Safety Travel Tips

[Albert Fredrik]

Travel safety

Suggestions 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 you visit, 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 is safe 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 available to help you, such as the British embassy.
• Keep a photocopy of your passport and all other important documents in a safe place.
• Use ATM's during the day, when there are people around.
• Try to rely more on credit cards and travelers 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 incidents such as fights, riots or civil disturbances at all times.

Transport safety

Suggestions include:

• At the airport, watch for your suitcase as it appears on the carousel. Don't hang back and wait for the crowds to disperse - you might find that someone else has already taken your bag in the meantime.
• Avoid changing money at airports, as thieves could be watching you.
• Consult with your hotel manager or tourist information center about the public transport in your area. Make sure you know what official taxi cabs look like. A thief may pose as a taxi driver to lure you into their car.
• Don't share taxis with strangers.
• Carjacking is a problem in some cities. When driving, keep all doors locked and windows up. Make sure your boot is locked too.

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