Stay safe

There are many things that you can do to ensure that you stay safe while traveling. Wikivoyage articles have a "Stay safe" section with location specific advice. This article covers general advice that applies to many destinations.

Before you go


Travel sense


Stay aware

Be careful!

Get in


Hotels can be dangerous places in case of fire. Check that there are two ways of escape from your room. Note that maps and instructions can be out of date.

If possible, check that emergency exits are in fact usable. In China, for example, it is quite common to use bicycle padlocks on most of the exits from a building for "security", which the management apparently think means only maintaining tight control over all entry to and exit from the building. In one theater fire, dozens died because of this. Consider carrying a crowbar in case you need to bust a padlock. Even in places like Finland and Sweden (generally having and following rules) an emergency exit can be (temporarily or less so) blocked with furniture.

Get around


When on a bus or train:

When riding in a taxi:

When using a car:

When walking:







See Travellers' diarrhea for more information.


See also: Alcoholic beverages



See also pickpockets.

Stay healthy

Main article: Travel health


Crime and scams

See also: Crime, Theft, Pickpockets, Begging and Common scams.

At many destinations, there are dishonest people who try to prey on travellers' money; illegally, or within legal loopholes. A traveller can also be a victim of violence, molestation, vandalism, or other crime.

Local laws and customs


Wikipedia provides a number of reference pages on various aspects of law around the world.


Law and authorities

When it comes to conflicts with police officers, immigration officers (see Border crossing), security guards, or any other government officials, Wikivoyage encourages travellers to follow local law and regulations. Actions that are legal in many countries (such as homosexuality or drinking alcohol) or only minor infractions (jaywalking, littering, drug use etc.) might earn travellers a major fine, or even a prison sentence, in others. As laws and their execution vary a lot between countries, advance knowledge of the local situation is needed; see the Stay safe section of each respective destination.

Just like people in general, some police and other government officers are prejudiced, and might discriminate against a traveller based on race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or social class. Be informed about local values, for instance whether racism, homophobia or other prejudices are prevalent. As well, in some countries corruption is widespread, such as when a police officer or government official requests a cash bribe for providing service or even threatens to detain someone who does not pay. It pays to be aware of the local attitude towards corruption and act accordingly. Additionally, sometimes criminals will pose as police officers in order to scam travellers.

At the very least, be informed about what law enforcement forces exist in the countries you visit, and how to recognize them.

See also

This article is issued from Wikivoyage - version of the Friday, January 15, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.