Travel Safety Advice You Should Actually Follow
One of the biggest things deterring people from traveling abroad is the risk of it being “not safe.” I have had numerous conversations with individuals who share with me that the sole reason they do not travel overseas is the fear of it being unsafe and fear of the unknown.
While travel safety is an important thing to be mindful of, it shouldn’t be a reason to not travel. Especially since travel can be very safe, even for solo female travelers.
One of my goals with this travel blog is to help people that genuinely want to travel more, be able to do so without having these feelings listed above.
In this article, I have compiled a list of travel safety measures you can take before you even board your plane. Thus, making your vacation a little less stressful and a lot more fun!
Do your research
No matter where you plan on visiting, some solid safety advice is to do a little research about the place in advance. Get to know the culture, appropriate attire, common crimes, or scams you may come across in that area and how to avoid them.
For example, if you plan on visiting Vietnam (or any Southeast Asia country for that matter), plan on wearing something that covers your shoulders when visiting temples.
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Get to know the area
One thing I always like to do before visiting a new location is to study the layout of the town, country, providence, etc. I will look it up on Google Maps beforehand and look at the street names, nearby hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. It is also a good idea to get an idea of the layout of the airport as well.
Also, keep up with current events. Are there any political protests going on in your area? Any high-crime neighborhoods you should avoid? Any popular travel scams to watch out for?
Get your vaccinations
As a registered nurse, I cannot emphasize enough just how vital vaccinations are to protect yourself while traveling the world. Whether you’re planning a long, multi-destination trip or even a short vacation abroad, you must get your vaccines before you go.
Make sure you look into your specific vaccinations that are recommended for the particular destination you plan on visiting as well. All this information can be located on the CDC website.
Buy travel insurance
Travel insurance is so important, sometimes we think we don’t need it, but in reality- you’ll be happy to have it WHEN YOU DO. Travel insurance is a type of insurance that is intended to cover your overseas medical expenses, any unplanned trip cancellations, lost or stolen luggage, flight accidents, and other losses that occurred while traveling.
You can purchase travel insurance here.
Make copies of all your important documents
More travel safety advice is to make copies of all your important documents such as passports, credit and debit cards, emergency contact information, insurance cards, and any other documents you wouldn’t want to risk losing.
Keep original documents and copies in separate bags or separate compartments of your bag if you’re only traveling with one.
Give a family member or trusted friend a copy of your itinerary
This includes hotel addresses, flight schedules, or any tours booked. It’s also a good idea to give your credit card company a copy of your itinerary.
This includes countries you plan on visiting so they don’t cancel your card for suspicious activity. Sometimes it can take a few days to get it reactivated and you do not want to be left without any money on your trip!
Write down the emergency contact numbers in the area you’re visiting
You know, for just in case an emergency arises! It’s also a good idea to be aware of where the nearest embassy is in your home country. That especially became important on my trip to the Philippines! Read all about my biggest travel mistake, here.
To prevent petty theft, purchase luggage locks and travel-safe backpacks
Take that extra step to help protect your stuff! If you travel safely, you won’t be considered an “easy target.”
Arrange airport & hotel pickup
If your hotel offers airport pickup, you may want to consider that to avoid taxi “scams” when you arrive at your destination. These scams include taxi drivers overcharging or taking you to the wrong place.
Sometimes, the driver will tell you your hotel is all booked up and convince you to go to a different one. This is only so the driver can take you to a location where the driver earns a commission.
If you take these extra travel safety precautions before boarding your plane, you’ll be all set for a beautiful vacation abroad!
