Have any of you ever had scary or unfortunate experiences where you were robbed or threatened while travelling abroad?
I just read a thread on Mumsnet where people have been robbed by corrupt police, border guards or customs officers while travelling solo in countries like Mexico and some of the eastern European countries.
Thinking of the time I travelled solo to such countries as Iran, Syria, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. Nothing of that kind ever happened to me and I often went into the homes of ordinary people when invited. No one ever threatend me, demanded money or sex or anything of that order. I should add that I always dressed modestly in long loose clothes and often wore a headscarf.
The worst that ever happened was that sometimes in hotels the room boy would try it on. In such countries rooms are often cleaned by young men and they may see European solo women as fair game. In Iran, for example, housekeeping would come to my room with the excuse of bringing someing in the hope of seeing me without a headscarf. I would always shout "Leave in outside". Ive also had random knocks on my door at late hours (including Italy).
On Amazon you can buy tricky little gadgets which allow you to lock a door from the inside so that even someone with an electronic pass cant get in. With old fashioned metal keys you just turn it in the lock from the inside. I always disconnected the telephone at night to deter random phone calls.
Its just a question of taking simple precautions.
