One of the things you likely wish someone before a trip is to have “safe travels”.
It’s such a common thing to say that you likely don’t really take it to heart and think about the things that will help you travel safely. Amiright?!
In this article, we’ll share some of our top tips to make sure you know how to avoid scams, and dangerous situations. Plus, we’re sharing what you can do to be prepared in case anything does happen.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or are going on a solo trip for the first time, these tips will make sure you travel safely, no matter where in the world you may be headed.
1. Keep up to Date on Local News
You never know what can happen when you are abroad, and in today’s fast-changing and fast-paced world, anything can happen quickly, whether you are in Paris or deep in the deserts of Central Asia.
It’s good practice to stay informed when you are on the road, and one of our top travel safety tips is to keep up to date with the local news. If it looks like there might be protests in the next city, maybe reconsider visiting, or if there has been an unusual number of incidents involving tourists, perhaps keep away for the time being.
2. Watch the weather
As well as keeping up to date on local news, one of our best travel tips is to also keep up to date on the weather. This is more important in some countries than others, and if it’s going to be a typhoon season in the Philippines, you might want to consider visiting at a different time of year.
But bad weather can affect your travel plans anywhere, and flooding could disrupt transport in England, or avalanches could be a danger in the Pyrenees in spring.
If it’s particularly hot you’ll want to keep hydrated, while if it’s going to be cold, you’ll want to make sure you take adequate cold-weather gear with you.
In regards to the weather, it is absolutely essential that you do your research on the best times to visit the place you want to travel to. This will give you invaluable insight into what to expect and how to prepare for the time period you plan to travel there.
3. Check Government Websites
Another of our top safety tips for travel is to check government websites before you travel. Many governments and embassies keep up to date profiles on countries around the world, and provide detailed rundowns on practical information such as entry requirements, and also on the political climate.
Websites such as the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office also break down which regions within a country are safe to travel to. While Istanbul might be completely safe, traveling to the border between Turkey and Syria isn’t going to be quite so advisable.
Remember, of course, that these government websites are always going to be more over the top than the actual situation on the ground, and in some cases, government travel warnings can be politically motivated, rather than warning of any likely physical danger.
They are a good place to start though when you are planning your travels, and you are looking for more detailed safety tips for travel.
I can’t stress enough to just use this as heads up of sorts for your travels. We’ve traveled to many places on the warning list and had a wonderful time. The key is to be informed, not paranoid or afraid.
4. Leave a Copy of Your Travel Plans with Family
We literally never leave home without emailing copies of our flights, hotels and tour plans to a couple of members of our family. At the very least, your emergency contact should have copies of this information before you leave home.
In the rare chance that something does happen to you, it will go a long way for someone to have your complete travel records. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Create a spreadsheet in Google Docs and send the link.
Be sure to include your flight info for all flights, domestic and international including flight dates, times and numbers, all of your hotels and any tours that you have booked.
5. Buy Travel Insurance
One of the best tips for travel we can give is to take out adequate travel insurance. Travelers on a budget often overlook this as an unnecessary expense, but when it comes to keeping safe on the road, nothing beats a good insurance policy.
If you get hurt or injured, with a good insurance company behind you, you’ll be able to get instant access to the best health care in the country. If the political situation in a destination deteriorates then you’ll also be able to get out quickly.
6. Check-in Regularly at Home
Now, you don’t have to paranoid about this but once you arrive at your destination, stay in touch back home. Let someone know how things are going and if your plans are going according to the way they are booked. Also, notify them if there are any changes.
This will not only put your family’s worries at ease but also provide the necessary information in the rare event that something happens.
