Research — How to Stay Safe When Traveling

Adventure is a State of Mind

Safety is a concern that prevents many people from ever venturing into independent travel, but it’s often the illusion of what is or isn’t safe rather than the reality that we focus on when considering visiting someplace new.

The Unknown Doesn’t Feel Safe

When I have traveled abroad, invariably someone warns me about how they heard that the place was unsafe or they once saw a story on the news about terrible things happening there. There is something about the idea of traveling to an unknown place, especially when the language and customs are unfamiliar, that automatically spells D-A-N-G-E-R for many.

The reality, however, is that there are many, many places in the world that are actually less dangerous than where you are currently living…unless you live in Iceland, which pretty consistently ranks as the safest country in the world.

Familiarity with a place helps us to feel secure. The friends and relatives telling me about the dangers of the countries I was planning to visit were all living in the United States of America, which consistently ranks quite low in safety when compared to other nations — for example, on the Global Peace Index for 2022, the United States ranked 129th in the world for safety. (Meaning that 128 other countries are more safe than the United States.)

What were the countries that were creating so much concern for my friends and family? Japan (ranked 10th), Greece (ranked 53rd), and France (ranked 65th) were just a few. All of those “dangerous” countries are significantly more safe than my country, the U.S., based on overall measures. They feel dangerous to some people, however, because they have never been there. It is this fear that often keeps people from adventuring too far from home. (See The Voice of Fear.)

There are Real Dangers in the World

No place is completely safe, whether it is at home or abroad, and some places in the world are decidedly dangerous, but doing your research before you travel can help you to make safe choices of where to travel and/or safe choices of how to behave so as to reduce your risks.

For international travel, a good place to start is to read the travel advisories posted by the U.S. Department of State. On their website, you can also enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages when you are in a foreign country. Registering can also help the U.S. Embassy to locate you in case of an emergency.

If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine. It’s lethal.

Paulo Coelho

Getting the Scoop

Getting local information about an area is also very helpful in assessing safety. Start by talking with people who have visited areas where you want to go and ask questions, not only about their favorite activities and meals, but also about how safe they felt and whether they had any experiences that made them uncomfortable.

Ideally, talk with people who have lived where you want to go as they will have even more intimate knowledge regarding that location. If you don’t personally know someone from a place you want to visit, seek out blogs or social media with people who live in the area you want to visit or who have spent a great deal of time there.

Check the News

It can also be helpful to check out the local news (use Google translate if you can’t find a version in your mother tongue), preferably multiple times to give you a general feel for an area. I always keep in mind, though, that the news tends to report mostly the negative things going on in an area and may leave you with the impression that an area is more crime ridden or dangerous with anarchy than is actually the case.

Safety in Numbers

Although it’s a bit of a cliché, there really is increased safety in numbers. This is clearly one of the benefits of traveling with a tour group, but you can also increase your safety significantly by traveling with just one other person.

There are places where I would not feel comfortable traveling by myself, but they don’t worry me at all as long as I’m with another person. I don’t want to discourage you from traveling alone, but if you choose to do so, no matter your gender, you should put extra thought into what you need to do to maintain your safety.

Have a Plan

If you will be traveling in a crowded area where there is any possibility of getting separated from your travel companions, make sure to agree on a meeting place in case you get separated. This could be a landmark, a specific entrance/exit to a building, a cafe, or the next place you were planning to visit if it is nearby.

On the metro, it is possible to sometimes become separated during the busiest times because of one or more in your group not being able to push onto a crowded metro car before the doors close. I usually suggest to my companions that, if separated, the plan is to exit at our destination station. Of course, this means that you need to make sure that everyone in your group knows which stop that is. If I’m traveling with children or with someone who might feel panicked at the idea of traveling on their own, even for just a short while on the metro, I will instead suggest that everyone exit at the next stop after being separated in order to regroup.

Many people don’t think they need to plan a meeting place because they have cell phones, but I think it is still a good idea because phones are not 100% reliable. There are still areas where cell coverage is spotty to nonexistent, and this includes being underground in a metro tunnel.

Also, many people choose not to pay extra for cell service when traveling abroad. Or forget to activate it before they leave home. So, cell phones may not be an option when you are traveling outside of your home country. Even if you have cell coverage, I think it never hurts to have a Plan B… just in case.

Individual Concerns

I wish we lived in a world in which everyone was treated with equal respect and kindness, but that is not our reality yet. It is important, therefore, to consider whether there is anything about who you are that could put you at risk if you travel to certain places. For example, there are still places in the U.S. where the color of an individual’s skin or wearing a hijab can attract unfriendly and possibly aggressive attention. There are also places in the world where a woman can be in danger because she is not accompanied by a man.

Travel blogs, especially if written by someone with characteristics similar to you, can be a source of information about these types of dangers. Some travel guidebooks, such as the Lonely Planet guidebooks, also have sections describing safety considerations and concerns. For example, they may tell you that you shouldn’t leave any belongings in your car near Golden Gate Park in San Francisco because it increases the risk of someone breaking into your car. Just make sure you are reading an up-to-date book since conditions can change over time.

Knowledge is Power

In summary, don’t let other people’s fears prevent you from taking the trip of your dreams, but also don’t go blindly and naively to your destination. Obtaining good, reliable information about where you are traveling will prepare you with the tools you need to stay safe and enjoy your journey.

What do you need to learn more about to make sure you stay safe during your travels?