How to Stay Safe While Traveling – 10 Tips

Travel is an amazing thing, but it’s also full of pitfalls if you don’t keep your wits about you. Staying safe and staying healthy is generally about common sense, but there are certain things you need to bear in mind:

If transport looks dodgy, it probably is, especially boats

The bottom line is you could die, sounds dramatic but it’s true, so if you look at a boat and your gut is saying ‘don’t get on it’, then don’t get on it. If you do get on it, then make sure there are enough lifejackets. Nobody ever got hurt by being overly cautious.

Check the fire exits

On a plane, in a hotel, listen to safety information and store it at the back of your brain, ready to drag to the front in case of an emergency.

Whistle baby!

Have you ever had that thing where you want to scream and shout, but nothing comes out? Well that’s panic basically, and if you’re travelling solo, and you find yourself in a situation where you need to get someone’s attention, then you might not be able to rely on your voice. In this case, consider a whistle, as you will always have breath to blow a whistle, even if it is a little feeble.

Track your location

Phones are wonderful things these days, and using your iPhone or Google Plus will give someone else the ability to see exactly where you are at any given time. If you suddenly go AWOL this will be a lifesaver, probably quite literally. Do some research into this before you go.

Listen to the voices

No, I’m not going mad, I’m talking about your intuition, that little voice inside your head that whispers when something isn’t right. This is a powerful tool, for both men and women, and it’s important you pay attention to it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Would you do it at home?

Too many people fall into the trap of feeling adventurous when they’re away that it takes away all their common sense and they get into situations they wouldn’t dream of at home. For example, would you get into a car with a stranger at home? No, you wouldn’t! So why do you consider it whilst you’re away? Basically ask yourself that question before you do anything.

Things change

Travel plans do change, and sometimes it’s fun to be spontaneous and fly by the seat of your pants, but make sure you tell someone if you’re not going to be where you said you were.

Be suspicious

Trust is earned, not given. Remember that. Don’t trust strangers who seem to want to help, you never know what their intentions are. Instead, stay suspicious and let them earn your trust.

Research!

If you’re heading to a destination that is a little off the beaten track then do your research before you go, and check your government travel advice website. Listen to any advice that tells you not to visit a particular area of a country; they’re not telling you this to spoil your fun, they’re telling you for your own safety, so make sure you listen!

And finally … insurance is everything!

Never travel without insurance, and always check the small print to make sure it covers you for any activities you’re planning on undertaking. In the event of illness or accident, you’ll be glad you took the time to sort this detail out. Consider it your safety net.