I have a fantasy world where I headed to Europe, a suitcase in one hand and my hopes and dreams in another, carefree and ready to embrace adventure. In this fantasy, the birds are chirping, bad people aren’t real, and I don’t even need a passport because borders don’t exist and everyone loves each other.
In real life, things are a little more dangerous, and I had a lot of concerns coming to Europe. Safety is always very important, and it’s something I take seriously living in a big city like Boston. Moving to a foreign country and traveling to 10 others is something that you can’t just waltz into with you suitcase and your dreams.
That’s okay, though. I have a message for you: you can do it. No matter how overwhelming the danger and the necessary preparations may seem, I made it okay this semester, and you can too.
Just a note: the only solo travel I did was by flight here (and as of Saturday, my flight back). Some people I know have travelled alone. It’s a personal choice, and it’s just about deciding what you’re comfortable with. For me, I did not want to be alone in a foreign place, and I feel it would have limited my ability to go out after dark and to fully explore the way I wanted to while being safe. However, like I said, some people I know have had wonderful solo trips. If you’re interested in traveling alone, do your research, and don’t take my word for anything, because I haven’t had that experience. My travel groups ranged from eight at the biggest to four at the smallest, and the majority of my travel was done with five or six. Five was a great number. It made for a fun, lively time surrounded by great company, but there weren’t too many people to keep track of. I might advise against doing too much travel with a large group like eight, but it’s fine for a weekend.
My first and most important tip is a classic, but is worth mentioning again: be aware of where you are and what’s surrounding you. This applies no matter where you go or how you’re traveling. Staying safe and secure while traveling is mostly about being aware of the situation you’re in at all times. My one (and thankfully only) run in with the police while abroad was because someone wasn’t paying attention to the situation. A large group of us got off a bus in the Czech Republic and one of my friends immediately lit a cigarette. In Austria, you can’t go to a bar without every inch of you smelling like smoke, and it’s even okay to smoke in some restaurants and coffee shops, so you’ll understand why my friend wasn’t terribly concerned. However, the Czech police were. They were set up there to catch people when they got off the bus. The no-smoking sign was small and easy to miss, but since she didn’t wait to survey her surroundings and figure out the rules of her location, she had to pay a fee and we had to wait for them to process her passport. I can now tell the story of my awkward, twenty-minute conversation with a police officer, who was surprised we were American and not fat. True story. I suggest you avoid this by paying attention to where you are.
This will also help you with one of the biggest travel concerns: theft. My group got a fear of pickpockets and bag stealing drilled into us from day one by our program, but in case you travel without the guidance of Salzburg College, let me lecture you. Be careful with your things when you’re traveling! Theft is a huge problem for travelers, and we heard plenty of horror stories. Luckily, no one in my program has had anything taken (yet!), but I still saw the evidence of the danger during my travels. My friend found the outside pocket of her bag unzipped and empty while we were standing under the Eiffel Tower. Luckily, all she had in there were a few bus passes, and we got some amusement out of the fact that the thief wound up with Salzburg bus passes they couldn’t use. The zipper incident shouldn’t have been a surprise; the Eiffel Tower has signs in the lifts warning about pickpockets.
My best tip, other than pay attention and don’t put valuable things in vulnerable places, is to get a shoulder bag that can go under your coat. I perfected this technique over the course of my trip, and it really helped me stay safe and relaxed. I brought a roomy coat with some space under it, and when I traveled or walked in crowded areas, I put it on over my bag, instead of putting my bag on second. This kept the cord of the bag under the fabric, making it impossible to snatch, and since the bag was blocked and hidden by the coat, it kept pickpockets from spotting or reaching it. It’s not something I did in Salzburg or all the time, since it makes it harder to get to your phone, wallet, etc., but it gave me peace of mind and security when I was in areas high in pickpockets, like the Eiffel Tower.
Additionally, my Mom picked me up a travel belt to wear under my clothes while traveling. When she gave it to me, I wrinkled my nose at her and asked, confused, if it was a fanny pack. However, now that I know what they are (look it up), I’m so glad I had one to carry extra cash and my passport in.
Whatever you do, just take your security seriously. I don’t know about you, but for me, getting robbed was not in my plans when I came to Europe, and I don’t have any intention of changing that.
