Let me save you the suspense and say that, no, traveling in general is not any less safe than if you didn’t go anywhere at all.
Of course, this depends on a few things. If you travel to Iraq, then that would definitely be considered more dangerous than staying home.
And if you are into extreme sports, like bungee jumping, then that could be considered more dangerous than watching Netflix. I hope if you do that, your relatives have a wrongful death lawyer like Lamber Goodnow on speed dial.
There are ways to get into some trouble abroad, so if you want your vacation to be safe, then avoid some of the things below.
Getting into a fight
This seems like a fairly easy one to avoid, and most people are successful at coming back from a vacation without fisticuffs. But, when there is alcohol around, you never know what could happen.
It also depends on how you interact with the locals. If you are off the beaten tourist path and maybe in an area that is rough around the edges, keep a low profile and be respectful.
If you are the type that gets a little aggressive when drinking, then try to limit yourself to a beer or a glass of wine and then move on. Hanging at the local until the see hours may not end well if your aggressive side makes an appearance.
Also, make sure you have good travel insurance if you are one that seems to always find trouble!
Scams
Travel scams are rampant the closer you get to touristy areas. Though this doesn’t fall into dangerous territory, you do want to avoid common scam areas.
Some popular scams are people dressing as police officers and fining you for little things. They may ask you for money for littering if you drop a piece of paper, or ask for a receipt from a shop where you bought something and fine you when you can’t produce one.
Obviously these are not real police and you should ask for ID or to talk to their superior before handing over any cash. They will leave you alone quickly after that.
If somebody says you dropped some money, then keep walking. This is a common scam where they then accuse you of stealing their money if you pick it up. If you see roaming gangs of kids that are accosting tourists then hold onto your wallet. It is a distraction so somebody can pick pocket you.
Check your destination with the State Department
Before you leave, you should see if there is a travel advisory on the State Department site. They are aware when things get dangerous for tourists and will advise you to avoid travel there.
Take some of the warnings with a grain of salt as there may be dangerous areas of a country where tourists don’t go anyway. South Side Chicago is not exactly on anybody’s tourist radar, but the violence there wouldn’t stop somebody from coming to the US.
