How To Travel Safe
How To Travel Safe
Traveling within the United States or abroad should be done with prudence. Travel distractions like seeing sights, eating delicious food, and discovering new locations can raise your risk. But it doesn’t have to be. So, how to have safe travel?
Enjoy your vacation while reducing your risk with these international and domestic travel safety recommendations.
Safe Travel Tips
Our safety advice ranges from quick fixes to more involved procedures.
Digitize critical documents
Criminals can exploit your wallet or pocketbook for valuable documents. Make copies of prescriptions, a backup credit card (to at least complete a digital transaction), and your passport in an emergency. Leave needless goods at home (like your Social Security card).
Take a digital copy and upload it to an internet folder if you have one. If something gets stolen in this manner, you may be able to lessen the damage done by criminals. You may quickly cancel your credit and debit cards and seek a new ID from the embassy by phone. You can also store these papers in a secure digital vault like 1Password or LastPass.
Carry the least amount of cash
Carry just enough money when traveling; credit cards are widely accepted. Your wallet is less valuable to a burglar without money, and you can challenge card charges. Make sure you have a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Less touristy
The more you seem and act like a local, the less likely you will be targeted as a tourist. Adapting your style to the natives’, strolling confidently, and hiding maps will help you blend. When using your phone for directions, only glance at it briefly while walking.
Prepare yourself for your trip by familiarizing yourself with the city and your itinerary. If you need to look up directions for a long time, consider going inside a store or cafe rather than waiting outdoors.
Tell a trusted friend or family member your plans
Share your schedule with someone you trust back home, whether traveling alone or with a companion. Check-in once daily to let them know you’ve arrived at your destination or returned to your accommodation. These simple practices boost travel safety.
Create and communicate a safe phrase so that relatives or friends know if you’re in trouble, even if the conversation sounds normal to others. Share your location with a trusted friend or family member via your smartphone.
Research destination travel advisories
“Conditions can change swiftly in a country,” says the US Department of State. Its website continuously updates travel warnings for destinations worldwide. These advisories don’t always imply you shouldn’t travel, but they help you prepare for specific circumstances.
Consult the State Department’s website before traveling. When you planned your trip, somewhere that was safe might have become unsafe since.
Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment
The State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) allows people traveling or living abroad to get free security updates. Your information also helps the nearest US Embassy or Consulate contact you in an emergency.
Notify credit card companies of trip plans
Inform your bank of your travel dates and places. Notify your bank via your online banking interface.
It will reduce your bank’s risk of closing your account due to suspected fraudulent activity, leaving you stuck.
Consider also bringing a backup credit card.
Use public Wi-Fi with caution
Wi-Fi exposes your gadgets and personal data to hackers. Using a VPN service is one of the most excellent methods to be safe in an airport, when traveling, or during your hotel stay. An open connection protects your privacy while browsing the internet or using web-connected apps.
According to a June 2020 survey by Security.org, only 31% of US internet users use a VPN service for public Wi-Fi connections. That puts over 70% of public Wi-Fi users in danger.
Obtain travel insurance
Consider getting travel insurance before your trip to ensure physical and financial security. This insurance provides coverage for flight cancellations, delays, or disruptions. Insurance does not cover lost luggage and evacuations.
Most policies will compensate passengers for nonrefundable rooms, transportation, or canceled activities for a covered cause. Depending on your baggage protection plan, They may reimburse you if your belongings are misplaced when traveling by plane or train. Plus, if your policy covers emergency medical care, you won’t be stuck with a significant medical expense (where your U.S.-based health insurance is likely not applicable).
Now that you know some safe travel ideas, you may travel with greater confidence and less risk. While most of these suggestions are free or low-cost, they may take time to implement. If you can avoid unsafe scenarios that could disrupt or spoil your next trip, it will be well worth your time to improve your travel safety.
