One of the drawbacks that can prevent people from traveling to wherever they desire, at the frequency they wish, is the thought of being unsafe. You must have heard about horror stories of travelers who got targeted by thieves and pickpockets, and had their things stolen.
8 Simple Travel Safety Tips Everyone Should Know
Although the world is not a terrific place, It is beautiful and awesome. We should all try to view it that way as much as possible.
Even though we can not rule out the fact that unpleasant things happen when we travel, many of them can be avoided if you are well informed, if you always act smart, and if you give room to your instincts and intuition to constantly direct you. Let us now examine eight simple travel safety tips you should know and always bear in mind.
8 Simple Travel Safety Tips Everyone Should Know
Carry Out Your Research Thoroughly
The first principle of safe travel is arriving at your destination before you get there. Carrying out your research will help you learn about the political climate, country, taboos, as well as cultural norms. The research will also help you know about the most protective accommodation and neighborhoods for travelers.
The first place you should check is your government travel website, where you will get country updates and travel safety warnings, coupled with suggestions.
Note Emergency Information
Whenever an emergency strikes during travel, you may not have the time to look for the contact details of the local police, ambulance, or embassies.
Rather, search for the emergency service numbers before you arrive at your final destination. You can have them saved on your phone and note them on a small card that can always be in your purse.
By doing that, you will always know the appropriate person to call in any case of emergency. Likewise, it will help you to learn some fundamental emergency words in the local language, such as "Where is the closest clinic?", "I need assistance".
Register With Your Embassy
A lot of governments have a traveler enrolment program established to constantly update you with information on safety and inform the local embassy of your destination that you will be traveling into that country. All that is needed from you is to sign up. After that, you will start receiving regular updates and travel safety tips for your destination.
In any circumstance whereby an emergency occurs, such as a natural disaster, your local embassy is expected to be aware that you are in the country and that it will be possible to reach you as soon as possible to share valuable information or be in charge of your evacuation.
Know About Well-Known Travel Scams
Virtually anywhere you travel to, you will get local con artists who will not hesitate to scam you of your money. You could just run a quick Google search, and you will realize the activities of local scammers in your destination and how you can avoid them.
Although there is no one that thinks they would fall for a scam, it can happen. Hence, you should be prepared. Some well-known scams include damaged taxi meters, motorbike rental damage, the group photo offer, fake tickets, the free bracelet, or using kids to distract you.
Obtain Travel Insurance
You will not ever think you would need travel insurance until you actually do need it. Everybody needs travel insurance, irrespective of the distance of your trip or the kind of place you choose to go. Travel insurance will give you peace of mind in various unforeseen scenarios, such as theft, injuries, loss of properties and valuables, or illness.
No one wants to get slammed with a huge hospital bill, become sick in another place, or wish to lose their costly camera. However, it can happen to anybody, regardless of your level of carefulness. Hence, getting travel insurance is what you should take cognizance of before you travel.
There are various types of insurance you can get before you go on your road trip, which includes kidnapping insurance, as kidnapping is also one of the unexpected events that can occur. Bear in mind that if you can not afford travel insurance, then you can not afford to travel yet.
Avoid Drawing Too Much Attention
At your destination, endeavor to blend into your surroundings and avoid appearing to be an evident tourist. For instance, if you put on flashy jewelry and clothes that are not appropriate, they will stick you out like a sore thumb, which means you will be more likely to fall into the hands of pickpockets and scammers.
Therefore, ensure you carry out your research adequately before you travel, in order to find out the kind of clothes the locals put on, then you can follow suit.
Apart from the fact that this is an excellent travel safety tip, it is also a symbol of respect for local customs and will contribute to helping you avoid pissing the locals off. Generally, it is great to dress modestly, leave expensive jewelry behind, and avoid public exhibition of love.
Inform and Always Update Someone of Your Whereabouts
Before you travel, ensure you always inform reliable family or friends where you are going to and when you will return. Apart from that, update them regularly and let them know of your changed and most recent plans while traveling.
If they stop hearing from you along the way, they will be able to notify the local authorities, including your embassy, and then supply the necessary details. If anyone knows where you are meant to be, you will get help faster.
Always Keep Your Valuables Close
It is admittedly better not to travel with valuables, such as costly gadgets and jewelry. However, there will always be something you need to protect, such as your cash and passport. Interestingly, there are several ways you can keep your valuables safe.
You could get a solid lock for your luggage, but select one that will not be too outstanding. Moreover, note that you should avoid keeping any valuables or cash in your back pocket, as it is the first place a pickpocketer will look through.
Be Safe
It is very easy to get carried away by the thrill that comes with the thought of traveling. However, it is also essential to put your safety into consideration. Although anything can happen during your travels, you can prepare beforehand by following the tips mentioned above. Furthermore, always trust your instincts.
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