“Why would you go there? … It’s not safe!”

[Ellen here, filling in for Marilyn as she heads to KENYA with WOW! Travel!]

Hands down, the most frequent comments I received when I announced I was traveling to Colombia, South America, were “be safe,” “be careful,” or “why would you want to go THERE?” I do understand their concern, especially if one has watched “Narcos” on Netflix (it’s what interested me in Colombia in the first place!) – it seemed like all of Colombia was a war zone! And it was – years ago – but not any more.

Colombia is somewhat new to the tourism game and, realizing the influx of income tourism generates, their government is focused on ensuring safety for tourists traveling to their country! They are all (citizens, included) working together to provide a safe, positive experience for travelers.

I walked around Bogota at night with two other US travelers (one male, one female). We wandered into a less-than-desirable neighborhood in which NO ONE spoke English (and none of us spoke more than Freshman Spanish!). While I was cautious and vigilant about my surroundings, I never once felt concerned for my safety. Everywhere we went there was a distinct police presence and people were friendly and helpful.

Often, we have an idea that we may experience some kind of harm due to rumors we’ve heard, what we assume, or what we hear from media sources. For instance, I traveled in India, UAE, and Morocco with other women and we NEVER – not once – received any questionable or uncomfortable comments, looks, or actions. NOT ONCE. Over and over I heard from my friends, “You’re so brave!” “Were you afraid?” “Did anything happen?” Not surprisingly, none of those friends had traveled to any of those countries!

Which leads to the ideas of assumptions and speculation. We assume possible harm or safety issues in a less touristy areas. On the other end of the spectrum, we are lulled into a sense of security and safety in a more well-traveled country. Of the few times our CEO/Founder/Traveler Extraordinaire, Marilyn, had issues, a couple of them happened in one of the most popular cities in Europe! 

Marilyn:

“Tuscany is on everyone’s bucket list. The treasures of Florence are almost too numerous to mention. Everyone has heard of the Statue of David, El Duomo, and Ponte Vecchio, but what’s not so well known are the uber-talented pickpockets. They’re bold and brazen.

Sometimes their presence is conspicuous: blatantly obvious “gypsies” who distract their target with some kind of diversion (shoving, spitting, falling, or fainting). When the target is preoccupied, an accomplice deftly rushes in and pilfers a bag or a wallet from the unsuspecting victim. I’ve had some clients who were victimized in this way. Others had something stolen while traveling on a crowded train or enjoying coffee at a busy cafe.

One other incident was truly masterful! Like many tourists do, a couple purchased an expensive gold necklace on the Ponte Vecchio bridge. They wisely returned to their hotel (the 5-star Excelsior), where they retrieved their beautiful tassled room key from the clerk at the reception desk, and went upstairs to store their souvenir in their room safe. That evening, as the guests were enjoying dinner, the chambermaid discovered that the couple’s room had been ransacked: drawers were opened, items were strewn about, and the safe – which had been bolted to the closet wall – was missing.

Obviously, the thieves had observed the purchase, tailed the guests to their hotel, heard them announce their room number to the desk clerk, and waited until they departed for the evening. Then they walked into the hotel (perhaps after a change in personnel at the front desk), announced the room number and were given the key. They skillfully unbolted the safe from the wall and wheeled it out the front door in the woman’s Louis Vuitton suitcase, no less!”

Often, in a popular tourist area, we tend to let down our guard and relax our vigilance because we are in a “safe” country. Or if we’re in a country that feels familiar to our own, we tend to believe that we are as safe as we are at home. Safety really is relevant.

“There is a heightened threat of terrorism…  and terrorists remain likely to try to carry out attacks.” “…you’re almost twice as likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident…” “… take precautions against growing indiscriminate violence in the form of hate crimes, including racism and discrimination.” It is also recommended to avoid public places with large concentrations of people, including theme parks, shopping centers, festivals and, religious events.” “Be aware of the potential for gunfire incidents everywhere…”

These are excerpts taken from government travel advisories by New Zealand, Australia, and Japan – warning their citizens about the dangers of traveling to the United States! 

The fact is, our world is a constantly changing place and we need to know how to experience it fully while staying safe. You’ll feel far more secure and safe if you follow some simple tips:

1. Be informed about the area.

Read travel advisories, current events, and travel blogs about the area you’ll be traveling to. Ask a trusted travel partner (ahem, we know a few here at WOW! Travel and The CTP Group!) for their thoughts – they’re a great resource! And – recognize that a media report about an incident in one city is probably not representative of the entire country.

2. Be cautious with your belongings and your person.

Wear a purse, bag, or camera so that the main item is in front of you. In crowded areas where pickpockets may hang out, carry your backpack in front of you instead of your back.

3. Withdraw money at a bank ATM.

Skimming (a device captures your card information) is far more common in non-bank cash machines. Be aware of who is in your vicinity when you make the withdrawal. Immediately put your money away in a safe place rather than hurriedly tuck it in your pocket.

4. Leave your fancy jewelry or belongings at home.

Don’t make yourself a target by flaunting expensive goods. In some places, your jewelry could feed a family of four for years!

5. Leave your passport in the hotel safe (even though Marilyn told the safe story, that almost NEVER happens!).

If you do need to carry your passport, keep it close to your body and not in a bag you could leave behind or have pickpocketed.

For more travel safety tips, click here: 30 Tips and Ways to Stay Safe While Traveling.

Attitude is key. In my experience, if you believe something bad is going to happen, it will. If you believe that people are inherently good and honest, that’s how you’ll find them to be. If you follow the tips, above, you have no reason to fret about thievery or safety. You’ll be able to relax and become fully immersed in your fantastic travel journey, and come home with wonderful, happy memories!