I mostly agree with them all especially the Fake Ring thing and i’m willing to try it out on my next trip to France. Though, i have one concern about the first one which tells to practice with large backpack. I think that it just makes you advertise yourself as a tourist and it doesnt sounds really good.

I totally agree with most of your advices. Especially the tips Stay Alert.

About the fake rings, maybe you are right, but just in Western countries. It will not work in Asia, otherwise; it may catch more attention actually ^^

If I may chime in here. If you work for a larger company that has brand recognition internationally, don’t carry any items identifying you work for them such a business card or logo tee shirt etc.

This makes you a more tempting target for kidnap for ransom or even an “express kidnapping”

Larry

Christine, I agree with you (and Brooke) on confidence being one of the most important things to carry around. I’ve been approached by other tourists (who then look startled when I speak fluent English, if I’m in a non-English-speaking country) for directions fairly often – several times when I was actually lost! It’s a good indicator that I at least look like I know what I’m doing.

One thing I do to help myself look more confident and less like a tourist is to write down instructions on a small slip of paper for how to get places I’m going – at the very least, from the train station/airport/bus station to wherever I’m staying, when I first arrive. Pulling that out of my pocket instead of a map puts much less of a “tourist – just arrived!” sign on my forehead and, I feel, helps me draw less attention to myself overall.