10 Journey Security Tricks to Assist You Keep Protected Overseas (Up to date 2023)

Posted: 12/15/23 | December fifteenth, 2023

Staying secure on the highway is a prime concern for….effectively, everybody. Nobody needs to get scammed, harm, or sick on the highway. Nobody needs to get robbed.

And, when you find yourself going someplace you’ve by no means been earlier than, it’s regular be cautious. You don’t know what to anticipate or tips on how to play it secure. There’s a number of unknowns.

Whereas each nation on the planet is totally different, there’s some commonplace practices and customary guidelines you should utilize to remain secure once you journey. A few of these guidelines are widespread sense, some had been sadly realized from first hand expertise!

Listed here are my 10 security ideas to make sure all the pieces goes easily once you journey:

1. Study widespread scams

Whereas scams are uncommon, they’re on the market, ready for unwitting vacationers to stumble into them. Most will solely price you a couple of dollars and a little bit of embarrassment, however others can fleece you. You should definitely learn up in your vacation spot to see if there are any widespread scams to pay attention to.

On my first journey to Thailand I used to be scammed a number of instances on my first day. It was just some bucks, happily, nevertheless it was nonetheless awkward and unsightly. Since that journey, I’ve all the time made certain to be vigilant and analysis scams earlier than I journey.

Frequent journey scams embrace taxis not utilizing their meter as a result of it’s “damaged,” individuals attempting to rope you into signing a petition (after which demanding a donation), or individuals promoting faux (or overpriced) tickets to points of interest.

Evaluate this record of widespread scams earlier than you go so that you just’re prepared for no matter is thrown your approach.

2. Purchase journey insurance coverage

One of many very first issues I do as soon as I guide a visit is purchase journey insurance coverage. I do know, it’s not a enjoyable a part of journey planning and it’s a boring factor to learn (and write) about. However shopping for insurance coverage early ensures I’m lined in case I must cancel my journey, if my flight is canceled or delayed, and rather more.

For simply over a greenback per day you get peace of thoughts, realizing that, ought to one thing go incorrect, you gained’t need to take care of it (or pay for it) alone.

I by no means depart house with out journey insurance coverage. You shouldn’t both.

When you’re on a price range, SafetyWing is my go-to firm for reasonably priced plans.

When you’re actually involved and need somebody to name in an emergency, try Medjet.

Medjet has a safety response membership, MedjetHorizon, with 24/7 safety groups prepared to assist (and extract you if essential). It may additionally get you moved house in case you’re hospitalized. Most journey insurance policy simply transfer you to the closest hospital, however Medjet will get you to your most popular facility in your house nation, no questions requested.

If you wish to be taught extra, you’ll be able to learn my full evaluation of Medjet right here.

You will get a Medjet quote right here (there are tremendous reasonably priced short-term and annual memberships).

For extra info on journey insurance coverage, right here’s an inventory of all my really helpful journey insurance coverage corporations.

3. Know what your insurance coverage will and won’t do

Earlier than you allow house, learn over your insurance coverage coverage once more. Each firm is totally different, so it’s good to know precisely what’s and isn’t lined.

For instance, many vacationers suppose that in the event that they break their leg overseas, their insurance coverage firm’s medical evacuation advantages will get them house. That’s not all the time the case. Likelihood is, they may solely get you to the “nearest acceptable facility” and just be sure you’re handled there. You’ll then be by yourself to get house.

For safety threats and pure disasters, insurance coverage corporations usually require what’s known as a “arduous set off” earlier than they will or will help you. Meaning the federal government should declare an emergency or evacuation order. If that doesn’t occur, you may be anticipated to get house your self, even when the scenario is dire (and even when it prices 1000’s of {dollars}).

That’s why I all the time counsel Medjet to vacationers who wish to be certain they get house it doesn’t matter what. It’s the final word in safety and disaster response. There’s a 24/7 disaster line that may reply to a wider vary of security threats with out the necessity for a tough set off.

4. Save your emergency contacts

After you have journey insurance coverage, save the contact quantity in your telephone. Save the emergency contact electronic mail in your inbox too. That approach, you’ll find it shortly when you have a query or want help.

When you suppose you won’t have Wi-Fi or cellular phone service throughout your journey, write the quantity down in your telephone on a notes app simply to be secure. You may also wish to hold a bodily copy of each in your pockets too, simply in case one thing occurs to your telephone.

You should definitely additionally electronic mail your self copies of all of your necessary paperwork, comparable to your passport and license, in case you lose your pockets. Having printed copies of them isn’t a nasty thought both.

5. Put together a Google Map

When you’ve booked your lodging, put it aside on Google Maps. That approach, you’ll find your lodging do you have to get misplaced and want to point out the deal with to a driver. You would possibly wish to additionally take a bodily enterprise card out of your lodging when you arrive (it is going to have the deal with and phone data on it, which could come in useful).

Moreover, save different necessary locations in your Google Map, comparable to the closest hospital, pharmacy, grocery retailer, and embassy/consulate. When you really feel snug doing so with a trusted particular person at house, you may as well share your location by Google Maps. For many individuals, particularly solo vacationers, this gives peace of thoughts, realizing that somebody on the planet is aware of their whereabouts.

6. Obtain the Protected Traveler App

When you’ve determined the place to go (and in case you’re from the US), join the S.T.E.P. program. It alerts native embassies that you just’re within the space in case a scenario arises. Subsequent, obtain the State Division’s Protected Traveler app. You simply punch within the locations you wish to go to, and it’ll ship push alerts to your smartphone concerning any necessary safety considerations. That approach, you’ll be forewarned ought to something occur that you have to be conscious of.

7. Comply with embassies on Twitter

When you use Twitter, comply with your nation’s embassy within the vacation spot nation. It is not going to solely point out necessary native occasions and holidays however, ought to a scenario come up, additionally publish updates and knowledge there. Be sure to flip your notifications on so that you don’t miss something necessary.

Following native information corporations on twitter can also be a good suggestion, particularly if there’s a native english-speaking web site that has a Twitter account. That approach, you positively gained’t miss any necessary happenings.

8. Separate your money and playing cards

When touring, don’t hold all of your money and playing cards in a single place. Maintain some in your pockets, some in your day bag, and a few in your lodging. That approach, in case you lose your pockets or in case your bag is stolen you continue to have money and playing cards to fall again on.

It’s not unusual for banks to cancel or put a maintain on a bank card whilst you’re overseas both, so convey a couple of simply to be secure.

9. Ask locals for recommendation

Once you verify right into a lodge or Airbnb, ask if they’ve any security recommendation to share. Are there neighborhoods value avoiding? Are there any scams they suppose you would possibly encounter? Possibly some areas are secure through the day however not at night time. Ask for enter from locals; they’re in one of the best place to assist.

That stated, it by no means hurts to get a second opinion. Some locals would possibly take into account an space unsafe, whereas others don’t. You should definitely store round for recommendation so you’ll be able to keep away from any biases. Journey is subjective, in any case, so the extra opinions you may get, the higher.

10. Don’t share an excessive amount of info

When you’re posting on social media, don’t publish in actual time. Wait a pair hours after which publish. That approach, would-be criminals can’t use that info to get your location and rob you or stalk you (that is particularly necessary for solo feminine vacationers).

Furthermore, don’t give away an excessive amount of data to random strangers. Keep away from sharing your lodge identify, and, if potential, avoiding telling individuals it’s your first time visiting town/nation as they might use that as an invite to attempt to rip you off.

It might look like the world is a harmful place, with bother lurking round each nook, however that’s solely as a result of concern sells. I’ve been touring for over 15 years, and 99% of the time, issues go easily.

However for the remaining 1% of experiences, it’s greatest to be ready. By arming your self with data earlier than you go and making certain you’ve complete insurance coverage and security protection, you’ll be capable to journey with confidence, realizing that you just’re prepared for regardless of the highway throws your approach.