Every year, hundreds of people travel to foreign countries for business, pleasure, or to find new adventures. This can be incredibly stressful, particularly if you are travelling alone and don’t have abundant travel experience.
By taking some simple steps and precautions, you can ensure that you will be prepared for your trip abroad, and can travel safely. By following these simple tips, you can have a safe, enjoyable trip to remember–without any kind of disaster to remember it by.
Do your research about the country you will be visiting. This research should not only extend to things like the cost of living (how much it will cost for food and water, in addition to transportation, where you are visiting) but also the laws, fashions, and customs of where you plan to stay.
Knowing these basics will prevent you from suffering embarrassment overseas, as well as helping you to pack in a way that will be appropriate for where you plan to visit. In some countries, for instance, there are strict regulations regarding what men and women can and cannot wear when visiting public or religious buildings. Having these rules in mind while packing will prevent you from having to buy expensive coverings after being denied entry to an important place.
Make three copies of all of your important documents. Do not store them together when you are traveling. Give one copy to your family members at home. This will help them prove your identity if need be, on your home side of things. Carry one copy in your suitcase.
Not only will this be helpful as you are flying (should you and your case be separated), but it can also be very helpful if you lose your original documents, which you should have on you at all times. The third copy can be given to someone you are traveling with, or, alternatively, be kept in your hotel or hostel room.
You should, at the very least, keep a copy of your passport, visa information, and insurance information, though you may find it necessary to have additional documents.
Be sure to have the addresses and phone numbers of the embassies and military bases for your home country on hand. Write them down on the back of an index card or business card, and store them in your wallet. Keep another copy in your luggage, in case your wallet is stolen or misplaced while abroad.
These are essential to have if you lose the original copies of your documents, or if an incident occurs in the country you are visiting. If the incident is particularly dangerous or involves international crime, you can seek refuge in the embassies or military bases of your home country, and rest assured they will help you to the best of their abilities.
Don’t wear things that mark you as a tourist, or indicate that you have a lot of wealth. Carrying your passport and wallet in a traveling case around your neck, for example, can be very dangerous because thieves and other people who do not mean well can clearly see that you are from out of the country, and use this information to take advantage of you.
BE aware of the quality of tap water in your country, to prevent getting an illness or parasite from unclean water. Many modern countries like those in the UK, Australia, or New Zealand, have very clean tap water that you may find preferable to the water in your home. However, other places can have less pure water that may make you ill.
Don’t tell people where you will be staying, or where you will be at any specific time. This can be dangerous for you, as you expose the location of your possessions– and when you will be away from them.
Once you have some basic knowledge, you will find no problem in staying in a foreign country safely, whether or not you come accompanied or travel alone. By following these simple tips, you can ensure you will have a wonderful and safe trip abroad.
