My beautiful blonde 21 year old sister is traveling for 6 weeks in Europe this summer. She will be going by Eurail and staying at hostals with 2 other girls for 2 weeks, then renting an apt. in Barcelona for a month. I am worried about their safety first and foremost. I told them to make sure that they wear over the shoulder purses and travel wallets. They will be sharing a European cellphone over there. Any advice? I know Americans tend to be a little naive and I want them to make good choices!
Posted by
Niagara Wine Country, Canada
808 posts
Scrap the purse idea altogether - over the shoulder or not! Stick with a moneybelt, daily cash requirement and travel with a credit card.
I suggest she has a look at the Journeywoman.com website. It specializes in just this issue. So I won't summarize here...have a look!
Posted by
Seattle
223 posts
I think your daughter and her friends will be safe while traveling together and staying in hostels. However, I'd just tell her to make sure not to invite strangers, no matter how friendly they appear, into the apartment in Barcelona. They can meet in cafes instead.
I think the girls will be perfectly safe during the day, etc. (subject, of course, to pickpockets), but they should probably be more careful at night to travel together and not walk around alone. Since they are not staying in a hotel, with a concierge to warn them about the dangerous parts of town at night, they might consider popping in to one and asking.
Have you done any research to see if Europe has the same problems as the US with date rape drugs, etc.? If so, then I'd continue the same advice as you give them here to carefully watch their drinks and don't leave them unattended while they go out on the dance floor, etc. (I don't mean to add to any of your worries so I'm sorry if I just planted a concern.)
Posted by
Redding, CA, USA
1568 posts
Agree with the other responders. Money belts or neck pouch a must.
Do not accept drinks from strangers and watch each other drinks.
Our American friend that now lives out side of Prague had a horrible experience on her first trip to Czech Republic a few years ago. The date rape drug is used in CR and other Eastern Europe countries according our Czech friends. They mainly use to to gain access to valuables.
Posted by
Redding, CA, USA
1568 posts
Agree with the other responders. Money belts or neck pouch a must.
Do not accept drinks from strangers and watch each other drinks.
Our American friend that now lives out side of Prague had a horrible experience on her first trip to Czech Republic a few years ago. The date rape drug is used in CR and other Eastern Europe countries according our Czech friends. They mainly use to to gain access to valuables.
Posted by
Kelso, WA, USA
221 posts
both my sons went to university for a year in Salzburg and watched as some of their female friends went a little crazy, but then they were under 21 so they were enamored with the drinking thing. all the advice here is good, if they meet some cool guys, go to a coffee shop or something. and they need to have like a 'designated driver' one of the group that stays sober and has the total commitment of each of them if things get dicey, to get a cab and go back to their hotel. It is much safer in Europe than the US so if they have common sense they will be fine.
Posted by
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
705 posts
I always travel alone as I am usually on business with a couple of days vacation tacked on. I find attitude important. Look confident (even if youre not)and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Common sense about dark alleys etc is universal. When walking around they should look as though they know where they are going. The other thing that is a must for me is to know how to get to my accommodation when I arrive somewhere so I don't have to pull out a map at the station and look like a tourist. Google earth is a great help with this. I have never had a problem with unwanted attention or pickpockets at all. Pure luck maybe. Really I'm sure they will be fine as long as they use common sense.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
20 posts
It's much the same commonsense precautions as here in the US. As long as they stay together when they go places, they will avoid any big trouble. As in the US, one should always watch the bartender make the drink. Never take your eye off of it and never leave your drink unattended. No need to skip the bars, just be careful.
Pick pockets are the most likely problem. I've tried money belts and neck things. I hate them. They are uncomfortable and inaccessible, especially when it's hot out and you're sweaty. I prefer the older SAK purses. You want a wide, long, flat strap to wear over the shoulder, comfortable to wear a backpack over. Reinforce the strap where it meets the bag with some tough thread. Get one that has a zipper top AND a flap over it.
The down side is that you have to wear it all the time. She'll want to sleep with it on trains and take to the shower with her at the hostels. NEVER leave it out.
On a health note, keep Kleenex & personal wipes in purse.
Bon Voyage!