Traveling is one of the most exciting things you can do. You get to see new places, meet new people, and have new experiences. However, it’s also important to stay safe in order to make sure your trip goes off without a hitch. Here are some tips for keeping yourself safe while traveling abroad:
Do Your Research Before You Travel
Before you go on your next trip, make sure to do some research. The last thing you want is for something bad to happen because of something that could have been easily avoided with a little bit of research beforehand.
- Travel websites and forums: Check out travel blogs and forums for information about the city or region you’ll be visiting. This will give you an idea of what it’s like there and whether or not it would be worth going there at all!
- Weather: Check the weather forecast before booking any flights or accommodations–you don’t want to get stuck in rainy London when all your friends are having fun at Burning Man!
- Political Situation: Is there currently any unrest in this country? Are protests happening regularly? If so, maybe consider going somewhere else instead where things seem more stable right now (though this might change later down the road).
Blend In With Your Surroundings
- Don’t draw attention to yourself. If you’re in a crowded area and wearing flashy jewelry, it’s only natural that people will notice you. That makes it easier for potential thieves (or even just curious onlookers) to zero in on your valuables and make off with them without anyone noticing.
- Blend in with the crowd by not standing out too much–this means avoiding loud colors or patterns on clothes, as well as any other clothing items that make it easy for someone else to spot you from afar. You should also keep conversations at a reasonable volume level; if someone has to shout over other voices in order for their words to reach another person’s ear, then they’re probably being rude! Similarly, laughing too loudly can attract unwanted attention from passersby who may feel threatened by this odd behavior–so try not doing that either!
- Don’t wear revealing clothing while traveling: Cover up those shoulders! And while we’re talking about covering up…
Know How To Communicate
If you’re traveling to a new country, make sure you know how to communicate with the locals. You’ll be able to ask for help if something goes wrong, and it can save time as well. Here are some phrases that will come in handy:
- Hello! (hello)
- Goodbye! (goodbye)
- Help! (help). If someone is chasing after you or trying to hurt you, this works better than just saying “no.” It also lets them know what kind of situation they’re about to get into if they continue attacking.
- Where is…? This one’s great for getting directions when lost – especially if someone else knows where whatever place is located but doesn’t want to tell us directly because we don’t speak their language well enough yet!
Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a must when you’re traveling abroad, especially if it’s your first time in another country. There are many different types of travel insurance: some cover lost luggage, others will reimburse you for medical expenses if something happens while on your trip (like getting injured). Getting the right kind of policy can be tricky–so how do you make sure that the coverage is adequate?
There are lots of ways to get the best deal on travel insurance: comparison sites like MoneySuperMarket and CompareTheMarket can help find competitive quotes from different providers based on what kind of trip (business vs pleasure) and length of stay; many credit cards offer free travel insurance as part of their benefits package; or sometimes companies offer discounts if employees sign up via their HR department rather than directly with themselfs! If anything goes wrong during your travels–and let’s face it: things always go wrong when we least expect them too–there may still be hope!
Have Emergency Info At Hand
Have emergency info at hand:
- Contact details for your embassy or consulate. It’s always a good idea to have the contact information for your country’s embassy or consulate in the city you’re visiting, just in case something happens. This can be especially helpful if you lose your passport or get into trouble with local officials.
- Phone number for your insurance company and bank–and someone who knows how to reach them! If there’s an emergency while you’re traveling, it’s best not only that you know how to contact these companies but also that someone back home does as well (so they can help sort things out).
- Phone number of a family member or friend who lives near where you’re staying–in case anything goes wrong while away from home base, having someone nearby who knows where they live will make it easier for them come get help if needed (and vice versa).
Stay Safe in Transport
When you’re traveling, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings. Here are some tips on how to stay safe:
- Check the safety record of the airline. If an airline has a bad reputation for flying safely, stay away from them!
- Check the safety record of the airport where you will be flying out from or arriving at. If there have been any major incidents in recent years and/or if there are no security measures in place (such as metal detectors), think twice before going through that airport’s doors!
- Check the safety record of your destination city or country by conducting some research online via Trip Advisor, Google Maps etcetera.*
Manage Your Money
- Know the local currency and how to get it.
- Know your daily budget.
- Keep track of your spending.
- Bring cash, and keep it safe.
- Use a credit card for emergencies only, as they’re not usually accepted in many places outside of major cities around the world (and even then are often charged high fees). If you do use one, make sure you check with your bank before leaving on your trip so that they don’t freeze or cancel it due to fraud concerns–after all, if someone stole my credit card number and tried to withdraw money from an ATM in Australia (where I was traveling at the time), I would want someone from my bank calling me immediately!
Keep Track of Your Health
- Keep track of your health.
- Know what vaccinations you need and make sure they are up to date.
- Have a first aid kit with you at all times, including sunscreen, insect repellent, antihistamines and pain relievers. If you have any chronic medical conditions such as diabetes or asthma that require medication take enough with you in case of emergency situations where stores are closed or hard to find (and bring copies of prescriptions). If there’s anything else special about your health that might affect travel plans (like pregnancy), let people know so they can help keep an eye out for any issues while on the road.*
Keep Your Belongings Safe
- Don’t leave valuables in your room or car.
- Don’t leave valuables on the beach when you go for a swim, and don’t leave them unattended at any time.
- Don’t keep any money or important documents in your bag when you go out for the day – it’s safer to use a money belt or pouch instead (see tip #5 above).
- Never let anyone else take care of your passport or travel documents – keep these safe with you at all times!
We hope that these tips have given you some ideas on how to stay safe when traveling. We understand that it can be overwhelming, but if you take one tip at a time and remember to always be prepared for anything, then there’s no way you’ll go wrong!
