Southeast Asia: The Travel Safety Essentials

This is one of those things I’ve been meaning to write about for a while. I mean, travel safety is one of the main things you worry about before you head off on a big backpacking trip, isn’t it? Especially if you’re going alone.

You want to make sure you’re prepared for any scams that may come your way. You want to put your mum’s mind at rest that you got this.

And if you’re heading to Southeast Asia, you better believe there’s a new scam erryday y’all.

So I figured I’d put together a few things to be aware of and a few ways you can make sure you don’t get taken advantage of out there.

Staying Safe In Southeast Asia

Don’t Let Your Guard Down On Overnight buses

Overnight buses are an essential part of getting around countries like Thailand and Cambodia and the like. It’s cheap, it’s easy and it does the job. And if you’re lucky, the bus makes lots of snack stops. Totally essential.

But the thing is, a lot of the classic Asia scams involve overnight buses. These bad boys sometimes have thieves onboard so you need to keep an eye on your stuff at all times. Especially if it’s a REALLY comfy bus. Because that’s part of the scam. It’s dark and warm and cosy and you have a good sleep, and then when you wake up there’s cash missing from your handbag.

This happened to me.

Don’t worry, thieves won’t come right up to you and rob you outright. But if you leave your bag on the floor, it could be pick-pocketed whilst you’re asleep. The best thing is to keep it on you – cross body and on your lap – or attached to your seatbelt on the seat next to you or something.

Another thing to be aware of on overnight buses is that they sometimes have thieves in the compartment under the coach where your luggage is, looking for valuables.

They’re not going to steal your fave beach dress or anything, they’re looking for the expensive stuff. So just don’t put any cash or any tech, like laptops or cameras, in your backpack. Keep it all with you in your handbag and don’t let go of it.

Bring a Cross-Body Bag

A complete essential when travelling Southeast Asia is to bring a cross-body bag with you on your trip.

Thieves in Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, are known to drive past on motorbikes and snatch handbags. And these cross-body bags make sure this doesn’t happen.

Although be aware that another way of snatching handbags in places like Thailand are when someone sneaks up behind you and cuts the strap. This is on those cotton bags so popular with backpackers – with elephants printed on them or whatever.

You don’t need to be scared, just make sure you’re vigilant about who’s around you. And I always like to keep a hand on my bag just in case.

Be Careful At Beach Parties

Another place to be alert is at beach parties. I’m not being a party pooper here, you should definitely drink and dance and have an amazing time! But don’t go in the sea for a start. You see so many people having a nighttime swim, but doing it when you’re intoxicated is not a smart move. Let’s not drown, yeah?

Also, look where you step! There’s rubbish broken glass on the beach, especially if you’re going to Full Moon or Half Moon in Thailand. I know Ellie from The Wandering Quinn had to cut her trip short because she stepped on a broken bottle and messed up her foot at Full Moon. And I fell over at Half Moon and busted my knee which really aggravated me for my whole Southeast Asia trip.

I mean have fun and that. Just be careful.

God, I sound like your mum, don’t I?

Don’t Look Up!

Another popular scam in Thailand is on Khao San Road. Along the backpacker haven that is this infamous road, you have people selling all sorts of things, from clothes and dodgy DVDs, to incense and buddha statues. So naturally you’re distracted.

Some guys shoot those flashing lights into the air – you know kind of like those flying dolls off of the nineties? You pull a cord and they twist up into the air?

Yeah those.

You’ll be looking up at the pretty lights and the guy’s mate is picking your pockets, bro. Don’t have it.

Get home safe

It’s kind of an obvious one but make sure you’re being careful getting home from nights out. Don’t do it alone.

That sounds a bit difficult when you’re travelling alone, I know. But you make friends so quickly in places like Asia when you’re staying in hostels.

If you do meet new friends, try to walk home together, or better yet, move to their hostel so you don’t have to go anywhere alone.

If you don’t make friends straight away, just don’t stray too far from your hostel. There are always bars and restaurants close by that mean you don’t have to get yourself into a situation where you don’t feel safe.

I mean, if you wouldn’t walk back alone at night at home, why would you do it in a brand new country you don’t know, babes?

Avoid the scam bus

Okay, this one I don’t really know how avoid because I got totally scammed by the infamous scam bus between Thailand and Cambodia.

This bus does several things to make you have the journey of nightmares. It stops at a fake Cambodia border where they demand money for a “visa”, then a taxi takes you to several shops where you are expected to buy something before they’ll leave, then a tuk tuk driver tries to con you out of more cash.

All I can say is make sure you are aware of this. Ask for details of your journey when booking your bus. And if you do end up getting on it, just go with it and kick yourself later. It’s no use kicking up a fuss and being stranded somewhere.

That’s it for now but let me know if you have any safety tips for Southeast Asia! Like I said, there’s a new scam everyday, so do tell if you have any advice for some new ones.

Let me know what you think in the comments below, tweet me at @HeelsInBackpack, or find me over on Insta at @Heels.In.My.Backpack!

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