[Vet-Boy]

I've tried searching around the forum for a thread related to safety and avoiding unwanted obstacles during your travels and i really coulnt find much aside from tips here and there in varying threads like ones regarding muggings that have happened to some of our members. So i decided to create this thread myself so that all of our veteran travellers can share valuable in info (or some tips in general) on how to dodge trip destroying calamities, whether they be sickness, stolen stuff, dealing with locals, avoiding wrong crowds, over or under packing, etc. As well as steer yourself towards the "trip making moments" like meeting new people (women), sight seeing, food, etc.

The reason behind making this thread is that I'm a brand new traveller myself and relatively young as well (18) looking to travel through india with friends, duos, and maybe even solo and Im having a hard time getting the fear of disaster while travelling off my chest. "What if i get lost?" "What if i get robbed?" "Can i trust them?" etc.

I was born and raised in Canada my entire life and have only travelled outside the country with my family, and I dont think the mindset I had when travelling through Canadian cities is really one that I can apply in any third world countries.

Look forward to hearing from you guys, and I will also post my specific trip plans for a camping on an indian mountain with my friends and some girls we met when the plans are a little more solid. If it works out and I can apply some of your guys' tips i think it'll be a great first trip!

[samsamsam]

I don't want to be mean to you and also because I am on warning. But I hope you are being genuine that you searched. This forum is great, people will help, but often new people come in just asking to be serviced like it is a concierge service.

You seem like you are being genuine and honest, and refreshingly humble.

thread-60839.html
thread-54200.html
thread-17389.html
thread-60657.html
archive/inde...54200.html
archive/inde...54443.html
thread-570-page-2.html
thread-33116...#pid658499
https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=0126445502...gsc.page=2


This took me about 10 mins.

The most important thing is using common sense. And I don't mean this to insult you, but if you realize that you generally don't make smart decisions or have common sense, then just do the opposite of what you do.

I would write a bunch of stuff but a little exhausted at the moment, I imagine these threads will point you in the right direction. Safe travels and I do hope you post about your adventure and follow up. Unlike a lot of guys who ask a bunch of questions and disappear.

Edit: If you are going to India this might help you understand the women. thread-60808.html

[godzilla]

I don't want to be rude, but this is typical American/Canadian

Anyways, don't carry your life in pocket, robbery is probably the worst that could happen.

Oh shit, youre 18 didnt realize that .....start in Europe, you'll understand the world is actually mostly safe.

I walked in ghetto in South Africa and Mexico, don't worry....youll live

[Vet-Boy]

samsamsam Wrote:

I don't want to be mean to you and also because I am on warning. But I hope you are being genuine that you searched. This forum is great, people will help, but often new people come in just asking to be serviced like it is a concierge service.

samsamsam Wrote:

I would write a bunch of stuff but a little exhausted at the moment, I imagine these threads will point you in the right direction. Safe travels and I do hope you post about your adventure and follow up. Unlike a lot of guys who ask a bunch of questions and disappear.

Thanks for all the links man I really appreciate how nice you're being about this. I'll make sure to be more thorough with my searches next time, by using a bigger range of phrases, and going through all the threads more carefully. I guess i was just looking for something more along the lines of a master safety thread at first, but I apologise for this easily avoidable mistake.

Those threads you linked look great, and will do more than enough to point me in the right direction, the rest I'll have to get from real world experience. Thanks again, and I'll make sure to come back with a trip report when I can!

[Vet-Boy]

godzilla Wrote:

Oh shit, youre 18 didnt realize that .....start in Europe, you'll understand the world is actually mostly safe

I'm kind of stuck in india at the moment due to school so this is my only available starting point, hence why I probably come across as overly worried. I'll read up on the threads mentioned above and look for more as well. I want to really prepare myself so that this trip and future trips turn out as great as Id like them to be. Thanks for your help!

[samsamsam]

I think one thing to do when you are traveling is to be present/aware.

Sometimes, if you get caught up in touristy stuff and act like a fish out of water, you may be an easy mark.

But if you walk like you are paying attention and keep your valuables protected, most criminals will just want to find another target.

If you are a bigger guy, the size helps.

Don't drink too much or get wasted where you cannot control yourself.

And if something seems too easy or strange, then just back out of the situation.

You are young, it won't kill you if you don't have the most epic trip ever. Just having a good time and safely returning is a victory.

[CaptainChardonnay]

Always double check with foreign currency. I got ripped off by a cab driver because I just landed in a city and didn't realize what the difference was between 3 dollars and 30 dollars. I asked the guy if it was the right amount and he lied saying it was. Lost 27 bucks but it was a good lesson.

On the topic of cabs, now a days you can find apps where you are travelling that wont rip you off and do not do cash transactions, for example in SEA I started using exclusively an app called GRAB. Way cheaper, cleaner and better than a cab, also no chance of getting ripped off.

[Hyyish]

My tip to stay safe on the road would be:

1: Never look like a complete clueless tourist. Always look like you know what you're doing. That way you can avoid a lot of scammers that want to rip you off in various ways.
2: Never bring more money then you need for a day.
3: Never look like your full of cash. I'm not saying that you should not dress nice, but lets say you're going to Cambodia. You don't need your gold watch worth 10.000 dollars.
4: Read up online before you go a place about common scams and stuff to watch out for.
5: Try not to be a cunt.

It's actually not so hard to stay safe. Just use your brain.

Here is how to NOT do it:

[scotian]

As a Canadian travel newb I recommend doing a 20 or 40 day trip with Free and Easy Travel (https://www.freeandeasytraveler.com), they have various trips and take care of everything. They are popular with the under-30 crowd and the ratios are great, I ran into a group in Thailand and there were 17 girls and 3 guys, the tour leader said that ratios like those are the norm. The girls were all hot young Canuck skanks who were getting drunk and slutting it up, if I was ten years younger I'd be going on one of those tours.

[samsamsam]

Hyyish is right, don't be a cunt. Just be respectful to others. No one likes to feel like they are being crapped on by a tourist who thinks they are better than them.

Other thing is if you are in a cab, pick a side. Don't sit in the middle.

Two guys could come in through both sides and lock you in.

If you pick a side, you have at least a chance to get out.

Lock the doors and either negotiate a fare in advance or make them use the meter.

Pay attention to your surroundings.

Like if you see a guy wearing a trenchcoat in the summer heat, something ain't right.

This might help https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=ch...vel+safety