The basics of travelling

Travel safety is a very important issue, one that is often overlooked, and people should always remain vigilant wherever it is they are travelling to or from.

Always keep a low profile by not having flashy jewellery on display, for instance, or watches that are bound to attract the attention of a would-be thief. Cameras are a dead giveaway and easily snatched and should also be kept under wraps as much as possible; using a discreet camera bag as opposed to the usual type will help. Don't overdue your clothes either; dress casual.

Remain alert in crowded areas such as festivals, markets, railway and bus stations, as pickpockets always operate in this type of environment.

Many people prefer to use bum bags or the safety pouches that were a fad a few years back. To be frank, people who use these are fooling themselves into thinking their valuables are safe because they can keep an eye on them all the time and they are strapped to the body. How wrong they are! Bum bags just advertise to the rest of the world that you have valuables on you and have purchased this special bag to protect them so there's a good probability that you have a lot on you.

Furthermore, razorblade artists are a dab hand at slashing through just that kind of strap and will have it off your waist quicker than you can blink an eye. If you must keep a fair amount of money on you, use one of those holster-type bags that wrap around your shoulder and lie against the skin