Luckily, I have never had any problems during my travels, and the majority of travellers will not experience anything more serious than pickpocketing. I still keep these safety tips in mind when I’m traveling.

Here are 14 tips for staying safe while traveling, that are applicable around the world.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Be aware of your surroundings

Always be aware of your surroundings and follow your gut if something feels off. Sometimes there are certain areas/neighbourhoods within a city that are considered unsafe, make sure to google that or, what I usually do is asking someone at the front desk of my hostel/hotel.

2. Don’t flash your valuables

Avoid flashing your valuables, especially in poorer countries. You will be seen as a “rich person” which could make you a target for pickpocketers. Just an average camera can be worth more than the monthly salary in some countries. You want to avoid standing out as a “wealthy tourist”.

3. Only use ATM’s inside banks

Manipulating ATM’s to copy your credit card information, is unfortunately something that happens around the world. As you probably want to avoid that, only use ATM’s that are located inside a bank branch, preferably during their opening hours.

4. Inform yourself about common scams

Scams happen around the world. Some are universal, like the one where one person will somehow distract you while the other one steals your valuables. Then there are scams that are typical for each country. In order to avoid becoming a victim of one, look up common scams at the country/city you are about to visit.

Another common scam, that I’ve heard about in Bangkok and Costa Rica, but surely happens in more countries: Someone will approach you in a bus or a train station, ask you where you’re going and will then tell you that all buses/trains to there has been cancelled due to a strike/national holiday or whatever. Either they will then tell you that their friend, or themselves, are a taxi driver and can take you to your destination. Of course for an outrageous price. People that fall victim to this scam will believe that all trains/buses have indeed been cancelled and will pay the price, thinking that it’s their only option.

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, check out these 21 things you must know before visiting Costa Rica including a common scam that takes place on the road between San José and the airport.

5. Do not carry your passport around

Obviously losing your passport while traveling is a hot mess, so unless you are gonna use your passport, do not carry it around. Instead leave it in a safe place at your accommodation. Carrying it around for no reason is just an unnecessary risk. It could get stolen, you could lose it or you could even just spill a drink on it or which might ruin it.

Some countries state that you must carry your passport at all times – in that case, carry a photo or a scanned copy of your passport. You can even get a notarised copy of your passport at your home country before you leave.

6. Keep an eye on your bag

Always keep an eye on your bag, there are some professional pickpocketers out there. If you’re in a crowded area, never carry any valuables in a backpack on your back, rather move the backpack to your front.

7. Avoid walking around late at night

Many places get more dangerous after dark. Avoid walking around late at night. If you do, stick to the more crowded streets and try walking with a group if you possibly can. Consider taking a taxi if it’s very late and streets are mostly empty, even if you’re with another person.

8. Don’t get wasted

There’s nothing wrong with going out and having a few drinks, but avoid getting too drunk as this might make you an easy target for all sorts of crimes.

9. Do some research before taking night buses

Night buses tend to be a popular option for longer trips, as you can hopefully sleep through most of it as well as not having to pay for accommodation that night. Usually night buses are safe, but in certain areas night buses are a frequent target for robberies. If you are considering taking a night bus, do a quick research to see if the route has a history of being targeted for robberies.

10. Follow your instinct

If something feels off, follow your instincts. This could be your instinct about a person, a place or whatever.

Find the perfect hostel or hotel for your trip here! Make sure to read the reviews before booking

11. Be careful if (sketchy) people ask if you’re traveling by yourself

If someone you find sketchy and/or you don’t know, asks you if you’re traveling by yourself, always say no. Say you’re traveling with a group of friends, your family, your coworkers, whatever – and make it sound like they’re just around the corner. This could be at the cashier line in the supermarket, a random person on the street that just strikes up a conversation – if something feels off about it, do not say you’re traveling by yourself.

I’ve had this happen a handful of times, and to me it just feels weird that a complete stranger is asking me if I’m traveling by myself, why do they wanna know that? They most likely have no bad intensions and are just curious – but I mean it’s an innocent lie, better safe than sorry.

12. Do not take unofficial taxis

In many countries there are a bunch of “taxi drivers” that basically put a taxi sign on their car, but are not official taxi drivers. Make sure to avoid those as they are not registered/tracked and are likely to try to rip you off as they don’t have a meter.

So how do you recognize they official ones from the unofficial ones? The easiest thing to do is to have the reception/a restaurant/wherever you’re leaving from to call one. In case you are flagging down a taxi on the street, look for their registration number and/or if they’re wearing a uniform. If you’re unsure what the official taxis look like, just approach a local and ask.

13. Have a backup phone

In this day and age, not having a phone can be, well, challenging. Especially if you’re in a foreign country. I’m not sure if I’d last a day without google maps in a place I’m not familiar with haha. So I like to have a backup phone, which is just my old phone, in my luggage, in case anything happens to my other one. In case your phone gets lost, broken or stolen – this will allow you to get by until you figure something out. See if your family or friends have an old phone lying around that you could borrow, in case you don’t have one.

14. Walk like you know where you’re going

Even if you don’t have a clue about where you are or where you’re going, walk like you know the place like your palm and have no doubt about where you’re going. Looking lost will make you look vulnerable and thus, an easier target.

I hope you found this post helpful and will be able to use some of these 14 tips to stay safe while traveling – if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner :))

If you are planning backpacking trip, you might also want to read these posts:

• Common Mistakes to avoid when backpacking
• How to save money while traveling
• How to choose a hostel

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Despite the negative media coverage of Mexico, most of the country remains save for visitors. You should still take normal precautions, just like you would anywhere else – avoid flashing your valuables, wearing expensive jewellery and walking around late at night.
For more practical tips to stay safe, I recommend that you read these 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

As opposed to most other countries in Central America, getting around Mexico by public bus is easy and affordable. The buses are modern and tickets can be booked online. You can find all information regarding buses here
Note that even though they use the $ sign, the prices are in Mexican pesos.

While many people visit Mexico to stay in one of the resorts around Cancún – the country has so much more to offer. Here are five must visit places in Mexico!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

1. Isla Holbox

Isla Holbox is a small laid-back island, located just off the north coast of Yucatán Peninsula. When you arrive you will immediately feel the island vibes – locals selling tropical fruits on the streets, the unpaved sandy streets, and all the colourful houses. You will also notice that there are no cars on the island, only golf carts, which really adds to the whole “island vibe”. The town itself is small and as such is easily accessible by foot. Holbox definitely still has this “untouched” local vibe, which can be hard to find with all-inclusive resorts popping up all over Mexico’s Caribbean coast. It’s the perfect place for relaxing and to experience island life.

The miles long white sand beach and the turquoise blue water makes for a perfect place to relax, enjoy a cold drink or two, or even do some snorkeling. The sunsets on Holbox are not to be missed, I recommend watching it from the beach. After the sun goes down is when you can observe the bioluminescence, a magic phenomenon that occurs when waters of the seashore gets illuminated by certain micro-organism that emit their own blue light. You will find plenty of travel agencies around the island offering these types of tours. It’s worth noting that this is dependent on weather conditions and might not occur every day, the months from July to January is when you’ll have the best chance .

Internet connection, both wifi and 3G/4G, on the island is very unstable and definitely not something you can rely on. So it’s not the place to go if you need to finish a project or do anything that requires a stable internet connection. During my four days there, the internet was gone for about 24 hours straight.

How long to stay in Isla Holbox:

I would recommend staying for at least three nights. That will allow you enough time to explore the island, spend time on the beach and do some activities. If you want to spend a few days on the beach, I’d suggest to stay for additional two to three nights.

Where to stay in Isla Holbox:

Despite being a small island, Holbox has lots of options when it comes to accommodation.

If you are looking for a quiet hostel with chilled vibes, yoga classes and good atmosphere, I would recommend this one. It’s located just two blocks from the beach and just a minute or two away from the centre of town.

For those that are looking for more of a party hostel and wanna do some day drinking while hanging out in the pool, this one might be just what you are looking for.

You might also like: How to Choose Hostels

How to get to Isla Holbox:

The best/cheapest way to get there is to catch an ADO bus from wherever you are, to the ferry port in Chiquila, and from there take a ferry to Holbox. The bus ticket costs around 15-20 USD, depending on where you’re traveling from. There are two ferry companies operating between Chiquila and Holbox, they offer the same service for the same price, about 11 USD. The only difference between the two is that one runs on the hour while the other runs on the half hour. The journey time on the ferry is just under 30 minutes. There is no need to buy the ferry tickets in advance, there are ticket offices at the port.

2. Tulum

Tulum is located on Mexico’s Caribbean coast and is home to white sand beaches, Mayan ruins and a large number of stunning cenotes. Tulum consists of three areas – Tulum town, Tulum beach and the Tulum ruins, that each has its own charm. I loved the fact that you can bike pretty much anywhere, and wherever you go you are surrounded by palm trees. You have lots of cenotes, the beach and the ruins within 30-40 minute bike ride from Tulum town.

Tulum beach, sometimes referred to as the hotel zone, is a long strip of pristine beach just about 20-30 minute bike ride away from Tulum town. Along the beach runs an extremely picturesque street that has a very bohemian vibe to it, lots of palm trees and is home to a number of trendy restaurants. This is also where you will find the famous “follow your dreams” sign, as well as other similar signs. Renting a bike and riding along this road is something I would highly recommend.

Tulum town offers a more local experience than the beach zone. This where you’ll find authentic Mexican restaurants and plenty of taco stands. You can also find some trendy smoothie bowl places, my favourite ones are Matcha Mama and Del Cielo. In Tulum town you will get a lot more for your money than you would in the beach area. Tulum town also makes a great base for visiting the cenotes, many are just a short bike ride away from the town.

The Tulum ruins are located about 4km from Tulum town. While these are certainly not the largest Mayan ruins in Mexico, their location on the edge of a cliff overlooking the white sand beach and turquoise blue water, makes it a pretty spectacular sight. The ruins are accessible by bike and by car – the entrance fee is approximately 4 USD.

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How long to stay in Tulum

To say you need a certain number of days in Tulum is difficult, since there is a lot to see in and around Tulum. It depends on what you really want to do and see – but I would recommend at least 4 days. That will allow you enough time to visit the ruins, have some beach time, eating plenty of street food and visit some of the many cenotes in the area. With that being said, you can easily spend a couple of weeks in Tulum.

Where to stay in Tulum

If you want to have a lot of beach time, are not on a budget and want more of a luxury experience- I would recommend staying at Tulum beach. There are plenty of trendy hotels in that area, here you can check out hotels in Tulum.

For backpackers, those on a budget and for those looking for a more authentic experience – I would recommend staying in Tulum town. You will be a bit further from the beach, but closer to many of the cenotes.
I stayed here during my two weeks in Tulum and it’s honestly one of the best hostels I’ve stayed at. It has friendly and fun atmosphere, offer lots of activities and they also have bikes that you can use free of charge. It does not have a swimming pool though. If you’d rater stay at a hostel with a pool – I can recommend Maka and Mimosa.

How to get to Tulum

To get to Tulum you can rent a car or take a bus. The nearest airport is in Cancún, from there it’s just about a two hour car ride to Tulum. You can catch a bus to Tulum from pretty much anywhere in Mexico, prices and timetables can be found here.

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3. Valladolid

Colour lovers will feel like they’re dreaming when wandering the streets of Valladolid, a charming colonial town on the Yucatán peninsula. With its pastel coloured colonial buildings and old historic churches, Valladolid is probably what you would picture when thinking of the typical Mexican town. What I love about Valladolid is that it’s really authentic and gives you a taste of real Mexico, making it one of the 5 must visit places in Mexico. Contrary to Cancún and Playa del Carmen, instead of being crowded with people on spring break, in Valladolid you will encounter locals just living their every day life. The best way to explore Valladolid would be to simply wander around aimlessly with a camera in hand. A part from stunning architecture, there is even a cenote within the city, called Cenote Zaci, located just a couple of blocks away from the centre.

With plenty of cenotes and places such as the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, one of the new seven wonders of the world, at its doorstep – you should certainly allow for some time to visit the area around Valladolid. Cenote Ik Kil is located just a couple of minutes from Chichen Itza, making it an ideal place to cool down after exploring the Mayan ruins.

How long to stay in Valladolid

Valladolid can make for a great day trip if you’re short on time. You can spend a couple of hours wandering through the centre and then visit Chichen Itza. Such day trips are available from any of the major cities, including Tulum, Cancún and Playa del Carmen.
However, if you’re not in a rush, I would recommend staying at least 2 nights . Depending on how many of the cenotes you want to visit, you might want to add in a couple more nights. 

Where to stay in Valladolid

With Valladolid being a pretty small town, just about anywhere is a good place to stay. There are plenty of accommodation options that range from high end resorts to Colonial style boutique hotels and hostels.

For those on a budget and looking for a nice, affordable hostel – this one would be a perfect option. A Colonial style family run hostel, located right in the downtown area. Offering plenty of hammocks, air conditioned rooms and even has breakfast included.

If you want a little more luxury but don’t want to spend the kind of money you’d be paying for a high end resort, Casa Daniels is worth checking out! For just about 35 USD you can stay in a private room and cool down in a pool in a tropical garden after a day of exploring.

In Valladolid you will also find variety of high end hotels, most of them being Colonial style boutique hotels. Accommodation in Valladolid is pretty affordable, with luxurious hotels ranging from 50USD per night, here you can have a look at hotels in Valladolid. With that being said, if you are planning to treat yourself to a fancy hotel once in your trip, which I often do, this would be the ideal place for it.

How to get to Valladolid

Just as other cities on the Yucatán peninsula, Valladolid is well connected by the ADO busses. From the bus station it will only take you a couple of minutes to walk to the centre. If you are planning to rent a car, Valladolid is just about a 2 hour drive from Cancún and 1,5 hours from Tulum.

4. Bacalar

Close to the Belize borders you will find Bacalar, a quiet lakeside village that sits on the shore of Lagoon Bacalar, which is the main attraction of Bacalar. The lagoon is the reason most people decide to visit Bacalar, and was certainly the reason for my trip there :)) It’s a must visit for anyone that loves turquoise blue water. The lagoon is also known as Lagoon of the Seven Colours due to the many shades of blue the water will have throughout the day.

The best way to discover Bacalar is to take a boat tour. Most of them last for about 2-3 hours and will take you to the best parts of the lake, including Canal de Los Pirates, which is considered one of the most beautiful parts of the lake. The mud there is also believed to be full of minerals, so you can do whatever you want with that :)) Bacalar is also the perfect place for all sorts of water activities – paddle boarding, kayaking, scuba diving, you name it. There are of course a few cenotes in the area – the most famous one being Cenote Azul. in For those looking for a bit of culture, a visit to Fort San Felipe is a must.

A little tip before visiting Bacalar – bring enough cash (pesos, not USD) to last for the time you plan to stay there. Bacalar is not very developed, there are ATM’s but these can be working one day and not working the next, so you never know. Some places do take cards, but you absolutely can’t count on it.

Check out this post for where to eat in Bacalar!

How Long to Stay in Bacalar

I would recommend spending at least two whole days in Bacalar. About half a day to do a boat tour, then you’ll have a couple of hours to walk through the town and enjoy some of the delicious local food. Then you will have day to relax at the lagoon, go kayaking or do any of the other water activities. With that being said – I ended up staying there for almost two weeks

Where to stay in Bacalar

Bacalar offers plenty of options for all preferences and budgets.

For backpackers looking for a very social atmosphere, The Yak Lake House would be the perfect option. Located next to the lake, offering gorgeous views and lots of events.

If you’re looking for a bit more relaxed place, this brand new very stylish hostel is probably what you are looking for. A cozy little place with a gorgeous pool and super pretty spacious rooms.

How to get to Bacalar

Getting to Bacalar is relatively easy. Like the rest of the Yucatán Peninsula, it’s well connected by ADO buses. From Tulum the bus ride is just under 3 hours, while from Cancún it take a bit over 5 hours. If you are renting a car, Bacalar is approximately 4 hours drive from Cancún and 2,5 hours from Tulum.

5. Puerto Escondido

Located on Mexico’s southern Pacific coast, Puerto Escondido is a relaxed beach town. Unlike places like Cancún and Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Escondido, it’s definitely not famous for all-inclusive luxury resorts. Instead it’s known for it’s surf scene and beautiful beaches. In Puerto Escondido you can spend your days catching waves on a surfboard, relaxing at the beach, enjoying the sunset and admiring turtles. After spending a day in the sun, I recommend taking a trip to Laguna de Manialtepec, where you can observe the bioluminescence. A magic phenomenon that occurs when waters of the seashore gets illuminated by certain micro-organism that emit their own blue light. You will find plenty of travel agencies around town offering these types of tours.

One thing you need to know before visiting Puerto Escondido is that cash is king. ATM’s tend to run out of cash frequently, so make sure to have plenty of cash before getting there. Some businesses accept cards, but don’t count on it.

How long to stay in Puerto Escondido

It’s not unlikely that you’ll never want to leave Puerto Escondido. With that being said, you should be able to get the hang of it in 4-5 days. That will leave you with enough time to explore a few beaches, try some local food, walk along the Adoquín and experience the nightlife.

Where to stay in Puerto Escondido

Due to its popularity among young travellers and backpackers, Puerto Escondido has an abundance of great hostels.For those planning to surf, you’ll probably want to stay close to Zicatela, which is where you’ll find the best waves. Close by La Punta de Zicatela is popular among backpackers, that’s where Villa Bonobo a boutique hostel, is located. Featuring a big rooftop with plenty of space to work out or do some yoga. Oh, and they have free coffee all day!

Closer to the centre of Puerto Escondido you have Puerto Dreams, a hostel that has everything you could need, including a co-working space. It’s surrounded with plenty of nice restaurants (Cocofam is a must try!) and about 20 minute walk from the beach.

Here you can check out hotels in Puerto Escondido. I recommend using the filters to filter out places that have a rating below 8, as those usually turn out to be a disappointment.

How to get to Puerto Escondido

The quickest way to get to Puerto Escondido is by flight. With direct flights only from Mexico City, you will need to transfer in Mexico city if you’re traveling from elsewhere in Mexico. You can also catch an ADO bus, but depending on where you’re coming from, it can take a long time. If you plan to rent a car, you can of course drive there as well.

I hope this post has inspired you to visit Mexico! If you want to get notified when I publish new posts, just click the red bell in the lower right corner, or follow me on Instagram where I usually announce new blog posts :)))

If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, you might also want to read:

• How much you can expect to spend per day in Mexico
• Four day Tulum itinerary: Things to do in Tulum
• Where to eat in Bacalar
• Visiting Izamal: The yellow city in Mexico
• Your guide to visiting Isla Mujeres
• 10 Things to do in Mexico City
• San Cristóbal de las Casas Travel Guide
• Best cafés to work from in Cancún
• How to get from San Cristóbal to Guatemala

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Having stayed at hundreds of hostels around the world, let me walk you through how I choose and book hostels. When it comes to booking both hostels and hotels, you can’t just make a decision after looking at a few photos. The fact that the photos look great, doesn’t mean that the hostel is any good. It could even be straight up awful. The most common reason would probably be that the photos are very old and the place hasn’t been maintained since it was build. The pool you might have seen on the photos might not have been in used for years and the place could be falling apart.

Hostels are a great way to save money when traveling, while also giving you the chance to meet new people. In my experience, choosing a good hostel can be the difference between having an awesome or just an average time. 

Here I will list things you need to consider when choosing a hostel.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you click through and make a purchase (at no extra cost to you)

Filter out the not-so-good ones

Just like with hotels, there are all sorts of hostels out there. Some of them have their shit together, while others don’t. In my experience, hostels with above 80% rating will have their shit together. With that being said – the first thing I do when looking for hostels, is to filter out hostels that have a rating below 80% on booking.com or hostelworld.com. This will help you stay clear of hostels that might or might not have toilet paper, those that haven’t been cleaned for weeks or those that have a broken air conditioning that they’ve been meaning to have fixed but just haven’t gotten around to it. Unless you’re on a very tight budget, don’t choose the cheapest hostel. Spending an extra 1-2 dollar per night can make a HUGE difference in terms of what you get. 

Set your priorities straight

Once you have filtered out the not-so-good ones, you can start figuring out what your priorities are and what type of hostel you are looking for. Here I will list a few factors you should consider.

Party hostel or a quiet one

Are you looking for a party hostel or do you prefer a quiet one? Do you mind loud music playing until late or would you rather have the chance to go to sleep before midnight? Party hostels tend to attract younger guests whose sole purpose of the trip may or may not be to see the inside of as many nightclubs as possible, rather than to explore anything else. If you are more interested in chasing waterfalls and going on day trips, you might not find your type of people at a party hostel. You can usually tell from the negative reviews from angry travelers that were not looking for a party hostel but got one, whether or not a hostel is a party hostel. 

Air conditioning

Are you from a cold country and traveling to a tropical, hot and humid country? If so, having an air con in you room is definitely an important factor when choosing a hostel. Believe me when I tell you, you do want to spend whatever amount needed to have an a/c in your room. I once ended up spending a night in Nicaragua in a room without an a/c due to series of unfortunate events (mainly, we forgot it was Easters so our only options were to sleep on the street or in this very crappy hostel which sure did not have a/c, nor running water) – it was not a pleasant night I spent the entire night awake, not sure if I was about to fall asleep or if I was about to pass out from a heatstroke. You will want to avoid this at all cost

Plug-ins next to the beds

Things like having plug-ins next to the beds, is something that can be easy not to pay attention to, but once you’re in bed and your phone is at 8%, you will wish that you thought of this sooner. So if you are person with a phone, having a plug-in next to your bed is something you want to keep in mind when choosing a hostel.

If you have a power bank (get one here) this probably won’t affect you that much. The same goes for plug-ins that aren’t working. Once again, you can tell from angry reviews from travelers that woke up to their phone at the same 3% as the night before. 

Check-in times

Make sure to look at the check-in times, especially if you will be arriving late. Not all hostels have a reception that’s open 24/7, so always make sure you will be able to check in at the time you arrive. You don’t want to be standing outside with your luggage at 11pm only to find out that you can’t get in. 

Lockers

Almost all hostels have lockers of some sort. Make sure to bring your own padlock (get one here) as most hostels don’t provide one. Some hostels only have small lockers that would fit things like your phone, wallet, passport, etc. Depending on how much you value your stuff, you might want to make sure that the hostel has large lockers that will fit all your things. 

Common areas

Chances are that you are not looking to spend a whole lot of time in your room – and that you want to meet new people. If that’s important to you, make sure that the hostel has a common area where you can hang out.  

Reading the reviews

Once you have narrowed down your choices based on your preferences – you will want to go through the reviews before booking. Reading reviews from people that have stayed in the hostel can give you a lot of valuable information that you can’t find elsewhere. These can be things like if there is a construction going on next door that starts at 6am every morning, are the beds comfortable, is it a party hostel or a quiet one, how the atmosphere is – basically lots of things you will want to know before making a decision. Read the negative reviews and check if the things people are complaining about is something that would be a deal breaker for you. 

Here you can search for hostels and read reviews:

I hope this gave you an idea about how to choose a hostel, and perhaps more importantly, will help you to stay clear of the not so good ones.
PS if you want to get notified when I publish new blog posts, just click the red bell in the bottom right corner or follow me on instagram where I usually announce new posts :))

If you are planning backpacking trip, you might also want to read these posts:

• Common Mistakes to avoid when backpacking
• How to save money while traveling
• 14 tips for staying safe while traveling

PIN IT!

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