Tips for Safe RTW Travel

***The safety tips below are not meant to scare you away from, but are a reality of long term travel, that we’ve directly or indirectly encountered. We want our fellow travelers to be safe and proactive, rather than be clueless and frantically reactive. Good things happen 90% of the time. Most third world countries think the US is a dangerous place, so take our suggestions for what they are; a simple ‘heads up’….now go forth and have a blast!***

1. Plan about three months out and get fit. Get your ass in the gym or the great outdoors and train like an athlete for your life on the road. Get in good physical shape, if not the best shape in your life, before leaving on an extended backpacking journey. You will have richer experiences when you are not limited by your physical conditioning. You will also be chasing down mass transit often, so work on your wind-sprints! We had to chase down a very punctual train in Germany, with backpacks and clunky hiking boots on. We didn’t make it and lost half a day at listening to elevator music at the station. Your immune system will be stronger, so you will be sick less often, and you will be able to handle stress better. Most importantly, your body will respond more efficiently, if you do end up needing to physically defend yourself or flee from an attacker. Which brings us to…
2. Enroll in a reality based self-defense course or bootcamp! Skip the fancy traditional martial arts (Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Kung-fu) unless you are preparing for your trip 3 years in advance, or you plan to be in a Jackie Chan movie. Find official Krav Maga or Jeet Kune Do schools in your area, and show up to practice daily! We’ve met more than a few people in our travels that have been victims of strong-arm crime, so it’s good to be proactive.
3. That being said, if you find yourself at the wrong end of a knife or gun, and the perp’s asking for your wallet, use your common sense and give the wallet to him! AVOID A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!
4. Notice that I said “AVOID A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION IF AT ALL POSSIBLE,” instead of “at all costs”. IF the perp’s making you go with him to another location, you need to ACT IMMEDIATELY AND ESCAPE THE SITUATION, if you are trained or not. You do not want to be taken to “crime scene #2″; ie. a basement where bad things happen. Better to be shot in a relatively public area. Kick, punch, scratch, and scream your way to safety, making as much noise and attracting as much attention as possible! Once you have a chance to escape, run away as fast, loud, and far as possible to safety.
5. Carry a high-powered self-defense flashlight, like the SureFire E2D Defender. It could be used to temporarily blind your attacker, buying you valuable escape time, and its Strike Bezel tip can be used as a weapon. It is easy to deploy, isn’t affected by wind direction, or shelf-life, making it a better option then mace. I have also been able to leave it in my carry-on luggage while flying.
6. Join couchsurfing.com, and communicate with couchsurfers in the city. They will tell you what areas to avoid, and maybe even give you a tour of their city! It’s always good to have a local lifeline wherever you wind up.
7. When getting on public transport (buses, trains, taxis), ALWAYS be mindful where your backpack/ luggage is at all times! Most train/bus lines want you to store your backpacks in the mass luggage space under the bus. Some train/ bus lines check for tickets to retrieve your luggage at the end of the trip, but not all of them do. If you do end up on ones that don’t, you might want to wait until just before departure to check your luggage, and be the first in line to retrieve it upon arrival. Do not leave your carry-ons unattended; proximity means nothing to a professional thief. We’ve met two travelers that got their daypacks with their most valuable possessions stolen while they were asleep on night buses. Always at least hook your arm through the straps of your daypacks, and lay a jacket over it , before drifting off to sleep. Keep an eye out for your fellow passengers at every stop. Some locals ride buses to make off with tourists’ backpacks.
8. When you are eating in a restaurant, or typing away at an internet cafe, always loop the straps of your daypack through one of the legs of your chair. There are many grab-and-run type crimes, where thieves will work in pairs. One would distract you while the other makes off with your daypack. We had our daypack snatched in Cuenca, Ecuador this way.
9. Do not get drunk by yourself!
10. Always carry your hotel/ hostel business card with you to show taxi drivers. If you are lucky enough to be hosted by a local, have them write out their full address, with the nearest landmark or cross street, in the native language.
11. ALWAYS look both ways before crossing the road! Drivers in other countries view traffic lights and signs as mere suggestions.

***This is a growing list! When we learn more, we’ll post more, so check back from time to time! Feel free to add some of your experiences and suggestions to our list, in the comment box below. ***