’s culture and religion before you leave. And once you’ve arrived, enhance your cultural understanding by observing how locals behave. Most importantly, employ a healthy dose of common sense, even if you’re in a “safe” destination.
“Use the common sense you’ve developed over the years at home to help keep you safe when you’re traveling alone,” writes Marybeth Bond in Gutsy Women (Travelers’ Tales, 2001), a book of travel tips.
Taking the appropriate personal safety precautions is particularly important for solo travellers, particularly women. “More and more women are traveling without companions or their families, whether it is on business or for a relaxing weekend away,” said Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com. “As more females are taking to the skies and the road, we wanted to offer advice on ways women can be safe, wherever they are. Thee are good tips for anyone traveling by themselves to help avoid unwanted attention and steer clear of predators.”
Although many of the tips compiled by SmarterTravel staff were designed for solo travellers, the information is also valuable for general travel.
Ten tips to keep safe when you’re on the move
1. Exercise hotel safety
• At check-in, consider asking for a room near the elevator so you won’t need to walk down long, potentially ill-lit hallways to reach your room.
• When filling out guest registration forms, consider using your first initial instead of your name, and skip the “Mrs/Miss/Mr” check box. Additionally, try to make sure the clerk writes down your room number instead of saying it out loud. This will prevent anyone in the vicinity from knowing where to find you later.
• If you’re at a hotel that requires you to leave your keys at the front desk, make sure that a desk clerk is there to put your key in a safe place; never just leave it on the counter.
• You may want to reconsider hanging a filled-out breakfast card on your door. Doing so lets people know you’re alone in the room, and means there’s a situation already set in which you’ll be expecting someone at the door.
• If you’re not sure about your accommodations, bring along a rubber door stop to wedge under the door in case the lock is unreliable.
2. Arrive during the day
Areas around bus and train stations can be scary and/or deserted at night, and small towns tend to shut down early. By arriving during the day, you’ll be able to find a place to stay and get your bearings before dark.
