It doesn’t matter if you’re preparing for the vacation of a lifetime or a regular trip out of town; there’s always one priority above having fun or visiting the most extraordinary places. Naturally, we’re talking about your personal safety, which should always be integral to your travel plans and preparations.
Don’t worry — it’s possible to have fun while remaining as safe as possible. With that in mind, we’ll share some valuable tips for safe traveling regardless of your destination!
Keep Someone In The Loop
No matter where you’re going, someone should know where you are — it’s never wise to leave on a trip without telling at least one person because you need someone to rely on in case something doesn’t go according to plan.
Of course, that doesn’t mean informing someone about every little detail of your trip on a daily basis. It’s enough to share your general itinerary with a trustworthy person, along with the address and contact information of your hotel or accommodation. Also, provide them with your
flight numbers, just in case.
Do Your Homework
If you want to stay as safe as possible in a relatively unfamiliar place, you need to do some research before your trip. For starters, you should learn about all the reputable local ridesharing platforms and taxi companies — scammy cab drivers are one of the most common tourist traps in many worldwide destinations.
On the other hand, you may decide to rely on public transportation. That usually makes sense from a money-saving perspective, but it’s not always the safest option. Try to learn the important stuff about the local public transport before you reach your destination — primarily if the transport system is safe and largely devoid of petty theft and other crime.
Apart from that, you’ll want to know about the transport lines you’ll need to reach your accommodations on the first day o the trip. You can use Google Maps to find your way around the area, in combination with smartphone apps that track public transport and provide real-time updates.
Speaking of which — Google Maps and similar digital tools are also helpful for familiarizing yourself with the area in which you’ll be staying. That way, you’ll know if you’ve got all the necessary amenities you need nearby, along with police stations and hospitals. Also, you’ll know how well-connected the area is with other local activity hubs, especially those you plan on visiting during your stay.
If you plan on going out at night, especially for drinks, make sure you’ve planned your return trip to your accommodations. It’s not something you want to improvise when you’re in an unfamiliar place!
Watch Out For Vacation Brain
Most of us like to go on trips to get away from the stress and minutiae of our daily lives. And while it’s nice to pump the brakes on your worries and daily chores, try not to compromise on safety due to relaxation. Don’t lull yourself into a false sense of safety just because you feel at peace and relaxed at your vacation destination.
That’s especially true when meeting locals and other new people at these destinations. Sure, you can have a great time as an extrovert — but don’t reward everyone with your trust right away; give yourself some time to get to know them better first.
If you’re going out for drinks with people you’ve just met on vacation, you can have fun and still remain vigilant and careful. While drinking cocktails, Google any ingredients you’re unfamiliar with before consuming them. Also, always stay on top of how many drinks you’ve had. Don’t overindulge, especially if you’re traveling alone; that’s the easiest way to make yourself a mark to people with potentially malicious intent.
Again, the goal here isn’t to remove all of the fun from the equation of a trip — it’s simply to ensure you don’t sacrifice your general safety in pursuit of a laid-back, carefree time away from home. And trust us, it’s well worth it!
Plan Your Contingencies
No matter how well you prepare for a trip, something is almost guaranteed to go off-script. After all, most things in our lives are out of our control. And when something like that happens, you can’t spend much time in frustration and anger — you need to adapt to the new circumstances.
The best way to do that is to be ready for the worst and pray for the best. If you have a Plan B for the most obvious stuff that can go wrong, you won’t have to do as much quick thinking while you’re on your trip.
For example, your flight might get delayed. That’s not something you can affect, but you can still prepare for it by learning about your chosen airline’s policies and what kind of compensation you’re eligible for. If you’re flying with Air India, for instance, read up on Air India flight delay compensation just in case.
Also, make copies of all your essential documentation before leaving. A copy of your passport won’t be usable if you lose your actual passport, of course. Still, it may make the issuing process for your new passport easier — and make it simpler for you to identify yourself to the appropriate authorities at any time.
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