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Traveling abroad is one of the most exciting activities one could ever experience. People get to discover the different culture, the unique people, the pristine beaches, the undiscovered taverns, and the virgin forests. However, travelers beware; there are the risks of getting into trouble along with all of these great places, especially if the person is not yet familiar of the new surroundings and environment.

Here’s a list of some safety tips while traveling abroad.

BEFORE DEPARTURE

• Do your homework. Like any kind of decisions people have to make, it is always important to know the area they will be visiting so as to familiarize themselves with the laws, locations of best tourist spots, and the kind of people they have to deal with. Going to a place without having the slightest idea what it is all about is just as bad as going to the wilderness with beasts lurking everywhere and there’s no gadget to protect them.

• Never travel alone. There are times when people just want to be alone and unwind so as to shed off all of the hustle and bustle of urban living. However, with the imminent danger lurking everywhere, it is better to travel with someone than to risk their lives traveling alone. After all, people will never know what will happen next as soon as they arrive at their destinations, especially when it is their first time on the area.

• Planning your trip in advance. When traveling, it is extremely important to plan ahead. This will give the traveler enough time to decide on which things need to be on top priority and which should be considered at a later time. Besides, when a person has enough time to plan things ahead, he or she will be able to think on things that will protect them when they are on travel already.

• Always be prepared for emergencies. It does not necessarily mean that people must be pessimistic on the way they plan their travels. It’s just that they have to consider any possible emergencies and be prepared for it. As they say, an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.

• English is becoming more widely spoken these days, but you want to be sure. You should always check on these things before your arrival.

• Be aware of hotel accommodations. Reserve your hotel in advance, preferably with a hotel that has an airport/station collection service. It is best to choose hotels that are equipped with the best innovative safety equipment. This is to ensure that travelers will be safe once they are alone in their room.

DURING THE TRIP

• Taxi’s can be very dangerous, so when taking taxis from an airport to your hotel, travel in the more expensive airport taxis and ensure that the drivers have official identification. Never take a taxi waiting outside the airport grounds. Taking a taxi recommended by the hotel when traveling from your hotel to the airport.

• Try not to arrive in a new city or town late at night. This can just go wrong in a number of ways. It is much easier getting checked in during the day time and security at night in certain areas is just horrendous.

• When arriving in a new town, keep to your original plan and stay in the hotel that you have decided on. Don’t let the taxi driver persuade you that your hotel is fully booked and that he knows a cheaper and better one. He’ll be working on commission and the hotel probably won’t be in a safe part of town.

• When leaving discos late at night take a taxi home no matter how close your hostel is. Outside most discos you’ll find a street vendor selling cigarettes. Usually these people know all the taxi drivers and can recommend a safe one.

• Travel in a group if possible. Since when is traveling in numbers not a good idea?

• Learn the basics in the local language before you arrive. Don’t expect that people will speak English.

• Avoid going on your own to remote areas/ruins where tourist would be expected to go. Seek local advice or take a guide.

• Read the guide books and talk with other tourists to find out which areas are best avoided.

• Don’t wear expensive looking jewelry.

• Keep your valuables hidden. A money belt is great if it is an option that you willing to look into. There are many different styles of money belt. One of the most popular is an “over the shoulder” style wallet on a strap that you were underneath your top. This makes it very difficult for a thief to make off with your valuables.

• On public transport have your day pack close to you at all times, preferably with the straps around your legs or padlocked to the luggage rack. On buses your backpack will normally go outside, either on top of the roof or in the external luggage compartments. On long distance buses ask for a receipt for your bags. On short rides just keep a careful eye out each time the bus stops to off-load bags. In the event of having your bags stolen, stay with the bus – you will probably require a declaration from the bus company accepting responsibility for the loss in order to claim any money from your insurance company.

• Leave your valuables in your hotel safe when making day trips or longer tours. Obtain a receipt not just for your money belt/wallet etc. but for its contents, with each item listed.

• If you have to leave your passport and credits cards together, place the credit card in a sealed envelope and sign your name across the flap. This way when you return you will know that nothing has been tampered with.

• If planning on going to market areas, crowded streets, fiestas etc. don’t go with all your valuables. Leave them in the hotel. If you’re planning on buying something expensive keep your money safely in a money belt. Try to be discreet when opening it. To protect small change in your pockets you can stuff a handkerchief in after. If the pavements are really crowded, especially in market areas, walk in the road.

• If you suspect someone is following you, stop and stare them in the eye until they go. If you really get a bad feeling about a place, go with your first instincts and leave. Bag slashing is rare nowadays but for added safety you can wear your day pack on your chest.

• If it’s on your back try to walk without stopping. If you need to stop, sway your pack gently from side to side so that you can feel if anyone is tampering with it.

• When putting your bag down on the floor, to take a photo or just to sit in a café, remember to put your foot through the strap. Not only will it be impossible to snatch, you also won’t forget it! This is the most common type of theft – tourists forgetting bags in cafes and on returning to ask if anyone has seen it, you’ve guessed it, it’s gone.

So, whether a person is traveling for the first time or for the tenth time, it is still best to keep in mind these safety traveling tips so that the experience will always be a gratifying one.

Have a safety trip!

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Written by Editor under Travel Tips.

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