Travel
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Look up and memorize the local emergency number for your destination before traveling, as standard numbers like 911 do not work everywhere.
It can be life-saving to know which number to call in an emergency.
3 people, independently
- Verify the local emergency telephone number for the country you are visiting.1
Keep a dummy wallet with expired cards, old identification, and minimal cash ready to surrender instantly if robbed.
Thieves prefer high-value items like iPhones; cancelable cards and small cash are less valuable to them.
- Some robbers beat victims and take what they want regardless.
- Experienced robbers may discard a handed-over wallet and demand the real one.
4 people, independently
- Carry a decoy phone to hand over during a robbery instead of your primary device.1
Try calling emergency numbers like 112 or 911 even without a SIM card or service plan, as these calls often bypass restrictions.
- In Uruguay, 911 is a charged service and requires phone balance.
3 people, independently
Keep your wallet in your front pocket rather than your back pocket.
Keeping it in the back pocket is uncomfortable and hurts when sitting.
3 people, independently
Avoid looking wealthy or out of place in high-crime areas to reduce the risk of being targeted.
Looking like 'out-of-place money' is identified as a problem.
one person who lived it
Avoid wearing bright tourist attire, such as Hawaiian shirts, in cities like Rome to avoid being targeted.
Looking like a tourist makes you a target for theft.
one person who lived it
In Rio de Janeiro, taxi drivers may provide a dummy wallet for passengers during traffic jams.
In case you get robbed.
- This is specific to one experience in Rio de Janeiro.
one person who lived it
Use credit cards and pay them off immediately instead of carrying large amounts of cash.
Cash offers no protection against loss or theft and misses out on rewards.
one person who lived it
If held up, give the attacker your wallet immediately.
It is considered the best option in that situation.
one person who lived it
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Place tissues or napkins in your pocket along with your wallet in areas known for pickpocketing.
Thieves may be disgusted by the tissue and choose not to steal the wallet.
2 people, independently
- Keep valuables like phones and wallets in front pockets, especially in crowded places.2
Rent a cellphone in the destination country rather than buying one in your home country.
A local phone will already be adjusted to the time zone, compatible with local carriers (GSM vs CDMA), and ready to work without SIM swapping.
one person who lived it
Be alarmed if a waiter takes your credit card away to swipe it elsewhere, as this can help with skimming.
One person observed a waiter swiping a card correctly but then placing a skimming device under a plate.
one person who lived it
Be aware that in some developing countries, emergency services may be slow or unresponsive, so do not rely solely on calling for help.
Response times can be extremely slow, comparable to long waits for public transport.
one person who lived it
Avoid putting receipts in the decoy wallet.
Receipts contain store location addresses that could reveal where you live or places you frequent.
one person who lived it
Carry a cheap, functional 'mugging phone' and fake wallet in high-crime areas.
This is a common and highly recommended practice in places like Rio de Janeiro where robbery is frequent.
one person who lived it
Fill a decoy wallet with expired cards, old receipts, and fake items to make it appear thicker and more valuable.
3 people, independently
- Use expired credit cards or gift cards in a decoy wallet to mimic real financial instruments.3
Walk purposefully and talk confidently to avoid looking scared or confused, which makes you a target.
Confidence is key; looking scared or confused makes you a target. Walking like you know where you're going carries you further than trick wallets.
one person who lived it
Carry a small amount of local currency for each country you plan to visit to handle cash-only establishments.
Many places are cash-only, and arriving empty-handed is awkward.
one person who lived it
Exchange money at banks instead of using airport ATMs to get better conversion rates.
Airport ATMs usually have the worst conversion rates.
one person who lived it
Memorize street names and cardinal directions rather than block counts to navigate safely without stopping.
Counting blocks is easy to lose track of if distracted; knowing direction keeps you on course even if slightly lost.
one person who lived it
Wear a small fanny pack between your underwear and shorts to hide valuables like cash and documents.
one person who lived it
Avoid wearing expensive name-brand items or real jewelry while traveling to avoid attracting criminals.
These items attract criminals; standing out in cheap clothes among expensive venues makes you a target.
one person who lived it
Research the local currency and approximate costs of common items before traveling.
Having a baseline prevents being overcharged.
one person who lived it
Use a company's international phone number instead of its local toll-free number to bypass long wait times.
International lines are usually local numbers with considerably shorter wait times.
one person who lived it