Stop Asking: Is it safe to travel to…
It might seem downright idiotic for someone like me to say something so provocative. First: who am I? I’m a frequent solo traveler somewhere north of 35 who sees the question of safe travel asked all the time. I’ve even asked it myself!
In Facebook travel groups or in discussions amongst travelers, it’s one of the most common inquiries I see. Is [insert destination] safe?
Let me explain why on earth I would suggest one stop asking that question. Certainly safety while traveling is important, right? Aaaaabsolutely! The problem comes with the inherent vagueness of that question. Most often, people are asking for reasons of personal safety while traveling. They (or a loved one) worry over being robbed, assaulted, or worse. Those are absolutely understandable concerns, but not the only safety concerns while traveling.
In my experience though, asking this question without detail (especially in large groups) often results in unhelpful chaos. It becomes a virtual room filled with arguments and invalidating defenses. Not to mention some pretty ugly generalization often get tossed about like cheap confetti.
Feeling Unsafe vs Being Unsafe
Currently I live in Rome, and I’ve heard feedback on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Many people (like me) come here and feel “totally” safe, while others (almost always women) say it’s one of the least safe-feeling cities they’ve ever visited. While feeling unsafe should definitely be listened to, this is often impacted by prior experience.
If you’ve mostly spent time living or traveling in small, quiet areas, “reading” the bustle of large urban centers can be a challenge. I’m accustomed to the latter, so something that doesn’t even ping my radar can seem woefully worrisome to the former.
Feeling unsafe can also can also be a cultural differences issue, not to be confused with abusive or harassing behavior.
Same goes for outdoorsy endeavors: if you rarely venture beyond civilization, being in the wilderness at all can feel unsafe. Even if you are expereinced in the great outdoors, a vastly different environment can have you feeling like a novice all over again. Being well prepared and following signs will eliminate many dangers that could otherwise end with you ending up a news headline.
So what gives? How can you know if the advice you’re getting is not just real but unbiased? What is the difference between feeling safe and actually being safe? Here my friend is the rub, and the extra effort you’ll need to put in to get an accurate and relevant-to-you answer.
How to Ask if it’s Safe to Travel Somewhere
Let’s break it down. When you ask this question, first consider who you are asking this of. How much experience does the person answering have, especially with travel to the place you’re asking about. Have they been before? How recently? How much time have they spent there?
Someone who has visited a particular destination repeatedly will be able to provide more well rounded advice than someone who hasn’t ever been or just had a single brief visit several years back.
Are they like you? Meaning: similar age, apparent gender, travel style, race, level of experience in travel, and risk tolerance. Unfortunately we wish some of these specifics didn’t matter, but nonetheless they are relevant. A person who appears vulnerable or stands out will almost always attract extra attention, for better or worse. There may also be cultural or social details unique to a destination to help you either avoid sketchy situations, or determine the true seriousness of a risk.
Most importantly: if the person giving advice has never been anywhere near that place (or worse, lacks travel experience altogether), you’re almost certainly better off not listening. So many times I’ve seen people give terrible advice — either buying into ugly stereotypes or not understanding particular risks — with zero real world experience to back it up.
The Importance of Being Specific
Asking Other People
Be specific too about your travel safety concerns. Are you worried about petty crime, violent crime, snakes, scams, corruption … it’s a long list. A place can have a low rate of violent crime but still have other safety concerns. On top of that, your particular travel style can make you more or less vulnerable to certain safety factors.
So be specific about your primary concerns and include details about your travel style or particulars.
When you are specific, you dramatically increase the odds of the most helpful answer. Notice I don’t say right. Because someone with low risk tolerance can look at all the information and deem a place unsafe while another will end up feeling reassured.
Asking a Search Engine
If you’re not asking the question of other humans but a search engine, be specific in your queries as well. Looking for general statistics (look at per capita rates not straight numbers) can help quell concerns about categories of crime.
Don’t get caught up in statistics, as there could be additional factors, such as gang or sectarian violence that is contained to specific areas. Know what those areas are and make a point of avoiding them.
Since statistics don’t always provide the full picture, keep digging. Look for blogs where the writer has ample experience with a particular destination or travel style. As you read through you can get a sense of the writer: what their experience level is as well as their travel style and individual risk factors. If they line up with yours, even better.
I’m in no place to give specific travel advice about, say Chile, because I’ve never been there. But I can definitely advise you on general solo travel, hiking solo, travel in the US and Europe, and various practical safety matters. A blogger’s socials can be useful as they will often share quick tips and current information about a destination.
12 Top Travel Safety Tips
As a baseline, here are 12 solid travel safety tips that apply pretty much anywhere you go in the world. Combined with carefully filtered advice using the methods above, you’ll be in great shape to embark on your next travel adventure as safely as possible.
- Especially when traveling solo, but even if not, make sure someone back home that is reliable knows your plans. Where you plan to go, where you’ll be staying, and what your major travel dates/routes are. Check in with them on an agreed upon schedule: daily, weekly, etc. Be sure to tell them if plans change or you’ll be unreachable for a period. This way they know when to worry and possibly contact local authorities or your travel companions.
- Have secure backups of your most important documents and information: passport, visas, credit card details, confirmation codes, etc so that if your physical copies are lost or stolen you’re not scrambling for the info. I keep mine secured in the cloud but also give copies to a trusted family member.
- Keep at least one card and some cash separate from the rest. That way if your wallet is lost/stolen you still have access to money while it’s resolved.
- Find out where the not-so-great parts of town are and familiarize yourself with the city/area as quickly as possible. If you wind up sans-GPS you won’t be totally lost. You can also download offline maps on Google or Gaia (I use this for hiking) — just don’t be 100% dependent on that either. If you something happens to your phone you’re still SOL.
- Again, especially if solo, keep your wits about you. Pay attention, walk with a bit of purpose and confidence. Be careful walking around with headphones in, walking poorly lit or deserted streets, or getting too drunk when out and about. Memorize the address of where you are staying in case you must take a cab or get directions. If you’re unsure or feel unsafe, try to duck into a populated area, shop, or restaurant as soon as possible.
- Don’t give out too much info too quickly to people you meet. I like to operate by assuming the best but remain cautious. Be vague. What area are you staying in? Not far. Are you alone? I’m meeting a friend/cousin/brother later. In some cultures it’s not abnormal to ask lots of questions, but don’t feel obligated to answer. It’s better to risk accidental offense than give away information that could make you a target.
- Know the local emergency numbers, and if there is a branch of your country’s embassy it’s good to know where it is.
- Educate yourself on local laws or major faux-pas. No sense running into trouble (fair or not) because you are ill informed. Lack of knowledge about a law won’t get you out of trouble.
- Find out what local scams are common. Some are obvious but others are pretty clever and can trip up even seasoned travelers.
- Similarly, if you are out in nature heed warning signs. Don’t climb over railings or barriers. Just don’t do it. It’s pretty much always dangerous and definitely disrespectful. Learn about the local flora/fauna or natural phenomena — you don’t want to end up with bites, rashes, or falling into a crevasse. Do some research ahead — just because you hike at home doesn’t mean you can’t learn important information about a specific destination.
- Learn to listen to your gut. Even if you can’t put your finger on it, if something feels off, listen. The internet is filled with stories of people who couldn’t explain the why but did (or didn’t) listen, just to learn how right that initial instinct was.
- Invest in travel insurance. There are a number of reputable brands, and it rarely costs very much. Should you experience a medical emergency, become a victim of crime, or simply lose expensive items this can save a lot of stress. A small investment that if you’re lucky you won’t have to use, but if you do need it you’ll be very glad you have it.
There you have it. A primer on how to get specific and accurate information as to whether a travel destination is “safe”. Once you have the information, it is up to you to evaluate your risk tolerance. If you do this well in advance, it also gives you a chance to prepare or make appropriate changes to your travel plans. Even small changes can still allow you experience a destination while minimizing risk. Happy travels!
