Part One: Europe—Stay Alert! – Scam Edition
Part Two: Europe—Stay Alert! – Theft and Robbery Edition
Part Three: Europe—Stay Alert! – My Defensive Tactics
* I put this together to remind everyone that even when travelling in Europe, you still need to pay attention to basic safety details. But please don’t let that put you off going. Once you’re there, enjoy the scenery to the fullest and interact with the locals. Many of the situations below are things adults have drilled into us since childhood, but growing up accustomed to Taiwan’s safety makes them easy to forget overseas. Pay a little more attention to your surroundings and the small details, keep these basic precautions and responses in mind, and you’ll be better able to tell good from bad and enjoy a trip that is both fun and safe!
Thanks to Mama Hsia’s daily delivery of terrifying breaking news, plus the painfully memorable cases shared online by veteran travellers, I was extremely afraid that I might be cleaned out and forced home shortly after setting off—or even uprooted, bundled away, and erased from the face of the earth. So I put effort into preparing equipment such as anti-theft pouches and pepper spray. I even dreamed up a few homemade anti-theft devices and constantly watched for moments when I might make myself vulnerable. Since this little lady is fortunately still here typing at her computer, here are some of my recommendations and defensive tactics.
Don’t Even Think About Taking Anything from My Bags:Lock Your Bags, Use a Hidden Money Belt, and Conceal Some Cash Under Your Clothes
Theft appears to happen most frequently, but compared with robbery, it also gives you more opportunity to prepare and protect yourself in advance. So I began with the containers carrying my belongings.
My luggage consisted of a 19-inch suitcase, a backpack holding my iPad and DSLR, and a crossbody bag containing my phone and wallet. The suitcase and backpack appeared mainly while I was in transit, but the backpack was behind me, outside my view, and filled with valuables—making it a high-probability prize and an obvious target. Although I firmly chose a crossbody bag, I carried it whenever I went out, giving it the greatest exposure and risk and making it the item most urgently in need of protection.
Then inspiration struck. My suitcase had a combination lock, sowhy not lock both my backpack and crossbody bag too?I specifically searched for bags with zipper pulls that could take a lock. Unless someone cut the bag open—which would be another matter—it would make stealing from me extremely troublesome. Um… honestly, it also made retrieving my own things extremely troublesome. Looking back, I find myself truly hilarious. Still, safety first. At least I didn’t lose anything!
* Some backpacks now include built-in rain covers. Pulling the cover over your bag can also make a thief’s job harder!
[ Looking good was no longer the priority. I carefully chose a bag with ring-shaped zipper pulls and an extra loop on the side, allowing the combination lock to hold everything tightly together ]
[ I chose a backpack with two zippers, locked their loops together with a combination lock, and tucked it to the side. Add a drink bottle and the lock becomes brilliantly camouflaged ]
[ Both bags have had their moment, so here’s a shot of Little Blue, which followed me for 85 days and retired as soon as we returned to Taiwan ]
All right! Unlocking the bag every time I bought something was a huge hassle(long time no see, that expression!),so I had already devised a solution. Just as office workers hang ID badges or phones around their necks, Iput some coins and one credit card in a small purse worn around my neck, kept it under my clothes, and pulled it out only when I needed money.The advantage was that the purse stayed close to my body and couldn’t be stolen easily. Snatching it would require much more force. (Although if someone truly wants to rob you, anything can be taken.) The drawback was that pulling it out looked rather ridiculous. I also had to wear a close-fitting layer underneath; otherwise, with all that tugging at the front of my clothes, this proper young lady might expose herself—and what a scandal that would be. (Blush!)
Once I arrived and checked in, if I judged the accommodation safe and trustworthy—such as a Couchsurfing host’s home or a lockable hostel locker—I left my passport there. If it wasn’t safe, or while I was in transit, I absolutely kept the passport on my person. Losing some money is recoverable, but losing a passport would seriously disrupt the rest of the itinerary and create enormous trouble. Therefore,I placed my passport, the single most important item, in a small hidden money belt tucked inside my trousers.(The space beneath my clothes was truly a treasure vault.) Someone would have to carry off my entire body to get my passport. (And if things reached that stage, the passport would no longer be the main concern.)
[ The contestant in front is the coin purse; our friend behind it is the hidden money belt ]
[ This is roughly how they looked when worn. That Taiwan black bear V-shape on my chest is the little coin purse. The hidden money belt has no intention of making an appearance ]
My backpack also contained one valuable item: an iPad. It wasn’t exceptionally expensive, but it carried the enormous responsibility of storing three months of travel photos. Those memories were priceless, and I would have collapsed if it had been stolen. (This old lady suffered that pain in Australia and could not endure it again.) Besides uploading the photos to cloud storage whenever possible, I alsocustom-built a device inside my backpack called the “summoning bell.” In case someone silently cut open my bag and removed the iPad, I connected the iPad to the bag with a cord bearing bells. If anyone pulled the iPad out, the bells would activate and ring, ring, ring,giving me a chance to respond! The drawback was that retrieving the iPad in a shared hostel room made enough noise to disturb the neighbouring beds, which was genuinely awkward. Every time I tell this story, I still find it hilarious. I admire the mysterious workings of my brain back then～ Fortunately, the bell was never summoned by an actual emergency, and all my photos returned safely to Taiwan. Amitabha～
[ Jingle bells～ Jingle bells～ How loudly they ring (hahahahaha) ]
Even If Robbed or Abducted, Make One Final Struggle:Pepper Spray and a Whistle
Robbery and abduction are truly the most frightening scenarios and the hardest to escape once you’ve been targeted. So I kept a few items in my bag that might at least buy time or help me quickly attract a rescuer if something happened. Enter the childhood classics: pepper spray and a whistle. They may be clichés, but they remain extremely useful. Whenever I entered a place that felt dangerous or briefly went out at night, I held the pepper spray in my hand and concealed it inside my sleeve. It gave me courage and kept me ready to respond. Normally, I stored both items in the easiest-to-reach part of my crossbody bag, while ensuring the spray nozzle could not be pressed accidentally. Practise taking it out, unlocking it, and spraying several times, so you don’t panic and fail to open it when you genuinely need it.
[ The two anti-evil essentials ]
Be aware that some countries prohibit pepper spray. Hong Kong and certain Australian states are examples. You cannot carry it when transferring through Hong Kong, and you could be fined or even prosecuted. Always check the rules in advance.
Whatever happens, judge the circumstances. If the situation is overwhelmingly against you, surrender your money and protect your life. As long as you survive, you can always rebuild.
Extra Vigilance Reduces Your Chances of Being Targeted:
● For everyday use, I absolutely recommend a crossbody bag.If you’re wearing a jacket, put the bag on first and the jacket over it, covering the bag as much as possible. Keep your crossbody bag in front of you at all times,and especially cover it with your hand in crowds., keeping it protected and staying aware of any movement at all times, so you don’t discover too late that someone has already opened it.
● Don’t flaunt your wealth. This age-old advice is still the most basic rule. Try not to carry designer bags, and keep your clothes as low-key as possible too—so low-key that when I came home and looked at the photos, I barely wanted to post them. Of course, we all still want to look fabulous in our travel photos, so just try to strike a balance between safety and beauty!
● In Europe, I often saw Taiwanese tourists enthusiastically shooting with very expensive DSLRs, even openly taking photos on the notoriously sketchy Paris Métro. It’s actually pretty dangerous. Constantly putting your camera back into your bag is admittedly a hassle, so I still wore mine around my neck. (A camera strap around your neck is a little safer than wrapping it around your hand, though it can still be snatched.)While walking along the street, I would cover the camera with my jacket or hand as much as possible, keeping a low profile instead of blatantly announcing that I had a DSLR.
● Research where you’ll stay and visit in advance. It’s better to spend a little more moneyand choose a safer neighborhood, so doing your homework before the trip is essential.
● Keep your cash in separate placesso you always have emergency money available. I divided mine among my suitcase, backpack, crossbody bag, anti-theft waist pouch, and a small coin purse worn on my chest. Even if one bag was stolen or snatched, I wouldn’t lose everything in one go. During my three-month journey, I also used credit cards extensively despite the transaction fees. I simply treated those fees as a tip to the bank for safeguarding my money, which meant less worrying about having my cash stolen!
● Whenever you need to find something, check a map, use your phone, or do anything else distracting, stop somewhere and finish it before moving on. Whenever possible, do it somewhere safer, such as inside a café, outside a shop, or even at a police station,so you can stay aware of your surroundings while walking. Walking with your head down and eyes glued to your phone—a bad habit commonly seen in Taiwan—is very dangerous. You’re practically creating the perfect opportunity for a thief to strike, so definitely avoid it!
[ Just don’t wander around with your eyes completely glazed over ](Image sourced from the internet)
The most important thing of all is to remainvigilant. Dangerous situations can arise in any country, but as long asyour eyes are constantly scanning your surroundings and your belongings are securely stored and protected, you’ll naturally give off an air that says you’re not an easy target, reducing the likelihood that anyone will try something. Traveling in a group can sometimes make you more of a target, because people feel safe among friends and become careless about the details, or get so absorbed in the beautiful scenery that they stop paying attention to what’s happening around them. Whenever you travel abroad, keep vigilance right at the forefront of your mind!
Still, it would be such a shame if reading about all these dangers made you suspicious of everyone, stopped you from interacting with locals, or even made you give up on traveling through Europe altogether. There’s a line in the movie The Next Three Days:“If it can be solved, there’s no need to worry. If it can’t be solved, worrying won’t help!”After all, wherever we are, every day brings its own assortment of risks. In Europe, I still sometimes went out alone at night, carried my DSLR around taking photos, chatted with locals on the street, and met other travelers. I stillenjoyed traveling to the fullest and connected with local people. We just need to understand the possible dangers and keep them in mind, so we can assess suspicious situations more easily and prevent foreseeable risks. As for the rest, leave it to luck and fate!
Don’t worry—I still have backup:Taiwan’s overseas representative offices and travel insurance
If you’re unlucky enough to be robbed, have something stolen, or encounter any other danger, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ emergency assistance hotlines in each country can be a lifesaver. Having someone who understands local procedures and can help with language barriers makes everything a little easier to handle. I trust that government agencies will do their best to assist Taiwanese citizens—though please don’t behave badly or make unreasonable demands; remember to be grateful. Before traveling abroad, write down these important phone numbers and keep them with you—Emergency Assistance Hotline for Taiwanese Traveling Abroad
Before setting out on my Europe trip, I bought travel inconvenience insurance in addition to regular travel insurance, with particular emphasis on personal-property coverage. (This girl was seriously terrified of having her belongings stolen.) If you experience theft, robbery, or snatching—being tricked like silly old me doesn’t count—you may be able to file a claim after returning to Taiwan, provided you report it to the local police within 24 hours and obtain the relevant documents. Fortunately, I never had to use it, so I’m very lucky to have no detailed claims advice to share. I also hope you’ll be lucky enough to have nothing to share with me either. Many insurance companies now offer travel inconvenience insurance, so compare the options and choose according to your own needs!
Finally, I hope this article helps anyone planning a trip to Europe prepare both mentally and practically for staying safe, so they can fulfill their dream of traveling around Europe without incident! If you have any personal experiences to share, or if I’ve missed any important tips above, please leave a comment below for other travelers to参考!
(Image sourced from the internet)
I can’t believe I actually finished this bona fide ten-thousand-word epic. Writing it cost me one health point, but I have tremendous respect for you if you patiently read the whole thing too. (Seriously, why would you do that…? But I wanted to share the most complete information possible! *squirms*) So I’ve decided to include a real Easter egg:Complete the following steps for a chance to win a Xiaomi Smart Band that I personally brought back from Shanghai. It tracks your daily steps and sleep, making it perfect for warming up those Europe-traveling legs!
>> Simply share this article publicly on FB, thenlike my fan page+ and answer underthis Post“The country where you need to be most safety-conscious while traveling around Europe is ______.”
*If you took part in the previous Easter egg giveaway, your odds of winning automatically get a ++
