subject: Protect yourself on your European city break [print this page] Protect yourself on your European city break
In 2009, 45,944 UK residents visited Europe. The most frequent problem encountered by British Tourists was lost or stolen passports. During the period of April 2009 to March 2010, 6,618 passports were lost or stolen in Spain, with 2,400 in France and 1,017 in Germany.
Whilst you are less likely to be a victim of violent crime in Europe than you would in the USA, it doesn't mean that you're guaranteed not to run into trouble on a European break though, and you should always take the necessary precautions to ensure you avoid run-ins with criminals wherever possible. One of the most common forms of crime experienced by tourists in Europe is pick-pocketing. Even if you are unfortunate enough to fall victim to this crime during your trip, you can minimise the financial damage by carrying your valuables in different pockets or different parts of your money belt - for example, separating your important bank card from your more expendable bank notes or travellers cheques. By taking only a small sum of money with you for the day and leaving the rest in a secured, locked safe in your accommodation could also help minimise a loss should the worst happen.
In particular, women might want to consider not carrying easily-snatched purses on the busy streets of major tourist capitals, such as Rome or Barcelona, while men should ensure they don't leave their wallets in their back pockets, as these can be more vulnerable to opportunists and may not be felt so easily if stolen.
Some of the most vital items you're carrying won't be included in your wallet, of course, such as your passport and any medication. If these are stolen or become lost, you could find it easier to arrange for emergency replacements if you're covered by travel insurance. And with a number of natural disasters having made the headlines in recent years due to the disruptions they've caused (for instance the Icelandic volcano eruption) insurance against "acts of nature" are also being increasingly favoured by travellers.
As such, crime is not the only concern travellers may have when heading overseas, and that's why European travel insurance can be extremely useful to reduce the financial risks of your holidays. Anything from illness to flight cancellation or lost baggage could prove extremely expensive to remedy if you're not insured. If you have travel insurance cover, you could find it less stressful and less costly to get your European break back on track.
