Tourists Are Sharing The US Travel Safety Tips That Could Literally Save Your Life, And As An American, I'm Embarrassed People Even Have To Think About These Things

The United States has many incredible places that are popular with tourists — but also a global reputation of being a bit, well, unsafe. So when Reddit user advice_seekers asked people to share their top safety tips for anyone traveling to the US, there were a lot of interesting responses...

1. "If people are trying to sell you stuff or harass you, just keep walking and ignore them. I see a ton of tourists stopping to talk to these guys. For the most part, they’re not dangerous, but you gotta be assertive and just move on with your day."

—Anonymous

2. "Don't let anyone give you a CD! They won't let you leave until you 'donate.' Very obnoxious scam."

—CaseyGuo

3. "Stay away from Times Square unless you're going to see a show. Don't let anyone sell you shit, including pictures."

—BxBae133

4. "Look up the safe and unsafe neighborhoods and stay out of the unsafe ones. Take precautions against pick-pocketing. Don’t be isolated and alone. Always have your phone fully charged, and maybe bring a portable battery pack with you."

—Unhappy_Performer538

5. "My number-one piece of advice is always look where you’re going. Standing on a street corner looking up at skyscrapers says you’re out of your element. I’d try to have an agenda for each day and sketch out how you’ll get from point A to point B, so there’s not a lot of standing around."

—Anonymous

6. "If you plan on taking public transportation, be extra wary about where you are standing and who is around you. If you get a bad feeling about certain people, don’t feel shy about staying away from them or changing seats."

—WiseGalaxyBrain

7. "Do not leave anything unattended, ever. If you can, use pockets instead of a handbag. If you rent a car, keep valuables in the trunk. Hide the cash in your hotel room, as well as your jewelry when you're not there."

—Jenlsnod

8. "If you're driving and get pulled over by police, stay in the car with your hands on the steering wheel. Don't get out to say 'Hi, officer.' Once they know you're not a threat, things will be fine and friendly."

—toddlangtry

9. And similarly: "It might be a stupid piece of advice, but I didn’t know this my first time in the US: When something happens with a police officer or something like that, never approach them. It’s probably very European to forget that people wear guns there. My mom saw a car crash with a police car, and people were shouting at her to just stay away and call an ambulance — never approach the vehicle yourself, apparently."

—Maiswafeltje13

10. "Remember, we have a gun culture here in the US. Assume everyone is potentially armed and behave accordingly. Try to be respectful and courteous."

—MiuntainTiger111

11. "Stay as far away from motor vehicles as possible, and you should be fine. Motor vehicle accidents are far and away the largest random killer of people in the USA."

—Keystonelonestar

12. "Get health insurance! If anything happens, admission to the hospital can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars!"

—Life-Inspector5101

13. "Give a little bit of extra personal space when in crowds. And be aware of queues when getting in line for things."

—brimstone404

14. "If you’re not from an area where there are earthquakes, look up what to do if there’s an earthquake."

—TheRainbowConnection

15. "Look where you are going. Some places in NYC, for instance, have basements with a cellar door on the sidewalk. Make sure you don’t fall in."

—Anon

16. "If you decide to visit a red state, I would make certain the women in your group aren’t pregnant first. If someone needs an emergency abortion for things like ectopic pregnancies or a placental abruption, they’ll have difficulty accessing it in most midwestern and southern states."

—Commercial_Place9807

17. "Keep your head on a swivel — danger can come from any direction. Make sure there’s someone scanning around you if one of you is checking your phone. Don’t just leave anything lying around that someone might think is valuable, whether it’s electronics or a handbag or backpack — they will grab first and sort or dump the contents later."

—Felaguin

18. "You really don't have to worry about anything. Petty crime, perhaps, but violent crime against strangers is not very common, despite what the internet would have you believe. Don't walk around sketchy areas at night. That's about it."

—Vowel_Movements_4U

19. And lastly: "Safety tip: keep a 'f*ck you' attitude wherever you go."

—labeccar

What advice would you give to tourists coming to America? Share in the comments or the anonymous form below!

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.