Safety

Protection and Prevention are the mottos when it comes to safety in another country, or really any unfamiliar place. While in the states, I always traveled with some sort of pin alarm & a weapon (usually pepper spray, pepper gel, or even a pocketknife). Overseas that can get a little tricky, which is why I leaned into prevention. While traveling in hostels, I had a lock for my personal belongings. However, the real threat is when you leave your hotel/hostel situation. My passport was not on my person if possible, and I only traveled with credit cards. Euros are not necessary for travel in most of Western Europe. My ID and money were concealed under my clothes in a money belt. I also carried an alarm where if a pin was pulled a loud sound would blare out. Looking confident and like I belonged in every environment helped too. Lastly, Life360 & WhatsApp are your friends. I used both apps every day. If you are smart and about your wits, staying safe can be easy.