How To Stay Safe When Traveling in Europe This Summer

Before we even get started, it can't be stressed enough that Europe is an incredibly safe place to travel. European countries dominate any list of the safest countries in the world and each year, millions of Americans visit Europe and have the time of their lives without so much as a minor incident.

But that doesn't mean that nothing bad can happen to you on a trip across the pond.

While violent crime on the scale of that in the United States simply doesn't exist in Europe, annoyances and criminal incidents of the petty variety do occasionally affect travelers.

So while it can't be stressed enough how safe the continent is, it's also worth taking note of some Europe safety tips and things you can do to be even more secure while traveling there. Remember, things can happen anywhere and furthermore, when you travel anywhere abroad, despite your best efforts, you're going to stick out as a traveler, and that inevitably makes you a bit of a target-especially around famous tourist attractions.

Click on the slideshow for 15 safety tips and ways to stay safe in Europe this summer.

It may seem counterintuitive to most people's instincts and inclination to keep important things close at hand, but valuables and passports are generally safer staying back in the hotel room than they are being taken on a walking tour of a major European city. Stash them in the hotel safe or tuck them away in a clever location of your choosing (your call), but just leave them in the room. Better yet, don't take expensive jewelry with you in the first place.

Most of us rely on our phones for nearly everything these days and that dependence doesn't stop when we land in Europe. Our phones are now our maps, translators, cameras and tour guides, but oftentimes travelers have a tendency to wander down the street waving them around willy-nilly. Since it's always better to be safe than sorry, grip your phone tight and keep it in front of you as opposed to just holding it nonchalantly like you might do on the couch at home. The last thing you want to do is have it snatched out of your hand or drop it. Again, this sort of thing is very rare in Europe, but it could happen. The same applies to cameras: hold them tight or-better yet-keep them on a neck strap.

Whether it's having a photocopy of your passport (which might save you some time and hassle if yours gets lost) or just making sure your photos are immediately uploaded to the cloud, if the worst happens, you'll be happy you backed things up. It's also a good idea to travel with more than one credit card and/or debit card in case you lose one or have one stolen. That way, while you're waiting for one to be replaced you can press the other one into immediate service. It's also worth noting that it's best to keep them separated, so if you were to be separated from your wallet you'd still have one to fall back on.

If you typically walk around your hometown with a wallet in your back pocket, don't do it during your trip to Europe. It will be catnip to a pickpocket. Try to use a money belt or only walk around with a card and a small amount of cash in one of your front pockets. If you typically keep your valuables in a purse at home, make sure you grab a crossbody variety for your big trip to Europe. Preferably with a zipper, which will make it much safer from potential snatching. Always remember that thieves can't steal what you don't have, so don't ever walk around with wads of cash-one debit/credit card, a phone and the equivalent of $50-$60 should almost always be all the valuables you need when out and about.

This might just be the most important tip on the list: when the crowds get thick, especially around landmarks and attractions, get cautious. Crowds are prime territory for a pickpocket and they often use the chaos of a mob scene to shimmy and bump their way into you in an attempt to separate you from your belongings. Sometimes, they will even create the crowd themselves by falling down, faking a fracas or clumsily dropping something to create a diversion. Don't fall for it. If something wacky happens in front of you, be skeptical, stay alert and give the situation a wide berth-at least at first.

Be especially careful when entering a train or metro station, as unscrupulous characters often use the psychological stimulation of a new setting to their advantage. Again, this is extremely unlikely to happen to you, but it never hurts to be prepared. After entering a busy station, it's always a good idea to find an empty corner to get your wits about you before re-joining the crowd with more confidence.

When riding on a metro train or bus, pay attention when the vehicle approaches a stop. The kerfuffle of a chaotic departure could be the perfect decoy for a pickpocket to grab your goods and then simply step off the vehicle. Groups of thieves have been known to squeeze on a metro train at the last minute, clumsily (yet purposefully) crash into travelers, grab their stuff, then exit just as the metro train departs. Always keep in mind too that pickpockets might not look like what you expect, they're just as likely to resemble a businessperson or innocent young kid as a villain straight out of Central Casting.

This one may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people forget their street etiquette while on vacation. Before you cross any street, check it's safe, because Europe is full of trams, buses, bikes and other things you may not be used to seeing at home. And this is just in the places where the cars drive on the "right side of the road", be especially vigilant when you're walking around cities in the United Kingdom.

It sure sounds straightforward, but you'd be surprised at how often people muddle through a week or two in Europe without fully grasping the value of the coins in their pocket. If you aren't sure how much what you're holding is worth, then how are you going to know if someone "accidentally on purpose" gives you the wrong change? In a related tip, if you're using cash, use the smallest denomination of bill or coin you have on you for purchases, that way you'll get fewer coins & bills back, which means there's less room for confusion and/or trickery.

Automobile accidents are perennially the leading cause of demise for an American abroad, so if you get behind the wheel, be as careful as you possibly can. Go slow, pay attention to all the signage (you'll be surprised at how universal many of the symbols are) and-as tempting as it can be on Germany's Autobahn-don't go crazy on the speed. Needless to say, if you're in the United Kingdom, be extra careful driving on the opposite side of the road and at the myriad of roundabouts.

Even if you use your credit or debit card during most of your trip, you're probably going to need to go to the ATM at some point, so make it an official ATM inside a bank if you can. That way, if for some reason something goes wrong (like your card being eaten), you'll be able to quickly seek assistance. Even outside of normal business hours, many bank ATMs are still accessible inside the lobbies of banks and are a safer bet than just random ones on the street. Naturally, be wary of anyone hanging around or attempting to distract you while using the ATM.

If you're the type who likes to enjoy an adult beverage or two back home, then you're going to find plenty of opportunities to partake during your trip to Europe. Simply being here is cause for celebration and much of the continent's appeal lies in its wonderful beer, wine, spirits and food experiences. Have fun for sure, but it's best to not go berserk. In addition to increasing the odds of getting lost and stumbling into a dodgy situation (again, very rare), when you're over the limit and out of control, the odds of an accident dramatically increase.

Contrary to the last slide, you're going to want to drink water like a fish during your summer trip to Europe. No matter where you are in Europe-but especially in parts of Spain, Italy, France and Greece-summer can be extremely hot and that's a recipe for dehydration and general ill health when combined with busy days full of sightseeing. And whatever you do, don't forget to slap on your sunscreen before you go out because while you may not be sitting on the beach all day, it doesn't mean you can't get sunburned and that is one surefire way to put a damper on the rest of your trip.

We're not talking about traveling off the beaten path here, we're talking about stumbling across some good old-fashioned civil unrest during your trip, and if you do, it's best to just go the opposite way. Like everything else on this list, this is rare, but from time to time a demonstration or protest can break out, and it's best to just leave that sort of thing to the locals. As long as you don't antagonize the protestors, you're going to be just fine and since you most likely won't have a strong opinion on local politics or public sector pay, that shouldn't be a problem.

Europeans are generally friendly people who are more than willing to help you if you get in touch trouble. But, that's usually after being asked for help. They're typically not going to come to you out of the blue and offer help in an over-the-top way. Be wary of anyone offering assistance or free gifts, because they just might be trying to scam you or sell you something you probably don't need. The same goes for folks hanging around tourist attractions with clipboards asking you to sign a petition for a good cause, they're often scammers who are only interested in trying to pressure you into a donation.

While this tip may not actually prevent something bad from happening to you, it's the best way to soften the blow if something does. For a typically small fee, travel insurance can offer protection against some of the worst things that could befall you on a trip to Europe, so it's always worth having when you come across the pond. But it bears repeating one last time, you probably won't need it, but the peace of mind is priceless.