Globe Aware programs provide safety and reliability, but it never hurts to be cautious when you’re somewhere unfamiliar, especially if you continue your travels after your completed volunteer vacation. Here are some tips to stay safe abroad when traveling!

Travel tips: Six steps you need to take in order to stay safe

29 Nov 2021
TravelDailyNews

The world is such a big and complex place, and sometimes you need to take precautions when traveling. You want to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible before you go anywhere because if something bad were to happen, it could be disastrous. Here are six steps you need to take in order to stay safe while traveling.

1. Take care of your health
Nothing is more important than your health. While traveling, make sure you’re taking care of it as best as possible. This includes getting enough sleep (8 hours or more per night), eating healthy meals (fruits and vegetables are always the best options), and exercising daily (try walking places instead of driving). It’s also mandatory to find affordable travel insurance to make sure you’re secured if anything happens to you in a foreign country. Even a slip-and-fall accident can be enough for you to need insurance, so keep that in mind. Also, consider carrying a medical kit with you because you never know when you’re going to need it.

2. Make sure you have a reliable travel route
It’s always a good idea to plan your route before heading out on a trip. This is especially true if you’re traveling somewhere remote or unfamiliar with the way things work in that location. If there’s a bus system, maybe you could find a map of it or even look up schedules. If there’s no bus system, you’re probably going to have to look at online maps and other resources to figure out how things are connected in that area. Having a reliable route planner will help you avoid getting lost while traveling because that can be really frustrating! What’s even better is if you happen to travel with an agency, make the most out of your acquaintance with the tour guide. They can offer you lots of insight about the places you’re going to, plus they can help you stay safe while traveling.

3. Pack light
No one wants to have to lug around a bunch of heavy suitcases when traveling. That’s why it’s always best to pack light. Only bring the necessities you’ll need while you’re away because it’s pointless to bring things for every possibility. If there are items you might need while you travel, see if they could double as something else so that way it saves space in your bags. There are certain amazing packing cubes out there that can help keep all your clothes separated, so you won’t end up with everything tangled together during your trip!

4. Don’t tell anyone where you’re staying
This is a pretty major one, but you might not even know why it’s important. When you’re traveling, make sure that you don’t post pictures of your location or tell anyone where you’re staying because this could potentially put you in danger from people who want to hurt tourists. If something bad were to happen to them, it would be really easy for somebody to track down their exact location and commit the crime. This is also necessary because there are people who go around looking for ways to steal from tourists, so you want to be as safe as possible.

5. Avoid strangers
When you get off a plane or go anywhere new, there are bound to be strangers standing around trying to lure you in with stories of cheap deals or free tours. While they seem friendly enough at first glance, they may not have good intentions, so it’s always best to avoid them when possible. You can’t trust anything they say, and you don’t want to end up in danger because of them. Also, avoid strangers if you’re carrying a lot of cash. We’ve all heard that “cash is king” when it comes to traveling because it’s easier to carry around and use compared to credit cards. However, this doesn’t mean that carrying cash should be your only option. Just make sure to always have a debit card on you just in case anything happens, since most bank machines accept international payments. Also, try not to take out too much money at once because what good does that really do? You could lose or damage part of your travel funds, and then things will get really complicated for you!

However, don’t be afraid to talk to some locals, like owners of some cafes or shops. People always have a fear of the locals in foreign countries, especially if they’re not used to seeing them regularly. They think that because these places are different, their personalities will also be unusual, and they don’t know how to react properly with them. What needs to be understood, though is that most of the time, they’re no different from you or anyone else – maybe even nicer! There’s nothing wrong with going up and talking with them casually because it could make your trip a lot more interesting and memorable, but don’t get too close because you never know.

6. Know the area
This is another important one (and pretty obvious) but it’s always good to keep on the safe side when traveling. When it comes to staying safe while traveling, this means that you need some knowledge about your surroundings and where things are located around you. If something did happen, would you be able to get yourself out of the situation? Learning the area and its surroundings will give you an advantage so that way if something happens, you’ll know what direction to go or how far away safety is. Knowing the area is also about knowing the customs and staying out of trouble. If you’re in a place where something is banned, like wearing too little (hmmm, like Speedos?), then you need to know about it ahead of time. Know what kinds of things there are to avoid and how they work – but don’t be afraid to venture out and try!

There are always things you can do to stay safe while traveling. It might take a lot of work in the beginning when trying to figure out what works for you, but in time, it’ll get easier and become second nature. The most important thing is that safety needs to be on your mind at all times to make sure nothing bad ever happens. In general, follow these six tips to stay safe!