Are you planning a vacation? About 7 in 10 employed Americans (69%) take vacations every year. Taking a vacation seems easy – save some money, take your dates off and pick a place.
While it may seem easy, there’s one thing that most people don’t take into account when taking their vacation. Something that people don’t focus on is travel safety. There’s a lot of things that can go wrong when traveling.
Losing your possessions, getting lost, or even worse, ending up in a place you shouldn’t be. If you’re planning a trip, you need to make sure you stay safe during your travels. Keep scrolling because we are going over 10 tips you can do to make sure you have a safe trip.
1. Beware of Travel Scams
Scammers know that travelers can be vulnerable. Especially if you travel to a different country. If that’s the case, scammers will set up fake ATM’s that will steal your information or even set up fake parking meters.
The best thing you can do is a quick internet search for common scams while traveling abroad. Research if any ongoing scams are happening in the area you’re visiting or along the route. This info could prove to be valuable as you travel along your way.
2. Prepare Your Phone and Bank Account
Make sure that you prepare your phone and bank accounts before your vacation. For example, you will want to ensure that your Cell Phone Deal enables you to call internationally and that your device has all of the necessary security features in case it is lost or stolen on your travels. Furthermore, if you are traveling through different time zones, you’ll need to remember to set your time zone manually if your phone doesn’t do this on its own.
Not doing this could mess your itinerary up or cause you to miss flights. You’ll also want to give your bank or financial institution a call to let them know the locations you’ll be traveling to and for how long.
Most banks and credit unions will flag your account or shut your debit cards off. They do this to deter fraudulent transactions, but if this happens when the bank isn’t open, it could spell out serious problems.
Always let your bank know that you are traveling to avoid this problem.
3. Check With the States You’re Visiting
With the coronavirus pandemic currently happening, you must check with the states you are visiting to ensure there aren’t any restrictions. Some states won’t allow visits over 10 days, and some will require you to quarantine for a certain time period after entering the state.
Go to your state’s website to see if there are any provisions. This is especially important if you are traveling with a firearm. Some states will be ok with it, while some states do not permit you to travel with one at all. Failure to follow the laws can land you with a hefty fine or, worse, jail time.
4. Lock-Up Your Valuables
Suppose you want your valuables safe, it’s best to remember to lock them up. If you are traveling in a car, make sure that your valuables are out of sight and in the glove compartment or the trunk.
Make sure to lock the doors and the glove compartment for added safety. This is also important in hotels. Most hotels have a safe where you can store valuables.
If one isn’t available, consider investing in a small travel safe or a sturdy bag where you can padlock any of the openings. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
5. Get Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a great way to protect your investments in case they get lost or stolen. Yes, it’s devasting to lose any of your possessions, but the reality is it’s all replaceable.
The good news is that’s there are lots of options that help travelers with many different rate options. Do an online search and get choose an option that’s right for you.
6. Talk With The Locals
The locals at your destination will know more about the area than anyone else. They can tell you the best neighborhoods to stay or visit and warn you about potentially dangerous areas.
Great places to find advice would be gas stations, taxi drivers, friends or family in the area, or hotel attendants. Be wary though, always ask for second opinions in case of potential scams.
7. Let Family and Friends Know You’re Traveling
Don’t travel alone even if you are indeed traveling alone. Always let friends or family know your itinerary or DVC waitlist info if things go wrong during your travels. Shoot someone an email or a text message and talk with them regularly during your vacation.
That way, if they don’t hear from you for a couple of days, they’ll know something is up. This will also help out if an investigation is pursued, they’ll have some intelligence or where to start.
8. Don’t Do Anything Foolish
It may be tempting to go beyond some boundaries to take a picture, but don’t do anything that can get you or someone else in trouble. This means don’t stand on the edge of cliffs, hang on or climb on statues or other landmarks, and keep your distance from wildlife.
Be smart and be respectful of your surroundings.
9. Keep Your Bag Close
There are many cases of pickpocketing and purse snatching that happens each year. In fact, studies show that larceny is committed every 5.4 seconds. That’s a lot of crime!
This is why it’s important to keep your bag glued to you as much as possible. Always keep your bag in front of you and never behind you. Robbers go for people who look vulnerable.
If they don’t see an opportunity from you, they’ll most likely move on to someone else.
10. Invest in Self Defense Classes
You don’t need to be a karate expert but, a basic self-defense class can go along way. Consider investing in a self-defense class before you travel. This can help you with avoiding confrontations and knowing what to do in case you need to defend yourself.
Participating in self-defense classes will help you with confidence, situational awareness, and what you need to do if things go bad.
Have a Safe Trip
The goal for any traveler is to have fun, relax but also to have a safe trip. It’s never a good time traveling if you end up hurt, your valuables are stolen, or you end up in a bad part of town where you can get taken advantage of.
Be sure to follow all the tips we’ve provided for you so you can feel confident and safe on your next road trip.
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