Everything You Need To Know To Travel Safe And Protected
Whether you’re off for a bit of a wander around locally or planning to explore foreign shores, you need to look out for yourself.
When you’re caught up in all the excitement of travel—taking in the sights, enjoying some good food, and checking out new places—it can be easy to forget about staying safe.
Tourists who are a bit unwary about themselves can become prime targets for opportunistic thieves. They tend to stick out in a crowd, aren’t familiar with their surroundings, and typically carry cash, credit cards, and valuable items like cameras.
The following tips will help you reduce these risks, keep you safe, let you have a great time on your vacation, and avoid any unnecessary troubles.
Digitize Your Important Documents
Your wallet or bag could be holding some vital documents that sneaky thieves might try to exploit. Leave any unnecessary items at home, like your Social Security card.
As for the important documents, make copies of it all— prescriptions, a spare credit card (just in case you need to make a digital purchase in a tight spot), and your passport.
Snap a photo and stash them in a secure online folder. This way, if the worst happens and your belongings get robbed, you can quickly limit the harm those robbers can do.
You can call your bank to cancel those debit and credit cards and ask your embassy for a fresh ID. Plus, you can use a secure digital vault system like 1Password or LastPass to keep these documents as safe as possible.
Limit the Amount of Cash You Carry
Having a bit of cash on hand while you’re traveling is a smart move, but most shops and businesses, even abroad, accept credit cards these days.
Keep your cash stash minimal to reduce the appeal of your wallet to any potential thieves. Plus, with a card, you’ve got the advantage of being able to dispute any unfamiliar charges.
Just be sure to carry a card that doesn’t slap you with foreign transaction fees when you’re shopping internationally.
Blend In and Avoid Looking Like a Tourist
The better you can blend in with the locals in how you dress and carry yourself, the lower the chance of being singled out by would-be criminals who prey on tourists.
Try adapting your style to match that of the locals, walk with confidence, and keep those maps tucked away to avoid drawing attention. When using your phone for directions, only glance at it briefly while you’re on the move.
Take the time to get to know the city and your route before you leave your hotel. If you find yourself needing to check directions for an extended period, consider going into a nearby store or cafe rather than standing out on the street. It’ll help you stay under the radar and keep your travels trouble-free.
Inform Someone You Trust About Your Itinerary
Whether you’re flying solo or with some friends, share your travel plans with a trusted someone back home. Make it a habit to check in once a day, giving them the heads-up that you’ve safely arrived at your next spot or back at your hotel. These little gestures go a long way in upping your safety while you’re on the road.
Create and share a secret code word with your family or pals. This way, if you find yourself in a pickle, they’ll know something’s not right, even if the chat seems ordinary to anyone else who might be eavesdropping.
You can take this a step further by considering sharing your real-time location via your smartphone with a reliable friend or family member.
Educate Yourself About Typical Travel Scams
No matter where you wander on this globe, you’ll come across people looking to pull a fast one and scam you out of your hard-earned money.
Some of them are pretty easy to spot, but there’s a whole bunch of smooth-talking, professional con artists out there, too.
Now, everyone likes to think they’re too sharp to fall for a scam, but let’s face it: it can happen to the best of us.
Here are some of the most common travel scams to be aware of. Learn about these, then do more research specific to your destination to find any additional scams to watch out for.
Take, for instance, the milk scam in Cuba, the “broken” taxi meters in Costa Rica, or the infamous ring con in the City of Love, Paris.
Every country’s got its own unique scam you’ll want to be wise to.
Remember, being prepared is being protected, and doing this homework can save you from getting conned out of hundreds, maybe even thousands of bucks. It’ll also save you from the frustration and disappointment that can dampen your dream vacation.
Seek Guidance from Locals
If you want to learn which neighborhoods are safe and which might be a bit dodgy, have a chat with a local.
Most locals are pretty friendly, and they’ll be quick to give you the information on where you should and shouldn’t wander. But if a random stranger dishes out advice, get a second opinion—just in case they’re incorrect or have ulterior motives (like trying to scam you).
Now, with taxi drivers, it’s a bit hit-and-miss. Some can be genuine and provide great insights, while others might be downright unpleasant and steer you in the wrong direction.
The people working the front desk at hostels or hotels are generally solid local intel sources. Ask them which parts of the city to steer clear of, what’s a fair price for a taxi, and where to score some great food.
Use Public Wi-Fi Networks with Caution
Using public Wi-Fi can leave your devices and sensitive information vulnerable to hackers.
When you connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot without proper protection, you’re essentially rolling out the red carpet for attackers to sneak malicious software, also known as malware, into your device.
These scammers can be pretty sneaky. They might inject a malware-laden ad into a website that appears perfectly safe and trick you into handing over your info through a phishing form.
Or they might even deceive you into downloading a fake app that records everything you type.
Using a cheap VPN service while in the airport, exploring, or at your hotel is one of the tips for device safety while traveling. It will help keep your connection private and secure. Though, make sure to choose a service that will fit your needs best. One VPN might be good for Windows, but Mac users, for example, should choose a different option.
In general, VPN services establish a secure connection, safeguarding your personal data when you’re browsing the web or using web-connected apps on public networks.
Don’t Compromise Safety for the Perfect Shot
On platforms like Instagram and TikTok, it can sometimes feel like tourists are taking bigger risks just to rack up those social media likes.
It’s a typical story these days, hearing about individuals playing with danger, whether getting too close to the edge of cliffs or trying to cozy up to wildlife, all in the name of snagging that epic snap.
Know your own boundaries and exercise good judgment. Having a bit of an adrenaline rush can feel great, but you need to be smart about it.
First things first—don’t go standing on the edge of a cliff, especially if it’s gusty or the ground seems a bit wobbly. Always keep an eye out for any signs or warnings posted around the place. Also, remember that animals can be really unpredictable, so keep a decent distance.
Show some respect for the spots you visit and the people who call them home. Don’t trespass on someone’s private property, and try to see things from the locals’ point of view.
Wrapping Up
Now that we’ve listed the tips on how to travel safely, you can hit the road with more confidence and less chance of finding yourself in a tight spot.
While most of these tips won’t break the bank, and they might chew up a bit of your time, putting in that effort to boost your travel safety is an absolute must.
It could save you from getting tangled up in risky situations that could seriously ruin your next adventure.
