Traveling is always exciting. If you’re a frequent traveler, you understand how important it is to be well-prepared for the trip to be successful and enjoyable. Traveling to a new place exposes us to new cultures and experiences and broadens our horizons of knowledge. However, being well-prepared doesn’t only indicate packing your bags with clothes and necessities. You must take other safety measures if you want a smooth and hassle-free trip. For example, keep the contact details of a personal injury lawyer with you in case you encounter an accident and want to claim compensation. “No matter the type of accident you were involved in, or the severity of your injuries, our team of experienced personal injury lawyers will work hard for you every step of the way,” says a representative of The Barnes Firm, a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles.
Below, we have listed six basic safety tips for frequent travelers. Whether you’re traveling locally or domestically, you can apply them to both.
Research your destination
Before you start for your destination, research it well. How many days will it take to visit the most popular tourist locations? Where are they located and how far from your hotel? How can you travel to these locations? What transportation to use inside the city? Which roads are the safest and which ones to avoid? Finding the answers to all these questions can give you an overall idea about the location and shape your rough itinerary. You can visit travel blogs and online forums to get detailed reviews of tourist spots, diners, and hotels. Check the comments to find the risky neighborhoods, and stay away from them during your visit. Also, jot down details of the local police station and hospital.
Take all your documents
Make a checklist of all the documents you need to take with you so that you don’t leave any behind. Keep your driver’s license, ID card, and passport (in case of an international visit) with you at all times. Show them to the authority if required. Keep a scanned and printed copy with you and save the soft copy on a cloud drive in case of emergencies. Also, leave one copy of each with a family member or a trusted friend. Also, leave your flight details and a copy of your hotel booking with them for emergency cases.
Keep track of money and other belongings
Once you’ve reached your destination, keep track of your money and other belongings. Count the number of bags you’re taking with you when going out of the hotel. While most travel destinations are safe, some are not. If you’re traveling internationally, research well to see the crime rate and prepare accordingly. Theft is common in developing countries and even in some developed countries. Don’t leave your belongings unattended and be mindful of where you keep your money. If possible, divide them into small amounts and stow them in different places. Bring out small amounts at a time to spend. You can also use a credit card if you don’t want to handle cash.
Drive carefully
If you’re driving while traveling, pay attention to the local traffic policies. Keep your driving license with you at all times and produce it when required. Depending on the travel destination, you can either take your car or rent a local car. Take a test drive before you rent the car to ensure that you know the vehicle well and can drive it safely. Make sure you know what to do if you get into an accident with the rental car.
Drink responsibly
Drink responsibly to avoid accidents during travel. If you’re visiting a bar alone, don’t drink anything from strangers or people you can’t trust. Even if you do, take the drink directly from the barman.
Don’t drink if you have plans to drive as it can lead to accidents. Drinking and driving is one of the most common reasons for road accidents. Hijackers often roam the streets around bars and look for drunken tourists to hijack. Keep your eyes peeled after leaving the bar.
Be careful while using ATMs
Pay attention to your surroundings before and after withdrawing money from an ATM. Snatchers and hijackers often look for opportunities to mug tourists who withdraw money from ATMs. To prevent the risk of losing a large sum of money, withdraw only the amount you wish to spend on that particular day. You might have to visit the ATM too many times throughout your stay, but it reduces your chances of getting mugged and losing all the money in one go.
Traveling to a new destination can always be thrilling. Include safety measures in your planning to avoid any hassles or accidents. If you’re traveling internationally, a mishap can ruin your entire trip and get you into trouble. You might feel helpless and find it difficult to handle an issue outside your home country. So do your research well and stay alert during your vacation – enough to stay cautious but not too much to ruin your perfect holiday.