Tourists from all countries flock to Europe for sightseeing and vacations. Before leaving on a trip to Europe, however, put some thought into your personal safety while oversees. Most of Europe is relatively safe for a travel destination compared to other places in the world, so many travelers do not think to take precautions. As a traveler, it is important to remember that you can’t be too careful. Do not worry too much, but do take the time to protect yourself when you travel to Europe as a tourist.
One important safety step that only a small percentage of travelers to Europe take advantage of is to register with your country’s embassy in each European destination. Travel safety does not only involve protecting our possessions or ourselves from crime but also consists of having a plan in the case of natural disasters or other unforeseen circumstances or if your trip does not go as planned. Protecting yourself involves having backup places to stay and people you can reach back home. If you register with the embassy, your family will have a way to contact you in the event of an emergency.
Before you leave for your trip, it is also important to check terror threats in the areas of Europe to which you are traveling. Europe has historically been safe for travelers, but lately there have been some terror threats regarding subway systems and other forms of transportation, so be sure to check into this before departing to each new destination.
Wherever you plan to travel in Europe, make sure you know who to go to in the event of an emergency or problem. Whenever you travel to a new country, there are a few things you need to know to be safe. Find out the emergency phone number for each area you will visit, make sure to know where the nearest police station is or somewhere you can go if you need help, and make sure you know where the nearest hospital is and how you will get there if needed.
If you travel to Europe alone, and even if you go in a pair or as a group, there are some steps you can take to make yourself safer. Establish a set contact person, or preferably more than one person, back home. Before you leave, give copies of your itinerary to everyone who is important. Make sure they know how to reach you if necessary, and make sure you have a plan to reach them. Think about the logistics of using your phone and email in Europe. If you are staying in hostels, you may have trouble accessing the Internet. Phone chargers must have adapters to convert to European outlets. Think about these things beforehand so that you always have a line of communication with home should something go wrong.
It never hurts to have a backup plan to deal with potential issues. A little planning before your trip can save a lot of trouble later. Much information is available regarding how to protect personal possessions, and money while traveling, but it is part of your personal safety as well to make sure you do not leave yourself without necessities in the event of a problem. It may be a smart idea to leave whichever credit cards or credit card information you do not take with you with someone you trust back at home. Should something happen to your money while in Europe, this person can reserve hotel rooms and other necessities for you.