How to keep yourself safe while abroad

Usually, traveling abroad never goes by without giving an extra thought to safety. With so many stereotypes created in movies of horrible Russian Borises and Natashas (thank you, Hollywood!), no wonder many foreigners are very cautious when coming to the FSU countries. However, if you call on your common sense to guide you and take note of a few of our tips, you will not find any disturbance during your trip.

1. Keep low profile. You may be a patriot of your country, but while you are abroad I won't advise you to take a stand and prove it to everyone around. Many foreigners I know have come to Ukraine and Russia, for instance, expecting everything and everyone to fall at their feet. They made a point of showing they are foreigners and letting everyone know they don't give a damn about the culture of the country they were visiting. Results were very discouraging: the least harmful being that they ended up ruining their own trip, the worst – running into some trouble with locals.

When you go out on the streets, the best thing for you is to try to fit in the crowd. It will give you the advantage of being able to observe people from the inside. Don't make a statement that you are a foreigner; you will avoid becoming a potential victim of thieves, cheaters and people looking for someone to take advantage of.

2. Be selective. You run a chance of setting yourself up for disappointment if you are going to get acquainted with girls in night clubs or on the streets. First of all, girls in the clubs usually don't look for lasting relationships. Secondly, by meeting someone in such a way you are simply opening up for more opportunities of people to take advantage and scam you.

Whatever you decide to do, sharpen all your sensors and don't follow every chance to get acquainted with strangers.

3. Use common sense. It is practically impossible to predict every situation you might find yourself in. But using common sense will get you a long way even if you don't know the language of the country you are in. Be attentive, don't forget about body language and rely on your sixth sense. If you feel that a situation is getting to be uncomfortable, don't feel awkward about leaving. It's always better to be save than sorry. And don't worry about what others will think: your comfort and safety are above all.

4. Get to know the locals. Getting to know someone local to the area you are in will save you time, keep you safer and help you make the most of your stay. If you get advice from a local about places to visit and things to do, you will most likely be warned of what to avoid in order not to get in trouble. There are more chances for you to be directed to places that will be safe to visit and given pointers on how to make your visits or shopping. If you can get someone local to shop with you for souvenirs or gifts, you'll definitely have higher chances of getting a better deal and keeping cheaters away.

5. Keep your cash in several places. Since not every store accept traveler's cheques and credit cards, you'll have to use cash during your trip. The best decision is to keep it in several places. This way if something goes wrong and you lose you wallet or it gets stolen, you will have a reserve to fall back on.

6. Put away valuables. If you are renting an apartment, chances of your belongings being safe are much higher than if you are staying in a hotel. Over the recent years the cases of larceny have lessened, but still it wouldn't be out of place to put away your valuables from plain sight.

7. Money exchange. To avoid being cheated, use banks for money exchange instead of the booths in the market or on the street. They may offer a little bit higher rate, but the guarantees of accuracy and honesty are next to nil. At the airports and hotels exchange rates are higher, so in case you have to use them, exchange as small amount as possible.

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