NomadWill

  • Cheap Guides
  • Blog
  • Photography
    • Instagram
    • WTF WORLDWIDE
    • Wanderlust
    • Steel Monsters
    • Blok City
    • Powder and Honour
    • Stormtrooper Holiday
    • ZGZ Graffiti
    • Brutalism
    • Real India
  • Aragon
    • Introduction
  • Trips & Events
  • Bratislava Guide for Erasmus
  • EXTRA
    • Maps
    • About
    • Useful Info
    • Ask for Advice
    • Contact
  • Follow
  • Cheap Guides
  • Blog
  • Photography
    • Instagram
    • WTF WORLDWIDE
    • Wanderlust
    • Steel Monsters
    • Blok City
    • Powder and Honour
    • Stormtrooper Holiday
    • ZGZ Graffiti
    • Brutalism
    • Real India
  • Aragon
    • Introduction
  • Trips & Events
  • Bratislava Guide for Erasmus
  • EXTRA
    • Maps
    • About
    • Useful Info
    • Ask for Advice
    • Contact
  • Follow

Travel  safe

8/19/2016

 
We all like traveling, but this wonderful times can turn into nightmare if we are not cautious...
Picture
During my trips I have experienced a lot of good stuff...but also been in some really bad situations... so bad that I almost got shot once, so I will write about all the most common problems that happened to me or known people for you to do your best to avoid it.
Don't let this article discourage you, but use it to make you aware, world is not pink and smiley, bad people lurk in every corner of the world and they will do really nasty things in order to get your money or worse.

Pickpocketing

Picture
Probably it is the most common problem that tourist have, specially in big cities like Paris or Barcelona, where there are true experts in the "art" of stealing. Loosing your phone in Barcelona can be sad, but loosing your passport outside EU can be a real problem, so here are my advices:

  • Stay aware in every major monument or big group of people
  • Put your belongings in the front pockets, better if they have a zip.
  • Extra careful in metros and train stations, where pickpocketers take advantage of you not knowing the right direction.
  • Don't pay attention to main street performers, many times they are "allied" with pickpocketers (Specially in Barcelona)
  • If you have a backpack and need to wait, do it with a wall or column behind you.
  • If someone talks to you but seems not to understand you or makes you focus in what he/she says... careful! It's just a distraction! A partner is coming from behind
  • Use decoy wallets, one or two extra wallets with little money (around 20€) and no IDs or credit cards for use in flea markets or to deter assaulters from stealing more
  • Use money belts or secret pockets, definitely one of the greatest inventions, althought a bit unconfortable, it's almost impossible to steal whatever is in there, great for passport and big money wallet

Alcohol

Picture
Many people drink alcohol while traveling, it's normal, but one should control him/herself. Getting drunk in an unknown city can be a real problem, sometimes you can be lucky and wake up in a Chinese illegal hostel in Moscow but others you can loose all your belongings or even worse, so control yourself, please.
I usually control myself abroad, but sometimes parties get crazy and you loose it, ok don't worry, here are my advices:

  • If you are going to get serious drinking, know the place and be with friends or big group
  • Make sure you know the way back, if you can go safely walking then is ok
  • Many times, Hostels have a disco nearby, those cases getting wasted is a bit "safer"
  • Also remember alcohol has many other problems that you may know well, also waking up with an incredible hangover when you need to do the main city tour at 9 am is not ideal.
But there is a big problem that many people forgets and can cost even your life, as it almost happened to me the first night I went out in China: DON'T LET UNKNOWN PERSON BRING YOU DRINKS!!
​
There are sooo many drugs that one can simply drop in your glass and make you asleep or worse that you need to be really careful!
​
In my case we were offered a six pack of open beers by a group of Chinese from other table but just when I was about to drink an American guy came to our table and told us that they put something earlier inside, and that the beers didn't came from waiter... so you see, danger is everywhere if you are not aware!

Bad  districts

Picture
It's becoming quite trendy now to go to the worst suburbs of the cities to see how "real" people live, but you need to be careful, if locals don't venture there it's obvious you must not go there if you don't wish problems... After all what's the point of seeing a place where drugs and prostitution are in every corner? In such places you are just rising your chances to get into troubles. 

hostels

Hostel safety can deceive you, always choose best rated (or good rated at least) hostel, don't you just care about the price! 
Picture
Hostels can seem safe on internet but the people sleeping there can be really bad, I have seen how a Korean guy got stolen 400 euro from his locker (suposed to be safe) since all keys open every locker, or safe rooms for lugagge where anybody can come in, and for girls there is even worst case if they are alone in their rooms with other men, thats why now there is in many hostels female dorms, to prevent this kind of stuff that sadly, actually happens.
Also my advice is to sleep with your secret pocket or confortable bag attached to your leg inside the bed, so you keep your phone, main wallet and passport safe in the night and close to you.

scams

At least here, it's just you money what is at risk, these are some basic rules to avoid being fooled by merchants. 
  • If you can bargain, at least ask for x3 less price of what merchant says, in some cases I have even get it x7 times cheaper
  • Never play or gamble with street performers, everything has a trick, basically you are wasting the money.
  • If a cleaner, street artist, performer... drops something, don't fetch it, it will be a trick to get your attention (Specially in Istanbul, where all shoe cleaners seem so clumsy)
  • In organized tours, the shops the agency bring you usually have even x4 prices than average shop, so don't let them fool you with "quality" "authentic"...
  • Half of the world seem to have an international coin collection, simply ignore them since it's a trick to show your wallet
  • If you really don't want to buy anything and want to avoid street merchants, don't even look at them or at least don't answer to what they say, they will surrender earlier, this is the best way even if it looks rude.
  • Make sure you know the prices of extras (bread, olives...) and drinks in restaurants, by EU law all should be pointed in the menu.

food  and  water

This one is short, but important, since many times we forget about being careful while eating. Before you go abroad, make sure the tap water is drinkable for you! (Egyptians and Indians can drink their water but if you try it you will get a nice diarrhea)
Picture
Also remember that ice cubes are often made by tap water, and some vegetables and fruits are washed by it, for tea is no problem since water is boiled.
​
In case of food you need to be really careful in street markets, even if a lot of locals eat there, it doesn't mean your stomach is ready or that the food is well prepared, I got food poisoning in the famous Budapest market for example.

bugs  and  diseases

Usually people cares about this, but you need to be careful, usually every EU country has "foreign vaccination services" (for inmigrants who go back to their country usually) but there, doctors will inform you perfectly about which vaccine you may need.
Picture
For example, if you plan to hike in Austria or Slovakia you should have vaccine against Ricketsia, transmited by tick (that nasty bug that sucks you blood and gets attached to your skin)... in those countries vaccine is on the compulsory vaccination program, but for other EU countries, like Spain or Belgium, that vaccine is not included so you need to be careful.

Also when traveling to South Asia or Africa, Malaria vaccine is totally needed. It's always wise to carry some OTC medicine for common diseases like flu or diarrhea, that can really ruin your trip but have easy solution.

Of course, you should always bring a mosquito repellent! Since some mosquitos can infect you with non treatable diseases such as Dengue fever! You can find more info about repellents here.

embassies  and  insurance

Picture
It's always good to write down the adress and phone of your national embassy in the city you will go. In case you loose your passport or you have any issue, the embassy staff will help you (like providing you with a temporary passport in order to not miss your flights)

Picture
Another very important thing is to have a proper travel insurance, for the price of two meals you can feel safe abroad, covering things from lost lugagge, to hospital costs, including thefts, car accidents... So it's essential. ​

Finally I want to tell you the golden rule of safety abroad: Don't do what you wouldn't do in your home country
I hope you liked the article and get to know that you need to take extra care of yourself while traveling!

    NomadWill  Blog

    Welcome to the place where you can learn about the coolest things and places of Europe and beyond in a funny way!

    title

    All
    2017 Return To Activity
    2018 Plans
    Active Erasmus
    Adrenaline+Traveling
    Aragon
    Curious Things In Europe
    Dark Tourism
    Different Ways Of Traveling
    Go East
    Go East (ESP)
    Have Fun In Prison
    How NW Was Born
    How To Make A Great Roadtrip
    Iceland Interactive Map
    If You Don't Travel Is Because You Don't What
    Instagram
    Introduction
    My 2018 Holidays
    My Advices To Travel Cheap
    Not Because You Can't
    Roads Of Mongolia
    Roads Of Scotland
    Si No Viajas Es Porque No Quieres
    Small Traveling Curiosities
    Transsiberian 1/3 Russia
    Transsiberian 2/3 Mongolia
    Travel And Collect
    Traveling Solo
    Travel Safe
    Trips & Events
    Walkli.com
    Zaragoza Erasmus Map

    date

    September 2021
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

    RSS Feed

Disclaimer
About
Contact
Follow NomadWill.com in Facebook!