Top 5 Tips to Stay Safe
May 26, 2020
Top 5 Safety Travel Tips (you might not have thought of...)
The most important safety rules while traveling are pretty similar to the same safety techniques you have likely inherited in your daily routine at home. Stay in groups, don’t walk down dark alleys in the middle of the night in a place you are not familiar with, keep your phone with you; lock your doors, etc. We can all assume those types of daily rituals have become nothing short of human nature. Let’s take a look at some of the more in-depth, easy to use, safety tips that will make you feel much more comfortable on your next experience in a new place.
1. Preparation and duplication
When I’m prepping for a trip – no matter how many times I have been there – I always keep this mantra in my head, “Preparation and duplication.” The idea is simple. Anything that I need to become comfortable with while I'm traveling, requires preparation. Anything that I know will be crucial for the trip, I duplicate.
Obviously, you can’t prepare for everything that will happen while you are traveling, but the idea is not to try to prepare for the things that “could” happen, but to prepare for what to do “when” they happen. For example: It's crazy to assume that you will be able to prepare for your upcoming trip to a Spanish speaking country by learning the language before you go. So the preparation will actually be based on having a quick and efficient way of translating language. Apps like Google Translate are fantastic for this. I will often take a few minutes to translate words that I will need and save those on my phone prior, so I can quickly have them ready to use at a moment's notice. This little trick has saved me so much time and money over the years.
Make a list of all the things that you consider to be important that you’ll need to prepare for and go through them prior to your trip as much as you can. Here are some things I find that are great to prep:
- Download translation apps
- Prep camera equipment
- Research currency exchange rates
- Google images of the airports (so you can be prepared when you land)
- Know your cell phone reception and/or WiFi capabilities
- Save as much information on your phone as you can, in case you don’t have cell phone service somewhere
- Research the local emergency numbers
The other step and possibly the most important is “duplication.” Duplication is a very simple way to ensure confidence when you travel and is one of the best ways to stay safe.
Everybody is different when it comes to the things that they find important but some of the non-negotiable items are:
- Print a color copy of your passport
- Bring a copy of your flight information
- Take pictures of your luggage (so if you lose it, you can quickly show what it looks like)
- Have cash (I always keep cash in several different places and bags that will never leave your side)
- Pack a simple extension cord – 10 ft. or so is plenty (this has come in handy more times that I can count; everything needs to be charged and a simple extension cord can save you tons of time and effort)
- Try to duplicate anything that you can print out, separate, or can only find at you home
One of the most common issues we run into is prescription medications. Make sure that you have a good supply of your essential medications and try to separate them so they are not all in one place. That way, if you lose a piece of luggage or go on a day trip, or leave them in the rental car, you can find them in a few places should you need them.
2. Mobile apps
You might be wondering how apps help with safety. Well, in today’s world we all know that there is an app for everything. Most scenarios where safety issues occur is due to a lack of understanding in regards to the location. Simple phone applications like MAPS.ME
or Waze, can give you a serious advantage when knowing locations, directions, and even reviews. To view our must have apps when traveling view here: Top 5 Apps for International Travel.
The apps you want to make sure you are comfortable with before leaving home are:
Typically the best for quick translation should you need it.
MAPS.ME allows you to download a map to your mobile device so it can be available even without a cellular connection or WiFi.
Mobile passport enables U.S. citizens and Canadian visitors to save time during the entry process at most major U.S. airports and cruise ports.
Having basic apps like these ready to go on your phone can really save you in times of need. Ordering food, needing directions, finding help – the list goes on.
3. Don’t act like a tourist
It’s going to be obvious. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, you are going to be an easy target from a safety and scam perspective. Here are a few things that can help you avoid basic issues.
Insurance
When you rent a car, get the best insurance you can. Don’t cut corners with this, it’s just not worth it. You never know what could happen and you don’t need to be worrying about the little ding on the side of the car while you’re trying to enjoy your trip. I always feel like buying the best insurance also alleviates the worry of misreading something and then before you know it, trying to save a few bucks actually costs you an entire vehicle.
Hide your cash
It might seem obvious, but far too often, I see people carry lots of cash on themselves in some very hidden place (like a sock or hidden belt pocket) only to go diving into it when they need to pay for something and exposing a large amount of money. “Hiding your cash” should refer to having multiple places on someone with lots of low denominations. Keep the higher bills separated and a little harder to reach. Also, in a worst case scenario if you were to get “mugged” you want to have some cash you can quickly give them that is enough to satisfy the quick thief. Sometimes I will have cash in all my pockets. Of course, no more than $100 total but in lots of $1, $5 and $10’s so you can just pay quickly and move on. Occasionally, I will have a few larger bills in a zippable pocket if I need it. Obviously the use of debit or credit cards is great and safe, but cash is always king while traveling, so keep your wallet in the front pocket and purses zipped up with a small carabiner to the strap and zipper, and you will be much happier walking around with a few dollars.
Nice luggage
Don't use your best backpacks and purses while you are walking about and exploring. If you have something expensive like a camera or computer, just find a cheap bag or make the bag you have inconspicuous and non-flashy.
Also, make sure you hide any luggage from the windows of the vehicle you are renting or riding in when you park it. Exposing things is one of the most common ways things get stolen when traveling.
Stay in groups
I think we all know this golden rule. It holds true. Stay in groups, no wondering off at night. If it doesn’t feel right, it isn't.
4. Itinerary
Make sure to share your itinerary with all the people in your group that are traveling and with your family members at home – especially with the state our world is in today.
5. Leave it at home
Go through your luggage, again. You really don't need that do you? You know…that nice necklace that you always wear because your grandmother gave it to you? Trust me, leave it at home. Those special things that you use or wear at home become easy targets for not only thiefs, but to be lost or left. The last thing you want to do is lose track of a sentimental object in another country and have to explain that to your family member or loved one, only to hear them lecture you on why you didn't just leave it at home.
These are super basic things, we know. That’s because it's also the most basic things that tend to get you in trouble. You easily get comfortable and end up being careless. A quick rule of thumb is, if you don't take it, you can’t lose it. Use this rule when you’re packing for your trip and during your trip.
Downloading basic apps like these on your phone can really save you in times of need. Ordering food, needing directions, finding help – the list goes on.
My family is full of freckled, pale people. Our skin is like lighter fluid in the sun – we burn thoroughly and quickly. When I look back and reminisce about our vacations, I just see a bunch of cooked lobsters. As we have aged, we are all starting to see the long term effects of the sun. The freckles the sun has kissed us with are turning against us. All 6 of my family members have had some sort of pre-melanoma spot removed. This has not stopped us from enjoying the great outdoors, going to the beach, or showing skin – we have just gotten smarter and know the limits of our bodies. In Costa Rica and Panama, the sun can be quite strong since you’re closer to the equator – this makes people more susceptible to burning. Through my experience and some actual science, I want to equip you with some tips on how to have a burn-free vacation while in Central America.
If you’ve traveled with Ghyd before you will likely know the answer. We can sum it up in one word; seamless . These are the four non-negotiable attributes a location must have in order to be a Ghyd destination: Transportation Cost Climate Experiences It goes without say ing, that our first priority is the safety of our clients and the destinations we offer. Let’s save that for another article – perhaps, the Top 5 Tips to Stay Safe .
Johnson Small, Owner of Ghyd, talks about his experience in the travel industry
