Monitoring our safety can seem a wearying process when we travel. There's a lot of detail coming at us at a time when we most want to relax and absorb our surroundings.

Much of the risk can be dealt with by good preparation. This means understanding the threats and being ready to deal with them.

Concepts of safety and security in travel might vary. To some, safety seems to be about avoiding violence or physical threats. To others, the vulnerability to theft and the potential for deception is part of a wider picture of safety and security.

Who we are is a factor influencing perceptions of safety. So let’s take a broad view of circumstances.

But where can you turn for warnings on specific and current threats?

The first place is your own government, which has permanent representatives in most European countries who monitor local conditions. The resulting “smart travel” services are an invaluable first stop for anyone planning a trip, even before signing up for travel insurance.

The US State Department, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are examples of comprehensive advice services that update reports on conditions at your destination. Canada's external-affairs agencies contribute to an advice page.

These national advisories sometimes include variations for certain regions. Advice is multifaceted and travellers can sign up for regular or spot email alerts and monitor social media channels.

Levels of traveller risk

Wherever you turn for advice, the risk levels fall into these broad categories, often colour coded:
● Take normal security precautions
● Exercise a high degree of caution
● Avoid non-essential travel (sometimes “reconsider your need to travel”)
● Avoid all travel

Other factors in governments' travel advice are the perceived vulnerability of their citizens in some destinations and their own ability to provide consular assistance.

Specific security advice for women, travellers with disabilities, LGBT+ travellers, independent travellers and outdoor activities is often available.

Among Western English-speaking countries there is a high correlation in travel advice, but there are nuances many travellers might want to consider. All national information services are useful and good sites to survey a spectrum of suggestions to factor into travel plans and behaviour.

Governments always advise travellers to monitor news reports relevant to their destinations, including weather reports, and follow the advice of local authorities.

The US State Department international travel page is a good example.

Register for travel updates or help

The US Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, the UK's FCDO advice page or the Australian DFAT Smartraveller page are examples of subscriber services for travel updates.

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program of Global Affairs Canada and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade also allow citizens to register their travel plans.
The US Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, the UK's FCDO page and the Australian DFAT Smartraveller page are examples of subscriber services for travel updates.

The Global Affairs Canada Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade page allow citizens to register their travel plans.

India's Ministry of External Affairs posts travel advice on national embassy pages, but is less comprehensive in its coverage.

Did you know that there is a formal requirement to register with the police if you plan to stay longer than three days in Slovakia?

Also worth consulting are the websites published by European tourist authorities. These can also be useful information sources in warning of threats of crime against people and property.

Travel insurers, like travellers, are exposed to threats and many offer detailed advice to travellers on specific destinations. Travellers can be sure this will be factored into policy costs. We don’t have to buy, but we can window-shop while taking careful note of travel advice that might be relevant.

How safe is Europe?

There is wide agreement that most European countries are among the safest in the world for travellers to visit.

This is true if we set aside the unfortunate case of war-torn Ukraine, the second-largest European country, Russia and Belarus. All three are put in the “avoid all travel” category by Western governments.

Germany, France, the UK, Denmark and Sweden are at present in the “exercise a high degree of caution” category because of the perceived threat of terror attacks (level 2 of four, characterised as “moderate”).

In eastern parts of Germany, ethnic, religious or political minorities might face far-right extremist threats. France's current terror alert is at a similar level.

Staying healthy means we enjoy travel

We don't want to think about the sort of lapses can mean we lose our travel funds, our possessions, or find ourselves sick or injured.

It's probably the least interesting travel topic. But it’s the most important, and any coverage should dig into the various dimensions of the problem.

Can we have forgotten COVID-19 so quickly? When was your last booster vaccination? Wearing masks and using sanitiser are issues of personal choice that are not guaranteed to protect us.

But most of us find recommended vaccines offer a large measure of protection from serious COVID infection and virulent strains of flu. These are likely the main issues travellers to Europe will face.
Check your government’s health advisories for travel to the relevant countries well in advance of departure to find other health suggestions or warnings.

It isn’t widely known that in forests and other outdoor landscapes of southern Germany, central Europe and the Baltic nations ticks that can carry a bacterial infection called Lyme disease or a form of encephalitis are active from spring to autumn – the time most of us visit. It’s not a common threat, but serious.

If you carry medications, make sure there are enough to cover the travel plan, plus the unplannable delays such as a necessary COVID isolation. Filling a prescription abroad can be difficult or impossible.

It’s best to ensure the countries you visit allow the import of the medicines you use. What might be considered standard preparations in many Western countries, such as paracetamol, are not available over the counter in Germany, the most populous European nation. If you use paracetamol regularly, pack some as you will not be able to buy it in Germany without a German prescription.

Online safety is an issue everywhere

Cybersecurity now gets lots of attention. Should we let our guard down abroad, when we might be most vulnerable?

Cyber-based threats follow us everywhere in an age when digital identity theft is a growing concern. At risk is your money and your personal information.

Yet we download apps to get information and use websites to buy tickets and to check timetables. It’s an important part of travel today.

The assumption should be that no information sent is fully secure unless the network is secure. Never use public shared devices, particularly for transmitting personal information or logging into personal accounts, which includes email.

Here’s a short list of basic online security measures:

● Information security professionals recommend always using a premium virtual private network (VPN). This applies doubly on public or hotel wi-fi networks, where there are no guarantees.
● USB devices can also be vulnerable and it's best to always recharge devices using our own cords and connections. Data professionals recommend using USB data blockers when connecting to a USB port.
● Turn off wi-fi, Bluetooth or other data connections when not using them. Wi-fi networks are highly vulnerable to threats.
● Log out of websites that are not in use.
● Some government agencies recommend travellers clear their browser history, cookies and caches each time they finish browsing.

It's a bad sign if devices or apps start crashing, pop-ups start appearing or unexplained data use occurs. If this happens, immediately activate flight mode on smartphones or tablets or close all open websites and turn off the wi-fi link. Then run anti-virus and anti-malware software.

Social media posts can be risky in places where social or political tensions or laws on public comment can expose visitors to arrest. Posting on social media while in a specific location is also potentially risky. It's safest to post images after leaving a location, or to restrict access to trusted friends.

A weather eye

Europe's weather, especially heat, has claimed more attention in recent years. The Raven Report last week emphasised the importance of keeping track of local news of warnings and being well prepared.
If there's flooding, or severe weather:

● Follow the advice of local authorities
● Monitor media reports and other local sources closely and use tourist offices where necessary

Other natural disasters are rare, but could happen. Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to receive alerts on major disasters.

Political unrest and violence

Terrorism is a threat worldwide and sporadic attacks have occurred in some European cities in the past decade.

Demonstrations and protests are more likely to be a nuisance than a threat, but public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.

Again, information is the best defence. Western governments advise avoiding protests and demonstrations and following the advice of local authorities. As noted above, resist any urge to post images of unrest or opinions on social media.

Drink and needle spiking

Spiking seems to be the scourge of the 2020s. In entertainment venues, and at concerts, drink spiking and the relatively new crime of “needle spiking” have attracted attention in many European countries, including the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The Evening Standard reported in 2024 that about 100 cases were being reported each month in London.

Sexual predators are most often blamed but theft has been associated with some cases of needle spiking. But women are not the only victims. The best defence is to never visit risky events or venues alone. Only trusted companions can be relied on to help if something goes wrong.

Rest assured

Often we travel tired in the effort to meet our schedules, and this affects our decisions. Getting the sleep we need is not always easy in aircraft or when crossing multiple time zones.

It’s a neglected aspect of travel safety.

Like any other aspect of travel, we need to account for this and plan to get the rest we need. We might not be at our peak until a few days into the trip, so don’t overcommit at the start.

Factor this into travel calculations, especially if you find yourself scrimping on sleep in the days before departure in the effort to finalise preparations. In the day or two after arrival, an afternoon nap or two might be needed. Consider staying several days in you first destination.

The process of setting up the best protection starts before we leave, and vigilance only ends when we walk through door at home, with another rewarding adventure complete.

If we can do this without regrets, then our travel is usually worthwhile.

What does your safety checklist look like?