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Posted: 12/15/23 | December fifteenth, 2023

Staying secure on the highway is a prime concern for….nicely, everybody. Nobody needs to get scammed, harm, or sick on the highway. Nobody needs to get robbed.

And, if you find yourself going someplace you might have by no means been earlier than, it’s regular be cautious. You don’t know what to anticipate or learn how to play it secure. There’s loads of unknowns.

Whereas each nation on the earth is completely different, there’s some commonplace practices and customary guidelines you need to use to remain secure whenever you journey. A few of these guidelines are widespread sense, some had been sadly discovered from first hand expertise!

Listed here are my 10 security suggestions to make sure all the pieces goes easily whenever you journey:

1. Find out about widespread scams

Whereas scams are uncommon, they’re on the market, ready for unwitting vacationers to stumble into them. Most will solely value you a couple of bucks and a little bit of embarrassment, however others can fleece you. You’ll want to learn up in your vacation spot to see if there are any widespread scams to concentrate on.

On my first journey to Thailand I used to be scammed a number of occasions on my first day. It was only a few bucks, fortuitously, nevertheless it was nonetheless awkward and ugly. Since that journey, I’ve at all times made positive to be vigilant and analysis scams earlier than I journey.

Widespread journey scams embody taxis not utilizing their meter as a result of it’s “damaged,” folks making an attempt to rope you into signing a petition (after which demanding a donation), or folks promoting pretend (or overpriced) tickets to points of interest.

Evaluation this record of widespread scams earlier than you go so that you just’re prepared for no matter is thrown your means.

2. Purchase journey insurance coverage

One of many very first issues I do as soon as I e book a visit is purchase journey insurance coverage. I do know, it’s not a enjoyable a part of journey planning and it’s a boring factor to learn (and write) about. However shopping for insurance coverage early ensures I’m lined in case I have to cancel my journey, if my flight is canceled or delayed, and far more.

For simply over a greenback per day you get peace of thoughts, figuring out that, ought to one thing go flawed, you gained’t must take care of it (or pay for it) alone.

I by no means depart house with out journey insurance coverage. You shouldn’t both.

When you’re on a finances, SafetyWing is my go-to firm for inexpensive plans.

When you’re actually involved and need somebody to name in an emergency, take a look at Medjet.

Medjet has a safety response membership, MedjetHorizon, with 24/7 safety groups prepared to assist (and extract you if crucial). It may well additionally get you moved house in the event you’re hospitalized. Most journey insurance policy simply transfer you to the closest hospital, however Medjet will get you to your most popular facility in your house nation, no questions requested.

If you wish to study extra, you may learn my full evaluate of Medjet right here.

You may get a Medjet quote right here (there are tremendous inexpensive short-term and annual memberships).

For extra info on journey insurance coverage, right here’s a listing of all my advisable journey insurance coverage firms.

3. Know what your insurance coverage will and won’t do

Earlier than you allow house, learn over your insurance coverage coverage once more. Each firm is completely different, so it’s good to know precisely what’s and isn’t lined.

For instance, many vacationers assume that in the event that they break their leg overseas, their insurance coverage firm’s medical evacuation advantages will get them house. That’s not at all times the case. Chances are high, they’ll solely get you to the “nearest acceptable facility” and just be sure you’re handled there. You’ll then be by yourself to get house.

For safety threats and pure disasters, insurance coverage firms usually require what’s referred to as a “exhausting set off” earlier than they will or will help you. Which means the federal government should declare an emergency or evacuation order. If that doesn’t occur, you can be anticipated to get house your self, even when the scenario is dire (and even when it prices hundreds of {dollars}).

That’s why I at all times counsel Medjet to vacationers who need to make sure they get house it doesn’t matter what. It’s the last word in safety and disaster response. There’s a 24/7 disaster line that may reply to a wider vary of security threats with out the necessity for a tough set off.

4. Save your emergency contacts

After you have journey insurance coverage, save the contact quantity in your telephone. Save the emergency contact e mail in your inbox too. That means, you could find it rapidly in case you have a query or want help.

When you assume you won’t have Wi-Fi or cellphone service throughout your journey, write the quantity down in your telephone on a notes app simply to be secure. You may also need to maintain a bodily copy of each in your pockets too, simply in case one thing occurs to your telephone.

You’ll want to additionally e mail your self copies of all of your essential paperwork, equivalent to your passport and license, in case you lose your pockets. Having printed copies of them isn’t a foul thought both.

5. Put together a Google Map

When you’ve booked your lodging, reserve it on Google Maps. That means, you could find your lodging do you have to get misplaced and want to indicate the deal with to a driver. You would possibly need to additionally take a bodily enterprise card out of your lodging when you arrive (it can have the deal with and phone information on it, which could turn out to be useful).

Moreover, save different essential locations in your Google Map, equivalent to the closest hospital, pharmacy, grocery retailer, and embassy/consulate. When you really feel snug doing so with a trusted individual at house, you can even share your location by way of Google Maps. For many individuals, particularly solo vacationers, this gives peace of thoughts, figuring out that somebody on the earth is aware of their whereabouts.

6. Obtain the Secure Traveler App

When you’ve determined the place to go (and in the event you’re from the US), join the S.T.E.P. program. It alerts native embassies that you just’re within the space in case a scenario arises. Subsequent, obtain the State Division’s Secure Traveler app. You simply punch within the locations you need to go to, and it’ll ship push alerts to your smartphone concerning any essential safety considerations. That means, you’ll be forewarned ought to something occur that try to be conscious of.

7. Comply with embassies on Twitter

When you use Twitter, observe your nation’s embassy within the vacation spot nation. It won’t solely point out essential native occasions and holidays however, ought to a scenario come up, additionally publish updates and knowledge there. Be sure to flip your notifications on so that you don’t miss something essential.

Following native information firms on twitter can be a good suggestion, particularly if there’s a native english-speaking web site that has a Twitter account. That means, you positively gained’t miss any essential happenings.

8. Separate your money and playing cards

When touring, don’t maintain all of your money and playing cards in a single place. Maintain some in your pockets, some in your day bag, and a few in your lodging. That means, in the event you lose your pockets or in case your bag is stolen you continue to have money and playing cards to fall again on.

It’s not unusual for banks to cancel or put a maintain on a bank card when you’re overseas both, so carry a couple of simply to be secure.

9. Ask locals for recommendation

Once you verify right into a resort or Airbnb, ask if they’ve any security recommendation to share. Are there neighborhoods price avoiding? Are there any scams they assume you would possibly encounter? Possibly some areas are secure through the day however not at evening. Ask for enter from locals; they’re in the very best place to assist.

That mentioned, it by no means hurts to get a second opinion. Some locals would possibly take into account an space unsafe, whereas others don’t. You’ll want to store round for recommendation so you may keep away from any biases. Journey is subjective, in any case, so the extra opinions you will get, the higher.

10. Don’t share an excessive amount of info

When you’re posting on social media, don’t publish in actual time. Wait a pair hours after which publish. That means, would-be criminals can’t use that info to get your location and rob you or stalk you (that is particularly essential for solo feminine vacationers).

Furthermore, don’t give away an excessive amount of information to random strangers. Keep away from sharing your resort identify, and, if attainable, avoiding telling folks it’s your first time visiting the town/nation as they could use that as an invite to attempt to rip you off.

It could look like the world is a harmful place, with hassle lurking round each nook, however that’s solely as a result of worry sells. I’ve been touring for over 15 years, and 99% of the time, issues go easily.

However for the remaining 1% of experiences, it’s greatest to be ready. By arming your self with information earlier than you go and guaranteeing you might have complete insurance coverage and security protection, you’ll be capable of journey with confidence, figuring out that you just’re prepared for regardless of the highway throws your means.