Back: Overview
Stable political situation
Let’s start with the most obvious advice which might be less surprising: Don’t go to countries which are at war or civil war. Stay a where from countries where riots and civil commotions are about the break out. International airports are often the first things which are captured by rebels. You’re trip might become prolonged longer than you like.
Is the country you are planning to visit a top target for terrorists? In some countries hotels crowded by tourists are the preferred targets.
Don’t give bad guys a chance
The second most serious matter is crime. Within countries the crime rate may differ a lot. Usually big cities are more dangerous than rural areas. There might be as well significant differences between neighborhoods of a city or between day and nighttime.
But safety is not only a matter of statistical crime rate, it’s also a matter of you behavior. Relaxing during vacation is a great thing which we absolutely recommend. But don’t become careless. Would you leave your valuables in your house at home if it was locked by the lock securing your hotel room? No? So you better ask the hotel staff for the save. Sure this might cost you some extra bugs but it’s better spending them than being sorry latter on.
Thieves are lazy. Breaking into you house at home and packing together all the things they like to steal can be pretty hard work. So why not letting you do the job and wait for you at the airport or somewhere similar. Once you suitcase is unattended it’s easy to take-over all the stuff you carefully stored. Watch you suitcase. Don’t pack everything important in one suitcase. Store the most important things like money or credit cards in a neck pouch or a belt. Have a fallback plan ready. What would you do if all your personal documents and credit cards were gone? Have copies of your documents and the emergency numbers of your Credit Card Company ready. Of course, you have to keep them separately from the original cards. Perhaps you can as well use something like an online safe for the emergency numbers and the documents.