Travel Safety: 4 Small Things That Make A Big Difference
Whether you are heading on a road trip or traveling across continents, you’ve got to know how to look after yourself.
Travel safety is not just about making sure how to look after your wallet, but it’s about having some more knowledge under your belt, including some of the following…
Asking the Right Locals for Advice
It’s a very simple thing, but if you really want to know which neighborhoods are safe and which are not, ask a local resident. Most locals are friendly, and they will warn you about dangerous areas, but if a stranger offers advice without you asking, it’s a good idea to get a second opinion. It’s the same thing with taxi drivers. Some are excellent, but some could get you into trouble.
If you really feel like you don’t know where you should go, it’s always best to stick to the main roads. Sometimes, even main roads become off-limits when the sun goes down. This is why it’s a good idea to have some knowledge of self-defense under your belt. You could take one of the many knife defense classes so you know how to disarm someone if they have a knife. Unfortunately, there are many parts of the world that are showing increases in knife crime.
Learn the Common Travel Scams
Wherever you go in the world, you will find people ready to try and trick you out of your cash. Some scams are obvious, but there are many professional con artists out there as well. Some of the most common travel scams include a broken taxi meter, free bracelets, fake police officers, child beggars, and fake wi-fi hubs. It’s important to get a good idea of the common travel scams so you can be more vigilant.
Check the State Department Website
The US Department of State has a travel advice page for every country in the world. It will list all of the current threats to the safety of any visitors. It’s important to note that the websites can show you everything that might go wrong, which is different from what is likely to go wrong. It can be a bit more cautious, which means that even though there are travel warnings, it is important to use your best judgment.
Get Travel Insurance
One of the simplest things, but one of the most important. Travel insurance is one of the best ways to recoup the losses. If you worry about the safety of your luggage and yourself while you travel, insurance can take a lot of the concern out of the equation. If you like to travel with an expensive camera or a computer, it is common sense to have insurance. You may think that insurance is expensive, but if you are worried about your item getting stolen if you have a problem with a thief, the insurance means it will get replaced.
When it comes to looking after yourself while traveling, it’s always a good idea to travel with someone, but if you do not, make sure you message your itinerary to friends and family so people know where you’re going, and what your general plans are. It’s important to look after yourself while traveling, and some of these little things can make a massive difference to the quality of your journey.
