No matter if it is your regular travels or a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, safety should always be your top priority. Take note of these travel safety tips to make sure your vacation experience is pleasant and stress free!
Always have a plan B when it comes to transportation – this includes having a backup driver, hotel reservation in case of cancellation and an emergency contact list for local services and your embassy.
Don’t travel alone at night.
Traveling alone at night in unfamiliar environments is always risky, particularly if it involves visiting unfamiliar spots that become far less safe as darkness falls and people who have consumed alcohol become easy targets for thieves and other unpleasant individuals.
Therefore, it is best to avoid travelling alone at night. Instead, enjoy your travels during the day before retreating back to your hotel or hostel for some rest and relaxation at nightfall.
Even if locals appear friendly, it is wise to remain wary around strangers when traveling abroad, particularly on vacation. Keep in mind that they are unfamiliar with your culture, which means their comments could be misconstrued as offensive. Also keep some cash stashed away somewhere secure so you can react swiftly if something makes you uncomfortable; posting updates about your trip on social media could alert potential criminals that you have traveled out of town.
Don’t leave your belongings unattended.
Removing items from their rightful places and leaving them vulnerable is one of the easiest ways for pickpockets to steal them. Be mindful to always keep your purse, backpack and luggage within sight at all times – consider investing in a money belt or fanny pack to protect valuables from being misplaced in your bag or pocket.
Be mindful to blend into the environment when visiting less developed nations or regions, particularly when asking directions or inquiring about local areas. Avoid staring contests with sketchy people and remain discrete when asking about directions or asking about things in general.
Backup all of your photos and documents by making copies on a hard drive or online via cloud storage. Also be mindful of which internet service provider you select; free WiFi spots could leave your information vulnerable. Bring basic first aid supplies as well as medical insurance information with you should any illness arise while traveling abroad.
Don’t leave your passport in your hotel room.
Once at your hotel, lock up all of your valuables including your passport in the safe. Most hotels provide secure safes for a fee; additionally, portable safes such as PacSafe can ensure you always have somewhere secure to keep it.
Prior to traveling abroad, it is prudent to create copies of your passport and leave one copy with friends or family at home as well as keeping a digital version stored on a phone or online cloud storage account. By taking these precautions, if your passport is stolen it won’t be used to open bank accounts or apply for loans/credit cards in your name and cause havoc with travel plans; though a photocopy should always remain with you just in case an ID check needs to take place while traveling abroad.
Don’t share your travel itinerary with strangers.
Be careful who you share details with when planning an upcoming vacation as a solo traveler; only those you trust should receive the details. Posting on social media gives criminals an indication of when and where you will be traveling.
Showing off expensive jewelry or travel documents like passports on social media is never recommended, both as an invitation for thieves as well as prompting local vendors to overcharge you for items. Instead, pack a low-profile money wallet that keeps all your valuables out of sight.
Enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is also wise; this free service enables you to register your trip with an embassy and keep loved ones informed via email of whereabouts throughout your travels. Furthermore, this system could assist should you become lost or sick during your travels; discover more of this safety tip here.
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