Safety When Traveling
An email has just crossed my screen pleading for help. It isn’t the first and it won’t be the last. Another Bonjour Paris reader has just been robbed in the Paris metro. He claims to have been on the lookout for people up to no good. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. These hit and run thieves have more schemes for separating you from your possessions than Campbell’s has varieties of soups.
These synchronized plots are seemingly innocent, but voila, within minutes, you’ll emerge virtually nude and missing so many essentials that your trip may be ruined. If not ruined, you’ll find yourself standing in line at your country’s consulate hoping it can produce a replacement passport in time for you to make your outbound plane. Wouldn’t you rather be standing in the Louvre looking at a new exhibition? Or walking the streets of Paris or other cities in France and being inspired by its architecture?
Gangs of kids, savvy (or grabby?) adults looking to augment their incomes view vacationers as prey. No matter how cosmopolitan or sophisticated a tourist may look, the vast majority have a tentative appearance especially when in the midst of a crowd. This is especially true when they’re in country where they don’t speak the language and haven’t developed a sixth sense about the rules of the local highway.
Even when people aren’t away from home, petty thefts are rampant. So many IPods have been lifted in the Washington, DC metro that the transport authority is waging an anti-theft campaign. Steve Jobs would be proud his personal media players are so in demand. The powers-who-be in charge of the area’s subway have taken ads on local television stations instructing commuters how they can avoid being ripped off. Imagine, there’s a secondary market.
There are so many things people can do in Paris and in other EU cities – as well as destinations throughout the world where crowds gather. We’re not just talking public transportation but sporting events, public places and even museums. So many travelers go to markets only to discover they have no cash and/or credit cards when they reach to pay for that precious item they’ve discovered. You know, THE memento that will be a forever reminder of their trip.
When arriving at your destination, stay awake long enough to clear customs and be 100% certain that after you’ve done so, you’ve organized your essentials papers and credit cards, money, etc. Whatever you do, be sure to place the collection in different places on your body, carry-on suitcase and if you’re traveling with a friend, split “valuables.” Do not do as so many travelers do and carry any of these vital items in your pockets and or backpacks. It’s a cinch for a thief to grab your necessary papers if they’re grouped together. Please remember, they know the airport and/or train station a lot better than you as well as the fastest exit. More than likely, your papers will be long gone before you’re aware you’ve lost them.
Even though it may be expensive, if you’ve traveled hours and though multiple time zones, it’s often prudent to order a car, shuttle or take a taxi to your hotel or apartment rather than a train. If you’re landing in Paris, the RER has had more than its quota of reported robberies. So many people doze off during the ride that it’s a prime place for groups of thieves to take advantage. Just because someone is younger than 12-years-old, don’t assume they’re innocent. Many of these children never see the insides of a classroom except the ones of hard knocks.
Be leery of some people who offer to help you with your suitcases when you’re boarding a train. If you’re traveling heavy, you might consider him or her a savior. I didn’t feel that way when I “lost” a purse in Avignon and was heading for the US the next day. Thank goodness my airline ticket was with my computer -- which I was watching like a hawk because if it were to be stolen, there would be serious repercussions. Suicide anyone?
Before you leave home, make two or three copies of the pertinent pages of your passport. Ditto for the numbers of the credit cards you’re going to be using during your trip. Notify the credit card company of your travel plans and be sure that you have a four digit numeric code that will enable you to access ATMs, which are becoming omni-present in cities such as London, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Eastern European cities.
Leave all of this information with a trusted relative or friend at home as well as keeping a set with you. Contrary to what many people think, you aren’t required to carry your passport with you. A photocopy will do. In France, you have 24 hours to produce the real McCoy if necessary. Stores will accept a photocopy as identification if you’re filling out detax forms.
When you reach the hotel, stash your passport and extra credit cards in the hotel safe. Take only a couple of credit cards with you during your outings. Don’t walk around with wads of cash. Most places accept Visa and MasterCard. American Express cards may be problematic since they tend to charge stores higher transaction fees. If you’re staying at a five star hotel, not to worry. There’s enough margin built in that plastic is plastic.
Don’t wear splashy jewelry. It only draws attention and this holds true for phony jewelry as well. Professional thieves usually know the real stuff versus the fake. However, amateurs will go for anything that shimmers. Make it your business not to wear adornments that “ bling.”
The above advice may sound trite and some may wonder why any of these hints merit discussing. However, just walk into any foreign consulate in nearly any country and you’ll encounter a group of fellow countrymen singing the blues. Try to avoid it happening to you. You’ll return home with memories of your trip but not necessarily ones you’ll treasure.
© Paris New Media, LLC
Karen Fawcett
karen@bonjourparis.com
