I have traveled solo a lot compared to most of my friends and almost all of my family, and so far I have never been pick-pocketed, mugged, or otherwise (thank goodness!). I'm sure that part of the reason stems from how I behave when I travel.
Simply put, I strive to look like I belong and to not stand out as a tourist. Here are a few tips that have served me well so far, as well as questions I've been asked about how I conduct myself when traveling:
You don't need a money belt
I don't wear a money belt or any other sort of hidden pouch or bag or anything to protect my money or ID. Instead, I carry the minimum necessary for wherever I am going, carry cash in two places, and am conscious of where my wallet and passport are on my body or in my bag at all times.
One of the reasons I don't use a money belt or pouch is simply that you will identify yourself as a tourist every single time you need to dip into it. There's no way to get into one of these without awkwardly reaching under or into your shirt and drawing attention to yourself. Here's what I do instead:
Before I leave home, I empty my wallet and only take the documents and cards I think I'll need for my trip: my passport and travel documents, some cash (maybe $40) in US dollars to use at the airport on departure and return when I travel internationally, one debit card, one credit card, and my driver's license. I also photocopy my passport and travel documents (or print my travel documents) and carry the copies separately from my actual passport and documents (if the originals are in my wallet, pocket or purse, the copies are in a backpack or carry on bag -- NEVER in checked bags!).
Upon arrival at my destination, I find an ATM at the airport (often, the exchange rate is better than if you use a money exchange) and immediately withdraw enough cash to get me through the first two days, including enough to cover:
- cab or public transportation to my accomodations
- enough for a snack at the airport if I'm hungry or thirsty
- enough for a meal at a cafe or restaraunt near where I'm staying
- enough for some basic groceries
Depending on where I'm traveling to, I will either carry my cash and wallet the same way I do at home, or I will split my cash between my wallet and a pocket and I'll walk with one hand partially in my pocket and the other on the strap of my bag or purse. It really depends on the the area's reputation for pick-pockets, muggings, and so on, but ultimately, I strive for a casual yet comfortable and confident posture while staying aware of my surroundings and my immediate personal space.
I generally don't stay in hotels and don't need to worry about leaving my money or other items in my room as I choose single apartment accomodations through sites like AirBnB where no one else will be entering my space (no other tourists, not my host, no housekeepers, etc). As such, I leave most of what's in my wallet at my accomodation when I go out each day and put the rest in a little coin purse that fits easily in my front pocket, with a little cash tucked into my purse or backpack.
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| Carrying my cash and cards in a coin pouch -- I posted this to Facebook, asking my friends if I should spend my big bucks at Louis Vuitton (I did NOT). |
Practice good posture
Posture goes a long way towards giving others the impression that you have confidence and belong. The first time I visited New York City, I have to admit I was scared based on stories I'd heard about the city and thanks to a lot of well intentioned friends and family telling me not to go for fear that I'd be mugged or worse. However, my uncle, a world traveller since his teenage years, encouraged me to go and to stand up tall and to pretend I belonged there, even if I didn't feel that in my heart. He was right.
Walk with confidence, back straight, shoulders back and strong, and head up. Act like you know exactly where you are going and what you are doing, even if that's not at all true. People who look alert and confident and like they belong are less likely to be targets.
During that first trip to New York, I was visit a friend who had lived there for six months and she was terrified of everything and it showed. When we walked around the city, she had her shoulders forward, her back rounded, and her head down. She didn't look at anyone and didn't talk to anyone because she was so scared of her surroundings. Several times during my one week visit, I was asked for directions and advice by tourists while she was ignored, jostled by crowds, and asked where she was visiting from. Oh, and while she was being jostled and bumped by other pedestrians, I rarely was -- I'm sure the difference relates to posture. When you are upright and look confident, people seem much more likely to walk around you rather than to bump into you as they go by; plus, you see them coming and can adjust and move if they aren't paying attention.
Pay attention to your wardrobe
Before you start packing, take a moment to look up where you are going and look at images of the location. Specifically, look at what people are wearing and consider looking up fashion trends for the locale. Pinterest is great, but so are travel blogs, the images feature on Google, and so on. If you have simple clothes that look similar enough, you won't be totally obvious as a tourist. Contrast that with the person that wears ripstop and wrinkle-free everything, cargo pants and shirts, pockets upon pockets, and bucket hats. Nothing against those people and their choices of wardrobe, but they might as well walk around with a sign that says, "I'm a tourist."
As one example from my travels, I recently went to Paris and I did NOT take any blue jeans after not seeing women wearing them in most of the images and blogs I looked at before my trip. And, it turned out that 90% of the women I enountered in blue jeans were tourists or didn't live within Paris. Instead, I wore dark trousers (two pairs were styled and fit like jeans), solid color tops, a scarf, and flats. In terms of my fashion, I blended in pretty well (as soon as I opened my mouth it was a totally different story!). Things like jeans and tennis shoes may seem like small details, but they stand out to me every time I leave the United States.
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| I wore this several times in Paris -- a tunic style top with cowl neck purchased in Nashville, TN, dark brown skinny leg cords from J. Jill, and pink flats from Rothy's. |
A key part of travel though, should always be comfortable shoes. If my travel will be mostly in cities, I pack two pairs of Rothy's flats. They are comfortable, lightweight, and take up virtually no space in your luggage. Plus, they are washable so you can clean them up if they get dirty! I love these for walking and exploring and my feet never feel tired afterwards. That said, they don't have arch support so you'll have to consider if you need or want inserts. You can get $20 off your first pair with THIS link (I'll get $20 towards my next purchase too).
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