My autistic brother is going to Spain alone and I'm worried about him being taken advantage of
My (38f (also autistic but with different traits)) brother (27m) decided he was going to buy plane tickets and go to Spain for the solar eclipse on a solo trip. On the one hand I'm very impressed by him and I admire his conviction and willingness to pursue the things that are important to him, but on the other hand I am worried that he doesn't consider the full scope of things.
He thinks in black or white. He is not fully independent in a sense that he lives with my stepfather and he doesn't pay rent. His current job is the first one he's had for more than three months and he is thriving. He has seemed to mature a lot since he moved in with my stepdad a couple years ago. He tends to make choices on a whim and they revolve around whether or not he feels he's been treated correctly, or whether or not he likes what he's doing. The jobs that he's had before this one have been less than stimulating to say the least.
My family has definitely done their share of traveling, and he knows what it's like to be on a plane or a train or take long road trips. He knows how to pack and the things he needs to do as far as having a passport goes. He has gone on solo trips before, like to New York and to Washington DC. He also was gay and there have been situations where he's been on apps and older men have targeted him, but he doesn't realize. He has a hard time seeing bad intentions in people.
My stepdad is also concerned, but there is nothing we can do about it. We can't control him and sometimes it can be really difficult to talk to him about things because he brushes them off. He has the selective mutism characteristic and when he feels like he's being infantilized or like his abilities are being minimized, that is his go-to. Which is valid. But we love him.
I'm an overthinker, and my brain shoots out scenarios of each different thing based on each different movement or choice and I'm constantly thinking of what ifs. It makes me good at my job, but it brings me a lot of anxiety. I'm very thorough with my research, it's very important for me to understand things. He is the opposite. I have had a lot of trauma and I have been taken advantage of when I was younger and I think that that has shaped, in part, who I am today. I don't think in black or white, I think in all things exist at once lol.
I love this for him and I know I should trust that he is able to handle himself, but at the same time I am afraid it will be difficult for him to notice bad intentions. I don't know what it's like to travel abroad, I'm like the rest of my family I have opted out of traveling due to my sensory issues. I do know that a tourist destination can be very attractive to people who are looking to take advantage of others. Whether it be to somehow steal money, to sell fraudulent tickets or items or God forbid human trafficking (which is always a possibility, even though I'm thinking in worst case scenario - I work in the human services industry and am well aware of the level of human trafficking that's going on under our noses here (US) alone).
So I guess the short and long of this is has anyone done a lot of traveling that can provide any insight into situations they've come across? Do any of you know anything of Spain? He's going to be traveling by train throughout the area. He has an itinerary planned so there's no specific area I can pinpoint. Any tips for keeping yourself safe when traveling abroad? He knows our numbers by heart and he knows to keep his passport close and on him at all times. Any insights are so welcome and appreciated.
Thank you!
TDLR; My brother is going to Spain solo and I am concerned about him being taken advantage of either monetarily or sexually. Please provide tips or relatable situations.