Imagine you are in the planning stage of a trip to Europe.
The flights have been purchased, but you still have plenty of time ahead to work your way through your guidebooks and travel blogs.
Or, perhaps you're sitting at your desk daydreaming about a tour of Europe after clicking your way through a slideshow called "10 European Castles You Must See Before You Die."
Maybe you're sitting on top of your suitcase trying to squeeze every last bit of wicking clothing in before heading off to the airport.
Either way, all of a sudden, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a bright red "Breaking News" banner.
A bomb has gone off in Berlin. Or London. Or Amsterdam.
A minute ago you were heading their way and now everyone in the world is being asked to pray. Are you still going on that trip?
Many travelers have faced this conundrum over the last couple of years as France, Belgium, Spain, Germany and England have all been witness to some terrible terrorist atrocities.
So, what's it going to be? Are you going to look into canceling those flights-turning your extravagant European vacation into a simple staycation-or are you going to proceed as planned?
I urge you to choose the latter. Why?
Well, I could trot out all kinds of statistics about how your odds of being caught up in a terrorist attack are around the same as being felled by a falling croissant dropped off the Eiffel Tower, but I'm not going to go there. Even though English cows typically kill the same amount of people in a year as terrorist pigs do, I'm not going to go there either.
Since it is naive to think that these horrible events have zero impact on us when we travel, I'm just going to be practical and talk about some of the tiny things that you can do to keep yourself a little bit safer when you do come to Europe.
Because you are going on that trip.
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Travel off the Beaten Path
Sadly, terrorist scumbags are well-schooled in milking the media for maximum coverage of their heinous acts. A major part of that equation is knowing which cities (i.e. Paris, London and Berlin) and events (festive get-togethers) grab the biggest headlines.
You shouldn't skip these great cities or gatherings on your trip, but if you are concerned about safety, then mix them in with a detour off-the-beaten-path. Adding a hidden mountain village or obscure Mediterranean island into your itinerary is always a good idea, and it's bound to make you feel safer.
Afterall, if the other tourists can't find the place on a map, hopefully the bad guys won't either.
Know the Number
If you find yourself in the middle of an emergency in Europe, your first instinct will probably be to dial '911'.
Sadly, you won't find any help on the other end of the line.
Rest assured, each country's citizens have access to emergency services, but they just dial different digits to get in touch with them. For example, it is "112" in France while the number is "999" in the United Kingdom. Make sure to bring a working phone with you to Europe and save the appropriate emergency number in said phone for each country you visit.
You're still more likely to use that device for looking up restaurant reviews, but it will feel good to know that help is always just a call away.
Inquire About Insurance
Travel insurance is always a good idea, as it can protect you from everything from weather-related calamities to an airline inexplicably canceling your flight because they mismanaged their pilot's vacation hours. (Here's looking at you, Ryanair.)
Naturally, most travel insurance policies will step up to the plate if an act of terrorism occurs and just having it will provide priceless peace of mind.
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Pay Extra Attention at High Profile Tourist Attractions
Imagine you were going to spray paint the initials of your significant other on an inanimate object in your hometown (not that you would, but just go along with me here).
What type of object would you choose?
Well, terrorists operate in a similar manner, and that's why landmarks and symbolic buildings always seem to sit atop of their list.
You're still going to visit Big Ben and the Colosseum, but when you do, pay a little more attention to your surroundings than you would anywhere else. This is always good advice as these areas are the notorious stomping ground of the common criminal you are actually most likely to bump into in Europe: the pickpocket.
The same goes for public transportation. Keep an eye on your wallet at all times and, if in the process you happen to see someone acting strange or overly nervous, say something.
Seek out Uncle Sam
No matter where you go in Europe, it's a good idea to know where the American Embassy is located and how to get in touch with them. (This is another phone number that could come in handy.)
In the event of an emergency, they will be the first ones who can lend assistance and advice. You also will need to talk to them if you lose your passport, which is likely the most calamitous thing that could happen to you.
Bon Voyage!
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