How to Stay Safe While on the Road
It’s the one thing many travelers don’t want to think about - safety. But being prepared for the worst can lessen the impact of a bad situation, or avoid it altogether. Here are a few tips to keep yourself and your belongings safe while traveling. These don’t cover every situation, but they’re a good place to start when you’re considering safety measures to take while you’re on the road.
USE COMMON SENSE AND ALWAYS BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS
Being aware of your surroundings and using common sense is the number one way to keep yourself safe. Research where you’re going before you leave. Find out if there are any areas you should avoid. Late at night, spend a little extra to take a taxi back to where you’re staying rather than walk. Little things like this go a long way in making your vacation memorable for all of the right reasons.
GET TRAVEL INSURANCE
Is it a pain to pay extra for your trip? Yes. Can having travel insurance literally save your life? Yes. It’s absolutely essential, even when going to places that you may consider safe, that you purchase insurance for your trip. The world is far too unpredictable these days to go without. Just factor it into your budget when trip planning. I like to use Squaremouth to compare offerings from different providers.
USE BAGS WITH ANTI-THEFT MEASURES
I love my Sherpani anti-theft bags because the anti-theft mechanisms are subtle and well thought out. But there are other great companies out there that make anti-theft purses, bags and backpacks. Some of the features you should seek out are lockable zippers, anti-slash fabric, anti-slash straps, and RFID blocking compartments. Travelon and PacSafe are two brands who make a wide range of fantastic anti-theft bags that are popular with travelers.
KEEP YOUR VALUABLE TECH AND OTHER HIGH-PRICED ITEMS WITH YOU
Phones, tablets, laptops, cameras and other expensive items should be kept with you at all times, if possible. They should never be checked when flying, or placed in your general luggage when getting on other forms of transportation, like buses or trains.
SECURE YOUR DOOR WHILE SLEEPING
I’ve never had an issue wherever I’ve stayed, but I’ve heard enough horror stories to know that it’s important to secure your hotel room or AirBnb as much as possible while you’re sleeping, particularly if you’re a woman traveling solo. There are a number of products out there that secure doors via complex locking or alarm mechanisms, but I like to use a plain old rubber doorstop. They’re small, easy to throw in your luggage, and they buy you a bit of time in the event that someone tries to enter your room uninvited.
HAVE ADDITIONAL COPIES OF YOUR PASSPORT, CREDIT CARD AND BANK INFORMATION, MEDICAL CARD, ITINERARY AND OTHER IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
Leave a copy of your itinerary and important travel documents with someone you trust back at home so that if your wallet is stolen, you can access everything that you need immediately. Having your bank card information, along with your card issuer’s contact info will allow you to immediately cancel any cards that are lost or stolen.
HIDE YOUR MONEY IN SEVERAL PLACES
I’ve mentioned it a number of times, but I love my infinity travel scarf. It’s a fantastic way to deter pickpockets and it’s subtle. That being said, I also leave a bit of cash hidden at the hotel in the slim chance that my money somehow gets taken. Keeping $50 or $100 bucks in your hotel room will help tide you over for a day or two until you can figure out how to access more money.
PASSWORD PROTECT YOUR PHONE AND ACTIVATE TRACKING
In the event that your phone gets stolen, having tracking activated might help you recover it faster. Iphones in particular have a way that you can wipe your phone remotely, making it impossible for thieves to get any critical information you might have stored on your phone.
Obviously, none of these are 100% secure, but they will hopefully act as enough of a deterrent to anyone looking for an easy grab. Most petty criminals are looking for crimes of opportunity, so if your belongings are more difficult to access, they’ll move on to an easier target.
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hi there, I’m angi the founder of roam & gather. My mission is to curate joy-centered, small group journeys that are relaxed, intimate, and rooted in culture, community and slowness.
Roam & Gather is a small travel company offering soul-nourishing, curated travel experiences that help connect people with global communities, like-minded travelers and themselves.
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