Traveling abroad is exciting, but you need to take appropriate precautions to make sure your vacation goes smoothly. This article outlines how to make your vacation stress-free, safe, and fun.
Keep an emergency credit card on your person. This means in your pocket, not your purse or briefcase. If you are mugged or otherwise lose your money, you will still have a way to pay for necessary items and travel.
Carry both cash and travelers checks. The advantage of travelers checks is that they are replaceable. If you lose travelers checks or they are stolen, the bank will replace them. Travelers checks are not universally accepted, so carrying some cash is necessary as well.
Keep a note of where your country’s embassy or consulate is located. Also keep the phone number of these places. If you are traveling to a country where your country does not have an Embassy or consulate, find out in advance which one you should go to in case of emergency. For instance, if you are from the U.S. and are in a country without a U.S. embassy, you may wish to go to the Australian embassy. Have this information on your person at all times.
If it is safe to do so, keep your passport and valuables in the hotel safe. If you are traveling at budget hotels in seedy areas, it is better to keep your passport on your person. If you are staying in a high-end hotel that frequently caters to foreign guests, it is likely that you can leave your passport and valuables in that hotel’s safe.
Be aware of your surroundings. This means looking at maps of where you are traveling to familiarize yourself with the area prior to travel. Learn the routes to the police department and a hospital or clinic, as well as to your country’s embassy. Pay attention to who is near you, and if you get lost, have a way to get help.
Do not leave your belongings unattended. Carry important things with you or lock them in the hotel safe. If you leave luggage in your hotel room, do not take anything of value with you. This includes personal information. Personal information is as valuable as jewelery; protect it as such.
Before leaving, purchase travel insurance. Your insurance should cover medical needs, provide emergency funds, and cover lost or stolen belongings. You also need to be aware of evacuation protocols. If you are visiting a country that suffers a severe natural disaster while you are there, know how your country plans to evacuate its citizens. People have been stuck in foreign countries after natural disasters grounded all flights in and out. You could be stuck for days, weeks, or even months longer than planned. Plan for evacuation to avoid staying stuck.
With these tips, you can travel overseas, and you do not have to worry about problems because you will be prepared. There are dangers in any location, but being prepared will help you stay safe.
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