“What if my money belt gets stolen?” “Should I let a stranger see my passport or leave it locked in my safe at home?” “How do I stay safe from pickpockets?” It’s normal to have questions, concerns, and even fears about safety and security when traveling. But it’s nothing you can’t handle with a little preparation, precaution, and common sense as we’ve outlined in these traveling safety and security tips.
Unlike driving, flying, or even walking around town, travel is foreign to most of us. We seem to remember how to travel, but then become unsure of what’s expected or safe at the airport, train station, bus stop, cruise port, or unfamiliar city.
Whether you’re familiar with countries and cities or not, everyone must prepare for the unexpected when they travel. Today’s travel advice will help you stay safe while traveling anywhere. Keep these travel safety and security tips in mind to ensure that your trip is not only memorable but memorable for all the right reasons!
What is my best travel tips?
There is a lot to consider when it comes to travel safety and security, especially as you take off on an exciting adventure to a new place. “Am I safe?” “Am I being smart?” These are common questions that travelers have the second they board the plane or train out of town. Safety is not something that can be guaranteed, but you can make yourself much less of a target by using simple, commonsense safeguards – a few of which we’ll cover here. It is also best to have a travel insurance policy. If you don’t know which travel insurance policy is best for your travel type, check out the Ultimate Guide When Choosing Travel Insurance. Spoilers Alert.
Here are 11 travel safety and security tips to keep you and your valuables safe when traveling.
1.Do Your Research Before Travel
While travel can be exciting, it can be stressful, too. Planning a trip abroad can be even more complicated, since new safety or security developments may crop up while you’re away.
But it doesn’t have to be. By doing your homework before you travel, you can minimize risk, enjoy your trip to the fullest and return home safely.
Research your destination. For example, google “Paris” and look for any recent terrorist attacks. Check local television, too, since local news reports are sometimes more up-to-date than national ones.
The U.S. Department of State posts up-to-date travel advisories and alerts on its website. You can also get country-specific information, including embassy contact info, from its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Do a Google search and scan recent news for situations that may impact your safety and security when traveling, like weather or unrest.
2.Scan Or Make A Copy Of All Your Travel Document And Travel Destinations
Our trips are punctuated by plenty of travel mishaps. But none has jeopardized our safety like losing our passports or losing our travel documents.
Even if it’s your first time visiting a new place, it’s smart to carry a copy of your passport, driver’s license, itinerary or hotel confirmation with you. You never know when you might need it.
Make copies of your passport, driver’s license, credit card, and itinerary. Make two sets of copies, stash one set in your bag, and stash the other set with someone you know back home in case of emergency.
Carry a copy of your insurance policy, credit card statement, and itinerary with you.
Update your emergency contact information with the bank, credit card companies, credit card companies, and credit card companies.
Take a photo of your driver’s license. Keep one copy on you and stash the other with a trusted friend or family member back home. This is the most important point among these safety and security tips when traveling
3.Update friends Or Family With Your Current Location
It is important for travelers to keep in touch and update friends and family members with their current whereabouts. With technology, we can stay connected with our loved ones at all times, so there is no reason not to be in constant contact.
In today’s world, there are many apps that can help you stay in touch. There are a number of apps that will allow you to send text messages for free to anyone on your contacts list.
Keeping family and friends update is right and when they don’t hear from you for a long time, then they will start looking for you.
4.Get Travel Insureance
At the end of every trip, you’re likely to return with a pile of receipts, photos — and horror stories. People travel a lot, and every year their stories include medical evacuations, lost luggage, stolen passports, and hurricanes.
Travel insurance is the first line of defense against the unexpected.
Most travelers don’t carry travel insurance because they think they’ll never need it. Then, when something goes wrong, they find out they were wrong.
A 2017 survey by Allianz Global Assistance found that 90% of respondents said they’d traveled without having travel insurance, and 66% said they’d regret it.
So what exactly is travel insurance, and how does it work?
Travel insurance is pricey, but it’s usually worth it. It’s common for insurers to charge for all sorts of unpredictable things. Your flight might be delayed, or your hotel might be overbooked. Even a missed connection could mean you have to buy a new ticket.
When something does happen, insurance kicks in, so you’re covered for the cost of unplanned expenses.
Travel insurance also protects you from risks you might not have considered. For example, if your luggage is lost or delayed, travel insurance can cover the cost of buying your clothes and toiletries until you get home.
It also covers the cost of emergency medical treatment — no matter how remote your destination, you have some assurance that you’ll be protected if something goes wrong.
5.Know How To Keep Your Money And Get And Emergency Credit Card
The most important lesson to learn is: NEVER travel with all your money in one location.
This may sound extreme, but you’d be surprised at the horror stories I’ve heard from travelers who’ve lost or had their bags/wallets stolen. And they all had their money in one bag.
This is not a travel story though – A few years ago, I was at a friend’s apartment in Madina – Accra, Ghana, and when he returned from work, he found someone had broken in and stolen everything — his laptop, cash, credit cards, etc.
He was fortunate because he was able to cancel his credit cards and call his bank to cancel the cards, but I’m sure his credit card and bank fees were quite hefty. He could have still had some money left if he has saved his money in different locations in his room. But because they were all that one place, the theft didn’t leave anything.
So it is best to have some cash in your pocket and also a handbag and have an emergency credit card in your luggage at the hotel or were you sleeping.
6.Always Keep An Eye On Your Belongings
In the fast-paced world of the living, there comes a time when you absolutely need to catch a break. Maybe you’re running late for a meeting or your flight is delayed, and you need some time to relax. Or maybe you need some alone time to catch up on your reading. Either way, sometimes you need a moment to yourself. But when you’re traveling, sometimes your alone time isn’t so alone. When your back is turned, anything from sticky fingers pulling out whatever’s loose to the entire bag being stolen can happen. This includes absolutely everything: sunglasses, phone, purse, even your drink. If it’s not in your hand or on your body, keep it in your eyesight.
When I travel, I always keep my most valuable items all in my carry-on luggage, with the exception of an extra set of sunglasses, which I keep in my purse on my body. I keep my phone in my purse, too, because it’s important to me to always have it on me. If I don’t, I can get really upset. I also have all my credit cards, IDs, boarding pass, and cash all in my purse. That way, if I’m in an airport or other public place, I know I have everything I need on me.
So if you are not very good at keeping an eye on your belongings, then it is better to put all the important stuff in your handbag. This is one of the most important safety and security tips when traveling. Because it is more likely to loose everything when your belonging is been stolen.
7.Use Reputable Transportation Companies
The biggest thing to remember when hiring a transportation company is that you should never use anyone you don’t know and trust.
It’s easy to think that there is no risk when you hail a ride from a stranger. But the more people who use ride-sharing services, the more drivers will pop up to take advantage of everyone’s trust in them.
With this in mind, before you arrive in a city, do some research. Figure out which taxi companies are reputable, and which you should avoid.
Once you’ve chosen your transportation company, do your research on drivers. How long have they been driving? Have they been driving with this particular company? Do they have any outstanding warrants?
If you’re taking an Uber or Lyft, double check your driver’s information before you enter the car. Make sure that their name, photo, vehicle make and model, and license plate number are all correct. Also, make sure their license plate is current.
Finally, before you get in the car, make sure the driver has your credit card or cash in hand. You don’t want to get to your destination and realize you don’t have your fare.
8.Ask Locals For Advice
When people travel, they often ask their friends for recommendations about must-see sites or cool neighborhoods. The same courtesy should be extended to the locals. When you check-in at a hotel or hostel, ask for recommendations about which neighborhoods are safe and which are not so safe and mark places to avoid on your map.
Although you’re likely to hear things you don’t want to hear, that information could be the difference between a comfortable stay and a stay that leaves you feeling unsafe.
If you’re planning to travel alone, don’t be afraid to get lost. While traveling solo, you may find yourself in unfamiliar territory and unable to call anyone for directions. That’s completely normal and, in fact, a great way to travel.
Of course, if you end up lost or in danger, it’s best to have a friend or relative nearby. But it’s also a good idea to ask a local for directions, just in case.
When you ask for local advice, keep in mind that some people are more than happy to provide it, while others are less accepting. Create good rapport by asking questions about where they live, where they’re from, and what interesting experiences they’ve had.
After you’ve asked a few questions, try asking a few of your own.
9.Drink Responsibly
This has to be one of the most important safety and security tips when traveling
In many countries, drinking is an integral part of the local culture. From China to Japan to France, and many places in between, alcohol is considered an integral part of socializing.
Of course, this also means there are often a lot of bars, pubs, and nightclubs, and this can lead to people overdoing the drinking.
This can obviously be a serious safety risk, whether you’re visiting another country or city, drink responsibly.
Drinking responsibly means knowing when you’ve had enough. It’s a good idea to have an established, go-to plan in mind before you venture out. That way, if you do end up drinking a little more than you intended to, a pre-arranged exit strategy will keep you from driving yourself too far off the reservation.
But before you head out, make sure you’re always drinking within the limits of the law. And while you’re at it, always remember that when you’re in a foreign country, it can be dangerous to drink alcohol.
10.Don’t wear flashy jewelry
If you’re going on vacation, vacation. Don’t wear jewelry that might draw attention or make you an easy target.
Jewelry is tempting thieves, and jewelry theft is a major problem. According to the National Retail Federation, jewelry accounted for nearly 22 percent of all property stolen from stores in 2014.
Sadly, crime knows no geographical boundaries, and while cities generally have a lot more crime than rural areas, anywhere you go in the world you run the risk of having your valuables stolen.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to minimize the chances of being victimized.
Keep your valuables out of sight.
11.Know What You Can And Cannot Eat And Drink
Even though most cities have numerous restaurants that offer a wide variety of foods, eating at street vendors can be a great way to experience local culture on a budget. However, street food is notorious for its high bacterial and pesticide contamination, which can result in severe illnesses, such as hemorrhagic fever and cholera.
This risk is even greater when you’re traveling abroad, where water can be harder to come by and hygiene standards may be lower.
In some countries it’s safe to drink tap water, in others it’s not (even if the locals do). We always recommend bringing along a way to purify your water
Also, be cautious about what you eat. Street food is delicious, but rather buy from a vendor who is preparing the food then and there, instead of purchasing a chicken kebab that has been sitting in the sun for the past day.