15 Travel Safety Tips For Tourists To Remember When Exploring

More often than not, we travel to leave our worries back at home, and to rediscover our carefree selves. We set out in search of change, contentment or challenging adventures – anything that helps us break-free from monotony. These travels are the much-needed twists and turns in the journey of our life; something new awaits at the end of every curve.

While traveling is all about letting go, we still have to be mindful of a few things in order to get back to the comfort of our home, safe and sound, just as we left. Since we travel to get away from the ordinary, the usual, we often choose destinations that we are not all-too-familiar with. When we step into these unknown territories, your cautiousness has to be at par with your curiosity.

When vacations come on rare occasions, it is only natural to want to give into the overflowing excitement and enthusiasm. It is easy to get carried away and follow the newness of the destination; wherever it takes you. Allow yourself to explore every corner to your heart’s content, but also be careful while doing so. This curated list of travel safety tips for tourists will come in handy, and will help you stay sharp while you travel-

This Blog Includes

1. Conduct A Thorough Research On The Chosen Destination.

2. Take The Mandatory Precautions Stated By Local Authorities.

3. Note The Phone Numbers For Emergency Services.

4. Stay In Contact With Your Close Ones Back Home.

5. Try Not To Attract Too Much Attention To Yourself.

6. Be Cautious While Using Public Wi-Fi.

7. Carry Extra Copies + Digital Copies Of All Documents.

8. Safeguard Your Hotel Room.

9. Use Transportation & Guide Services From Reputed Companies.

10. Be Wise With Your Money.

11. Be Mindful Of Your Surroundings.

12. Keep A Compact Medical With You At All Times.

13. Get A Checkup & The Necessary Vaccines

14. Get The Right Health Insurance.

15. Pick The Right Travel Bag.

Top 15 Vacation Safety Tips For Tourists

1. Conduct A Thorough Research On The Chosen Destination:

Leverage the divine power of the Internet to do an extensive background check on the destination that you intend to explore. Create a list of the safe spots, as well as the ones to avoid, based on your research of the region. Before you set your heart on a certain location, browse through the traveler reviews on multiple travel websites. You can also seek information from the localities about the welcoming neighbourhoods worth exploring, hygienic places to eat at, and safe accommodation as well. Make sure that you are well-informed when it comes to political unrest, in case there is any.

2. Take The Mandatory Precautions Stated By Local Authorities:

Despite the uncertain times, with the mandatory measures in place, most of the travel restrictions have now been lifted across the globe. The swift and strict government measures, and people following the travel precautions put in place by the authorities have made your travel plans possible. As such, you can choose to be a part of the solution, and explore while also respecting the rules. The two most important precautions to take are wearing a mask that provides you maximum coverage in public, and maintaining social distance to keep yourself and those around you well-protected. It is also important to keep a sanitizer at hand.

3. Note The Phone Numbers For Emergency Services:

When you set out to discover a new destination, you are sure to be greeted with situations that you may not have too much control over. Hence, it is important to hope for the best, but also to prepare for the worst cases scenarios. How will you do that? By having the right emergency services numbers (police station, fire department, nearest medical services) for your destination at the ready. If you are embarking on an international trip, make sure to note down the number of your country’s nearest embassy or consulate. Keep these contents saved on all your devices in case of an emergency.

4. Stay In Contact With Your Close Ones Back Home:

This one is a key safety tip if you are traveling solo. Keep your loved ones informed about your whereabouts at all times so they know that you are exactly where you are supposed to be. No matter the nature or the duration of your vacation, it is an absolute must to keep them updated on your itinerary. The best way is to hand a copy of your itinerary to at least three of your friends or family members. You can also add the address of your accommodation to this. Update them in case there is any change of plans in the middle of your vacation. Make sure to check in regularly with them.

5. Try Not To Attract Too Much Attention To Yourself:

This is another one of the important safety tips that works wonders when traveling. Try to blend in – learn the basic local language, read about the cultural norms of the place, and try not to look too lost; walk the streets with confidence. People who look like they are from out of town are especially vulnerable to crime, so try not to stand out from the crows, in the literal sense. Try not to wear loud clothing that is less likely to attract attention. Trust your instincts and pick the right people when asking for directions. It is also a good idea to carry some protective gear that will make it more difficult for pickpockets to steal money or other valuable items.

6. Be Cautious While Using Public Wi-Fi:

Yes, when you travel to a remote destination the prospect of Wi-Fi can seem quite enticing. But, you must not let it fool you. Using public Wi-Fi at unknown destinations can enable potential scammers to steal valuable information. If you are not careful, they can get easy access to your personal data like credit / debit card details or other important information. If you are sure that you will need the Internet, you can choose to carry a dongle of your own, or you can also set up a virtual private network (VPN) that will allow you to access the Internet securely while traveling.

7. Carry Extra Copies + Digital Copies Of All Documents:

Needless to say, you have to carry all the important documents with you while traveling, this includes your passport, insurance documentation, driver’s license, or other ID proofs. It is risky to carry the original copies around when you are out exploring on the streets. It is safer to leave them at your accommodation. But, given that you may need your documentation at any point, the copies of the documents can serve as the ideal solution. You can also scan these documents and save the digital copies on the drive / cloud to have easy access to them. In addition, if your documents do get stolen, having digital copies will make it easier to get replacements.

8. Safeguard Your Hotel Room:

No matter the star-rating of your chosen hotel, it never hurts to be a little extra cautious. Even if they make claims to have tight security measures, you do your part to keep your belongings safe. Also, put in a little extra effort to make your room safe. Make sure to lock the door before you go to bed, and check if the windows are properly shut. For extra protection, you can place your faith in jammers. They are portable devices that can easily slip under the door. Most importantly, do not let any strangers in your room; only allow the hotel staff to enter. If you are suspicious of someone who claims to be a staff member, do not hesitate to call the front desk to verify the same.

9. Use Transportation & Guide Services From Reputed Companies:

Yes, the internet does make the vacation booking processes much easier. But, the many options available in terms of companies can be confusing. The long browning sessions on the Internet might seem tedious, and can cloud your judgement by the end of your research. But, do not make any compromises, no matter how exhausting the process is. When choosing the accommodation or the local guides to take you around town, make sure you go through the online reviews to be extremely sure of your choice. Even if you have to opt for a slightly expensive option that stretches your budget a little, it is worth your safety.

10. Be Wise With Your Money:

Rule number one when it comes to money: never carry a large amount of cash. The world has gone digital, and now is as good as ever for you to benefit from the technological evolutions. If you are traveling abroad, it is best to open an account with an international bank so you can use local ATMs. In case you need to carry a significant amount of cash, do not keep it all in one place. You can divide the cash – keep some in your backpack, and some in your pockets. Keep your cash and credit / debit cards in two different places as well. Make sure to keep a little cash safely locked up back in your hotel room in case of any emergency.

11. Be Mindful Of Your Surroundings:

To make the most of your travel adventures, the key is to live in the moment. It is wonderful to be mesmerised by the picturesque landscapes or awe-inspiring monuments. But, do not get too lost in the moment and let your guard down. Explore all you want, but keep your senses sharp at all times. Every now and then, pause and check on your personal belongings to make sure nothing is missing. Be welcoming towards people and make new connections, but do not turn a blind eye to any suspicious behavior. Maintain a healthy distance from any strangers that may be making you uncomfortable.

12. Keep A Compact Medical With You At All Times:

When it comes to health, do not leave anything to chance. Your medical kit will come in handy if you are visiting a destination that has starkly different weather conditions and food as compared to where you live. Carry medications for everything possible – band aids of different sizes, some antibacterial ointment, wipes for cuts and scrapes, usual pain relievers, medicine for a cold and stomach trouble, itch relief ointment, cold and cough syrups, antibiotics, etc. If you have a medical condition, ask your doctor for an emergency prescription before you travel.

13. Get A Checkup & The Necessary Vaccines:

One of the important tips for safety while traveling abroad is to have a general physical check-up done before your trip. This can help ensure that you are healthy enough to travel abroad. It is also important to keep track of the health concerns of the destination you are planning to visit – what are the commonly occurring diseases there? Are there any vacations you can take as precautions before leaving? In today’s times, many international travel destinations may also require you to get vaccinations before your arrival. Make sure to immunize yourself to have a hassle-free journey.

14. Get The Right Health Insurance:

Another crucial safety tip for traveling abroad is to get the right health insurance. When you are going on a week-long international vacation, getting insurance may seem like an unnecessary detail, but it is quite important. The medical services and charges usually differ from country to country. In most cases, if you do not have health insurance, you are likely to face the wrath of hefty medical bills. The right insurance can provide you with excellent international coverage. Apart from your health, it is also wise to get your valuable belongings insured.

15. Pick The Right Travel Bag:

Selecting the ideal travel bags is the best way to ensure comfortable journeys. When it comes to safety, cross-body bags are much safer. If you must carry a backpack, you can wear it in a way that it hugs the front of your body. This will make it easier for you to keep an eye on the luggage, as well as prevent people from grabbing your bag as they run or drive by. Fortunately for frequent travelers, there are multiple luggage bags out there that are born out of sturdy material. Most of them also come with multiple safety features like slash-proof straps, RFID blockers, anti-theft zippers, and such.

Order Premium Luggage Online From Nasher Miles

At Nasher Miles, safety is just as important to us as your adventures. This philosophy reflects well in our premium luggage collections, designed to keep your belongings safe, and to bring you the ease of traveling. Most of our hardside luggage bags are equipped with an in-built side-mounted number lock which ensures that no extra lock and key is needed to secure the contents of your bag. The lock is pre-set to 0-0-0. The instructions to resetting the lock code are provided in the manual in each bag.

Our softside suitcases come with a built-in TSA lock. These locks are the ideal choice as they can be easily opened and re-locked. Luggage locked using other methods must be opened by force in order to be inspected. Most of our backpacks come with anti-theft zippers that best tamper-proof your bag. They cannot be easily opened by sticking a sharp object in.

So, when the next vacation is around the corner, browse through the exclusive collections on our website, and bring home a travel companion that inspires you to go places, and keep exploring more.#Research