As fun as travel is, there is a bit of anxiousness that comes with it, especially when it comes to safety.
As a lesbian couple, what if bad things happened to us, or someone tried to do something unkind to us or tried to take advantage of the situation. Or what if we got robbed? or lost? Or someone were to be homophobic that could escalate to physical violence?
I think being anxious can make the brain/mind just go crazy with the many possibilities of what could go wrong, and as exciting as travel is, the unknown can be scary. While there can be things that can go wrong, there are things that you can do ensure that you limit the possibility of being a target to scammers or thieves on the road.
While being anxious about what could go wrong is not fun, at least it will help you prepare yourself and think of the best ways to keep yourself and your belongings safe. When you are better prepared for your trip, it will definitely help you feel a lot less anxious, and this will make you worry less and feel less vulnerable (hopefully!)
Let’s look at some travel safety tips that will help you stay safe as you travel.
Why Bother About Travel Safety
As South Africans, most of us have been victims of crime, just imagine something like that happening as you are travelling, in a foreign country. It would be super terrifying!
Travel safety is something that every traveller should think about, especially when you are travelling abroad. You can get injured, or be a victim of theft, if we are being honest a lot of things can happen.
And as anxious as that can be, we cannot let that stop us from enjoying the travels. Just don’t allow yourself to be a victim, if you can help it.
Travel Safety Tips for South Africans Travelling Abroad: Before Your Trip
#1. Research and more research
Travel safety starts before you even start packing for your trip.
Once you decide where you are going, start doing research immediately. Research about the country, the places where you will be going, what scams are common and which places are a no-no in that country.
Research on the accommodation that you will be staying at, read reviews online and see what other travellers are saying.
Sometimes there are even forums that can help you do your research, if not, Google is your best friend.
And of course, money is a thing, and everyone is trying to get money off someone.
#2. Scan all your important documents – Passport, drivers License and anything important
Imagine a situation where your passport got stolen, that would be a nightmare. But if you needed a replacement passport, it would be a better situation if you had identification, and a copy of your passport.
So make sure that you have all the important documents printed out. That means your passport, your drivers license and whatever else is important for you.
The hard copies that you have printed out need to be kept separate from the originals, and preferably, they need to be uploaded on a cloud as well, so that you can access to them anywhere, and at anytime.
3. Share your itinerary with family and friends
Once you have your dates, contact details, location and all the places that you will be travelling to and what you will be doing, you need to send all that information to your family, and friends. This is so they know where you are and are able to reach you should they need to.
This also includes your flight details, the hotels that you will be staying at, hotel details and of course all the activities that you will be doing and their locations. And don’t forget to share your travel information as well. Rather overshare than share too little information.
When travelling, sometimes WIFI can be a little tricky, and you may be out of reach. Make sure you communicate this to them prior, so that they aren’t left wondering where you are and start panicking.
God forbid, you ended up missing, but if that were to happen your family will be able to pick this up quicker, and it can help them report this a lot sooner.
This just really gives your family space to relax and not so worry so much about you being in a foreign place.
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#4. Get Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is a must-have for travel safety, in fact I know when we travelled to Germany, it was a prerequisite for the VISA application.
Travel insurance is really a non-negotiable, because should you experience a medical emergency, you will be taken care of. Also, if you are a victim of theft, it will cover that as well. Not just that, if you are to end your trip early, or worse, cancel it completely, the travel insurance would then cover the cost of your trip.
There is good travel insurance for South Africans – We will be doing a separate blog about it very soon.
There are other travel insurance companies that you can check out, and whatever you decide to choose, just make sure you understand what they offer, and read the fine print!
I can’t stress this enough, travel insurance is a MUST!
And just like your other important documentation, you need to keep this in a safe place, and make sure that you share this information with friends and family. Also make sure that you make copies of this documentation, just in case something happens, and keep a copy with your passport.
Travel Safety Tips for South Africans : Travelling to your destination
When the trip finally comes, and you are all packed up, this is the time to be super vigilant and careful. Airports are full of people, from all over the world, and it’s a playing field for thieves who are looking to scam someone.
And the thing is, you are either lost, trying to figure something out, where to go or what to do. The confusion, the anxiety or the busyness of everything can make you an easy target for a thief who is looking to do something.
So, make sure that you can see where your valuables are, and never take your eyes of them. be aware of your surroundings, as this will help you a lot.
#5. Keep your money in different places
This is super super important: Never travel with all your money in one place, it’s a recipe for disaster!
You need to keep your money, in your jacket, in your bag, in your luggage, in different pockets – just everywhere, and your partner needs to do the same. The same applies to debit or credits cards that you have on you.
There are bags that are designed to keep your money safer, like this money belt here, and if you have one, you can wear it out of plain sight under your clothes.
This will help you keep your money safe, as you travel.
#6. Stay off your phone when you are on the train, bus, or walking on the streets
This is a sure fire way to protect yourself from getting mugged. And while you are out and about, you need to be aware of your surroundings at all times.
That means being present, and not being preoccupied. If you are going to be on your phone, that means that you are not fully present, also a thief could grab it from you. . . imagine walking in the street on your phone in South Africa. Yes other places are safer than others, but I think you know exactly what I am talking about.
Buses and trains are also not that great, people are constantly coming in and out, which can give a thief a great opportunity to snatch your phone and run for the door, and disappear.
Walking on the street while busy on your phone is the same, a thief can grab it and turn a corner, never to be seen again.
Yes, some countries really don’t have issues with crime, however some do. You just need to make sure that you are on the safe side.
#7. Always keep an eye on your belongings
Sometimes, it really takes a second of looking away for someone to get an opportunity to grab your stuff and make a dive for it.
Your belongings should always be looked after, and preferably they should be on you in a bag that is intertwined with you. . . as in a bag that is on your body. That makes it more difficult for thieves to steal from you, but in South Africa, someone can just walk up to you and demand what they want from you.
Should you ever be in a situation like that, it’s better to surrender and give them, than to try and fight. Nothing is worth your life or safety.
This rings true for your phone, wallets, sunglasses and whatever else they deem valuable.
#8. Your pockets and wallets are always targets
This is especially true when you are in a crowd, it could be in a bus, a train or at a concert.
I once had a phone stolen at a concert, because it was super packed and with everyone bumping into each other, it was very easy for the thief to reach into my pocket and grab my phone. Worse, I only noticed it much later.
So, if you are going to have something valuable in your pockets, have your hand inside there to safeguard it. Also, never ever put anything of value in your back pocket. This literally is the easiest way to lose something valuable and thieves will always capitalize on that.
If you have a backpack, make sure it’s on the front, so that you can have your eyes on your belongings. It’s easy for thieves to open your backpack and steal something, if it’s on your back, and they are so good, you won’t even feel anything.
#9. Put locks on your bags
This is a given, and a sure fire way to deter thieves from stealing from you. So, whatever chance you get, make sure your bag is locked.
If your bag isn’t lockable, it should at least have a flap that covers its opening, otherwise, it’s not a bag that you should be travelling with. Of course, if someone wants to steal from you, they can find a way to do it, but someone else who is looking for an easy target will be put off from having a locked bag.
#10. Be aware of your surroundings when using ATM’s
ATM’s are one place that are popular with thieves, either they will get your information and rob you, or they can even take your money just as you take it out of the ATM.
So it is super important to be aware of your surroundings and who is near you. You have to be cautious and aware, and when you punch the pin, be extra careful and make sure not one is seeing it because thieves just know how to use that information to their advantage.
Also, ensure that the person behind you isn’t too close, and make sure they can’t see anything.
#11. Don’t travel with anything that is irreplaceable
When I travelled to Thailand back in 2018, I had taken my favourite bracelet, and sadly it never came back. That was really sad, as not only was it my favorite, it also had sentimental value.
So, if something is valuable to you, or irreplaceable, just don’t travel with it. If possible, take an alternative – and yes I know this can be hard. For example, if you are a content creator, you will need to travel with your best phone or camera. The struggle is real.
So if possible, travel with a cheaper version of your valuable possessions: an older smartphone, travel-friendly clothes that are cheap enough to accidentally lose.
#12. Be aware of where you are going, and make GPS your companion
When traveling in an area that you don’t know, have the destination set in your GPS, to make sure the driver is taking you where you are supposed to be going.
This is important that you know you are on the right route, which will alert you should there be trouble, which will give you a heads up on what you can do to get out of that trouble.
“But how will I use my phone’s GPS when I’m in another country?”
Make sure you download the map of your destination on your phone to use offline when you’re traveling and don’t have data. You can use Google Maps to do this.
If you are looking to have wifi while travelling, you might have to consider getting an e-sim which will make sure that you stay connected anywhere you go!
Travel Safety Tips: At your destination
#13. Be a little Skeptical
Meeting like minded people during our travels, it is amazing and sometimes you make life long friends. However, be a little skeptical when it comes to the people you are meeting, because let’s face it, you don’t know them.
Don’t completely let your guard down from the jump , you don’t really know these people enough to know if you can trust them, so be wary.
Don’t just trust them with your belongings quickly, and leave your things with them. Don’t get super comfortable with someone too quickly, because thieves and scammers are good at making you feel comfortable enough to let your guard down.
If you do meet people that you think are new friends, they need to earn your trust and that takes time. Don’t open yourself to being scammed or stolen from early on. Don’t leave your belongings to strangers and be cautious with the information that you share about your travels and itinerary.
By all means make new friends, have fun but never make the mistake of trusting too quickly.
#14. Watch your drinks and never leave them unattended
Never ever leave your drinks unattended, in any situation, especially when travelling.
I am sure you have heard stories of people having their drinks spiked, and taken advantage of. So when you are out having fun, when you are not watching your drinks, it is easy for someone to put drugs or a pill inside your drinks undetected.
This also means being super careful about someone offering you a drink, or buying you a drink. Make sure it’s a brand new drink, being poured out from a bottle that you watched being open.
People tend to let their guard down in a social setting, especially when alcohol is involved, so make sure you are aware of that, and that your drinks and food are being watched.
This also includes your belongings, watch your drinks and your belongings at all times, and if you can’t, get someone who you trust to do it.
#15. Flashy jewellery or showing off your wealth is a no-no
A lot of things can happen while travelling, and when you have flashy jewellery, try not to be flashy with it or show your wealth. Flashy belongings can make you a target, and depending on where you are travelling to, sometimes it is just better to blend in than stand out, than be a target.
For example in South Africa, with places that are poor and people that are hungry, it sucks to be walking around looking flashy and rich, when some people can barely buy a loaf of bread for their children. And for that reason, people are going to want what you have, and some will do what they have to, to get it including threatening you with a weapon.
Also, with your drip, you can expect to be charged more for whatever you are trying to buy.
In a country like Mozambique for example, where the police are always looking for bribes, you can better believe they will expect you to have more money, so they can get more.
Just blend like everyone else, and don’t attract that kind of attention to yourself.
#16. Know what to eat and drink
Food poisoning is a thing, so be sure to be careful.
One of the amazing things about travelling is experimenting with the different foods, but that can come with risks. When I visited Thailand back in 2018, one of the markets had the weirdest food, they even had cockroaches. And as much as I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and eat weird stuff, I just couldn’t bring myself to eat some of the things.
So, definitely experiment, but the last thing you want is to eat or drink something too unfamiliar for your tummy.
And in countries like Thailand and Mozambique, and I imagine even more countries, you cannot drink their tap water. So make sure that you plan for this and find a way to stay hydrated in a way that’s not going to drain your pocket.
Street food is amazing, but make sure it is prepared real time, than food that has been sitting for a while.
#17. Be Observant
When it comes down to it, it’s really all about being aware of your surroundings and seeing who is around you and what is going on.
Don’t be super occupied and distracted to miss what’s going on, because that will open the door for a scammer or a thief to come at you.
Be vigilant, be aware of where you are and who is around you and look where you are going and who is behind you at all times.
Travelling is amazing, and it is definitely one of the things that everyone should do in their lifetime. There is so much beauty in the world that needs to be explored, and travelling makes you learn so much about yourself, your partner (if you are travelling with one ) .
In the same token, there are people out there who are thorns, and who just want to take advantage of other people and gain from them. That can deter you from not wanting to, but don’t be deterred.
It’s an absolutely amazing experience that you definitely want to do, just be cautious. I hope these tips will help be aware of what could be out there, and what you can do to better prepare yourself.
