In Depth Europe Travel Tips to Boost Your Experience

Overall there are a lot more dangerous places in the world than Europe. I’ve never had one problem  (knock on wood), and I have spent over a year of my life traveling through Europe.

Why? Am I just lucky? 

Not at all. I’ve just learned how to protect, and care for my valuables, in such a way that I do it naturally, and stress-free.

Let’s talk about some of the Europe safety tips I have learned over the year that let me travel stress-free without stressing out ever 2 seconds about if my passport it safe.

Book Hostels and Hotels Early

Book you hostels ahead of time. I have met a lot of people (myself included) that struggle with this at first.

I felt I would lose some excitement and spontaneity by knowing exactly where and when I would arrive somewhere.

However, you’re feeling of safety plummets to zero after getting to your destination to find every hostel full and you have to spend the night outside in the cold, sleeping on a bench or at an airport. You learn quickly that it’s not a bad idea to book your hostel at least two nights in advance.

In major cities, you might want to book at least a week in advance.

Booking your hostels in advance is just smart.

Copy Your Documents

Always have backup copies of your bank/credit cards and other important documents. I suggest making three.

1-Keep one set hidden in your backpack.

2-Give one set to a family member at home.

3-Store an electronic set on the cloud or email.

Copies of your important documents will make life easier in the event that they become lost or stolen, and these copies will also help verify your identity when trying to replace them. Another good idea is to store important phone numbers.

Also email them to yourself, and a trusted family member of friend. You can also save copies to your phone but I suggest have a lock on your phone that will wipe if clean if to many attempts are made. This is added security in case your phone is stolen.

Utilize Apps

We live in a world of apps.

I bet I could find an app to scratch my back if I wanted to.

There are some good travel apps.

You can find apps that let you plan your itinerary, like Trip it, to apps that translate languages for you like Google Translate.

These great tools for new and veteran travelers alike.

Don’t Carry Everything With You

I always carry one credit/debit card and a photo ID (never carry your passport if you plan on drinking) in my money belt and leave the rest in the hostel.

Likewise, when going out at night, take enough cash out with you so that you don’t have to go to an ATM unless it’s an emergency.

Watch Out For Scams

Beware of scammers around tourist spots. Scammers flock to main tourist attractions especially in big cities. Scammers are persistent and while they don’t mean you any physical harm, they do want to hurt your bank account.

If someone is trying to lure you into making a deal that’s too good to be true, guess what? It is!

Also, never sign a petition that gives any personal information including your personal email. Don’t entertain strangers that are trying to sell jewelry they just found or relics of old.

These are a few of the scams I have seen in Europe.

The best way to deal with scammers is just to say, “No, thank you”, and if they persist ignore them.

It is not rude to ignore someone who is trying to take advantage of you.

It is important to remember that not everyone wants to scam you, but it your gut is telling you not to do something, don’t.

Use a money belt

You need a money belt! Money belts are extremely good at three things.

1-Your important documents are safe.

2-Your documents are nice, neat, and organized.

3-Your documents are easily retrievable.

I was once traveling with someone who didn’t have a money belt.

A few days into their travels, they had dropped their debt card and I.D into the crowd of thousands at a summer solstice party at Stonehenge (they were never seen again).

That hurts! Not only is it a huge hassle to replace these items and cancel out the lost ones, but it also takes away from your precious travel time.

Honestly. I hardly wear my money belt anymore. I just have it in my daypack that never leaves my side. Money Belts are good to keep your documents organized, and if you ever find yourself in an uncomfortable situation you can always put it on.

Carry Emergency Cash

Always have enough cash tucked safely away so that if necessary, you could live for a couple of days. This has saved me more than once when I have had problems with my debit and credit cards.

Extra cash always gives you relief that if something happens you will be ok.

Know What Areas to Avoid

I was in Athens, Greece when they were having the bad forest fires that crept up to the city.

I was also in London during the riots of 2010, and in Egypt during the protest.

Was I nervous? No, not really. Why?

Because I knew exactly what areas to avoid.

If I am nervous about being in a country talk to people who live there.

People who work at hostels are great for this. They will let you know what areas to avoid.

Tell Your Bank You Are Leaving

Let your bank and credit card company know you are leaving.

I have seen banks and credit card companies shut down people’s spending power after a couple of weeks because they are unsure about all the foreign transactions.

It is much easier to let your companies know that you are leaving the country and how long you will be gone. This ensures that you will have nothing to worry about.

Arrive During the Day

No matter what method of travel you are using, picking an arrival time during the day will make you feel a lot safer.

While I have never felt unsafe traveling at night, it is intimidating to arrive in a strange city at an ungodly hour.

I also try to take long journeys on buses or trains at night to save on accommodations with the added bonus that you also usually arrive sometimes in the morning.

Beware: train and bus stations are not as safe as airports, so you want to keep an eye open for pickpockets and scammers.