International travel is an incredibly exciting experience! However, just like planning a trip, it requires careful planning and forethought in order to ensure safe traveling while you’re away.
Safe traveling begins at home with what you pack. While it is likely that you will have a safe trip, following travel safety tips can provide you with piece of mind while you travel. First, do not pack anything that would make you appear as a target, or an affluent tourist. For instance, expensive jewelry can draw attention to you in a negative way.
Leave behind anything that you would miss if it were lost, including credit cards, social security card, jewelry, etc. In the event that you lose something, you will save yourself the trouble of needing to replace it while you are abroad.
Other valuable
safe traveling tips involve education before you leave. Before you go, learn as much as you can about the local laws and customs of the places you plan to visit. Good resources are your library, your travel agent, and the embassies, consulates or tourist bureaus of the countries you will visit.
Travel safety tips also require you to do some research and preparation of documents before you go. Make sure your passport is updated, and have your legal documents in order at home. If you leave a current will, insurance documents, and power of attorney with your family or a friend, you can feel secure about traveling and will be prepared for any emergency that may arise while you are away. While it may seem overwhelming to have to think about possibilities like this, in the event of an emergency, you will have your affairs in order.
Finally, when you reach your destination, be sure to observe several travel safety tips. First, use your common sense. Do not travel alone at night, avoid large groups of tourists, Wear the shoulder strap of your bag across your chest and walk with the bag away from the curb to avoid drive by purse grabs, learn a few phrases in the local language or have them handy in written form so that you can signal your need for police or medical help, and be alert!!
If you follow proper precautions and travel safety tips, it is likely your trip will go off without a hitch. Use common sense and street smarts, and you will be a much less likely target.
