Partying Abroad: Strategies for a Safe Night Out

A Bustling Nightlife District

A Safe Night is a Successful Night  

The dazzling lights and electric energy of the crowded nightclubs blend with the deafening bassline and the clinking of glasses as friends dance and drink the night away.  The excitement mixed with the intoxication can overwhelm your senses and flood you with adrenaline and euphoria, melting away the stress of the day. Hitting the town in a new country can be an exhilarating way to immerse yourself in the local culture, but remember—you're not at home, and being a visitor in a foreign country comes with risks. One of the best nights of your life can quickly become one of the worst. As a traveler, you need to realize that you're inherently more vulnerable and may not always receive the same protection from the local authorities as citizens. Navigating unfamiliar areas becomes much more difficult and dangerous when you are intoxicated, and crowded areas restrict personal space and increase the likelihood of theft and assault. Language barriers can make situational awareness more challenging because danger may not be immediately recognizable to you, and you may not be able to identify heightened risk factors if you are unfamiliar with the customs of the culture. Wearing clothing that is appropriate for a night out in your home country can also increase the likelihood of being targeted by criminals, simply because your outfit immediately identifies you as a foreigner, even at a distance. In this guide, I'll provide you with ten practical tips for staying safe while partying abroad. Practicing these precautions while enjoying an evening on the town can help you make it home safely, to party again another night. 

1. Remember: You're Not at Home—

• Share your live location with a loved one while traveling.

• If you are traveling solo, consider registering with your embassy or consulate to receive travel alerts.  

• Ask the locals working or living at your accommodation for recommendations on where to find safe foreign-friendly nightlife, residents know better than other travelers or your search engine. 

• Research areas of high crime or known areas of prostitution, which will increase your risk if you pass through, especially on foot. 

• Share your itinerary, planned nightlife venues, and the district you will be partying in with your emergency contacts.

• Create a plan to check in with your friends and family after safely returning to your accommodation from your night out.

2. Know Before You Go: Local Laws, Curfews, and Customs

• Ask the staff of your accommodation or a local friend if your outfit is culturally appropriate before going out. The wrong outfit can draw unwanted attention or increase your risk. 

• Verify the legal drinking age and any local alcohol restrictions.

• Understand local attitudes toward public intoxication and how to maintain respectful behavior in public. 

• Check for official curfews or late-night transport limitations to plan your route home and time of departure.

  
  

A traveler enjoying the nightlife while surveying her surroundings

 3. Always Know Where You Are, Where You're Going, and How to Get Home

• Ask the staff at your accommodation about areas to avoid, and verify the safety of your chosen party venues or nightlife district before heading out. 

• Pin the location of your accommodation on your navigation app and keep the business card with the address and phone number in your wallet.

• Download an offline map of the area and write down the directions back to your accommodation to store in your wallet. 

• Carry an external battery to access your GPS if your phone dies. 

• Make sure to open a chat with a trusted local friend or traveling companion who can get to you quickly if you run into any problems and need help.

• Check the bus and train schedule for the final departure times, or plan which rideshare or taxi service you will use and have a backup ride option (licensed taxi/rideshare).

• If you plan on partying a lot, make sure that your accommodation is within walking distance of the nightlife district to minimize your travel time late at night. 

• Screenshot your accommodation address in the local language for drivers for offline access.

4. Safety in Numbers- Go Out as a Group

• Stay together, do a head count before moving on to the next location to ensure no one gets left behind. 

• Watch out for each other and visually verify that each member of your group is ok at regular intervals. 

• Let someone in your group know when you're going to the bathroom, outside to smoke, or to the bar to order more drinks. 

• Establish a specific meet-up spot in case you get separated. 

• Come together and leave together at the end of the evening, sharing a taxi or rideshare service after a night out can be safer than taking public transportation. 

• Watch each other's drinks and belongings, hold them for each other instead of setting them down. 

• Agree on a discreet code word to signal "I need help."

• Start a group chat in addition to individual chats with the members of your group through your preferred communication platform.

A group of friends enjoying an evening out together

5. Practice Hypervigilance

• Practice situational awareness: Regularly scan the crowd for suspicious individuals or people paying a little too much attention to you. 

• Be aware of who is around you at all times, and pay close attention to the people that you have seen before.

• Protect your personal space by positioning yourself in a corner with your back against the wall, ensuring you can clearly see the exits and anyone approaching you. 

• Communicate with the security team, bouncer, or bartender if someone is behaving suspiciously, touching you inappropriately, or if you witness someone putting something in your drink. 

• If you notice someone following you or someone attempts to grab you, stay in a well-lit, crowded area, alert security, and ask someone to call the police for you if you are unable or do not speak the language. 

A metal belt clip to secure your wallet in a crowded nightclub

6. Secure Yourself and Your Personal Belongings

• Ask for "Help" from local businesses or public transportation workers when someone is following or threatening you.

• Wear a passport pouch under your clothes to ensure that you do not lose your money, bank cards, or passport if your belongings are lost or stolen.

• Wear shoes that are securely fastened to your feet to avoid the straps breaking and ensure that you can get away quickly if you need to run.

• Choose bags with secure cross-body straps.  

• Wear your cell phone around your neck for easy hands-free transport and to prevent storing it in your back pocket. 

• Use a metal chain to secure your wallet or purse to you; this reduces the risk of the strap breaking or being cut. 

• Carry discreet tools: a sharp hairpin, a sturdy nail file, or a small aerosol can of hair spray, which can be sprayed in the eyes as an improvised irritant in the event of a violent attack.

• Never let anyone tie you up or separate you from your phone, wallet, or passport.

• If someone is getting too close to you, practice self-defense by extending your hands out in front of you to deny the person closer access to you and push them away from you if you feel threatened or they attempt to touch you. 

• Use your voice to loudly object if someone threatens or touches you.

A woman practicing self-defense in a crowded area

7. Drink Responsibly

• Eat a full meal before you drink alcohol, and drink water throughout the evening. 

• Set a limit for yourself, both physically and financially, by deciding in advance how many drinks you will order and bringing a limited amount of cash. Also, leave your bank cards at home. Safely store the money for your ride home in your shoe or in a pocket separate from your spending money.  

• Always order your own drinks, never accept drinks from others, or drink from a container offered by someone else, especially a stranger.

• Keep a small first aid kit on hand or store several Band-Aids in your purse or wallet in case of an accident. 

8. Get Home Safely

• Always use licensed taxis or reputable rideshare services (Uber, Lyft, local apps).

• Keep GPS-tracking on and confirm drivers follow the suggested route.

• If you feel threatened, head straight to the nearest police station—wait outside until you're safe.

• Stay in well-lit and crowded areas when waiting for a rideshare or hailing a taxi.

• Never take public transportation home alone late at night, especially if you are intoxicated.

• Do not accept rides from strangers.

• Do not share taxis with people you do not know, especially if you do not speak the language.

• Never go into a stranger's home at the end of an evening; instead, spend time in a public space sobering up over a late-night meal before deciding if you want to invite them back to your accommodation.

• If you decide to invite someone home with you, ensure you book a rideshare with active GPS tracking and share the location with them, rather than getting into their personal vehicle, or allowing them to book the rideshare. 

A woman tracking her rideshare with GPS after an evening out

9. Always be Prepared for the Worst-Case Scenario

• Talk to the locals about things to watch out for and common scams to avoid. 

• Save the phone number for local emergency services in your phone.

• Know the name and location of the nearest clinic or hospital for easy navigation in the event of an emergency. 

• Purchase comprehensive travel insurance covering medical emergencies and theft.

• Store the address and phone number of your embassy in your phone and wallet. 

• If you enjoy partying, make sure that you practice asking for help in the local language and know the correct pronunciation for "Help, Thief, and Police."

10. Have a Plan - What to do When Things go Wrong

• Contact the police immediately if you are victimized. 

• Contact emergency services or go to the nearest 24-hour hospital or clinic to ensure you receive proper medical treatment.

• Document Everything - Take photographs of your injuries, record and photograph where the crime occurred, and write a detailed statement of what happened, when it happened, and where it happened, including identifying details for what was lost, stolen, or damaged. 

• Document the addresses of the exact location(s) of the crime and any other pertinent or identifying details.

• Include the names of anyone who may have been a witness to the crime or may have seen or be able to identify the perpetrator. 

• Revisit the scene of the crime during the day to document which establishments have security cameras that may have recorded the crime or the assailant. 

• Contact your embassy, explain the situation, and ask for help to learn about any assistance or resources available to you.

• Contact your travel insurance provider immediately for medical or theft claims and ask about reimbursement for any changes to your travel plans and cancellations caused by the emergency situation.

A police officer outside the station late at night

Celebrate the Night, Respect the Risks

Partying in a foreign country can be an exciting way to experience a culture—dancing to the local music, imbibing on the local spirits, and sharing laughter without a language barrier. These moments can foster genuine international connections and forge unforgettable memories. However, as travelers, we step into these spaces as guests, and it is our responsibility to educate ourselves about the local risk factors, as much as the local customs, laws, and unspoken rules. Your personal safety should always be your first priority, because when we allow ourselves to become complacent, a good night can quickly turn into a bad one. Yes, we party to have a good time, and to do that, we must also aim to have a safe time, every time, to preserve our positive experience of the countries we visit, and to prevent harm and injury to ourselves. Traveling comes with risks inherent to travelers, and while you may feel comfortable abroad, you must never forget that you are not at home, and therefore face risks and dangers that may be as foreign to you as the destination you are visiting. Using local resources, asking local friends for recommendations, and verifying the safety of your plans before heading out to enjoy your evening will help ensure you survive to party another night. The goal isn't to fear the experience—it's to engage with it fully and thoughtfully. By planning ahead and minimizing risks, you give yourself the freedom to immerse yourself completely in the exhilaration of the moment, honor the culture you're celebrating, and return safely so that you can continue to discover the new experiences that await you beyond the break of day.