Getting around a new region is the part of travel that stresses me out the most. I fear I’m going to get lost. I panic that my belongings will get lost in the shuffle. Can you relate? Fortunately, after traveling many different places, this has gotten easier for me. I have learned valuable ways to keep myself and my family safe on public transportation, which has decreased my travel anxiety, allowing me to live in the moment and go with the flow. Below you will find tested public transportation safety tips for taking buses and trains, taxis and even a few bonus safety tips for when you rent a car abroad.
This article is part of a 6-part series on how to stay safe when traveling. Did you miss the other 5 articles? Check out the links below:
7 Great Ways To Stay Connected When Traveling Abroad
7 Ways To Keep Money Safe When Traveling Abroad
Staying Healthy When Traveling
Accommodation and Hotel Safety
Crowd Safety When Traveling: How To Keep Your Family Safe
Some of the links on this post are affiliate links. When clicking on the links and booking travel, I receive a small commission with no extra costs for you. Please note, I only recommend brands I actually use and trust.
What Are the Safety Tips on the Bus or Train?
Traveling by bus can be a very economical way to travel, whether it is around a city or getting from one destination to another. In order to have a safe ride follow these public transportation safety tips when riding a bus.
Don’t Fall Asleep If You Are Alone
We are normally traveling as a family, so this is not usually a concern for us these days, but when I first started traveling it was. There are a couple of reasons not to fall asleep. One reason is that you don’t want to sleep through your stop. The other reason has to do with safety. If you are sleeping this is a much easier time for a thief to snatch your valuables.
Don’t Let Your Belongings Leave Your Sight
If you have luggage and are traveling on a bus, the driver will put your bags under the bus. This is perfectly fine and you should do this.
If you have a small backpack or purse you are carrying with you, the best place to keep this is either on your lap or at your feet. Don’t put it under your seat where you can’t see it. This is very easy for someone to grab without you realizing it. If you keep it above your seat, be vigilant throughout your trip. If you keep it at your feet, I like to keep a foot on a strap or at least have it touching me.
When you are traveling on a train and have large luggage, there are areas on the train where the luggage goes. In most cases your bags will be okay. If you feel nervous to keep your luggage there unattended, stand or sit nearby.
Try to Avoid Traveling During Rush Hour
Avoid traveling on a busy bus, train, tram, metro, or subway if possible. This is the most likely time for pickpocketing. If you must, put your belongings in front of you where you can see them and stay attentive to the people around you.
How to Travel Safely in a Taxi?
When traveling in a taxi, the concerns switch from taking care of your belongings to taking care of yourself. Of course to avoid getting ripped off, there are tips such as making sure the meter is turned on or deciding on the price beforehand. Since this article is about public transportation safety tips, I’m going to dive more into how to not get harmed.
Be Sure the Taxi Driver is Licensed
Taxis or ride share programs all require their drivers to be licensed. Do a little research before you travel to find out what to look for in a taxi company. For example, if you are going to Panama, the taxis will be yellow and have their license numbers on the side of the vehicle.
Take a picture of the license or write it down. If you forget something in the taxi or something negative happens you can use that number to report the driver or get your belongings back.
We took a taxi in Ghent, Belgium one time and left a backpack in the taxi. We hadn’t written down the license, nor did we know which taxi company they were from. Our belief was that the backpack was gone for good. Thankfully, after going back to the train station and watching for the taxi driver, we saw him! Incredibly, the backpack was still inside where we left it. This was a very lucky experience for us. It taught us the importance of getting some detailed information, just in case, in the future.
If you use a drive share program, check the rating of the driver that is scheduled to pick you up. If it is too low, cancel the ride and request a new one. Before getting into a car, be sure to compare the car make and model and license plate number to be sure that you are getting in the correct car.
Another way to be sure to get a taxi that is from a reputable company is by asking your hotel to arrange the ride for you. They can call a taxi from a company that they trust.
Always Sit in the Back Seat of a Taxi
If you are traveling solo or in a pair, be sure to sit in the backseat. This is the safest spot. It is a lot harder for a driver to attack you. If you are traveling by yourself, the seat directly behind the driver is your safest seat. If we are traveling in a taxi with our family, the kids and I always go in the back and Mike is in the front.
Follow Along With the Map
I always like to take out my phone and put the directions of where I’m going into my phone or watch the map that is on the driver’s phone. This way you know if you are going in the right direction. If you feel like the driver is taking you the wrong way, ask them. If you don’t feel safe, call the police.
Wear a Seatbelt
Anytime you get in a car you should wear a seatbelt. This shouldn’t change when you travel, even if this is not a law or common practice in the country you are visiting. If you are traveling with young kids, invest in a light weight booster or car seat that you can easily carry with you.
What Can You Do to Stay Safe on the Road With a Rental Car?
If you are traveling in another country and decide to rent a car instead of taking public transportation, I have a few safety tips to follow too.
Do a Little Research
Researching the rules of the road, especially what road signs mean, can be important if you plan on renting a car. We have found that the road signs in Europe can be a bit confusing.
For example, there are two different yield signs. They mean different things depending on if it is pointing up or down. One means to yield and the other means to be aware that the other road yields. Confusing? Yes! In order to stay safe driving, not get in an accident, or get a ticket, it is good to know what these different signs mean.
Plan Out Your Trip
Pull up the map of where you are going and download the map in case you lose service. You can download maps on Google Maps and also on Apple Maps. Speaking of staying connected, we like to use Airlo to get our e-sims when we leave the country. We can easily get connected to data at a low cost this way.
Keep Your Valuables Out of Sight
When you park the car, be sure that you don’t leave things in the car where others can see them. You will more likely become a victim of a theft if your belongings are left on the seat. If you have to leave items in the car, put them under the seat, in the trunk or in the glove compartment. Park in well lit locations or in parking garages with security cameras.
Make Sure the Rental Car Works Well
Lastly, if you rent a car and it isn’t running very well, be sure to return it to the rental company and voice your concerns. Ask for a different car for your trip. Learn what could happen to you if you don’t by reading about our road trip through Colombia that didn’t turn out quite as planned. Learn From Our Mistakes: How to Have A Successful Roadtrip in Another Country
Hope you have a safe and stress free trip!
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