Be Careful Out there....

[John Wayne]

Originally Posted by Sailover

Taking precautions is good and important, but as you would be the ONLY one wearing a surgical mask down here, that MIGHT make all of your precautions moot. As we have said before, just be aware and confident without being cocky and you should be fine. The first time you stop to make sure no one is following you with a bag of blow is when you might be noticed. The two times I have been pickpocketed I was acting like a clumsy James Bond. It must have stood out like I was in a mask or something.

Absolutely, and don´t flash cash, wear jewlery, or dress like you have money, What did Steven King say?

You cannot make yourself invisable, but you can dim yourself.....And if you are going to mingle...anywhere... it is SOP....

[KPunch2]

Some very good points and excellent input from our members. But there are only so many precautions you can make. As foreigners, we already stand out in public much more than the locals. I'm not trying to be morose about this, but there is no need to get all paranoid about things you have absolutely no control over. I call it fate. If the stars align that day and its your time to get mugged, then unfortunately, you are going to get mugged. You might get mugged going out to dinner with your GF, or at the beach, or trying to hail a taxi somewhere. All the precautions in the world wont prevent the inevitable. If its your time, then its your time.

I can't stress enough of being aware of your surroundings and try to keep/hide your money in separate pockets on your person.

[James]

Hey Tinto,
Thank you so very much on the videos that you send to the Gringos I really did injoy watching them and now I know to be very Careful out there when I go back to Bogota again I just want to again thank you very much!

[Bala]

For those looking for more ways to manage the risks of fate, two options are:

1. Register your travel with the US Embassy/State Dept.
Registering your trip will allow Embassy officials to contact you (or others you designate) in case of emergency, and allow you to receive the latest Travel Announcements & Warnings, etc., via E-Mail.

See: http://bogota.usembassy.gov/http/tra...tion_1186.html

2. Insure against travel accident, medical bills, flight delay, baggage loss, etc.
There are many travel insurance plans available out there. I use Travel Guard when I travel.
See: http://www.travelguard.com/

Thx, GB

[Sailover]

If you are so concerned about a trip here that you feel you should register with the government and take out insurance, perhaps Colombia is not the place for you because you won't be able to relax and that anxiety can be seen by those who would do you harm. The great majority of the people that come here have no problem. Hell, Miami is more dangerous in a lot of ways. Just one idiot Gringos' opinion.

[Bala]

To the contrary, registering a trip with the State Dept. and getting travel insurance as millions of people do who travel around the world have done, usually puts people more at ease and enhances relaxation and enjoyment. Just ask those who did it. Just another 1 & 1/2 pesos First Amendment opinion.

[GrizGator]

I have never registered with the U.S. embassy before, but if I was single, I'd probably do it now. In addition, for tips of any reasonable length, I have always purchased medical and medical evacuation insurance. I skip all of the other type of trip insurance....but I like to have piece of mind that if something happens to me medically, I'm covered and get get "shipped" back to the U.S. for further. At my age, the coverage is dirt cheap. I use the same site as Gary mentioned.

Griz