When I conduct training for travelers who are off to medium – high risk destinations I always mention that I choose not to stay at the Marriott – regardless of what country I am going to.  It’s not because of the quality of the bedding, the safety of the food or the security of the rooms – but rather because it is in the news a bit too much for my liking.

2003 Jakarta bomb: 12 dead 150 injured

2008 Islamabad bomb: 54 dead 266 injured

2008 Islamabad fire: 9 injured

2009 Jakarta bomb: To Be Confirmed.

Its also worth nowing the the Marriott group own the Ritz Carlton…..

Why is it a target?

Possibly because its founder was a Mormon Minister and the group donated the maximum $250,000 to the second innaguration of George W. Bush.

Maybe their security isn’t as good as it could be.

Perhaps its just bad luck and the odds say that somewhere within one of their 70 or so international hotels there will be a problem.

Whatever it is – I never stay there.

Indian Student Protest Against Rising Crime In Australia

Australia has copped a lot of bad press lately regarding assaults on Indian students – and fair enough.

The attacks aren’t racially based but more crimes of opportunity. Thieves are looking for a quick cash grab – and that means Ipods, I phones and mobile phones.

Indian students are generally highly tech savvy and frequent users of state of the art communication and music devices.  Unfortunately these devices are easy for the criminal to sell and have strong resale value.

The nature of international study in a declining job market also means that students often work at night and are forced to travel alone on public transport – which offers the criminal a predictable environment to operate in and makes the student an easy target – paticularly in the Western suburbs where a lower socio-economic population = an increase in petty theft. This is not unusual for Australia but the same the world over.

So, as a student, what can you do to minimise the potential of theft, or even worse, assault.

1. Travel in groups whenever possible and share a taxi instead of catching the train

2. Minimise your movement late at night

3. Keep phones, MP3 players etc concealed

4. If traveling by train only stay in occupied carriages. If this is not possible, use the carriage that is closest to the guard.

5. Situate yourself in the carriage to maximise your exit options – don’t allow yourself to be cornered

6. Consider using trams or buses – due to the proximity of the driver they are considerably safer than train carriages.

7. If confronted – hand over your valuables. It’s not worth starting an argument that you can’t win

8. Make sure that someone knows where you are – a quick SMS to your friend that you are catching the train, getting off the train etc ensures that if something goes wrong, or if you are late, that there is someone who can help. Perhaps have them meet you at the station. There’s always safety in numbers.

9. When you leave the station keep to well-lit areas

10. Try not to attract unwanted attention – its better to blend into the crowd than to be the stand-out.

11. Most importantly – stay aware of whats happening around you. Always ask yourself:

* Is it safe to be here?

* Is there somewhere I could be that is safer?

* What will I do if I find myself in trouble?

Australia is one of the safest countries in the world – but not immune to safety /security problems. The recent media attention will hopefully see these unsavoury incidents a thing of the past.

Until it is – stay aware and plan your travel to stay safe.

Don’t just accept any old car. By being discriminatory you can make yourself a lot safer.  Vehicle incidents are the leading cause of injury and death for travelers. Be insistent about your safety. Its your life!

Your vehicle should be suitable to the terrain required to be traveled.

Four-wheel drive vehicles are multi-purpose and also provide an added degree of physical security, but if unavailable a sedan or station wagon is OK.

Check the vehicle before you use it. Confirm that it has a spare tyre, jack, basic tool kit and a full tank of petrol. If it does not meet your requirements, insist on another one that does.

The vehicle should be around 5 years old, have central locking, be mid-range in price (to avoid unwanted attention), have tinted windows and a a car phone. The best place to sit if you are alone is generally in the middle of the back seat.  It makes it a lot harder for “smash and grab” car-jackers to effect you if they can’t reach you and it also provides good visibility of the drivers actions.

If you are in a high risk destination, the driver will / should never leave the vehicle unattended when he is in your employ. Ensure that he is aware of this requirement.  The driver should also inspect the vehicle for improvised explosive devices and booby traps if it has been unattended for any length of time. If he does not, you should conduct a simple inspection yourself as the link explains.

Its the simple things that make the difference…