GOING ALONE...

[ivybell]

Many people ask about safety and travelling alone in Europe. For the most part, since many people tend to concentrate their travel in Western Europe or just the edges of Eastern Europe travel is very safe whether you travel alone or as a group. Of course you may encounter pick-pockets, bag-snatchers and other petty crooks it doesn’t take much to prevent most of these incidents.

Just like any place, some cities have poor and dangerous areas, but unless you search for them you likely won’t find them as you head to the museums.

Learn some of the language, the niceties at least, just to be polite.

Don't make yourself an obvious tourist by dressing like a total tourist. You don’t need a huge bag, nor do you need to wear your camera around you neck, have a sweatshirt with the American, or for that matter, Canadian flag, or other clothing items that have some kind of label splashed across the front of it and please, ditch the baseball cap (especially those of you who wear it backwards…). Also, if you’re bored sometime, just sit around and find out where people are from by what brand of fleece, backpack etc. they have. Endless fun.

Semi nice, clean casual clothing that’s not really bright will make you blend in so that you’re not instantly picked out as the tourist. For most of Europe it’s not too hard to look similar to the locals with many people having European heritage and the fact that most large cities have a fairly diverse population.

Not many people wear shorts either, or tennis shoes/hiking boots. Plain, comfortable shoes can make all the difference, it’s one way to tell where someone is from by shoes or clothing style, and not just American, but which European country they’re from.

Watch all bags and belongings on trains, buses and subways. Don’t hang jackets or bags off of chairs in restaurant, that’s when they disappear.

Especially pay attention as luggage is loaded and unloaded along the way; I’ve seen some people’s things mistakenly taken by others as it was unloaded from a bus.

Don’t carry wallets or anything of value in pants or jacket pockets, that’s just setting yourself up for a pickpocket.

Be cautious at the ATM, and pay enough attention to those around you to know if you are being followed by someone.

Don't be paranoid, but do be somewhat suspicious of people, not paranoid, but use common sense and instinct, meaning don't instantly trust everyone instantly. Most people just want to help or talk to you, but make sure you're always in control of the situation.

Know where you are going, where your hostel/hotel is, and don't be afraid to grab a taxi if it's late at night or you end up in a sketchy situation.

If you do stay in hostels you will meet many people who you can travel/eat/drink with, though I tend not to do this as I really like my time alone, but that's just me!

Most of all, don’t run around getting drunk. At least on your own, with a group sure, but still, what’s the point? You can do that at home. Yes, you can drink at 18 or younger in most countries, but remember it’s also an easy way to get in trouble and the laws of the country you are in apply to you. What may be legal at home is not always the same elsewhere. We act stupid when we’re drunk, don’t be a bad ambassador by getting a free night in jail. Plus, your embassy is unlikely to bail you out, and it’s probably not what you want to call your parents about.

Most of Europe starts drinking quite young, and therefore tend to drink not to get drunk but as part of a meal or just a social drink. Depending on the country, wine is often more popular than hard liquor.

Many places have strict laws against being public intoxication and open containers or public consumption. In Scotland it’s a several hundred pound fine if the police catch you with an open container, though most of the time you’re just asked to pour it out, you may find a grumpy officer that one time.

FOR SOLO WOMEN

Here is my personal experience and thoughts to add to those above.

Go, go! My first time in Europe was a month long study abroad program when I was 16, and I ran around Oxford, London, and Stratford-on-Avon for a month with no problems.

Now I am 19, I chose to get my full degree in Scotland, and I went to Croatia and Bosnia in September as my first truly alone travelling and was just fine and loved it! Went to Spain in January and now I am heading to Yemen. Actually, besides two trips, UK and Italy with family, I've always gone alone and been fine.

Watch how the women there walk and act. I have a good term for it, but it’s not publishable much to my chagrin, but it’s something you learn quickly and most of the time people think I am a local and ask me questions that I can’t answer.

Don't respond to male attention, something that is a sure thing in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and parts of France. After several days of propositions, catcalls, whistles, kissing noises, being followed and offers of coffee as you walk down the street you learn to ignore it. In fact, when I came back to Scotland from Spain, it was very odd to find that all the men ignored me.

Stand up tall and completely ignore them.

Sunglasses are good for this since it won’t appear that you are making eye contact/staring which could be mistaken as interest.

Find other women to sit with, the older the better, they will look out for you, trust me.

Avoid drunken males, and don't be stupid and run off with one!

I've found that many of the older ways of male/female interaction still remain to an extent in Europe and in the UK so you'll find that you're given a seat, doors will be held, and you have the right of way on sidewalks, all those types of things. In the times where I've had to travel on the train in Scotland and there are guys and their drunken mates, the sober ones have made sure the drunken ones sat away from me and did not bother me.

Yeah, about the after dark bit. I've run around Sarajevo, pretty sketchy bits of Edinburgh, and Valencia and seen some things that should have made me realise I was being dumb, but I am posting this so I am just stupid and lucky I guess…but I do have some good stories….
_________________
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.
Robert Frost

[eni]

Ivy,

Thank you so much for this! I'm about to take my second alone trip to central/eastern europe. a bit nervous. But your message made me feel a lot more comfortable. I still have a silly question-- Would you suggest to leave your password at the hotel rather than carrying around with you at all time?

Thank you so much and good luck with your study.

[ivybell]

Ah...the perpetual passport predicament. Mostly I carry it with me if the place where I'm staying does not have a locker or doesn't seem secure. Otherwise I carry it.

One benefit, and something that not's likely to happen in most of Western Europe is that somebody posing as a policeman could ask for your passport and then not return it, so if you have it at the hotel they have to go there, and if they aren't real they probably won't so you'd know you were being scammed.

Basically, it's up to to you and the security of the accomodation and the country.
_________________
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.
Robert Frost

[wilson49332]

Also, keep a copy here in America as well, just in case. Give it to a parent or a person you trust. This way if it gets lost or stolen or you have issue that can only be resolved through the embassy, they have a copy. But yeah have a copy at least at the hotel.

We also suggest this:
If possible, have a parent get a passport as well. There only 100 bucks, and are good for like 5 years or more- forget the exact time. This way it is easy if you get into any trouble for someone to quickly get to Europe. Thats only optional- but can be a help if there were to be any issues.

[ivybell]

You can also scan your passport and keep that scan in your email so that you can print it out if needed.
_________________
In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on.
Robert Frost