Safety tips

Whenever anyone is planning a trip to Rio, one of the first questions we get is whether it is safe or not. I can honestly say that the majority of tourists will not have any issues or bad encounters on their trip. I have taken Edo to Brazil a few times now without any problems, and he says he has always felt safe.

Rio is an amazing city and I am sure you will be able to enjoy it a lot! All you need to do is make sure you are aware of your surroundings and your belongings. Here are a few of my personal safety tips for visiting Rio:

• Always be aware of your belongings. Don't carry your backpack open, your phone in the back pocket of your jeans, etc. Pickpockets are very common, especially on public transport.

• If you are not using your phone, leave it in your bag.

• Rio is not the place to flash out expensive jewelry and equipment. You will see that Rio is a very laid-back city and people dress very casually most of the time. Shiny objects call attention, so we recommend laying low to avoid any issues. PS: Girls, that doesn't mean you can't dress up! If you want to go out for a nice dinner or party, by all means, dress up! But don't wear that for a day at the beach or for walking around the downtown part of town. Dress accordingly with where you are going.

• The safest ways of getting around town is by Subway or Uber.

• Know where you are going. Save the route or location on your phone, and just be aware of where you are. In neighborhoods like Ipanema and Copacabana, it is totally ok to just wander around and explore. However, I wouldn't recommend getting lost in the city center or the suburbs, where you can end up turning in the wrong street.

• Always pay attention to your surroundings. If someone looks oddly at you or if you don't feel safe, just walk into a store.

• Roll the windows up when driving or riding an Uber, especially when stopping at the traffic light.

• Don't leave your belongings unattended, especially at the beach. If you want to go for a swim, take turns between the group. If that is not possible, just ask the person next to you to watch your things while you swim. We all do it!

I don't want to scare you with any of these because I do believe you can enjoy a lot of Rio being a foreigner, without issues! I just urge you to use a good deal of common sense, and I am sure you will be ok.