Staying Safe When Traveling Abroad

When traveling abroad, it can be exciting to visit a new location that is fun to explore. For many people, it can be easy to forget about important safety practices due to an unfamiliarity with the area. To ensure that you protect yourself while away from home, there are a few steps to take on the trip.

Make Digital Copies of Important Documents

It can be easy to misplace your passport or lose your ID when traveling abroad and visiting various locations. This can cause you to be stranded or have difficulty proving your identify until you return home. Scan all of the important documents that you plan to carry with you and email them to yourself to ensure that you can access them quickly if they’re lost or stolen.

Obtain Travel Insurance

Accidents can happen in any part of the world and the insurance that you have at home will likely not cover anything that occurs outside of the country. Obtain travel insurance for trip protection that will cover medical expenses or medical evacuation if you suffer from an illness or accident. If you need to change your travel plans or cancel the trip altogether at the last minute, you can also avoid losing your money by having the expenses covered by the insurance.

Avoid Taking Shortcuts

After becoming familiar with a new city after a few days, it can be easy to take shortcuts after you learn your way around. Avoid trying to find shortcuts just to save time, which can make it easy to get lost and find yourself in dangerous neighborhoods that can threaten your safety.

Keep Emergency Numbers on Hand

Dialing 911 in another country will not get you the help that you need in the event of an emergency. There are a few important numbers to have on hand when you need assistance. Research the numbers of the nearest US consulate or embassy, a local taxi cab company, a local hospital, and local police or fire stations. Store the numbers in a phone that you plan to use to ensure that you can access them quickly within seconds. It’s also important to use a phone that has free roaming to ensure that you can get in contact with friends and family back home if an emergency occurs.

Send a Friend Your Itinerary

Whether you plan to visit the catacombs or schedule to take a tour of the Parthenon, it’s important to have someone back home who is updated on your whereabouts. Send your itinerary to a family member or friend to ensure that they can locate you each day at specific times if they need to. This will help to protect your safety if an accident or emergency occurs.