10 Tips to Stay Safe While Traveling
Nothing beats taking an extended vacation to a tropical beach or even making a long distance move overseas to a country you love, but amidst all the stress of creating a travel itinerary, it is of the utmost importance to make sure the trip will be safe. No matter how long your travels will be, here are some great travel tips to make sure you stay safe no matter where you are heading.
Jewelry
There is nothing wrong with wearing jewelry when you travel but be aware of your surroundings and avoid wearing flashy or expensive jewelry when out and about. Letting the wrong people see expensive jewelry can be a sure way to get robbed during your travels, so a good way to deter thieves is to not give them a reason to target you.
Health/Travel Insurance
An accident resulting in a broken bone or a serious health problem can really put a damper on a move overseas and in some countries, it has been documented that people have found themselves responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills for treatments that would have cost little to nothing had they been insured or in a different country. If you have Medicare or other health benefits, chances are they will not be valid in a new country. Your best option to ensure your health and safety is to speak to a licensed insurance agent to secure a good local health insurance policy or to buy travel insurance before you begin your move.
First Aid Kit
Carrying around a heavy first aid kit is most likely not a convenient option when traveling but packing a small first aid kit when you plan to take a walk or drive or check out the new scenery around you is well-advised. Your kit should contain the basics just in case you have a minor accident. This will include bandages, alcohol pads, tweezers, sterile nitrile gloves and a triple antibiotic ointment. It is also a good idea to carry a spare cell phone in your first aid kit just in case you need to make a call if you become lost or injured or you lose your primary phone during the trip.
Legal Documents
During a move or a vacation overseas, you’re going to need to make sure you have your personal identification as well as your passport, visa and other important legal documents. These documents should be kept in a safe place during your travels.
Hotel Safe
Utilize the hotel safe to keep important paperwork, jewelry, money and other valuables during the times you will not be in your room. You never know when someone may enter your room when you’re out and about and you need to make sure your valuables are always safe.
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Make a detailed list of your emergency contacts before you leave for your trip. Write the numbers down rather than storing them in your phone or on a computer or tablet. If something were to happen, having a list will come in handy.
Packing Tips
Pack for the season when you are traveling but be sure to pack for the number of days you will be away. If this is a move, you will want to check the annual climate to see what you should expect from the average temperature, rainfall, snowfall and sunny days. Take everything into account before you start to pack and sort through your clothing to make sure you don’t overpack items you won’t ever use.
Clothing to Wear
Pack at least two pairs of good walking shoes, a pair of dress shoes for when you go out and sandals or flip flops for the days you hit the beach or will be out in the sun. You will want to have casual clothing including shorts and pants for hiking, bicycling or strolling through town. Be sure to pack a couple nice outfits to go out in the evenings as many restaurants have dress codes and you wouldn’t want to be unable to go out.
Weather Tips
Whether taking a vacation or planning a big move abroad, checking the weather is important. Thankfully, there are weather apps you can install on your mobile phone or download onto your laptop or tablet that will help you stay up to date as you travel. One place you can check for reliable weather updates within the U.S. is NOAA Weather Radio where you can find information on weather for all states. For international weather reports, you can check websites such as AccuWeather where you can find weather updates for countries around the world. It’s a good idea to know how the weather will be when making your travel plans.
Governmental Agencies
Before you leave on your trip, you should check with some important agencies to check safety concerns in the country you will visit or move to, health precautions that you might need to know about, financial information, facts about the local area you will reside in and other information that is important to know when you are going to be in an unfamiliar place.
The U.S. Department of State is an ideal agency to contact as they have updated information on destinations worldwide and can guide you in the direction you need for vital resources. This includes information about your destination, travel and health insurance overseas and important documents you will need to have in your possession to travel outside of the United States.
A good program to sign up for is the Smart Traveler Program where you can get updates via email for the country you are planning to go to. Be sure to sign up a few months before your planned move or vacation.
Before you hop on a plane and fly off to a new country, taking time to prepare for the trip by researching the country you are going to, getting your paperwork in order and making sure you know the local laws, so you will be safe when you arrive is very important when traveling to a new country. Keep in mind that customs overseas will vary from what you may be used to, and you will need to show respect for those customs when you arrive. Doing a little research will go a long way when it comes to having a safe trip and enjoying life when you arrive.
