Staying safe while traveling

Be careful, here are a few instances that have happened to some of my clients.
One of them was on a train, it was very crowded inside, she was wearing a fanny pack with a big zipper. She wore the pack in front thinking that she would be able to see if someone tried to open it. Not so! There were a few people who distracted her, she watched for just a few seconds and when they left, she looked down and her pack was wide open. They got everything! She didn't even feel or hear the pack open.

Another client was in Warsaw walking down the street by herself when 4 very big guys walked down the sidewalk at her where she could not get around them, they intimidated her and pushed her down and took her purse. She too, lost everything.

Then not too long ago, my husband and I were walking in Rome, I wear a small day pack just to hold small things like maps, some makeup, or other things that have no value. As were were walking I didn't feel it but I heard it, my zipper was opened! I turned around immediately, there was a young girl probably about 12-13 years old. She looked horrified, made the cross over her chest put her head down and ran away. If it wasn't for hearing the zipper she would have gotten some worthless stuff. In fact I like to put things in my pack that would make them just feel stupid, like tampons, dumb little notes and so on. I have actually contemplated getting a mousetrap that when they reach in would get their fingers!

The best way to avoid problems is to keep all valuables in your safe at the hotel. If they do not have a safe, then I suggest a well made money belt. If you just have to bring a purse, make sure the zippers are hard to open and you have a wire strap that cannot be cut. Wear the purse crosswise over your chest.

Never walk in a bad area alone.

Don't walk down a sidewalk near the street where a moped rider can steal your purse or pack.

Keep your luggage where you can see it at all times on trains. (watch out for people who will slice your luggage open when you are not looking and go through your items)Especially this is done in the luggage holds at you get on the train.

Find out from your hotel staff what areas to avoid, or if you must go that way find out the safest times of day to go.

If you are planning on purchasing an item and you notice questionable people around, try to find a place where no one can see where you hide your cash and credit cards.

If you are traveling with an expensive camera, hopefully you are not traveling alone. Make sure you watch each others backs. If you are traveling alone, keep your camera with the strap around your neck and snugly under your arm. Again purchase a strap with a wire that cannot be cut. If you happen to have a tripod or monopod have it ready to whack someone with it who might try to steal your camera.

There are shirts, jackets, pants, shoes and socks you can purchase that have hidden pockets that cannot be broken into. Some can be purchased at Travelsmith.com.

These are just a few precautions I have learned over the years working in the travel industry.

ParisBreakfast wrote:Sacre Coeur and those annoying African men who shove their stupid bracelets on you and then use obsenities when you refuse to take them!! Why can't the Paris police do something about these men?My sister's daughter who is only 13 had her arm grabbed, a bracelet beginning to be shove on her hand. My sister immediately told them to let go of her and she firmly said no. They didn't like her tone and began to be verbally abusive. Makes me sick sick

The police cannot do anything unless you file a report. So if somebody assults you go to the National Police (not the city police) and tell them you have a problem. They will assist you.

Here is some tips for aggressive vendors, don't even look at them. And don't smile. Americans, foreigners in Paris tend to smile (even without realizing it) at people who are bothering them. To be polite. But you can drop that here. There is no need to be polite to somebody who is bothering you. Parisiens, when they see somebody comming up to them to hawk crap avert their eyes and raise their eyebrows in that obvious "I'm ignoring you" way. If the vendor persists they oh so slighly shake their head 'no'. That's a warning. If they persist after that you are allowed by society here to act like the biggest bitch that ever did be.

Phonetically this is what you say: De gage. It means leave me the fuck alone (tech: get the fuck out of here). And when you say it, people will take note, because it's not something said by people messing around.

I have never had my arm grabbed. Once I had somebody reach for me. I was told that the look on my face (a mixture of shock and rage) was enough to make the man back off. Then again, I kind if have the attitude that if you grab my arm, you're front teeth are about to get knocked out. The men here know better then to do this to a local. Do not EVER be afraid to cop an attutude. The best thing to do is not to even say no. Just do not talk and do not engage. Pretend they don't exist. And if they grab you shout 'Putan' and smack them in the face. Or raise your hand as though you are about to. I'm dead serious here.

Once a man tried to block my exit on the subway near Le Halls/Chatlet (very bad area). He was trying to be intimidating. I pushed right through him and he fell down onto the platform. I walked away quickly. He jumped back on the subway to pick out an easier target.

I'm dead serious when I say this: practice the death stare. The look you will give somebody who is trying to intimidate you. Because you'd be suprised how effective that is for warding people off. If someone is following you, or bothering you. Look them in the eye with the death stare and hold the gaze for a few seconds. For some reason, this has not failed me yet. Most French men (and I say most but make that exception of the kids who hang by the E RER in Gar du Nord and Les Halls) are all talk and no action.

But do be carefull in Le Halls and Chatlet. Watch the wallet and the purse with your life.

Also , I ran into this problem when a friend visited me from Seattle. Do not give money to gypsys. Really. Don't take the peice of paper they come up and hand you. Do not look, smile, or engage. France is the kind of country where you are only homeless if you want to be. They have 1 million social programs here. Gypies that refuse to intigrate should not get your sympathy. Do not, under any circumstances, give money in Paris. To anyone. But especially Gypsies. If you could take a trip out to where I live and see the giant houses they buy with tourist/stolen money you'd think twice about their 'poverty'.

Remember if you're an American most French people already assume you're stronger and better at sports and so forth. Use that to your advantage if you're cornered or intimidated. Use American swear words, and never be ahamed to shout for the Police. They are usually lurking around most tourist areas.

Latvia, Riga.
Avoid going to night club on 24 Kaļķu street. Some years ago its name was "Roxy", but now they change it to get more clients. Now its name is Vavilon!

This is a bad place for tourist, because it is usual thing there, if private items are stolen...

Well - Keep away from Lithuania, Kaunas.

Country it self is beautyfull, but in one week in Kaunas was terrible...
Worst Hostels, worst Travel guids and so on! And the people - they were so impudent!

Oposite was Vilnius!

Rome, Italy
Stay away from Piazza Vittorio quarter (not near but not far from Termini station): you will see and meet only chinese, beggars and junkies. And the police can't do anything because they don't have enough agents to put in some difficult parts of the area. And this Miracle Court is growing every day...

Hello! I am new to this forum. I am really enjoying all the information available. I am heading to Barcelona, Spain in a few weeks. First time in Barcelona. I have heard nothing but beautiful things. Thanks for all the Europe travel warnings, really appreciate them!

Sophia Grant is dedicated to teaching people How to Detox Safely. She also blogs at Safe Dieting

Same here... Thanks for useful information!

I wonder why agents cannot control those people? I guess it will affect the tourism in Italy.

Visit Rome wrote:Rome, Italy
Stay away from Piazza Vittorio quarter (not near but not far from Termini station): you will see and meet only chinese, beggars and junkies. And the police can't do anything because they don't have enough agents to put in some difficult parts of the area. And this Miracle Court is growing every day...

patricia23 wrote:Same here... Thanks for useful information!

I wonder why agents cannot control those people? I guess it will affect the tourism in Italy.

Visit Rome wrote:Rome, Italy
Stay away from Piazza Vittorio quarter (not near but not far from Termini station): you will see and meet only chinese, beggars and junkies. And the police can't do anything because they don't have enough agents to put in some difficult parts of the area. And this Miracle Court is growing every day...

I really hope there isn't a collusion (bribes) between them, because it will be the end of our security. Rome, a so open minded city full of people visiting the Eternal City and proud to see many countries doing excursions every day relegated as a closed and afraid little square of a tiny village for what reason? The inability of people not able to reject them. A crime is a crime, it should be paid in the following way: no more entries in Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice, and so on). But they should begin to do it, instead of talking sterile speeches...