Staying Safe When You Travel!

Another day, another collaborative wanderlust post for y’all! Safety is a big priority of mine whether I’m traveling solo or with other people.  Nothing is absolutely foolproof, but I’m sharing ways to make sure staying smart in all situations to help keep you safe!

 

There are few things more exciting and freeing than traveling. Unfortunately, there are even fewer that are quite so risky. Nothing ruins a vacation faster than getting robbed or scammed, but, for those fortunate enough to travel all around the country and world, this can be part and parcel of the experience. There are dangers no matter where you go, even in your hometown, but there are more to contend with in tourist hot spots. With that in mind, here are five ways to stay safe.

 

 

Watch What You Wear –Simply being a tourist can be enough to put a target on your back for thieves, scammers, and other crooks. The reason for this is that most tourists carry around large amounts of cash, as well as cameras, laptops, passports, and other valuables. To avoid the wrong kind of attention, you should watch what you wear and try to dress a little more like the locals. This is especially important in places with specific dress code rules. You should also avoid carrying around a map.

 

Lock Up Any Valuables – The easiest way to avoid valuables being stolen is to leave them at home. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. In this case, you should minimize easy opportunities for theft by investing in a secure bag. Most feel that a locked, or even zipped bag is a sufficient deterrent to thieves, but, unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. You’ll want a slash-proof bag to avoid the material being torn or cut. It also helps to tether the bag to your body, such as by using a carabiner clip.

 

Update Your Loved Ones – Once you know where you’re heading and when you should share this with loved ones back home. You should also call them regularly and update them on any changes to your itinerary. If your current contract doesn’t allow international calls, then there are many cheap phone plans out there that do. By contacting your family regularly like this, they would know if and when something is wrong. This means that they can reach the authorities and get you some help.

 

Learn Basic Self-Defense – You don’t need to be a black-belt to stay safe on vacation, but it does help to know a few defensive moves. For this reason, you should consider taking a self-defense class or two before your trip. Many places offer such courses, such as police departments. It can also be a benefit to carry safety devices. Just make sure that you check the laws surrounding such items in your vacation destination. Also, learn a little bit about the scams you might encounter while away.

 

 

 

Travel As A Pack – The benefits of solo travel are many and varied, but there’s no denying that there is strength in numbers. Traveling as a group, or even a pair, can be enough to take the target off your back, especially to crooks who work alone. However, this is only the case if you look out for your travel companions. Make sure that watch each other’s bags and never leave one member of your group alone. If you are traveling by yourself, you may want to make a few new friends.

 

Traveling is a fun and exciting way to spend your time, but the risks are undeniable. To stay safe while you’re away, make sure that you remember the advice above.

 

This post was a collaborative effort – please check out my disclosure policy page for more details.