Simongoesinterrailing
Traveller
5 comments
Posted 13 years ago
OK so on Saterday I'm going inter railing around Europe for the first time. And people keep telling me these horror stories of people being robbed/mugged/beaten up etc. Do you guys have any suggestions or general saftey tips for me that I can use to try and stop this happening.
Is being a robbed a fairly common thing? what are the chances do you think?
As far as money is concerned I intent to carry enough cash for two days and have the rest on a card that will be either in my money belt or locked in a hostel safe along with my passport and IR ticket (how many hostels have these?).
Also as far as hostels go is it OK booking on the day or is booking in advance a necessity these days?
final thing. Ill be travelling around the main europian cities eg paris amsterdam vienna prague athens rome etc. Do you think a 30 euro budget (per day) is realistic?
Thanks im kind of freaking out here with nerves and excitement.
Hetman
Traveller
364 comments
you just have to keep watch and do not put you money on the top of your bag. try to have eyes round the head ;)
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
Relax.
Who tells you these stories? Have they ever travelled? Probably not, or maybe only stayed at some resort. If you go out to explore, you will see Europe is very very safe in general.
I have been to Palermo on my own in February and people asked be if I'm mad but it was absolutely easy and just great!
As long as you do not walk through the streets and yell Rob me! you should be safe. ;) Keep your important stuff (money, documents) in a pouch around your neck and/or a money belt. If you have a wallet, dont put it in your trousers, instead put in in your bag if you can fix it there somewhere.
If you have a cam, put the strap around your wrist. After some days you will get a feeling where you feel more safe and comfortable and dont have to be extremely cautious and where you have to look a little bit more after your stuff (eg at tourist hot spots - Tour Eiffel, Colosseum,...).
I do not have a credit card so always have only cash with me while travelling...safely hidden at various places. :D You can always store valuables at the reception of a hostel. Many do also have lockers in the room (check at railcc.hostelworld.com; sometimes you will have to bring your own padlock) but I'd rather store important stuff at the reception.
About booking...I'd look on the hostelworld site some days in advance - if only a few beds are left, book rightaway, otherwise you can turn up on the day as well. It also depends on how important is for you to stay at this place - it can happen that most hostels are booked, especially in Amsterdam and Paris.
30€ per day should be ok...try not to pay more than 20€ for accomodation though! You will have to be cost sensitive - buy food at supermarkets/cook on your own; resist to buy drinks from small shops where prices are high etc...
I'm sure you will have a nice trip! :)
Flo 8)
Simongoesinterrailing
Traveller
5 comments
Thanks guys this has really helped :)
Ill probz type something on here when I get back about the whole experience
peaceeee x
jens90
Traveller
11 comments
a 20 Euro budget is realistic when you go to southern european countries, e.g. in France you can basically survive by eating baguette and cheese and drinking cheap wine :) In northern europe everything is much more expensive, hostels normally cost 25-30 Euros alone. Sleep in trains to save money.
Savetywise I'd say common sense makes you pretty save. Just don't hang around at nights in parts of the city where it is not save. What helps is not looking like a tourist but like a student or local. I am doing intrrail for the third time this year and have never been robbed!
slashdot
Traveller
6 comments
it might be a good idea to always carry a wallet, where only money, and no documents, are in, so that you can give it away, when you get robbed, without putting yourself in too much danger and losing all your documents