Feel Safe While Traveling: 10 Things You Can Do
WORLDWIDE | Monday, 19 October 2009 | Views [1315] | Comments [2]
Traveling can be a lot of fun; protect your vacation from being ruined by scams, world events or changing regulations. By being informed and aware of your surroundings, your dream vacation can be everything you want it to be.
Photo courtesy of Flickr.com, by [sidewalk flying].
Donna Baker-Olson of Escape to Travel shares her thoughts on 10 things you can do to feel safe while traveling:
1. Know the rules.
As an international traveler, you should be aware of the rules for bringing items back from your trip.
2. Be informed.
always check travel warnings for the area where you will be traveling.
3. Lock up.
When leaving your room make sure your door is securely closed and locked.
4. Get travel insurance.
Any number of things can turn your perfect vacation into a disaster such as illness, accident, natural disasters, lost luggage, delayed flights or canceled flights. The best way to protect you against these and other major problems is to have good travel insurance.
5. Know your rights.
Airline passengers do have rights. Learn what they are here.
6. Trust your instincts.
The best precaution you can take is to trust your instincts. Only choose accommodation you feel comfortable with and stay away from ground floor rooms or ones with easy access from the outside (i.e. a balcony). Ask to see a room before you take it-is it clean and safe enough?
7. Be prepared.
To help safeguard yourself, consider taking a self-defense course, let someone at home know your itinerary, and register with the closest overseas U.S. embassy if you're going somewhere unusual or offbeat. Also, act confident (even when you're lost) and pay attention to social customs (do women go out alone after dark?).
8. Consider your load.
Most importantly, don't carry so much baggage that it could compromise your safety and prevent you from keeping one hand free. If you're feeling weighed down by all your baggage and travel books, mail something home.
9. Buy a doorstop.
Protect yourself, never travel without a simple rubber door-stop. It can stop intruders in their tracks. It's inexpensive, light to pack, and gives you the peace of mind to sleep well. The main door to your room usually has a pretty good lock and peephole and sometimes a bar chain. But if there is an adjoining room, that door usually has a fairly flimsy lock. The doorstop is especially useful in those situations.
10. Keep your valuables close.
Carry your passport, plane ticket, traveler's checks and cash in a concealed money belt worn around the waist.
We want to know...what keeps you feeling safe while travelling?
Tags: travel safety, passport, precautions, money, accommodations, baggage, travel insurance, travel warnings, travel
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