From Pickpockets to Scams: How We Stay Safe Abroad
We’ve traveled through countries with a reputation for danger—like Colombia and Brazil—without major issues, thanks to a few safety habits we always stick to. In this post, we’re sharing what we’ve learned so you can feel more confident and stay safe while traveling, too.Before You Leave…
Check General Safety & Political Situation
It's important to start by researching the safety situation of your destination. We include safety tips and share our personal experiences in our destination guides, so feel free to check them out here. In addition, be sure to look for any travel advisories, health warnings, or signs of political instability that might impact your trip. To get a better sense of the current situation, try reading news updates about the area a few weeks or even months before your vacation. This will help you decide whether it's safe to visit at the time.
TIP | Check that your travel insurance covers evacuations by natural disasters or political unrest, trip cancellations and delays.
Be Prepared: Vaccinations, Insurance and Medication
Once you've chosen your destination, it's important to check if any vaccinations are required. Some vaccines need to be administered 4-6 weeks before your trip, so it's a good idea to consult your doctor as soon as possible. We also recommend reviewing your travel insurance to ensure that your policy is active, covers your stay abroad, and includes medical coverage. If you're unsure about whether you need travel insurance, take a look at this article where we discuss why it's necessary for all travelers and what to consider when purchasing medical travel insurance.
We always bring a small first-aid kit in our daypack with essential emergency medications, just in case we need them while on the move. Additionally, we pack extra medication in our luggage in case we need it before we can see a healthcare provider. If you're on prescription medication, it's a good idea to carry a doctor's letter or an official note explaining why you need it. We've also compiled a list of the medications we carry in our luggage for reference.
READ | Top things to carry in your day pack.
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Keep Copies of Important Documents
We normally only carry the digital copies of our passport, visa, travel insurance, and any other important documents and store them on the backpack that will come with us up in the plane. In some countries, they will ask you for these proof at the immigration, so it is good to have them in handy. We also advise you to have these documents scanned and stored in the cloud.
Use a Travel Wallet
Keep your passport, tickets, credit cards, and cash in a secure in a money belt, hidden pouch, or neck wallet, preferably with RFID-blocking accessories to prevent data theft.
Book Your Accommodations Carefully
We prefer booking accommodations through reliable platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, or Agoda. However, it’s crucial to read the reviews carefully before making a reservation. We avoid booking places with no previous reviews, as it can be risky. Additionally, don’t overlook the location—just because a property looks modern, beautiful, and has great reviews doesn’t necessarily mean it’s in a safe area or easily accessible by any transport. Make sure the area is safe at night and well-connected to other parts of the city.
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Once You Arrive…
Stay connected
As soon as we land in a new destination or arrive at the airport, our first step is to get a local SIM card or eSIM. The advantage of an eSIM is, that you can activate it before you leave for your destination and as soon as you land you don’t have to buy an expensive airport SIM card or pay roaming fees. Having local connectivity means you can always access maps, emergency contacts, and translation services. We prefer knowing where our taxi driver is taking us or booking a ride online, plus being able to communicate in case of an emergency as soon as we are leaving the airport.
BUY | Buy a cheap Saily eSim here.
READ | Stay Connected Without Roaming: Travel Smarter with an eSIM
Communication is Key
Being able to communicate, even at a basic level, can make a huge difference in your travel experience. Download translation apps or learn a few key phrases to help you navigate unfamiliar places, ask for help, and connect with locals in a meaningful way.
Be Careful With Social Media Posts
It’s important to think carefully about who you share your travel plans with and when. Avoid sharing your itinerary with strangers or disclosing too much information. While it’s always a good idea to inform family and close friends about your itinerary in case of an emergency, there’s no need to share every detail on social media. We recommend you to use location-sharing apps like Google Maps, Find My iPhone, or WhatsApp to send your live location to a trusted friend or family member.
When it comes to social media, it’s best to avoid sharing live updates about your exact location. Posting in real-time can make you a target for theft or unwanted attention. We typically wait until after we’ve left a place to share our photos and updates, keeping our travel details private and secure.
Use Reliable Transportation
We prefer using ride-sharing apps like Uber, Lyft, or Grab for our first ride from the airport to our accommodation. However, it's important to note that these services aren't available in all countries, and in some places, ride-sharing drivers may not be allowed to enter the airport premises. For this reason, we also try to pre-arrange our ride, especially if we're arriving at night. We often ask our accommodation if they can recommend a trusted taxi driver or provide a contact number to ensure we have a safe ride or book reliable airport transfer through platforms like Gettransfer.com or Welcome Pickups.
If you're using public transport, it's a good idea to plan your route ahead of time and double check with your stay, if this route is correct.
Our Golden Safety Rules
These tips may seem a bit cautious, but we’re just considering the worst-case scenario. It's always wise to be vigilant, but remember to adjust your level of caution based on the safety of the country you're visiting. Not all of these tips are necessary in every place, especially if you're traveling to a safe destination.
Always be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts if something feels off. This means staying alert—avoid looking down at your phone.
Be humble! Try to dress down, showing off the latest iPhone in public or expensive watch is never a good idea.
Which brings us to rule #3, keep your phone, camera, and jewelry discreetly stored to avoid drawing attention.
Keep your valuables in sight and choose bags or fanny packs that are harder for pickpockets to access. For example, when using public transport or in crowded areas, position your backpack in front of you and keep an eye on it. Be cautious when opening it, and always have an eye on the zippers. We sometimes use our rain cover, to make it a little harder for those pickpockets.
Never store anything in your pockets, as they’re easy targets for theft, and you might not even notice.
As a general rule, we rarely carry cash, and certainly not large amounts. We prefer credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. If you need cash, keep it hidden in a money belt. When using ATMs, stay alert—be mindful of people around you, and avoid drawing attention to how much you're withdrawing or where you’re putting the money.
Try to avoid empty areas, especially if you're alone, and steer clear of isolated streets. Walking alone at night is risky, particularly if you're carrying valuables or large amounts of cash. If possible, use ride-sharing apps, even for short distances.
If you plan on partying, be aware that drinking too much can make you vulnerable to theft or other dangers. If you know you’ll be out late, consider taking an old phone and just enough cash to get you home safely. While we don’t recommend taking unnecessary risks, especially if you're alone, it's important to exercise caution and avoid overindulging in places where you might be putting yourself in danger.
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