Safety Tips to Keep in Mind!
Travelling abroad to any country is an exciting time. We experience the culture, the food, and the people. Often times we are exposed to different things that we may need to have precautions to.
Here are some mindful tips on staying safe while travelling, whether you’re in a group or alone.
Research the country: Prior to any trip it’s always good to do a little research of the country(s) norms and what kind of environment you’re walking into.
Carry Copies: It’s best and recommended to carry a copy of your passport in case it’s damaged while traveling. That said, its always better to carry at least one more credit card and some cash with you in case of emergencies.
Hidden pockets: Addition to Tip 2, one thing fellow travelers have suggested is having a hidden pocket on you somewhere. Whether it’s a thin bag close to your stomach or hidden pocket in your coat.
Share your travel plans: I personally recommend this to anyone -especially if you’re traveling alone- that it’s good to email or give printed papers of your itinerary while away. Flight plans, accommodation stays, and sometimes what activities you might be doing. Having someone in the loop of your travels helps give peace of mind.
Emergency contacts: Let’s face it we don’t put in the effort to memorize numbers anymore (if you do I salute you) but in case you lose your phone, battery died, or whatever the reason may be its great to have the contact information of the hotel/hostel/Airbnb you’re staying at and people others can contact in case something happens to you. As well as having directions to the nearest Embassy of your country.
Be wary of public Wi-Fi: A good rule of thumb is to watch what you search up on public Wi-Fi. Never try to do any banking while on it.
7. Personal alarm: I myself carry a personal alarm just as a precaution. It’s a little device that helps others give their attention to you when you need help. There’s a string that pulls a little rod in it and once pulled an alarm goes off and doesn’t turn off until you place the rod back in.
8. Use ATM’s wisely: Always look for tampering in the card slot, cover your pin from peeping eyes, look at your surroundings, and never have someone help you with your transaction.
9. Don’t share to much information: Try to keep your location of where you’re staying vague to strangers. As well as try not to post where you’re currently at if you have public accounts, just in case someone had ill intentions.
10. Don’t draw attention to yourself: Try to blend in as much as you can with the locals. If you seem like you’re from out of town then you might be targeted for petty crimes.
All these tips are just to help during travelling. Remember to have fun during your trips and enjoy the time you have there.