The most useful tip to ensure your safety abroad is to use your common sense.
Safety tips when travelling abroad:
- Approach any "special deals" with caution, especially if you have to go off the beaten path to get them.
- Know the laws about exchanging money. Only use official exchange facilities since this is another area that can get you into trouble fast.
- Take precautions to protect your money and avoid pickpockets
- Carry sufficient cash to avoid problems with payment
- Dress conservatively and try to blend in.
- Take care when choosing your hotel and transportation providers.
- Don’t draw attention to yourself, avoid wearing flashy jewellery and don’t display large amounts of cash. Carry only enough cash to make it through the day and leave the rest in the hotel’s safe.
- Avoid travelling alone.
- Be careful about sharing your travelling plans with strangers.
- Stick to the main roads and avoid taking shortcuts down narrow alleys and/or poorly lit streets.
- Always be aware of what is going on around you.
- Only use taxis, tours and other transportation services with official markings. Only select transportation from official pickup points at transportation hubs.
- Be very careful if you are asked to sell or part with your personal items. Many countries have restrictions on items foreigners can sell or give away and you can get into serious trouble for violating those laws.
- Never accept gifts or packages from unknown parties.
- Don’t accept items from locals to carry out of the country and deliver or mail to someone they know.