Man, I almost messed up big time last year in Bogota. Got off the bus way too early, ended up wandering into neighborhoods that felt… off. Dark streets, boarded-up windows, folks giving me the side-eye. Learned my lesson the hard way. So yeah, when I planned my trip to Cairo this month, avoiding sketchy roads was priority number one.
First Thing I Did: Dig Deeper Than Travel Blogs
Grabbed the guidebook, sure. But I went straight to Google Maps. Zoomed way in on the city. Looked at the reviews people left for different areas, searching words like “unsafe” or “dangerous”. Scrolled through photos uploaded by locals – empty streets at noon? Red flag. Found comments like “felt uncomfortable here alone”. Took notes on street names and districts mentioned. This wasn’t just hearsay; it was real people reporting bad vibes.
My Secret Weapon? A Shady Taxi Driver (No Joke)
Okay, maybe not shady. But when I landed in Cairo, got a legit airport taxi. While driving to the hotel, I straight up asked the driver: “Hey, look, I’m new here. Where should I absolutely NOT walk alone? Especially at night?” And man, he talked. Pointed out whole districts, even specific streets near my hotel he told me to avoid after sunset. Said stuff like, “Tourists walk there? Only with five friends, maybe!” Wrote every single spot down in my notes app.
Checked his list against my Google Maps research. It matched up scary well.
Putting it to the Test in Khan El-Khalili
Went to the famous market. Crowded, loud, amazing energy. But when I tried heading back to my hotel, Google Maps suggested a “shortcut” down a narrow side alley. Dark already? Nope. Pulled up my notes. That specific alley was mentioned online in a safety complaint. Turned right around, walked the extra ten minutes on the crowded, well-lit main road instead. Felt silly? Maybe. Felt safe? Absolutely.
The Big Rule I Made for Myself
No New Paths After Dark. Period.
Only walked routes I’d already taken during the daylight. If a street looked poorly lit or deserted? Avoided it. If I wasn’t 100% sure? Flagged a taxi. Seriously worth the few bucks, felt way better than sweating bullets.
Staying Alert Saved Me from a Scam Too
Walking through downtown, daytime, a guy sidles up, super friendly, pointing at my shoes saying something spilled. My guard went up instantly. Just kept walking fast, didn’t engage. Saw others get stopped nearby, probably getting roped into the old “let me clean it” scam that turns into demands for money.
Bottom line? My process worked:
- Go Beyond the Brochure: Research online forums and maps like a detective before you land.
- Ask the Locals Driving You: Taxi/Uber drivers see it all. Ask where THEY wouldn’t walk.
- Trust Your Gut & Eyes: Empty street? Bad lighting? Turn around. Don’t be polite.
- Lock In Your Night Routes: Stick only to paths you know from daylight hours.
- Walk Like You’re Late: Head up, move with purpose. Avoids unwanted attention.
Seriously. Doing this homework might feel like overkill. Until that one wrong turn you didn’t take. I’m no genius traveler, just someone who screwed up once and learned. Now you can learn from my mess. Stay sharp out there!
