Travel safety tips

Travel safety tips

Summary

Stay safe while travelling. Tourists make easy targets for thieves because they stand out in a crowd, carry money and valuables, and are unused to their surroundings.You can reduce your risk of being robbed by taking a few simple precautions.

Unwary tourists can make easy targets for thieves because they stand out in a crowd, are unused to their surroundings,and are generally carrying money, credit cards and valuables like cameras. You can reduce your risk of being mugged or robbed by taking a few simple precautions. It is a good idea to research thesafety of your intended destination with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This government department keeps an updated bulletin on travel destinations, covering factors such as political unrestor criminal activities that target tourists. You could also consult with your travel agent, or talk to friends who have already visited your intended destination.

General safety suggestionsSuggestions include:
• Keep your travel plans, including accommodation details, to yourself.
• Don't hitch hike.
• Try not to travel at night.
• Avoid 'seedier' areas of the cities youvisit, especially at night.
• Ask your hotel manager for advice on 'safe' versus 'unsafe' local areas.
• As a general rule, city streets that include children and women suggest the area issafe for families.
• Carry with you at all times the contact details of the Australian embassy. If your city doesn't have an Australian embassy, find out which other country's embassy is availableto help you, such as the British embassy.
• Keep a photocopy of your passport and all other important documents in a safe place.
• Use ATMs during the day, when there are people around.• Try to rely more on credit cards and travellers cheques than cash.
• If you are mugged, don't fight back. It is better to lose a few dollars and a wristwatch than get injured.
• Avoid...