Traveling is exciting, exhilarating, and enriching. But it is important to stay safe while you’re abroad so you can enjoy your trip without worries. While most people you meet will be wonderful and welcoming, a very small minority may attempt to take advantage of you being in unfamiliar surroundings. So here are 4 clever tricks to stay safe on your travels!
1. Blend into the crowd
Although somewhat obvious, this is an important one wherever you are in the world – always try and blend in with your environment. In a lot of places, it won’t be possible to look like a local, but you can look like someone who has been to this place before, knows where things are, and how things work. If you have done your research, you will not arrive at the airport or train station and not have a clue where to go or how to get there – neither will help you blend in.
Try and respect the local culture, be kind and warm with whoever you meet, and don’t flaunt your wealth. If you stumble around a new place with a massive piece of luggage and a camera on your neck, you may find yourself targeted. So, understand that you are trying not to look like a tourist, even if that’s exactly what you are. For more advice, it is worth checking out Ben Groundwater’s tips for staying safe.
2. Walk with purpose
This may seem like a trivial one, but it is important. Part of blending in will be walking with purpose when you arrive in a strange place.
Part of blending in will be walking with purpose when you arrive in a strange place. #travelingsafely Click To TweetScam artists and muggers will be on the lookout for travelers who look unsure, lost, or in need of help and directions. If you walk with purpose you simply won’t be on their radar. So, as advised by the government of the United Kingdom, check your smartphone for directions before you leave for your destination and then walk at a good pace and keep going.
3. Take pictures of important documents before you leave
Smartphones are amazing. Yours will be invaluable as you travel around the world. But before you take off, make sure you take pictures of all your important documents – including your passport, driver’s licence and travel insurance records. If the worst happens and they’re lost or stolen it will be much easier to arrange replacements if you have a record of your details. If you get stuck and have to contact the consulate, having a copy of your documents will be a huge help.
4. Split up your money and important documents
When you’re traveling, it is worth thinking carefully about how you will carry your key possessions when you go to markets and busy areas of cities and towns. We would recommend getting a purse or wallet that you can put on a string around your neck and under your t-shirt or in a pocket, rather than in a bag or back pocket, as one of the many ways to prevent theft.
The key is to make sure you split up your key possessions however you choose to carry them. Don’t, for instance, keep your passport and all of your money, in a wallet in your backpack. If that gets stolen your trip is going to get difficult very quickly. Split your money up and keep it in different areas of your luggage so that if some gets stolen you will still have an emergency fund to get you out of trouble. The same goes for travel documents. Keep your passport and driver’s license in different places in your luggage to protect you if you do become the victim of a crime while traveling.
Have any questions about staying safe while you travel? Let us know in the comments!
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