One of the best experiences in life is when you travel and see something new. It’s the time of your life where you get to eat something new, feel something, hear something new; everything is something new. However, some people are afraid to travel out of their country. They think that it’s not safe. This is however not unfounded since left and right, you see on the news foreigners getting scammed overseas. But you should know that the world is not something that you should fear, it’s something that you should conquer. To help you overcome the world and let go of your fear of traveling, here are the key ways of staying safe while traveling.
Preparations That You Need To Make Before You leave
There are things that you need to do that can keep you safe before you start packing your bags.
1. Make sure that you make copies of your travel documents.
When you’re traveling, things can be so fascinating that you tend to forget about taking care of your belongings. This is why most foreigners lose their travel documents.
So, when you travel, you should make:
● Photocopy all of your documents
● Get a digital copy of your passport, driver’s license, and other IDs
● Email the digital copies of your email
● Upload the digital photographs on your online storage
● Take pictures of your documents and save them on your phone
This may be tedious, but you should remember that it would never hurt to be always prepared.
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2. Make sure that you get checked by a medical professional and get immunized.
If you’ve been planning your trip for months, then you should also know that it would be helpful if you start seeing your physician months before you leave. Doing this will allow you to be physically prepared by the time you leave. The doctor will also help you figure out which vaccinations you may need to have before visiting a particular place.
The routine vaccines when traveling are:
● HPV
● Shingles
● Flu
● Pneumococcal
● Meningococcal
● Hep A
● Hep B
● Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td)
● Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)
3. Make sure that you research the common scams in the area that you’re going.
You should read blogs and articles about the area you’re about to go to. You can specifically research about the common tourist scams in the area. Doing this will allow you to avoid these scams and protect yourself.
The typical tourist scams are:
● Broken taxi meter
● Overbooked or closed hotel
● Giving freebies
● Fake police officers
● Attraction is closed
● Spills on your clothing
● Injured, old people, or child beggar
● Friendly ATM helper
● Fake free WiFi hubs
● Free group photo
4. Make sure that you register with the government before you leave.
In some countries, you’ll be required to register yourself before you leave. Doing this will allow the government to contact you when you’re abroad easily. The government will also be able to give your essential information and details on what to do in case of crisis.
5. Make sure that you get travel insurance.
There’s a possibility that you’ll still get sick even with all vaccinations you’ve taken. If you get sick abroad, you may end up paying for substandard medical treatment for thousands of dollars. However, if you get travel insurance, all of your medical procedures would be covered.
Things That You Need To Remember When You’re Traveling
When you travel to another place, especially if you’re going abroad, there are certain things that you need to remember and do.
1. Make sure that you always watch out for your valuables.
When you travel, you tend to bring some reasonably expensive devices. You may even bring that necklace that your mom gave you or your engagement and wedding ring. However, the bad news is that the locals know that most foreigners always pack valuables with them.
You should:
● Tuck away your devices if you’re not using any of them
● Don’t let your phone hanging around while you’re in a public place
● Never store your laptop or drones in a bag where the logo is visible
● Don’t wear your pieces of jewelry when you’re in an open area
2. Make sure that you safely store your cash.
If you plan to carry a lot of cash with you, you should divide them and store them in multiple storages. Keep those storages separate from each other and make sure always to note how much you’ve stored in them. If you’re staying in a hotel, ask if they have a safe where you can safely store most of your cash. Lastly, make sure to only bring enough money with you when you’re going somewhere else.
3. Make sure that you blend in with the crowd.
You should try as much as you can to never stand out as an obvious tourist when traveling. Try to blend in as much as you can; try to act and dress like a local.
You should:
● Follow the customs of the country you’re visiting
● Learn some basics of the language such as greetings
● Be respectful of the local laws
● Learn the religious traditions of the place, especially when entering religious sites
If you do this, you may avoid breaking laws or offending locals.
Keep In Touch With Everyone.
Before, during, and after your trip, you should always keep your communications open with your family and friends. This will allow them to know what your plans are before you leave. It will also let them know what you are doing and where you are when you’re thousands of miles away from them. Lastly, it will tell them that you’ve safely returned and nothing has happened to you.
Aside from your friends and family, you should also keep in touch with a travel lawyer before and during your trip. The travel lawyer will be able to help you know what to do when a legal crisis arises. If you’re looking for a reliable travel lawyer that can help you, you can click here.
Sabrina Wright
Sabrina Wright is a vibrant young law writer currently writing her next big project and a contributor at Hasner Law. Her modern outlook on the law field is reflected on her informative pieces. Sabrina loves cooking and often invites her friends over for barbecue.
