Tips for Staying Safe While Traveling

Vacations are a great time to relax, unwind and have fun with the family, but it’s not a time to forget our surroundings. Crime happens everywhere, so you shouldn’t completely let your guard down during vacation. There’s no need to stress, but you can take a few safety measures to ensure your family stays safe and makes great memories while traveling. 

Here are some tips to help you and your family stay safe while traveling.

1. Keep your hotel address on you at all times

Even if you think you know your way back, there’s more of a chance that you’ll get turned around while in a foreign place. Always know where you’re going.

During your travels, you’ll probably have lots of things to remember, so don’t take it for granted that you’ll remember the address. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

2. Be safe with your cash

Don’t travel with all your cash, and be safe about where you keep it. Don’t put it all in one place in the hotel. You may keep some in the hotel safe, some in the car and some on your person. The goal here is to always have some cash in case of emergency. If any one stash gets robbed, you should be able to get the basics with the rest of the cash you have on hand.

3. Drink in moderation

We all want to let loose on vacation, but it’s important to keep your wits about you at all times. Someone who drinks too much is more vulnerable to becoming a victim. This is especially true if you’re traveling alone or if you’re the only adult. You should also know that liquor and beer regulations are different in different countries, so your drink may be stronger or weaker than you expect.

Also, whether you’re alone or with a group, never leave your drink unattended. Unless someone is specifically tasked with watching it, and sometimes even when they are, they may get distracted and miss something. There’s no telling what could happen if you end up drugged, so just take a little extra care with your drinks while you’re out.

4. Trust your instincts

If someone is telling you something that seems off, trust your gut. We call them instincts, but you may actually be picking up on almost indistinguishable signs that someone is being dishonest. That’s why your “gut instinct” is usually spot on. You may not be able to explain why, but you get a bad feeling. If you feel that way about a person or place, separate yourself immediately. You don’t want to find out that your instinct was right when it’s too late to do anything about it.

5. Avoid private cabs

If you’re in the states, you may feel comfortable hopping in a Lyft or Uber, and that’s okay. But regardless of where you are in the world, don’t get into a random unmarked car with the hopes that the driver is legit. Virtually every city has at least one taxi business, so go with a driver who is registered and driving a clearly-marked car. In many cases, the private drivers are just looking to make a little cash on the side, but it’s definitely not worth the risk to save a few minutes or dollars.

You’ve probably noticed that much of this advice is similar to advice you may give someone for staying safe at home. This is because the same basic rules apply. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid unnecessary risks and you should stay safe while traveling.

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