There are few experiences in life that give you the sense of freedom, adventure, and excitement than traveling does, but all of that can quickly come crashing down when your sense of safety has been breached. The advice below is here to help you stay safe when you are traveling to make sure that you can focus on creating life-lasting memories.
Email Your Itinerary to Your Friends and Family
Whether you are traveling alone or you have a companion, once you have decided on a destination and your route, share this information to a few select friends or family to make sure you are never completely off-grid. Ensuring that there are people back home who know where you are is a safeguarding measure. If you do not return home when expected, your loved ones can provide this information to the proper local authorities.
Hide Some Emergency Cash
While the right mindset and preparation can help you to avoid unsafe situations, it is always good to prepare for the worst. There is a range of options when it comes to safely hiding emergency money on your person. For example, you could hide it in a secret pocket sewn into your trousers, inside an empty lipstick, or any other secret compartment that you can easily transport.
Have a List of Emergency Contact Information
It is always a good idea to keep a list of useful emergency contacts on your person to ensure that you can act quickly in case of an unexpected situation occurs. This list of contacts can include the embassy and the number of national emergency services.
Know Your Rights
It is essential to familiarize yourself with the legal standards of the country you are traveling to, especially if you are planning on staying there for a long time. For example, if you are planning on living in a different country and doing some work to fund your trip, knowing your rights is the best way to protect yourself if you have a contact unexpectedly terminated or become injured. Although being familiar with local laws will not protect you against everything, it will be enough to know when to hire a lawyer to help you get the retribution you deserve.
Wear Appropriate Clothing
One of the easiest ways to attract unwanted attention to yourself when traveling it to wear inappropriate clothing. Not only are you much more likely to stand out from the locals, but you might also offend traditional customs or even break the law. It is very important to check the local dress culture to avoid inadvertently offending or upsetting locals.
Take a First Aid Kit
Packing a first aid kit is one of the best ways to stay safe in the face of accidents or injuries. They often prove vital to travelers exploring more remote destinations. The first aid kit doesn’t need to be stocked with everything, but stock your kit with a few basic remedies like painkillers, plasters, sunscreen, antihistamines, antibacterial wipes or gel and rehydration tablets.