Traveling has its own share of problems and one of them is getting robbed in a city you’ve decided to visit. We are not just talking about mugging at knifepoint or at gunpoint, but scams as well. Getting robbed in a foreign country can be a serious issue. Here are a few tips on preventing this from happening when you are on vacation.
Keep an Eye Out for Your Stuff
The best way to prevent getting robbed or mugged is to know where your things are at all times. This is why it is wise to travel with someone, rather than alone.
If you want to go to the bathroom, or need to ask around for directions without dragging your belongings with you, you need to have a trustworthy friend to watch your stuff and vice versa.
One of the tricks is to keep your cash and passports in hard to reach places. It is also instrumental that, while you are using your phone, you don’t ignore your surroundings. It is very easy for someone to snatch your phone from you if you are not paying attention. The same goes for your wallet or passport, so keep them out of sight.
Avoid Trouble and Scams
No one is truly asking to get mugged. But there are a few things you need to do in order to dodge trouble. First of all, stay away from dark alleys and suspicious bars. If you are getting a drink, make sure it is in an unopened container. Avoid altercations with the locals, as they have the home-field advantage.
There are several scams that are, luckily, becoming more known thanks to the internet. They include shady accommodations, taxi drivers at the airport, train station, and bus station that offer a cheap ride with the meter not running and bring you to the said accommodations, and unlicensed tour guides, to name a few. Not all scams are the same, so it might be a good idea to prepare ahead of time for your destination and do a bit of research regarding the most common scams there.
Drinking
It is perfectly fine to have a few drinks and a few laughs with your friends. However, alcohol diminishes your capacity for common sense and judgment. You are more susceptible to fall for a scam or to get mugged without even realizing it if you are intoxicated. So, if you are planning on getting drunk in a foreign country, make sure you do it in a place where you will not be taken advantage of.
Don’t watch out only for drinking, but all types of risky behavior. You may be tempted into playing a few games with the locals, but this is dangerous if you don’t fully understand the rules and the culture surrounding gambling in the community. To steer clear of all misunderstandings, it might be a good idea to forego risky behavior altogether.
Spread Out Your Money
One trick many people, including some of the writers here, use is spreading out your money in different places. For example, you may store some cash in your wallet, some in your clothes and some in your luggage. Why is this a good idea? Well, if you do get mugged, it will give you a chance to enjoy the rest of your vacation or at least provide you with enough money for a safe trip home.
