For some people, travel is a way of life and something that you do as often as possible. For others, travel is rarer and something you plan and save for over a long period of time. No matter which type of traveler you are, safety is always important. I have been fortunate to be able to travel often, and over the years I have come up with some important travel safety tips to keep in mind.
Know Before You Go
1. Research, research, research, and then research some more. The more you know, the safer your travels will be.
2. Know where to go if you have a problem. If you’re traveling out of the country, know where your country’s embassy is and how to contact it.
3. Before traveling, have a plan in place in case of an emergency. What will you do if you or someone in your family gets sick? What happens if you end up in a hospital far from home? Consider purchasing a membership with MedjetAssist. If you become hospitalized internationally or domestically (more than 150 miles from home), MedjetAssist will arrange medical transportation to the hospital of your choice in your home country. Peace of mind is worth the membership fee.
3. Leave valuables at home. As tempting as it is to bring along all of your gadgets, don’t do it. Your phone takes pictures and sends emails. What more do you need?
4. Take photos of any prescription medications, important documents, and the credit card you will be using. If you lose anything, you’ll have all the important information you need.
5. Choose a hotel where security is good, and public transportation is readily available. You can easily find this information from your preferred travel advisor or online travel sites such as TripAdvisor.
While You Are There
6. Once in your hotel room, check to make sure all of the doors and windows have working locks. Always use the peephole before opening your door.
7. Before leaving your hotel, ask the concierge for directions. Check to see if there are any areas you should avoid and find out the easiest way to get where you want to go.
8. If you’re renting a car, take photos of the car inside and out when you first pick it up. Report preexisting damage. Your photo will provide proof of anything present before you took possession.
9. While sightseeing, walk like you know where you’re going. You are less likely to be approached by someone with ill intent if you are alert. Don’t bury your face in a map. Consider downloading an app that can give you directions you listen to through earbuds.
10. Keep a backup stash of money and a second credit card hidden away in your hotel room. If your purse or wallet is stolen while you’re out, you will have a financial cushion. Hide these in separate locations, such as inside zippered cushions of chairs, under the television, or under the ironing board cover. Hotel safes are not always the answer. They are often susceptible to tampering with a default unlock code of 000000, which is rarely changed and is known by hotel staff.
What safety tips can you share?
This is a sponsored post syndicated by MedJet. All opinions are my own.
