Overview

SafeAbroad analysts have highlighted several of the top risks to travelers during the holiday season. Many of these risks are prevalent year-round, but heightened during this time. Some of the factors that heightened risks to traveler safety and wellbeing include: crowded transportation hubs, busy tourist areas, seasonal weather, and cultural differences. Understanding what these risks are and how they are affected by the holidays can help travelers mitigate risk, make more informed decisions, and travel safely during the holidays.  

Key Takeaways

1. Holiday crowds amplify most existing travel risks. Airports, markets, and popular tourist attractions are more congested during holiday periods which increases the likelihood of standard concerns such as theft, scams, and travel delays.
2. Seasonal weather causes transportation delays and cancellations. Delays caused by wintery conditions often cause cascading effects which can exacerbate disruptions. Winter weather delays may affect  air travel, ferries, trains, and ride-share services. 
3. Culture shock is more likely to negatively impact traveler wellbeing during the holiday season. Cultural differences become more pronounced during the holidays. Feelings of homesickness are also liable to increase as the holiday period for many is a time for gathering with family. 

Security Risks

The holiday season amplifies pre-existing security risks including petty crime, scams, and terrorism concerns.

Petty Crime

Petty theft is one of the most common risks for travelers during peak holiday periods.¹ Tourists are often the main target of petty crimes such as theft in heavily concentrated areas where criminals can take advantage of misdirection, inattention, or confusion.² This includes tourist hotspots, busy transport hubs, crowded public transportation, and shopping districts. During the holidays, these environments draw large numbers of visitors carrying cash, gifts, and valuables which create the ideal conditions for pickpockets and opportunistic thieves. These environments lead to an increase of petty crimes, such as in Bogota where the Security Secretariat reported a 26% increase in personal theft during the 2022 holiday season.³

Christmas markets are popular tourist destinations and therefore are attractive targets for pickpockets. Places like the Christmas market at Old Town Square in Prague, Czechia experience a surge of pickpockets during the holiday season.⁴ Despite the spike in pickpocketing at such locations, overall cases of petty crime have been decreasing at Christmas markets over the last few years.⁵

Scams

Holiday surges of tourists present attractive opportunities to make money quickly through scams. Scammers tend to exploit the traveler’s unfamiliarity with the local area, currency, and norms. Common scams around the holidays include:

• Taxi Scams
  • Unlicensed taxis and rideshares take advantage of holiday demand, charging inflated flat rates or claiming the meter is “broken,” especially near airports, Christmas markets, and major events.^{6 7}
• Overcharging/Change Scams
  • With holiday crowds and rushed purchases, scammers may exploit confusion around foreign currency, seasonal pricing, and limited attention, giving incorrect change or large charges on credit cards after the customer has left.⁸
• Fake Tickets
  • Holiday events (including New Year’s celebrations, winter festivals, concerts, and parades) create prime opportunities for scammers selling counterfeit tickets.⁹ These scams are even more likely when events are sold out or tickets are in very high demand.¹⁰
• Fake Flight Cancellations
  • Some scammers will attempt to take advantage of the holiday travel rush by sending fake messages to travelers that their flight is cancelled. They will then send a link or call to ask for a credit card so that they can secure the victim a seat on another flight.¹¹

Terrorism & Public Safety Risk

Although unlikely to occur, the threat of terrorism increases during holiday periods. Terrorism concerns mostly affect areas with mass gatherings such as shopping malls, Christmas markets, places of worship, and transportation hubs. Attacks are rare but are taken very seriously by authorities. Many popular holiday attractions have seen significant security investments, such as in Salzburg, Austria which is employing an around-the-clock security team and 33 cameras to protect an estimated 1.5 million visitors this year.¹² Steel bollards, limited access points, and large financial investments in security are expected to make these events significantly safer across Europe.¹³

Travel and Logistics Risks

Holiday travel disruptions are highly likely as peak-season crowds, strained transportation systems, and winter weather combine to create delays and cancellations.

Travel delays and disruptions during the holiday season are often the combination of multiple factors. One is that a domino effect of delays and cancellations often occurs from delays at one flight hub or airline that cascade into a system-wide problem.¹⁴ Bad weather is another main driver of travel delays, especially considering air travel.¹⁵ Winter weather can also cause travel delays by road, ferry, and rail.¹⁶ Exceptionally long lines for security, check-in, and customs can create extra stress. These problems are not unique to airports, but can affect other forms of transportation such as high-speed trains.¹⁷ Delays and cancellations are made all the more likely when multiple of these factors occur at the same time. 

Culture Shock

Holiday travel often places visitors in environments where local customs, etiquette, and seasonal traditions differ sharply from what they’re used to, which can contribute towards culture shock.

Culture shock can fuel anxiety and create negative feelings within travelers as they try to adapt to a different or unknown cultural environment.¹⁸ This phenomenon is more common during the holiday season for several reasons.

Different holiday norms can exacerbate feelings of culture shock. What counts as normal, festive, respectful, or taboo varies widely by country. Some destinations focus more on religious elements, such as in Mexico which celebrates both Christmas and Three Kings Day.¹⁹ Others are decidedly less religious, such as Japan where the holidays are more about peace and love.²⁰ Some countries do not officially partake in celebrations during the holiday season, such as Morocco where any celebrations will be led by expats and tourists from Europe.²¹ Travelers may misinterpret behaviors or feel disoriented.

Homesickness may stem from feelings of isolation amongst different holiday norms. Being abroad while locals gather with family can amplify loneliness or emotional strain. This can amplify any already existing homesickness or be the start of it.²²

Mitigation Strategies

While the likelihood and severity of risks will be dependent on several factors, there are measures that travelers can take to ensure smoother holiday travels no matter their destination. 

• Stay vigilant when in large crowds. Use cross-body bags, be aware of who is around you, and never keep valuables in your back pockets.
• Be aware of potential scams. Research common local scams. Be suspicious of unsolicited “help,” unmetered taxis, and deals that are “too good to be true.” Always confirm prices before ordering.
• Plan for disruptions. Book early morning, direct flights if possible. If you can’t book a direct flight, ensure that you have long layovers to account for possible delays. Have a backup plan if your transportation is delayed/cancelled and carry a charged power bank while traveling.
• Blend in with others. Avoid flashy jewelry and overtly acting like a foreign tourist.
• Research your location before departure. Do some research on the local holiday customs and celebratory events of your destination.
• Respect religious norms and etiquette. If you are attending local religious celebrations or events, respect the locals’ wishes about proper etiquette and avoid assuming the rules mirror those at home.
• Recognize the driving factors of culture shock and mitigate its effects. Take part in local holiday traditions. Staying busy but present while abroad can help mitigate the worst effects of culture shock.²³

1.  https://www.osac.gov/Content/Report/f2dbca2c-1545-4063-acda-1d5002dcf1d7 
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2. EUCPN (2017). Pickpocketing committed by mobile organised crime groups. In: EUCPN Secretariat (eds.), EUCPN Theoretical Paper Series, European Crime Prevention Network: Brussels.  p.7 
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3. https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2023/12/10/estas-son-las-modalidades-de-robo-que-aumentan-en-navidad/
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4.  https://www.internationaltraveller.com/europe/hotspots-for-being-pickpocketed/ 
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5. https://www.praguedaily.news/2025/12/08/increased-police-presence-keeps-czech-christmas-markets-safe/ 
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6.  https://consumerrescue.org/travel-troubles/terrible-tourist-scams-that-could-ruin-your-vacation-in-2026 
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7.  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-15348663/world-worst-place-taxi-scams-avoid.html 
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8.  https://consumerrescue.org/travel-troubles/terrible-tourist-scams-that-could-ruin-your-vacation-in-2026/
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9.  https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2140709/12-scams-christmas-how 
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10. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/apr/07/one-in-four-britons-victim-of-ticket-scams-for-in-demand-events-says-nationwide
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11. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/11/23/holiday-shopping-scams-what-to-know/87436349007/
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12.  https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/37246925/christmas-markets-rings-steel-bollards-gifts-uk-note/
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13. https://www.dw.com/en/security-beefed-up-to-protect-german-christmas-market-tradition/video-75062919 
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14. https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/switzerland-germany-france-and-netherlands-face-massive-chaos-as-thousands-of-passengers-stranded-by-110-cancellations-and-1560-delays-affecting-air-france-lufthansa-klm-easyjet-and-more-airl/
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15.  https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/all-causes-delays-air-transport-europe-annual-2024 
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16.  https://globaledge.msu.edu/blog/post/57358/frigid-winter-weather-creates-disruptions-across-europe 
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17.  https://nypost.com/2024/08/11/opinion/dont-romanticize-europes-unreliable-high-speed-rail/ 
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18. https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/explained/mental-health/culture-shock/what-is-culture-shock.php 
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19.  https://travelnoire.com/christmas-around-the-world 
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20.  https://travelnoire.com/christmas-around-the-world 
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21.  https://www.gboomoroccotours.com/christmas-in-morocco/ 
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23. https://www.sevencorners.com/blog/travel-tips/how-to-beat-homesickness-when-youre-abroad-for-the-holidays 
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