Staying safe on the road – tips to travel safe in 2025
My mum (love her) is risk averse (that’s putting it gently) and whether I am simply running across the street to buy milk or I travel 10 time zones away she is always reminding me to be careful. I know it’s a sign of care, and to show her I care too, I make sure to take my safety seriously and I make smart choices that help me travel safe.
There might still be some things that you tell your mum about after you survive, just to keep her from going grey to quickly… Really, safe travel is simple – it’s about about being careful and mitigating risks where you can so that you can explore the world and adventure with confidence. Here are some things you can do to make sure you are travelling safe and your belongings stay secure while on the road.
Just be sure to ask yourself on occasion, what would my mother say about this?
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SAFETY TIP NO. 1 – Insure Yourself
Cover your butt and don’t Skimp, either!
I’m sure I am not the first and I hope I won’t be the last to tell you that travel insurance is a travel essential. It will offer you protection in case of unexpected events, which by nature, you cannot predict or plan for. Whether you have a medical emergency; have lost, damaged, or stolen belongings; or unexpected travel delays, your insurance will support you and help with some of the hefty out-of-pocket expenses if things go wrong.
In my travels I have filed a claim a grand total of… 0 times – which I am very happy to report. It is one of those things that adds a layer of safety as you travel whether you need it or not. Now, you might think I am just going away for a couple weeks or for spring break, do I really need travel insurance? And the answer is still a big ol’ yes.
TRAVEL INSURANCE OPTIONS
The insurance I use is Safety Wing, which is designed specifically for digital nomads & long term travellers, but I use it even for short stays abroad. It is extremely flexible, reasonably priced, and offers fairly robust coverage what I need. Some things to consider with your insurance are: What is the excess? Will it allow you to add countries if your plans change? Will it cover you for extreme sports or activities (like bungee jumping, motorbiking, surfing, etc.) or can you add additional coverage for that? Can you extend your trip past the original end date?
If you are looking for something different, or more extensive you can review some other companies is the travel insurance game. Hey Mondo, World Nomads, or your existing travel credit card are some other places to get travel insurance. You also can check out InsureMyTrip as a resource for comparing plans and prices so you can get the right insurance for you.
SAFETY TIP NO. 2 – Dress with Awareness
wear your confidence and your respect
Wear whatever makes you feel good (you want cute pics, obviously), but be aware that how you dress could make you stand out from the locals and make you a target for scams, pickpockets, or worse. Depending on the spaces you find yourself in, you may just look out of place (jorts in Rome in the fall) or you may be denied entry (jorts in the Sistine Chapel).
It is important to be aware of where you’re going and how you dress will be received. If you’re going to the beach, dress like you’re going to the beach, and if you’re visiting a mosque, dress like your visiting a mosque. It is as simple as dressing with awareness of where you’re going and with respect for the local, cultural, and religious customs.
Another thing to think about is the jewellery you wear and if it will attract unnecessary attention. You don’t necessarily have to go without accessorizing – I wear my simple jewellery all the time and have never had an issue, but I’m also not dripping in diamonds or wearable tech. It is definitely worth considering leaving any of your expensive jewels or sentimental heirlooms at home.
Move with Purpose
The other thing to always wear is your confidence. Walking with purpose can help keep you safe while travelling. If you are walking around with the confidence of someone strong, who knows the area, you become less of an obvious target for those with bad intentions. Some things you can do to help keep yourself safe:
- Look up your route before you're already standing on the street.
- Take glances at you map as you walk rather than holding you phone out like a compass the whole time.
- Walk on the main roads with more businesses and people, especially after dark.
- Cross the street if there is someone you don't want to risk engaging with.
- Trust your gut if it is telling you it's getting sketchy and make choices to find your easiest path out/away, including turning around to get back to where you felt safer.
- Wear only one of your headphones so you can hear the environment around you.List Item #3
SAFETY TIP NO. 3 – hold on to your belongings
Keep your friends close and your things closer
It doesn’t matter if is your bags, your cash, or your passport…you don’t want to lose any of your things while travelling. It is important to keep your belongings securely with you or securely stashed away. I’ve always got one hand on my things.
“Attenzione borseggiatrici, attenzione pickpocket!”
From all the TikToks it can feel as if pickpockets are getting bolder and snatching phones left and right so here are a couple things you can do to avoid falling victim.
- Carry a reliable bag (anti-theft bag or just a simple cross body) that is harder to steal from and actually secure it shut! I lost my headphone case in Austin by bending over to tie my shoe with an unzipped purse... Don't be like me.
- Use your front pockets. Back pockets are easier for pickpockets to access and are out of your view.
- Watch where you put your things. Avoid leaving your phone exposed on the table top where it is easy to snatch, and loop the strap of your bag around your leg or under foot of the chair.
- Stay alert in crowded spots. On busy public transit or around major tourist attractions make sure to keep your bag in your sights, and be cautious of people bumping into you or causing distractions.
Like all the girlies, I always carry the uniqlo round mini shoulder bag. A canvas tote bags can also be a good option if you have more to carry since they don’t look valuable and the bag opening sits securely in your armpit. Of course, you could also carry an anti-theft bag with locking zips and slash-resistant straps.
Money
ATMs can be a prime target for thieves so it is important to take care when taking out cash. Try to find ATMs that are connected to reputable banking institutions. I especially like ones that are in populated areas, but where I can enter the building an not be directly on the street.
- Take out your cash during daylight hours and make sure nobody is specifically watching you.
- Keep your cards from being compromised or eaten by checking the integrity of the ATM before you use it. Make sure it looks legitimate and that is has not been tampered with.
- If you are taking out a large amount of money, don't walk around all day with it all in your wallet. Go back to your hotel and store it securely in your bags.
- Carry a decoy wallet with a very minimal amount of cash for if you are ever confronted and have to hand it over. You can also wear a discrete money belt under your clothes if you are carrying a lot of cash and are concerned about the risk of having it all in one place.
Luggage
Throw an airtag (or other tracker) in your suitcase or backpack so that you can track it’s location. This is useful in far more scenarios than just if an airline loses your luggage. It nice to have a way to check on your bag if you have to leave your things in a communal luggage storage room after checkout, or if it has to go in the baggage hold below or on the roof of a bus where it will be out of your sights.
- Use a TSA approved padlock or the built in zipper lock on you suitcase or backpack. It is an easy way to secure the contents of your case and deter prying hands.
- While staying in a hostel, make sure to put your belongings in the available lockers, and secure them with a lock. If your bag is too big for the locker, still use the locker to securely store your valuables (any tech, your passport, and your cash or cards).
- If you like to have personalized luggage tags put only minimal personal information. Enough to identify it is yours but refrain from putting your full name and home address on the front for everyone to see.
SAFETY TIP NO. 4 – plan for a safe time
It all starts with step 1
Keeping yourself safe actually starts with your preparedness before you even leave home. As you’re making destination decisions it is important to consider the safety situation of those locations. Before you book anything, spend a little bit of time looking up travel and health advisories, scams that target tourists, and risky areas to avoid.
Check out your government’s travel advisories but if you feel there is still opportunity to travel to a country safely don’t feel held back by their warnings. The advisories are there to inform you of the all the legitimate problems that could arise in a given country, but they are not necessarily realistic in day to day.
Would you really expect the Canadian government to suggest you exercise the same high degree of caution in both the Netherlands and Namibia? Probably not, but that is currently the case. It’s important to read and understand the potential risks, but don’t let it stop you from having incredible travel experiences in Namibia or the Netherlands!
LAND WITH A PLAN
It’s all fun to have flexible plans and figure things out as you go, but a surefire way to find yourself is tricky situations is to arrive somewhere after a long travel day where you don’t speak the language and have nowhere to stay. You put yourself in a position to get ripped off or taken advantage of.
Do yourself a favour and simply book you first few nights and land knowing how you intend to get from the airport or the transit station to your accommodation. Once you have a better sense of the place you can make more informed choices.
Travelling can be expensive and we’re all trying to stick to a reasonable budget, but from time to time it pays to pay and prioritize your travel safety.
- If you arrive late at night make the choice to take a taxi or Uber, arranging private transfer, or even a stay in an airport hotel.
- Join group tours if you aren't confident about visiting somewhere independently.
These choices might spike the budget a bit but it will ultimately keep you safer in your travels and it takes the hassle out of the navigating and negotiating.
SAFETY TIP NO. 5 – Tell your people about your plans
Telling your family or friends about your plans is a simple way to add a layer of safety and can add some peace of mind.
THINGS TO TELL THEM:
- Your current location and your next destination.
- If you think your planned transport for your route could be a bit sketch.
- If you're going somewhere where you expect there to be limited or no service.
- If you're going hiking or chasing waterfalls, especially if you're solo.
A simple way to keep folks updated is with Find My Friend or another location tracker app like Family360. They can check in on you without actually having to ask you where you are. This definitely is the most valuable thing to my mum – even if she did think I was dead and dragged out to the mountains while I was hiking in Madeira… A quick call can prove I’m still breathing!
Don't talk to strangers
I know, I know… this entire blog is created on the premise that while travelling you talk to others and share tips and get reccos! I clearly don’t actually mean not to talk to any strangers while you’re travelling – it can be incredibly fulfilling meeting new people, whether they are locals or other travellers. See exhibit A.
What I mean when I say don’t talk to strangers is to be aware of who you’re telling information about yourself to, and in what context. This awareness is extra important if you’re solo travelling.
Have a few false details ready to give to random strangers you don’t wish to get to know, if they start asking. When I am solo travelling, I tell the randos that name Mel, and usually I’m actually headed home the next day. I don’t say where I am from but I have a backup city I used to live in and know well if they push for more.
Be cautious about sharing your exact travel plans on social media or give too many details about your exact whereabouts. Wait until you’ve moved on from a place or keep it broad.
SAFETY TIP NO. 6 – STAY HEALTHY
Don't eat the yellow snow
Staying healthy is the ideal, obviously nobody wants to get food poisoning or heat stroke and have it ruin your plans. There are a few easy things that will keep you good as gold.
Stay hydrated. Long travel journeys, hot weather, and big physical adventures can lead to dehydration. Make sure you’re drinking enough water.
Drink clean water. Not all tap water (or ice!) is safe to consume and can vary between regions within a country so it is best to check online as you arrive in each of your destinations. If you determine you shouldn’t drink tap water you can bring a water purifier or buy a single multi-gallon plastic bottle to fill your reusable bottle up from.
Choose reliable food. Eating at restaurants or street food stands that appear to have good cleanliness, or better yet, that have lots of locals chowing down is your best bet. Heat kills germs so hot meals that are coming right to you after being prepared are better options than raw food like salads. Don’t let your fear of food poisoning stop you from trying the delicious street foods and local cuisines.
Drink responsibly. Believe me, I know how inviting it is to drink a bunch of cheap beers while lounging on the beach, but drinking too much alcohol can affect your judgment and alertness and make you more vulnerable to getting into risky situations, while in unfamiliar places.
Protect yourself from the sun. Not all safety is about what you consume. Wearing a hat, sunglasses, and covering up, finding shade throughout the day, and applying sunscreen can keep you safe from too much sun exposure. Also remember that the sun is can be stronger than it is at home.
Get enough rest. As much as you want to go go go while travelling, it is important to get at least some decent rest to counteract jet lag and support your immune system.
Happy trip planning!
From one traveller to another, I hope this helped give you tips and tools on how to keep yourself safe while travelling. The world is big and full of unknowns that may scare you but it is also so full of goodness. Truly! If you make smart choices and follow these tips you can travel safely and experience the full magic of the world!
If you read through all these safety tips and are still feeling nervous about travelling… fear not because I can still help! I have a personalized trip planning and advice service available to all Everywhere Travel Club readers. I’d be happy to chat for an hour with you and help answer any concerns you’re worried about to help get you out there travelling – safely of course! For more info about the one-on-one call for advice check out the details of my Personalized Travel Planning Sesh.
Let me know what you think about this guide or if it helped you – I’d love to hear from you! You can find me everywhere on the Everywhere Travel Club Instagram, TikTok or Twitter!