How to Avoid Getting Robbed When You Travel
Essential ways to stay safe while on vacation.
Hey friend! Thank you for being here. You’ll readership means a lot. Also, a belated Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there! ❤️
No buddy, I don’t want your pirated Free Willy DVD!
This is what I thought to myself one afternoon in Bogotá in 2012.
I was with two other Americans, Lupe and Erika. We were grabbing lunch one afternoon in a busy commercial part of Colombia’s capital.
Out of nowhere, a tall guy with a baseball hat comes up to our table with a bunch of DVDs.
He aggressively presented as if they were the lunch menu. My water bottle nearly spilled over. None of us could understand what he was saying. Our “no thank you” soon became a “get the heck out of here” as he kept pushing the DVDs onto the table.
After a few moments of heavy distress, the stranger finally walked away.
We relaxed and continued our interrupted conversation.
But something didn’t feel right.
“My phone’s gone!”
Lupe frantically searched the table, his pockets, and the sidewalk, but it wasn't anywhere.
His phone was gone…and the DVD guy stole it.
Before the thief arrived, all our phones were on the table.
We’d committed a cardinal sin when traveling abroad:
Never leave your phone visible and unprotected, especially on a table.
Without realizing it, we gave this guy a trip to the candy store. I felt sad for Lupe, but had a wave of relief my phone was still safe.
I learned my lesson and to not “dar papaya” (let my guard down) whenever traveling.
According to Rick Steves, here are essential ways to beat pickpockets and thieves:
Be alert: Never let your guard down.
Be Prepared: Make copies of all important cards. Consider theft insurance.
Use a money belt: They don’t look cool (I use them!), but they help.
Keep essential valuables in your hotel: Only carry the bare minimum.
Secure valuables and bags when you’re out and about:
Avoid crowds whenever possible
Avoid commotions
Always keep track of your belongings (before, after, and during an activity)
⚓️ Travel quote of the week
Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it.
- Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love
🧐 Did you know?
Parents should avoid flying with their newborns until they’re at least seven days old.
This is according to HealthChildren.org.
The best time to wait to fly with a baby is after they are two or three months old.
Crowded airports and planes can increase their risk of getting sick.
🎏 Culture Corner
If you ever find yourself in Algeria, then you will undoubtedly be tempted to buy some stunning handcrafts.
Since this North African nation has approximately 745 miles of Mediterranean coastline, it has plenty of influence.
You can find traces of Spanish, Berber, French, Arab, and Roman culture intertwined in Algeria’s craftworks.
M'Zab carpets are one of the most popular crafts exported abroad.
These masterpieces are made from wool and designed in the M’Zab Valley (northern Sahara region of Ghardaïa Province).
Their signature style features mosaics and geometric motifs usually in black and white.
You can find the best M’Zab carpets during the annual Ghardaia Carpet Festival in March. The best weavers in Algeria come together to showcase their best designs.
🌆 City Showcase
Jacó, Costa Rica
Costa Rica has been on my list of countries to visit for a long time.
Travelers from all over flock to this Central American country to surf, and enjoy its incredible biodiversity and favorable weather.
It’s one of the adventure tourism capitals of the world.
According to Rome2Rio, it takes around 13 hours to fly from San Francisco, California to Jacó.
Once you land in San José, the capital, it takes roughly one hour to arrive at Jacó. Jacó is southwest of San José.
Where is Jacó, Costa Rica?
The 11,000-person town is along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. Guests receive a warm greeting with plenty of beach options, tropical rainforests, and nearby mountains.
Although small, lively Jacó has lots of daytime activities and nightlife.
What to do in Jacó, Costa Rica:
Take surfing lessons: Surfing is arguably the top thing to do in Costa Rica. Since Jacó is one of the best surf destinations in the country, a lesson or two is a good idea.
Selina Jacó & Surf School is the most popular place to learn to surf in Jacó.Go beach hopping: Jacó Beach (Playa de Jacó) is the first beach to visit. It is a 2.5-mile-long beach lined with palm trees.
However, you can visit nearby Hermosa Beach (Playa Hermosa), a gorgeous 6-mile beach with sections of black sand. There are plenty more out there!Carara National Park: Enjoy lush hiking trails, tropical rainforests, and experience Costa Rica’s abundant wildlife at Carara National Park.
You can see scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, and three-toed sloths.
The park has 420 species of birds and 480 species of plants.Tortuga Island: An excellent day trip from Jacó is a ferry to nearby Tortuga Island (Turtle Island). The trip has incredible views of the coast.
You can relax on white-sand beaches, go hiking, or snorkel.
TripAdvisor has more information about Tortuga Island.
For more fun Jacó ideas, visit Mytanfeet.com.
If you’re looking for help finding things to do on your next trip, then consider working with me and I’ll help you out!
Ok everyone, let’s set up camp for a week.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate you! 😊
Take care!
-Daniel
More articles you might like:
• What are Travel Planning Templates? (Freebie Alert)
• The Best Ways to Meet Locals While Traveling
• How I Learned a Second Language (and you can too!)
Hi Daniel, Your advice on how to avoid getting robbed made me think of a very fortunate situation I had in Buenos Aires. I naively hung my handbag over the back of my chair in a restaurant. I've traveled all around the world, and I know better than that. However, I wasn't thinking. The server and the restaurant manager both came and quietly suggested I put my bag in a safer place to avoid theft. I was fortunate. We can all use help at times and even seasoned travelers can let their guard down. I enjoy your substack.
My money belt works well! Also have a burner phone/ wallet after my friend was almost mugged on a bus. Thankfully, I’ve never had issues. 🤞🏻