The 20 Most Dangerous Things You're Doing When Travelling

Discovering new countries and cultures is one of the great joys in life but let’s face it: being in unfamiliar surroundings makes you more vulnerable to criminals and situations that could, at the very least, put a damper on your trip. This doesn’t mean that you should give up on travel, though. Most travellers manage to complete their trips without any problems. The secret is to be sensible about your safety. If you’re doing any of the following things while travelling, you’re needlessly putting yourself in danger.

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Not being aware of your surroundings

In an unfamiliar place it’s extra important to be aware of what’s going on around you, so you can spot — and avoid — potential danger. Being engrossed in a map, book or your phone keeps your focus away from your surroundings and makes you a prime target for criminals.

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Getting very drunk

Of course you can have that cocktail on the beach or a cold beer with lunch but if you get completely wasted, you’re less able to spot potentially dangerous situations. To make things worse, alcohol clouds your judgement and makes you more likely to engage in risky behaviour.

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Leaving your drink unattended

There have been far too many cases of tourists getting raped and/or robbed after their drink was spiked. Be careful about accepting drinks from strangers, only drink what you’ve seen the bartender pour in front of you and keep your eye on your drink at all times.

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Walking alone in deserted spots

It’s a no-brainer that you shouldn’t walk alone after dark. However, going on a day hike by yourself also makes you more vulnerable to attack. If you want to climb that volcano or walk along that pristine beach, get a few friends to come with you.

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Having too much luggage

The more luggage you have, the more difficult it becomes to keep an eye on your belongings. It also makes it more difficult to get out of a dangerous situation quickly. Travel light and use a day pack when you go sightseeing.

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Not doing your research

If you don’t do a bit of research about your destination before your trip, you won’t know how to prepare. Find out about the areas to avoid, learn about the weather and read up on the political situation — create a checklist before you take off. Don’t ignore advice from locals either.

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Not speaking the language

Being able to speak the local language, even if it’s just the basics and even if you make lots of mistakes, can open doors for you. You’ll be able to get advice from locals and earn their respect, ask for help when you need it and blend in more easily. The tourist shouting at everyone in English stands out as a target for criminals.

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Flashing your money

Even if that wad of local currency is only a few dollars’ worth, to a person living in the country you’re visiting it may be equivalent to several months’ wages and it can become extra tempting to rob you. Be discreet with your money and try to pay for things with smaller bills so you don’t look like you’re flush with cash.

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Flashing your valuables

Just like you should be discreet with your money, you should be discreet with things like your expensive camera, jewellery, sunglasses and electronics. Flashing your valuables makes you seem rich and worth robbing.

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Not dressing modestly

If you’re walking down the street in beachwear while everyone else is covering up, you’ll stand out as a tourist. It can also cause offence to the local population if you’re showing off your bod when they dress conservatively — and it's important to be respectful of the local cultures.

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Not being aware of local customs

The people at your destination may not be doing things the way they’re done at home. Being loud and obnoxious is a no-no in most countries but if you don’t know the local customs at all, you may inadvertently cause offence and invite aggression.

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Thinking you can bribe officials

It’s true that corruption is rife in many places and that bribes can make things easier. However, more and more countries are trying to clamp down on corruption and won’t take kindly to tourists who try to buy their way out when they’ve broken the law.

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Buying and using drugs

Drugs, like alcohol, can cloud your judgement. Moreover, the drugs that are illegal at home are illegal almost everywhere else too and if you buy drugs, you’re breaking the law and putting yourself into direct contact with criminals who won’t think twice about doing you harm.

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Using ATMs anywhere other than in banks

Card skimming is a huge problem all around the world and if you’re far from home, it’s so much more difficult to call your bank and have your card blocked before your bank account gets emptied. The riskiest ATMs are those in isolated spots while the safest ones are inside banks and used during business hours.

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Being too trusting

The “don’t talk to strangers” rule is a little impractical if you’re travelling but be alert when you do interact with others. Don’t accept food or drinks from strangers, don’t give them your personal information and don’t go anywhere with them. Trust your gut and politely but firmly disengage from interaction with anyone who sets off alarm bells.

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Thinking you only need to be careful of the locals

Criminals aren’t just found amongst the local population. Some of your fellow travellers may be thieves or scam artists too (remember Brokedown Palace?), so lock away your belongings if you’re staying in shared accommodation, lock your hotel room and don’t entrust other travellers with your valuables (or let them put their things in your bags).

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Carrying all your valuables together

If you keep all your valuables together in just one place, you’ll lose everything when you get robbed. Keep some of your cash, important documents and expensive gadgets in your bag, some in your day pack and some hidden under your clothes. Having a decoy wallet is a good idea too.

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Not getting your shots

Travelling can expose you to all kinds of new diseases, some of which may be fatal. Many of these diseases are completely avoidable: all you need are the right vaccinations. Visit a travel clinic before your departure to get all the shots you need and get preventative medicines such as anti-malarial drugs.

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Thinking with your hormones

Be careful about thinking with your hormones instead of your head. Blindly hooking up with the randoms you meet on your travels leaves you open to robbery and violence, not to mention some nasty diseases.

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Renting motorbikes and riding around

While many places around the world use motorbikes as their main sources of transportation — and offer cheap rentals to tourists (sometimes without a license at all) — renting a motorbike to ride around may sound like fun, but it's risky. It's especially dangerous if you're an inexperienced rider — and even more dangerous if you plan on taking on a fellow travelling companion as a passenger. If you're adamant about riding, take the bike onto a quiet road or parking lot and practice before taking it out into local traffic. Road safety and traffic laws also vary.

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