[Phoenix]

Asking inspired by the 'how to adjust to masculine countries' thread and a bunch of countries I plan to visit at some point in the future. As well as WashedUPVet's story of getting attacked by a bunch of guys in Moscow, even though he's a big guy and ex-soldier.

Does anybody have a good idea how you stay safe in tough or rough countries? Or have some good links to material on this?

I'd like to visit some countries considered more dangerous; naturally its mostly for the women. In every country I've previously visited, I've been comfortable going out alone everywhere including at night (just avoiding 'bad areas' where applicable). I have very little experience in countries with genuine danger of suffering violent crime, and I don't look physically intimidating whatsoever (and that's not going to change). Obviously carrying weapons is infeasible when traveling, and probably wouldn't do me much good anyway. So I'm pondering how I could stay safe in these countries without significantly affecting my ability to chase the local women.

This is basically the picture I'm imagining if I were to go somewhere in the guts of the Asian land mass or South America:
- Drop my typical solo travel. Go with one or two travel wingmen.
- Drop nightgame, just focus on online/daygame etc. This would really suck as it's given good payoff in the past.
- Carry next to nothing. Buy a crappy smartphone that I'm not afraid to lose (data/contacts etc) for texting with / maps etc. Just a paper copy of passport and cash (no ATM-capable card to avoid an unpleasant taken-to-ATM situation).
- Research the specific ways people are usually attacked in these countries and try to plan ahead how to avoid that.
- Research the local style of dress and mimic that to avoid standing out.

Is that a reasonable picture? Any other advice?

[John Michael Kane]

Keep your wallet close to your chest as you count money. Look around for shifty snatch-n-grab thieves before you peel out your cash. Carry whatever weapons are legal in the country you're visiting in case you get into a fight that you can't back out of. That might be a small knife, pepper spray etc. The best fight is the fight you've never been in, but baring that, you want to do damage quickly enough so that you can escape alive. Don't ever accept a drink from anyone that wasn't a sealed bottle. Men can be roofied too by criminals. Letting your guard down is how they get to you. Lastly, know where the absolute worst spots are and actively avoid them. Practice dominant body posture that scares away would-be thugs. Don't appear like a victim. Through your shoulders back, and your chest out. Survey the area. When possible, keep your back to a wall so someone can't sneak up from behind with a surprise attack. Always keep scanning and move with purpose when you are walking. Half of the battle is not appearing an easy mark. Also, make sure to always let your embassy and friends know where you are traveling, in case the worse ever happens, they have some leads to start looking for you.

[tegabanega]

unless your going to Syria.Afghanistan or Honduras you should be fine.. common sense always prevails.. try to not appear like a tourist.. dress cheaply.act normal thats it..

[Spidey]

I've spent the last few months in Cali Colombia and haven't traveled to many different parts of SA so this is a very biased experience.

I go out every weekend by myself. I go to what would probably be considered a rougher area. I get wasted and walk home by myself at 5 am sometimes. I have not had anything bad happen to me. In fact, I have had a great time with this. Usually I meet groups of people and they are very accepting and inviting. Make friends with locals, they will watch your back. You just have to trust your gut sometimes.

And more practically, when I go out I dress very basic. I never carry any identification or credit cards and I usually have a very small amount of cash on me.

My advice is to trust your gut. Or go out with people first to get a feel for different areas. Make good friends who will look out for you and you should be fine.

[Cambodian Creamsicle]

No need to freak out about danger. I've been to Colombia, Brazil, Africa, Poland, Ukraine, Mexico, Dominican, Phils etc and never had any trouble.

People blow danger up in their heads. Think about it, committing violent crime is not something people want to do. Most people are wrapped up in their own heads just like you are with this post.

[FlyHigher123]

It's all about your appearance. Don't flash money/expensive watches/cellphones publicly and always appear confident. Don't be the lost tourist guy, show that you have a plan and know what you are doing. If you appear to have the potential to be at least twice as violent as the robber you will be either not get chosen as a victim or are able to scare the robber away. If it is not the case, hand over your phone/money if asked so. Your life is worth nothing in these dangerous countries.

[Spectrumwalker]

Experience from South America...


-Only your take your ATM card with you when you're going directly to the ATM. Even then keep it out of your wallet. If something did happen, just toss em your wallet with some cash but you'll still have your card. If I'm in a dodgy area I keep it in my jacket pocket that zips. Go straight back to your place when you have your money and only take with you what you'll need. At the ATM after I have my cash, I'll spit it up. Keep some in my wallet, and the rest in my jacket pocket with my ATM card. Just in case someone was watching me, I have some to fork over without total loss.

-Don't use ATM's close to streets. Preferably find ones inside banks, convenience stores or supermarkets. The ones on the streets are easier for fraudsters to put in a device that'll swipe your numbers. Same even applies in the west.

-Personally I only pay in cash wherever I go. Pretty paranoid about identity theft, and don't trust foreigners handling my plastic.

-Be wary of women that approach you being all flirty. They may be a decoy and working with someone whose seen you as a target for robbery luring you in to spring a trap. Or, they may be a hooker looking to fool you and when you take them back they'll try and charge you..or worse drug you. You'll wake up in the morning with your shit gone. I know a man who that happened to.

-Always always lock taxi doors and put any small luggage with you on the floor board so outsiders can't see. If you need to open a window, keep it slightly cracked no more than a couple inches or so. Was in a taxi once in Lima around Christmas time, and the taxi right in front of me had it's passengers get robbed of their shopping bags while stopped at an intersection. Group of 5 guys ambushed the taxi, stuck their hands in the windows, unlocked the car from the inside, ransacked the taxi and sprinted away with I'm assuming all their Christmas presents. Took about 10 seconds. After that happened I recall that there had been shady looking guy that hand been standing in the center divide just before the stop presumably scouting out targets to relay to the others up ahead.

-If traveling by long distance buses, keep an eye on your checked luggage. Never had a problem with checked luggage myself, but it's good to keep an eye on it when you make a stop and other people are claiming their bags. The more reputable the bus company the more I believe you can relax. But still, use your gut on that. If you have a shoulder bag to carry on don't put it overhead or underneath the little folding leg rest. Keep it close. Once I put my shoulder bag under the leg rest where I thought it'd be safe and dozed off on an overnight bus. Woke up my ipad and cash was gone.

-If you're walking somewhere, write down directions on a piece of paper before you leave your place instead of relying on your phone. It's less distracting, and a phone is easy to snatch that may bring unwanted attention.

-I can't recommend these enough for peace of mind. Diversion safes like a fake coke can, or fake Barbasol bottle. Great way to store cash, cards, keys, small stuff like that in your hotel or apartment. I have one that's actually a hollowed out toilet paper roll. Small, fits rolled up cash well, and doesn't take a lot of space in my bag. Only problem is it doesn't always fit.

But when walking around we all know this. Don't act like a victim, don't look like a victim, don't sound like a victim, and chances are you won't be a victim.

Happy Trails!

[Phoenix]

Good responses. But what about nightgame? Would it still be reasonable to go to clubs/bars alone at night in these countries? Just taxi door-to-door and somehow authenticate the taxi beforehand, stick to more expensive & well-known venues etc? Or would it take having a private driver on retainer on something?

[Adrenaline]

Some great suggestions in this thread so far. Which countries would you guys recommend not doing night game solo in? I don't do much day or online game when I travel, as I don't enjoy it and won't put myself through it just for some pussy. I also enjoy being able to walk the streets freely at all hours of the night without a high degree of danger, so would be interested in perspectives on where to stay clear of. I'm assuming most of Africa wouldn't be a good idea. Certain countries in South America? What about Central and Eastern Europe?

[NickDunne]

The one piece of advice I would offer is: always behave as though you know where you are going. Nothing is more inviting for trouble than the 'lost gringo' look.

A good idea is to scout out the area where you will be partying in daytime, sober.

[Nordwand]

Trust your instincts - if the hairs rise on the back of your neck, then get out of there.

[Spectrumwalker]

(01-25-2017 05:18 AM)Phoenix Wrote:  

Good responses. But what about nightgame? Would it still be reasonable to go to clubs/bars alone at night in these countries? Just taxi door-to-door and somehow authenticate the taxi beforehand, stick to more expensive & well-known venues etc? Or would it take having a private driver on retainer on something?

In South America I ran night game solo. You'll come across obvious places that are pretty seedy on the outside. And if they're seedy on the outside, that's how it'll be inside. Bedraggled places will attract a bedraggled crowd. You'll know if you come across a place where you shouldn't go. But aside from obvious language barriers, never had any issues. Like John Kane said above, just watch your drink. Keep your wits about you and don't get to sloshed. As far as taxis go if you're in South America, at night in Peru I would use a taxi app on my phone called "TaxiBeat", as opposed to hailing one off the street. Unlike uber that selects the closest ride for you, with taxibeat you can scroll through a list of drivers nearby by who have been rated and reviewed by previous passengers. You select who you want and app determines a price for you as opposed to dealing with the driver. You still pay in cash. It also shows a photo of their face so you can see who you're getting and see how professional or how sketchy they appear. There's other taxi apps like "EasyTaxi". But when you get into a country just google what taxi apps are available. You'll pay a bit more than you would flagging one on the street. But late at night, after you've had a few drinks, and you may be going a long distance to part you're not familiar with; it's worth the peace of mind.

Also with taxis always make sure you have the exact change to give them if you agree on the price beforehand. If they have a meter, and you don't have exact change, don't give them anything to large. It's not uncommon for them to turn around, give you sad puppy eyes and say how sorry they are but they don't have change. Liars. If it's late at night, and for some reason you don't have a taxi app just do your best at selecting a taxi. Clean, well maintained and marked taxis. I generally avoid younger drivers. If you're in a dodgy area and it's late, write down their plate number on your phone before you get in and have them see you do it. You won't insult them, people do it all the time. No one in South America trusts each other.

[Spidey]

(01-25-2017 05:18 AM)Phoenix Wrote:  

Good responses. But what about nightgame? Would it still be reasonable to go to clubs/bars alone at night in these countries? Just taxi door-to-door and somehow authenticate the taxi beforehand, stick to more expensive & well-known venues etc? Or would it take having a private driver on retainer on something?

A lot of cities down here have Uber. If not, there are other apps such as Easy Taxi. You can also ask any club that you are at to call you a taxi and they probably will. You can walk around major nightclub areas. As for going to bars alone, just make sure it's not too shady and always pay attention to your drink.