Top 7 Travel Safety Tips
Safety Tips:
The world and media have tried to paint a negative picture of safety while traveling. But let’s face it, bad things can happen from anywhere, whether abroad or your home town. This post is not about showing you how unsafe the world is when you travel, but to show you that sometimes things go wrong and when they do, its better to know what to do and also be more aware of them so that you don’t become a victim or an easy target. You just need to be a little careful and apply these general travel safety tips anywhere you go.
1. Stay street smart as you travel.
Travel safety tip number one is pretty common sense. As in use yours. The major common safety threat in almost all major cities in the world is the street robbery. This ranges from pickpocketing to using cunning methods to take away your belongings without your knowledge.
If you’re traveling through crowded places, it’s better to keep your belongings in a place that is visible to you at all times. And it’s better to wear your day time travel bag (purse, backpack, laptop case, etc) in front instead of the behind to avoid someone picking your stuff without realizing it. I know it looks a little funny but trust me, it’s better to feel a bit silly than to lose all your valuables. Amazon has tons of “anti theft” style travel bags if you’re interested in buying something designed for protection. If you already have a loved travel bag, you can simple get locks for the compartments to help add a little protection as well.
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2. Check the political and security conditions of the country you’re visiting.
You don’t want to end up in a war zone because you didn’t research the country’s or city’s stability in terms of security. However much you were excited about the trip, if there is security instability in that area, you should really reconsider. I know, I know… this is a tough one for me even. There’s places that I would LOVE to go to, and honestly I still hope to eventually be able to visit someday. But sometimes you need to make the decision to choose a different destination if the timing isn’t right for your first choice. Your security is more important than a days adventure. Use your embassy sites before you book any of your travels to see what the current situations are.
3. Have copies of your documents.
Travel safety tip number three helps all my OCD or overly anxious travelers as well. Have digital Scans of all your travel documents and itineraries as well. If you lose your passport or other ID cards, it will be much simpler for authorities to help you if you can prove who you are and what you have lost. It will help the embassy as well in trying to replace lost or stolen documents.
4. Be aware of the common travel scams.
Travel safety tip number four is of course all about scams. Here are some travel scams that are almost everywhere in the world. Even though they are known worldwide, if you don’t know them individually, you’re likely to get taken advantage of. Here are some of the common travel scams worldwide that you should look out for.
• A taxi driver using a longer route to charge you more. To avoid this, make sure you know where you’re going or my best recommendation is to follow the route using maps. If they ask are you a tourist, you can say “no I used to live around here” or “no I’m visiting a friend, he’s expecting me”. This will also let them know someone is waiting on you at your destination.
• Beggars on the streets. With this, most people stage kids, the lame or a woman carrying a child so that you feel sympathy and give them money.
• A friendly local who wants to “gift” you a small item. This happens in so many places, whether it is a flower, an herb, a small piece of handmade jewelry or such. They will offer it to you and then follow you or make a scene saying you need to pay for it. When they come up to you, politely decline it and walk away. Personally, I’ve had to be more forceful with them on quite a few occasions because they continue to follow you but if you say no sternly and continue to walk you will be left alone.
5. Don’t make yourself a target by looking like a tourist.
Most scammers target tourists, so if you scream tourist, by all means, you’re likely to be their next target. Our next travel safety tip is act like a local. Instead of looking scared, confused or lost, try your best not to show it. Instead, walk up to a place that seems highly established and ask for directions. Also, I like to look up what a particular locations “fashion” style is. Many people say they can spot tourist simply by what they wear. It’s easier to blend in when you look the part.
6. Find out the location of your country’s embassy in the country you’re traveling to.
One of the best ways to stay safe while traveling is to find out where your home embassy is as they’re likely to care more about your safety in a foreign land. Knowing their location is not enough, note down their phone numbers to easily contact them should you get in any kind of trouble that might require their assistance.
7. Share your itineraries with loved ones.
This has been a practice of mine my entire life. When I was younger it frustrated me that my parents wanted to know every detail of my trips. It felt like they weren’t giving me my freedom, but the older I got the more I realized why this is such a good thing to do. If anything were to happen to me (God forbid) on my trip and they had no clue where I was, where would they even start in trying to help me? Having someone know where you are and when you’re expected to return is a HUGE safety tip. So, humor your mother and give your dad a peace of mind and share your travel itineraries with them. It’s good for everyone.
BONUS tip.
I even have a bonus travel safety tip for you! It follows well with number 7, and it makes my “checking in” with my parents a lot more fun for me and them. Our family and friends really get a kick out of this. Everywhere I go , I carry a little sign I made that says “Mom i’m okay” and I’ll send them to her throughout my trips. Not only does she get the reassurance that I am alive and well but she gets to share in the experience in our own unique way. Feel free to use this or come up with your own creative way to share your safety with loved ones back home!
