Travel can be a thrilling experience. It’s easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm for adventure. However, it’s important to take security and safety considerations while you’re abroad seriously.
Follow these 7 travel tips to help you take a trip that’s safe and memorable for all the right reasons.
1. Do your research
Take some time to get to know your destination in depth before your arrival. Read reviews from travelers and consult with locals for information about the safest localities, places to stay, and past incidences of crime. Another key travel security precaution is to know whom to call in an emergency. Save the contact information for the nearest high commission or embassy, police station, and other local emergency departments.
2. Make copies of important documents
You never know when you might need a copy of your passport, driver’s license, or any other form of identification. You must scan these documents to save them online and print out some hard copies. That way, you won’t be having challenges finding proper documentation if you need to get home.
When on a trip, your passport may be the most treasured thing you carry. In the event of a stolen passport, having a digital copy will make it easier to get a replacement.
3. Keep your friends and family updated
No matter where you are going, whether on an overnight business trip or a month-long vacation, it’s always a good idea to let friends or family back home know. Before leaving, send a copy of your itinerary to a few trusted people who can keep tabs on your whereabouts. Check-in regularly with your contacts and if possible, always share your locations with them.
4. Purchase a Travel Insurance Plan
Most people think they do not need travel insurance, and nothing could be further from the truth. Your local health insurance might offer you some international coverage, but the chances are good that it doesn’t cover potential illness, injury, or even death entirely when you are overseas.
Purchase a travel medical insurance plan or a trip cancellation plan to prepare for unforeseen emergencies or trip cancellations and ensure all the belongings you are traveling with.
5. Be smart about your money
For travel safety, it’s never a good idea to carry huge amounts of cash. Instead, it’s better to open a bank account with an international bank or credit card company so you can use local ATMs. If you need to withdraw large amounts of cash at once, it’s safer to leave the bulk of it locked up safely in your hotel and carry only what you’ll need for the day.
If you have to use ATMs, use only those that are attached to banks as there are few chances of them being tampered with by scammers.
6. Know the phone number for emergency services
Look up and save the emergency services numbers for your destination even before you get there. It’s also a great idea to look up the number for your country’s nearest embassy before you leave and make a contact there if you will be spending over a week. Write down the numbers and also save them on your mobile phone so you’ll have quick access to them in the event of an emergency.
7. Don’t post location or agenda on social media
Only a few people avoid posting photos or status updates online while traveling. Sharing your agenda or location on social media allows possible criminals to keep track of where you are, making it easier for them to time a crime. Instead, only post when you get to your hotel or wherever you are lodging.
As a traveler, you need to be street-smart, minimize your exposure to risky situations, and be prepared for the unexpected.