Tips to avoid theft when traveling in Europe

Having traveled to Europe for a month, one of Tran Trang's principles for preserving her assets is to minimize luggage.

The incident of a Vietnamese female MC losing her suitcase while taking a train from Rome to Florence, Italy, was shared online, making many Vietnamese tourists sympathize with her because they had encountered similar situations while traveling in Europe. Some expressed concern about how to protect their personal belongings for their upcoming trip.

Ms. Tran Trang, from Ho Chi Minh City, who spent a month backpacking in Europe last summer, shared that not all European countries are unsafe and prone to theft. "Whether you are on a tour or traveling independently, tourists should know how to proactively protect their personal property," Ms. Trang said, sharing four tips to help tourists protect their luggage when traveling to European countries.

Minimalist luggage

Each traveler should bring a suitcase, a backpack, and a camera bag, limiting the number of small bags to make it easier to manage. Travelers can use a specialized anti-theft backpack to store important items. Another way is to lock the two ends of the backpack zipper with an S-biner, an "S"-shaped lock with two spring-loaded ends.

Page and all luggage for a month of traveling to Europe in the summer of 2024. Photo: NVCC

Important documents and wallets should be kept in a chest bag or a locked camera bag. Suitcases should only contain clothes, shoes, and cosmetics. Frequently used items should be placed in a backpack.

When paying, visitors use cards or payment applications such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Revolut, and limit carrying cash. To protect the phone when traveling far, you can wear the phone on a neck strap and keep it in your jacket. If you have a lot of valuable luggage, you should put a device to locate the object in your suitcase or backpack for easy searching.

Take the train

Travelers traveling in large groups should keep their suitcases together. In case the whole group has to sit on the second floor of the car and the luggage is on the first floor, travelers should use a long rope to tie the suitcases together.

If you are sitting on the first floor, your luggage should be placed directly under the table or between the table and the chair. If you are traveling in a group of four, you can sit in groups of two pairs per table to keep an eye on them. When changing stations, always try to stay close to other members of your group to keep an eye on each other. Travelers should be careful when asking someone to carry their luggage when getting on and off the train.

Female tourist on a train through Switzerland. Photo: NVCC

Take metro, bus, tram

When traveling by these means, travelers in groups should sit or stand facing their companions to keep an eye on each other. If standing, place your backpack face down against the window of the train or car to avoid being pickpocketed from behind.

While waiting at the pier, the bus also kept a close watch on the surroundings. Ms. Thu Trang shared that of the three countries she passed through, including Switzerland, France and Italy, only Switzerland had guaranteed security, and everywhere else she had to "look before and after".

On the first day of returning to her homestay from Charles de Gaulle Airport, France, Trang witnessed a phone pickpocketing incident on the train. A group of people staged a pickpocketing scene right at the boarding gate. The group of pickpockets got off at the next stop and quickly disappeared.

Travel by self-driving car

Independent travelers often choose to drive themselves to be proactive with their schedules. When getting off the car, tourists should leave their suitcases in the trunk. Always carry a bag with important items. Always buy property insurance against theft for the car from the rental company, because there may be cases of broken windows and theft. The cost ranges from 5 to 50 euros per day depending on the type of insurance and compensation.

General Safety Notes

When boarding a train or bus, visitors should go straight inside, choosing a place to stand far from the entrance and exit because thieves are often on the train, snatching things and then getting off the moment the train door closes. If you have to stand near the door, absolutely do not hold your phone. When you need to use your phone to look at a map, you should have a neck strap or wrist strap. Visitors should print out their train tickets in advance and hold them in their hands when presenting them, avoiding taking out their phones repeatedly.

When traveling long distances by train or car, travelers should wear neat clothes. Prepare small change for small purchases or when using public restrooms. Always lock payment cards when not in use.

At tourist attractions, when needing to put down their backpacks to take photos with their hands free, tourists must put the bag strap around their legs to avoid being snatched.

When entering a restaurant, never leave your bag behind your back and never leave your phone on the table.

Travelers can be vigilant by observing the people around them. People carrying suitcases are usually tourists. The group to watch out for are young teenagers hanging around the train platform, often with or without backpacks, rarely talking to each other and not holding phones.

Trang said that if tourists take the initiative to take good care of their luggage, they will feel comfortable throughout the trip.

According to vnexpress.net

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/du-lich/kinh-nghiem-tranh-mat-cap-khi-du-lich-chau-au-147797.html