Whether you’re heading out on a romantic weekend getaway or considering extended travel, your safety should always be your number one priority. For the most part, this means planning your trip carefully, especially if you’re visiting a town, city or country for the first time.
With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can follow to stay safe when traveling.
Take our travel insurance. A recent study found that 62% of travellers do not purchase travel insurance. While this may seem like a savvy way to cut down on travel-related expenses, traveling unturned means putting yourself at significant risk. Otherwise, should you need any degree of medical care and attention, you’ll have to foot the entire bill yourself. Not only that, but travel insurance can also protect you from financial damage due to last-minute cancellations, delays, and more!
Be careful when taking out cash. While you may prefer to use your card (or even your phone) for most transactions, you’ll likely find that a lot of destinations require cash payments. This means that you’ll likely need to visit an ATM to withdraw the appropriate cash and currency. Be sure to do so with ATM safety practices in mind. For example, you should try to withdraw from an ATM attached to a bank or business that you recognize.
You should also expect to pay a fee when withdrawing money in a different currency. This can change from destination to destination (and even from ATM to ATM), so be sure to do a little research ahead of time to get the possible exchange rate.
Don’t be caught without your phone. Your phone is your lifeline when travelling abroad, whether it has details of your next hotel reservation or you’re using it as a navigational tool. As such, you should be sure that your battery does not run out while you’re on the go. One way in which you can achieve this goal is by investing in a portable charger, ideally one that can charge your phone several times over.
Should you run out of luck, you may also want to write down a list of important numbers and contacts. This way, you can reach out for help even if you’re without your phone. Additionally, an eSIM is a great way to ensure you always have an internet connection while traveling. It allows you to activate local data plans instantly, keeping you connected without relying on Wi-Fi or swapping SIM cards.
Be vigilant. While living in the moment is important when traveling, you should also ensure that you remain as vigilant as possible as to what is happening around you. This can help you avoid falling victim to common travel scams, such as pickpocketing.
Bring a first aid kit. Having a first-aid kit to hand is also useful when traveling. This way, you can quickly address and treat any minor injuries you develop, such as blisters, cuts and scrapes. Ideally, your first aid kit should contain some of the following:
- Bandaids and blister plasters
- Gauze pads/bandages
- Medical tape
- Painkillers/medication
- Scissors and safety pins
- Antibacterial wipes
- Hand sanitizer
If you’re heading out on a road trip, you should also put together a safety kit that you can keep in your car.
