Travelling involves a risk. From purse snatchers to kidnappers, you have to be careful you don’t fall into the wrong hands. If you’re planning your next trip and wondering how to travel safely, the following tips would help:
1. Don’t wear flashy jewellery
Wearing expensive, flashy jewellery is one sure way to attract robbers. Leave the ‘bling blings’ at home, with friends, especially if you plan to travel to densely populated regions.
2. Drink responsibly
Exploring the local nightlife while travelling but it is important to drink responsibly when you’re travelling. When you are far from home you stand at risk of ending up in a dangerous neighbourhood, and being obviously drunk makes you an easy target for theft and scams.
3. Be smart with how you spend
It is never a good idea to carry huge amounts of cash while travelling. Instead, open an account with an international bank or credit card company so you can use local ATMs. If you absolutely must withdraw large amounts of cash at once, leave the bulk of it locked up safely in your hotel or hostel and carry only what you will need daily. Don’t keep your money and credit cards in one place. Do this, so if one is stolen, you have a backup elsewhere.
4. Note down emergency numbers
Do a quick search on the emergency numbers of the place you intend travelling to even before you get there. Also, look up the number for your country’s nearest embassy before you leave. Write them down or save them on your phone so you have quick access to them in time of any emergency.
5. Use the right bags
Cross-body bags are advisable because they can prevent people from grabbing your bag as they run or drive by. There are tons of bags made specifically for travellers with features such as slash-proof straps, RFID blockers, and locking zippers. Ensure you invest in travelling bags that suit your needs and preferences.
6. Use travel locks
Having travel locks that can secure your bag to your seat or chair while dining or in transit will help keep your valuables safe from theft.
7. Keep digital copies of important documents
When travelling, your passport may be the most valuable thing you carry. In the event of a stolen passport, having a backup digital copy will help make the process of getting a replacement easier.
8. Don’t wear the look of a stranger
Tourists tend to carry larger amounts of cash and valuables and are more vulnerable to thefts and scams. Don’t wear the look of ‘Johnny Just Come’ or in other words an obvious tourist in the location. Blend quickly by dressing how indigenes dress. Cut out taking photos on busy streets, and be aware of your surroundings.
9. Use reputable travel companies
Research which taxi companies are reputable before you arrive in a place, and use only those. If you are ride-sharing using an app like Uber or Bolt, double-check your driver’s vehicle information and verify their name before you get in the car with them.
10. Communicate with friends and family
Before you leave let someone know your itinerary, and update your family and close friends on any changes of plans. Make a habit of checking in with a close friend or family member back home at the end of each day. If something terrible were to happen, you get help faster if someone knows where you were supposed to be that day.
11. Trust your instincts
If someone or someplace is making you uncomfortable, trust your intuition. Most times, our subconscious picks up on things that we are not consciously aware of, and that is where our “gut feelings” come from. Listen to those feelings for they will help you stay safe.
12. Ask locals for advice
When you check in at a hotel or hostel, ask for recommendations about which neighborhoods are safe and unsafe and mark places to avoid on your map.