If you’re planning on traveling abroad this winter, you need to take your safety into consideration. With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, traveling abroad isn’t as easy as it once was.
So how do you stay safe while traveling internationally this winter? You need to consider some personal safety tips to ensure you remain protected while on the go. Whether it’s wearing a medical bracelet or keeping your wits about you, here’s how you can stay safe while traveling around the world.
Get your vaccinations
When it comes to traveling abroad, you’re going to need to get vaccinated. Certain countries are still requiring proof of vaccination to get into the country.
If you still haven’t gotten vaccinated, now is the time to do so. If you’re still feeling some vaccine hesitancy, you should know that they’re safe and effective. And again, some countries will require you to be vaccinated to gain lawful entry. More importantly, it will allow you to stay safe while traveling abroad. Get in touch with XO for your next private jet charter.
Remain attentive while on the go
While traveling in another city, it’s important that you keep your wits about you. One of the biggest mistakes people make while traveling abroad is not paying attention to their surroundings. When you’re in a new place, you need to ensure that you blend in. Why?
Tourists are targets for criminals like pickpockets, as they’re looking for a mark who is likely carrying a lot of cash, doesn’t know the local language and doesn’t have a means of protecting themselves.
So how can you remain attentive? Put your phone in your pocket, put the map away and leave your headphones in your backpack. If you need a map, take a look at your phone when you enter a cafe. It’s a simple way to avoid drawing attention to yourself, say by staring at your phone and looking wildly for street signs – i.e., don’t draw attention to yourself.
Listen to your instincts
If you ever feel that you’re entering into an unsafe situation or as if someone near you is making you uncomfortable, you need to listen to your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, you need to listen to yourself. Remove yourself from the situation as soon as you safely can.
Your safety should be your number one concern. If it ever feels as if you’re being put into a compromising situation, it’s time to move on.
Research where you’re going
You need to equally know where you’re going. You shouldn’t just travel abroad blindly – think of the type who suddenly books a flight and just goes across the world without a plan. While it might work out for them, there are a lot of dangers they were lucky to miss along the way. Before you plan on leaving, look into where it is you’re staying, what streets you should know, what local cafes you want to visit and wherever else you want to go. It will make your life easier while traveling along.
Keep electronic copies of your documents
Sometimes, your most sensitive documents can go missing. While it happens, it’s not something you want to have happen, especially while traveling abroad. Instead, store your documents electronically, whether it’s into a password manager app or a cloud service like Google Drive. Your passport should be the primary document to save and store there. This will ensure you can continue safely traveling, wherever you’re going, without the worry of a lost passport weighing you down.
Wear a medical alert bracelet
Whether or not you have a pre-existing medical condition, you can benefit from wearing an Apple Watch medical alert bracelet while traveling abroad. Medical alert jewelry allows you to carry your personal information and medical history right on your wrist, making life a little easier in the event of an accident or a medical emergency. If something were to ever happen, you can rest easy knowing that strangers and medical personnel will be able to know your medical history with a simple glance.
Be careful where you store valuables
Whether you’re staying at a hostel or a hotel, you need to make sure that your most valuable items are protected. This includes your personal documents, such as your passport, and any money and credit cards you won’t be carrying around during the day. Either bring along a device that allows you to lock away your valuables or use any special lockers provided to you. If you’re using a community locker, just make sure to bring your own lock.
Be careful when connecting to local internet
A danger many don’t consider is that of public Wi-Fi spots. The greatest threat is that, by connecting, it leaves your device open to hackers. If they’re able to access your device, they could potentially get into your sensitive data.
Either get security software for your device or be highly wary of public Wi-Fi spots. You need to make sure that you’re always aware of what you’re connecting to, all while asking yourself whether it’s safe or not.
Keep in touch with those back home
While you’re at it, you need to take the time to reach out to those back home. It’s a simple way to guarantee that others know where you are – and that you’re safe.
It’s best to do this when going out with strangers for the evening, too. It’s a good idea to inform someone back home because in case they don’t hear from you after a certain amount of time, at least someone will be available to notify local authorities of your whereabouts.
Moreover, it’s just good practice. While you should enjoy your time abroad, it’s a good idea to regularly stay in touch with others, especially if you’re traveling for a while. It might not sound like much, but it’s a great way to feel like you’ve got your family and friends with you. With that, you can rest easy, traveling with little to no stress and allowing you to enjoy your trip to the fullest.
