20 Travel Safety Tips

1. Researching the safety of your travel destination can be a good idea. It can help to identify how risky your travel destination could be.

You can contact your local embassy to get safety-related information on the country you are planning to visit.

Additionally you can use websites such as reliefweb.int, which provides information on conflict zones and humanitarian disasters.

2. It is important to see your doctor before your vacation. Even if you are in good health having a check-up is a good idea, as access to overseas medical help may be restrictive.

The Centre for Disease Control recommends that you that you see your doctor 4-6 weeks before you depart.

3. Many people choose to purchase travel insurance prior to their trip. Travel insurance may help cover any unforeseen health costs while on your trip. Having travel insurance can be a great way to protect your health while travelling.

4. It is generally considered safer to travel in a group than travelling alone. If you do not have some one to travel with you can always use websites such as travbuddy.com to find like-minded people to travel with.

5. Don’t use illicit drugs when you are travelling abroad. Even if a certain drug is accepted in your home country, it could be a severely punishable offense in the country you are visiting. For example in the Netherlands marijuana is practically legal, while in Indonesia possession of marijuana carries a prison sentence of 4-12 years.

6. If you decide to drink alcohol and party while on vacation remember to know your limit. Binge drinking can lead to a series of terrible consequences such as car accidents.

7. Respect the customs of your travel destination – this is one of the most important aspects of travel safety. You may completely disagree with a country’s policies or laws, but violating them could be very dangerous.

8. If you are a woman, certain places may pose an especially great risk as they may have a track record of violence towards women. You can learn more about woman-centred travel safety tips at womentraveltips.com.

9. If your schedule is tight, booking your flight well in advance can help. Sometimes, especially during high seasons, securing a plane ticket to your intended destination could become exceedingly difficult.

10. If you plan to travel to a region in the world where tourists are known to contract illnesses related to their travelling, it can be a good idea that you receive the necessary shots and learn common best practices to keep yourself healthy. Failure to do so could cause severe illness since your immune system will not be accustomed to certain local conditions, such as food ingredients or water treatment.

Many NGO’s such as The World Health Organization have a lot of information on health-related safety issues and should be inspected before travelling.

11. It can be important to learn about the type of food offered in the countries you are visiting and to create a menu-plan that best suits your needs. For example, people who have serious allergies could encounter problems if the ingredient they are allergic too is a common staple in the country they are visiting. Try to consult a guidebook on your host country’s food offerings before departing.

12. Doing prior research into the lodging you are planning to use can be a good idea. If you need to travel on a specific date it is important to book your hotel, home rental or hostel stay well in advance of your actual departure. However, if your departure date is flexible there are a plethora of mobiles apps, websites, and companies that can help you save money on your booking. For example mobile apps such as Hotel Tonight lets you book hotels last minute which can potentially save you a substantial amount of money.

13. protecting your passport while travelling can really help you keep safe. You may need it on hand while travelling to show the authorities. To protect your passport you should buy a solid and transferable case to carry your passport in.

14. Make sure to bring certain types of identification such as a driver’s license. You may need to show to local law enforcement or use it to get into bars.

15. If you are planning to drive while travelling, make sure to learn the rules and regulations of the road as they may be significantly different from your home country. A good example of this is England where, unlike North America, the steering wheel is on the left.

16. If you plan or expect to have sex or “hook up” with someone who you are not dating or married to, it is a good idea to practice safe sex and use protection. The rate of STD’s spread on certain types of vacation spots is staggering.

Protecting yourself is important. According to the Center for Disease Control, there are 19 million new STD infections in the United States every year.

17. It is a good idea to use the latest technology to keep you both safe and connected with the world. A cell phone is probably the best type of technology you can use during your trip. With a mobile phone you have instant access to the outside world should you ever need help.

Consequently, if you happen to own a smartphone you can use mobile apps to help you stay safe while on vacation. For example, if you are travelling in North America, our company provides mobile safety apps for most smartphones that allows you to instantly notify a custom group of contacts with your exact GPS location, should you experience an emergency. In addition, the personal safety apps allows you to communicate with these contacts via conference calling, sms, and instant messaging vastly improving your ability to get help.

18. While travelling, try your best to put on sunscreen before you venture outdoors.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sunscreen can drastically reduce your exposure to Ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun by as much as 98%. UV rays which result in common sunburns are also a known cause of skin cancer and you should therefore always protect yourself with sunscreen when exploring the great outdoors.

19. While on vacation planning how much luggage you plan to bring with you can help make your trip both pleasant and enjoyable. Depending on your circumstances you should adjust accordingly. For example, if you are planning to stay at hostels during your trip then it would be wise to pack light. However if you are booking an apartment or hotel for a long-term stay, then it makes sense to bring more luggage. Lastly, when packing remember to account for extra luggage space for gifts, souvenirs or any shopping you may have done on your trip – avoid having to pay an extra baggage fee on your way back.

20. If the country you are visiting has been issued a travel-safety warning by you embassy try your best to inform you local embassy when you first arrive at your destination.