Simple Things to Do While Traveling to Help Keep You Safe
In this episode, Walter Meyer shares practical tips to help you stay safe, aware, and prepared while traveling. He also offers simple advice to enhance your overall travel experience and make the most of your time exploring.
1. Travel with “Dave”
Dave was one of Walter’s best friends who passed away years ago. However, Walter still “travels with Dave” to keep himself safe. Whenever he is leaving a hotel room, he says something along the lines of, “Do you want anything while I’m out, Dave? I’ll be back in a little bit.”
You can also leave your TV playing a talk show on low volume to make it sound like someone might be in the room.
This tactic helps protect your possessions from anyone who may observe you leave your room. It also lets them know that you’re coming back soon (even if you aren’t).
2. Using your phone wisely for navigation
This tip is especially smart if you are traveling alone!
Holding your phone in front of you while navigating makes you an easy target as a tourist. To draw less attention to yourself, put in ear buds and set your map to give you vocal directions. This way you don’t have to keep looking at your phone, which not only gives you away as a tourist, but allows you to be more alert.
Some cities have high pick pocketing rates and people will literally take your phone out of your hands. This is one way to help avoid that from happening!
3. Airplane mode
Have you ever been on a trip using navigation all day, and your phone dies super fast? This is one way to avoid that!
When you arrive at your destination, download the area of your map where you are staying. This way you can put your phone in airplane mode while navigating, and save a ton of battery.
You can also carry a portable charger as a backup!
4. Pack a carabiner
Carabiners are very versatile and may come in handy for multiple reasons!
Clip a water bottle to your bag, pants, etc. to help you stay hydrated and avoid needing to buy expensive water around town.
If you carry a nice camera with a strap, you can use the carabiner to secure the strap to your clothing or bag. This helps prevent getting your camera stolen.
When you stop to eat at restaurants, you can clip your purse or backpack to your chair to protect it from getting stolen.
5. How to use the ATM
Do NOT count your cash when you get it out of an ATM. This shows people that you have cash on you, which makes you a target.
Even if the dollar amount is incorrect, you can’t fight with the machine anyways.
6. Don’t carry a bulky wallet if you don’t need to
Wallets make you a target. Walter suggests getting a slim wallet that connects to the back of your phone and only holds the most important cards.
General travel tips (not necessarily safety related)
7. White noise
If you struggle to sleep while traveling, getting a white noise app can be helpful! This can help drown out noises that you aren’t used to.
8. Wandering
Wandering is a great way to see and experience more of a city. Pick one place that you want to go, and then take your time exploring on the way there.
Some of the best hidden gems are found when you least expect it. Choose to walk when you can instead of taking an Uber or subway!
9. Photos
Any time you take pictures of a church, landscape, building, etc., also take a photo of a sign explaining where you are! This will help you keep track of where you took your pictures when you’re looking at them after the trip.
Follow along with Walter!