European Safety
Safety is a top concern no matter where you are. It doesn’t matter if you are traveling the world or visiting your local grocery store. Keeping yourself and your loved ones safe is always on your mind. It will be especially prevalent when you are traveling somewhere for the first time. Here are some tips to keep in mind while traveling to Europe.
Have a neck or waist wallet. Although violent crime is relatively low throughout Europe, pick pocketing and petty theft remain concerns, especially in big cities. A neck or waist wallet is a good way to deter this from happening to you. This is a good example of what I am referring to.
Be aware of your surroundings. You are in a new place and more than likely you are going to be around a crowd of people. It is very important for you to remain conscious of your surroundings and aware of your belongings. Keep your waist or neck wallet in front of you or your purse/bag under your arm. If you are seated, try to loop a piece of your bag around your leg or anther stationary object. If there is a commotion/disturbance near you, be vigilant- sometimes thieves will use this time to swoop in and steal unattended belongings.
Make copies. While traveling, it is always a good idea to make copies or take pictures of your important belongings like your passport, license, insurance cards, tickets, etc just in case. If you were to lose any or all of these, having copies of them can help you tremendously. If you plan to bring/wear any expensive jewelry or watches, take a picture of them. Keep the copies/pictures in a separate place from the originals.
Enroll in STEP. STEP stands for Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. This is a free service which allows US citizens to register their trip with the US Embassy in the country to which they are traveling. Enrolling in STEP will allow you to receive important information about the countries you are traveling to in order to help you make informed decisions. It also helps the US embassy or friends/family get in contact with you in an emergency.
We also highly recommend visiting the travel website offered through the US government. This will have up to date information on travel to all countries. It also provides information regarding any required visas, passport requirements, vaccinations, medical requirements, etc. It is a wealth of information.
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