Safety tips for backpacking through Europe - includes everything from always knowing where your passport is to what water you should never drink.
Backpacking across Europe can be one of the most exciting adventures that you will undertake in your life. It is always beneficial to be cautious, though, when traveling internationally. Here, we will look at some helpful tips that will make your trip safer.
Before embarking on your journey, you should give a copy of whatever plans you might have to family members. A lot of backpackers go without a solid, set schedule. If this is the case, try and give a rough estimation of where you might be and when. Then, when possible, try to send an email or make a phone call home. If you do, in fact, know before you leave exactly where you plan on going, give whatever you can- plane itineraries, train schedules and hotel or hostel information- to family members. This will ensure that someone always has a general idea of where you are, in case something comes up. It is also helpful to make copies of important documents (like your passport and plane itinerary) and keep them in a separate place as the originals. This will make a disastrous situation- like losing a passport- a little easier to deal with and will make getting another one faster.
Also, make sure you pack things that will aid in making your trip easier and safer. Most importantly, you should bring some sort of a money belt. This will enable you to carry your cash, credit cards, passport and other important documents on you at all times. Never leave these things unattended. Bring them with you on your day trips, to the bathroom and shower and sleep with them near or attached to you. As a tourist, you are more likely to be targeted as an easy victim by thieves than a local, and the last thing you want to happen on your trip is to lose everything you need to get back home. Another helpful thing to bring to prevent your belongings from being stolen is a bike lock. You can use this to chain up your backpack to your bed while you are gone on daytrips. A smaller lock for the zipper can also prevent someone from getting inside your bag.
As for getting around these new and different cities, it is always helpful to bring a map. You don't want to end up wandering into neighborhoods that are off the beaten path until you know which places are safe to go and you have a better idea of how to get around the city. Find out about each city's transportation systems and the easiest and safest ways to travel. Keep in mind that some cab drivers, knowing that you are a tourist, might try and take advantage of you and charge more than they should. Also, as a precautionary measure, always keep your backpack with you instead of in the trunk so that there is no way that they could drive off with your belongings after you exit the cab. Also consider bringing a compass from home; this will aid you in finding your way around, which, again, will help prevent you from wandering into places you don't want to be in.
In addition, pack some sort of a first-aid kit. You don't want to be weighted down with lots of extra stuff, but a few Band-aids, Neosporin and Ibuprofen will probably come in handy. A sturdy water bottle is another great thing to have but remember never to drink the water on the Eurail as it might make you sick.
With some planning and common-sense, a backpacking trip through Europe can definitely be very rewarding. As long as you learn a little about the places you plan on visiting and make sure you always keep your money and passport on you, you will be just fine-and guaranteed of making it home!
