The beauty of traveling is that it makes us forget the thoughts and worries of everyday life. That's why we like it so much! The downside, however, is that it inevitably leads us to let our guard down and not promptly recognize dangerous situations. During a trip, whether it is close to your home or miles away, many things can happen. Obviously you don't have to worry about it, but knowing the risk and preparing to face it is the best way to avoid being caught off guard and to enjoy the trip in total safety. On this page you will find some useful tips.
Why bother yourself?
Prepare yourself not to be caught off guard and to enjoy the ride
Worrying about safety while traveling does not mean not enjoying the trip. On the contrary, preparing for any eventuality helps ensure that the trip is a success, even in case of adverse events. Start thinking about your and your loved ones’ safety before you leave! Make sure you know your destination: do searches in advance and try to know in advance any specific risks, frequent scams or higher-risk urban areas. This does not mean that you will have to avoid them but only that you will be able to prepare yourself to visit them in the best way possible! Don’t be afraid to ask for safety tips at the hotel reception – they probably know your destination better than you ever will. Before you leave, prepare a short summary of your trip to share with your family, so they can always know where you will be and how to find you in case of need. And remember to include information about the hotels you will be staying at, their phone numbers, and transportation information, such as flight numbers and airlines. If possible, especially for travelling to high-risk countries, always inform your embassy. Many governments provide their citizens with ad hoc websites on which to register. This will allow crisis units, if necessary, to keep you informed and to track you throughout the journey.
Keep yourself and your belongings safe
Don't put yourself in dangerous situations and keep what is precious safe
During a trip we are always in discovery mode. This is great, but it inevitably makes us more prone to distraction. Especially when traveling with luggage, keep your belongings safe. Pay particular attention to airports, stations and places of high tourist attraction. A good idea is to protect your backpack with a rain cover or to keep your documents, cash and credit cards in zipped pockets. The market offers many money belts, invisible and to be worn under your clothes to keep your belongings safe. If you have valuable equipment, such as tablets or cameras, pack them in your backpack and only take them out when you need them. Walking around with high valuable objects at hands can be dangerous in certain places. Also, be sure to bring with you only what you need for the day and leave the rest in a safe in the hotel. A little cash and a copy of your passport are usually more than enough.
Official taxis and tourist services
Save on travel costs, yes, but without any compromise with safety
Saving money while traveling is important and sometimes a necessity. We are well aware of this. However, saving money on logistic services may not be a good idea. Some destinations don’t have an efficient and safe road system: it is therefore extremely important to rely on serious companies, able to guarantee safe transportation services. If you decide to rent a car or a moto, preferably contact well-known renters: they will ensure the meeting of high quality standards, cost transparency and effective assistance in case of need. On the other hand, if you decide to take a taxi, contact only official taxi providers with transparent tariff rates. For some areas considered particularly at risk, a good alternative is to sign up for a private or group guided tour. To choose one, we suggest using a reliable portals such as Getyourguide or Viator.
Book your experience with GetYourGuide!
GetYourGuide is the best marketplace for finding and booking leisure activities around the World. Here you can find thousands of activities, compare them with each other and book them with just a few clicks!
Food and drinks
Pay attention to what you eat and keep an eye on your cocktails!
Probably the last thing you want during a vacation is to get sick due to food or a drink! In some countries the hygiene practises are very different from those in Western countries. Leaving aside the presence of particular pathogens not common in your own country, much more often our body is simply not used to the presence of infectious agents that are instead harmless for the local population. For this reason, we always recommend consuming only well-cooked foods and avoiding salads and raw vegetables. As for water, with a view to sustainability and respect for the environment, we always try to use only tap water during our travels. However, this is not always possible. If the tap water is not safe, buy bottled water (preferably in glass bottles) or buy a travel water purifier: there are excellent ones on the market at a low price.
Staying healthy while travelling
Should I subscribe a travel insurance?
Travel insurance is usually considered an unnecessary expense. In fact, it happened often to us too to come back home without experimenting the need to benefit from it during a trip (luckily!). This may lead to that annoying feeling of having paid for nothing. However, subscribing insurance remains a “must” for us to travel safely! And let’s not think only of the unpleasant cancellation of the trip or the unfortunate hypothesis of theft of goods, but above all of a possible medical emergency. Health while traveling is probably even more important: needing healthcare or hospital services abroad, in countries where healthcare is very expensive or where access to care is more difficult, remains one of the worst nightmares of any traveler. There are many companies that offer travel insurances and each policy has different characteristics. We suggest evaluating several of them, carefully reading the conditions and signing the most suitable policy based on the type of trip or experience that awaits you. For destinations further away from home, opt for a policy that also provides coverage for return costs in the event of illness. And remember: theft coverage often has limitations! If you plan to bring valuables or expensive technology equipment with you, make sure it is covered and that no specific supplement is required.
In case of emergency
What if something goes wrong? Don't panic and call for help.
No matter how well planned a trip is, it can always happen that you find yourself in an emergency situation, more or less serious. In this case, keep calm. If necessary, contact the emergency numbers for help and, later, your insurance for advice on how to behave and the procedures to follow. Remember that all governments, through their embassies, provide citizens with an assistance service reachable through dedicated telephone numbers. Check with your embassy before you leave and take note of their contact details!
Advertising note: this article contains affiliate links from our partners. Through affiliations, we give you the opportunity to access promotions and offers, often in advance or exclusively, for the purchase of products and services. At the same time, if you choose to buy from one of our partners, you will support our blog and help us to keep it open. Our opinions about the recommended products or our purchase advices are not influenced by the partnerships. If you want to know more about the way we handle advertising on this blog, you can visit this page.
