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I was robbed in 2008 in Vietnam.

It was the best thing to ever happen to me.

I wrote about it here. But the TLDR is that I learned not to fear being robbed.

Which is good because it's happened twice since then!

This first trip taught me how not to lose everything AGAIN and small things I could do to protect myself.

I know there are a lot of solo travel safety tips out there. But I wanted to share the small things I do every day that make a difference.

#1 RULE TO LIVE BY: NO DAR PAPAYA

This Colombian phrase literally means not to give papaya. But what it really means is don't give people a reason to rob you.

If you ask a Colombian if an area is safe they'll probably use this phrase. It means that you're at risk anywhere so don't be dumb.

In the sketchy neighborhood or outside a rich mall, thieves are looking for the easiest person to rob.

Don't let that be you.

Here is how I avoid this...

Make Friends With the Cab Driver

When I land in a new city I ask the taxi driver where are the safe neighborhoods. There's always a safe zone but it's not always where you think.

In Santa Marta Colombia my driver told me to move a couple streets over because at night my neighborhood was a dead zone.

In many historic cities in Latin America the center closes up at night leaving a lot dark, empty streets. It's now better to stay in a residential neighborhood.

Maximize Your Check In

Checking in to a hotel or homestay the staff often focus on the amenities of the accommodation.

But I need their advice on what's outside.

I ask if they have a map and to mark the areas people most commonly get robbed. I also ask them about common scams in the city.

Thankfully people are helpful, in both Panama City and Cali Colombia people driving by stopped to tell me I was walking into a bad neighborhood without knowing it.

Don't have time to do this? Ask Google, someone has written about it!

Get Your Hotel's Business Card

It seems unnecessary if you have you phone you have all the information and Google Maps. But what if someone grabs your phone late at night and you need to go home.

Do you know how many casa del sol there are in Latin America?

Is your hotel name in Chinese and you can only identify it by the giant panda on the front.

Long before smart phones I had a situation where I was lost and could not find my way back. In Hong Kong I tried hand signals to the bus driver that I was looking for the panda hotel....🤦‍♀️

Since then I've saved myself the hassle and accepted the card. You'd be surprised how often I use it.

NEVER Take Your Passport Anywhere

Your passport in your hotel is safer than it is in your purse.

Thieves who grab and run likely want money and are probably not in some bigger stolen passport ring.

With chips and fingerprinting it is getting harder to harder.

It is much easier to just take your phone.

Don't Use Google Maps While Walking

This is the biggest papaya you could give.

iPhones are easier to sell than DSLR cameras and so thieves are always looking for some fool walking with their phone out. Cue the motorcycle that drives by and swipes it out of their hand.

I use Google Maps all the time but never out in the open. I put the directions on voice and follow it while my phone is in my pocket. If I need to look at my phone I duck into a store.

No one has ever kicked me out of the store for just standing there looking at my phone.

If there's no store I back up to a wall, so there's nothing behind me and I'm away from the street.

What about taking photos?

When I'm on my own in a city where petty crime is higher I take photos but I look for a good place.

In big squares with pickpockets I look for police or security guards and stand next to them to take photos. At the very least I take a look around me to make sure no one is too close and I'm not by a road.

Remember the motorcycles...

Dress Like a Local

It is important not to look like you're the weakest prey.

So look around.

In Europe locals don't wear shorts. In Latin America flip flops are only for beach towns and considered low-class in a city.

Your sport sandals? They are a dead giveaway.

If you're looking for comfort in Latin America wear sneakers. I wear them with all my dresses in the cities, just like locals do.

In beach towns I pop into a cheap shoe shop and get a sparkly pair of the most comfortable sandals I can find.

I've become so good at it that in Colombian a security guard was impressed at how well I spoke English while making this Colombia safety video at 7am on a Sunday to avoid giving papaya. He just assumed I was Latina by how I was dressed.

Look nice. But not so nice that someone thinks you have money to give.

Carry Small Bills

Mexico once had a big scam where both the $500 and the $20 bill were blue. Tourists would pay for something small, under $20 with a blue $500 and confused they were short-changed.

The 20 peso is now a coin but it's an important lesson.

When you pay for something with a large bill, such as a 500 say the bill name. So you've established how much you've given. It makes it harder for people to short change you.

Or better yet, I break big bills at the supermarket and carry change so I never encounter this.

Count Your Change

Mexico also has a saying called No Te Dejes which means don't let yourself be taken advantage of. It is your responsibility, and so if you get short changed it is your fault.

Many tourists don't want to show mistrust or hold up a line. But in Mexico it is normal for a customer to count their change before leaving. If you walk away you are saying it is verified.

Today most supermarket cashiers will count cash back, but don't expect it at markets.
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Only Drink from Bottles or Cans You Open

Have you ever wondered why you feel terrible after a night of drinking draft beer?

That's probably because beer taps are supposed to be cleaned every two weeks to prevent bacterial growth.

Sanitary concerns aside, drinking liquor abroad, especially when it is cheap, can be very dangerous.

And it's not just in places offering cheap drinks like Laos or Dominican Republic. The chart above of suspected methanol poisoning shows it can happen in our own countries as well.

Give Yourself Permission to Be Rude

I am no one's friend when I'm on my own.

This one takes experience but when I travel solo I'm not the happy, smiley girl that looks approachable.

I don't allow anyone into my personal space. If I am walking and someone tries to stop me I keep walking.

I don't allow strangers to put anything in my hand, even if it's "a gift". I have dropped many "gifts" and walked away.

I am not interested in a sneaker shoe shine.
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I don't allow anyone to take me anywhere "better."
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If there's some mysterious liquid that is on my clothes I don't need their help finding the nearest bathroom.
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This isn't to say that I am rude to locals. Or even rude to these people who approach me. But I look forward and keep walking. And if they follow I walk into a store or I find security or police to ask a made up question.

The issue is they've pegged me as someone who will dar papaya and I am trying to get them to move on.

And for 1% of the time I could be wrong I am willing to take that risk.

If you have your own tips that you'd like to share hit reply and let me know!

Keep life delicious,

Ayngelina