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Whether you’re traveling internationally or across the country, it’s important to stay safe while still having a good time. Whether your trip involves flying, driving, or just walking down the street, make sure you take these precautions to keep yourself protected against the dangers that exist when you are away from home. If you follow these 8 tips for traveling smartly and staying safe, there’s no way you can have anything but an amazing experience on your next trip!
1) Always Stay Informed
Whether you’re in a foreign country or visiting your own, you should always stay informed about any travel advisories. This will help keep you safe, especially if there is ever an emergency. When traveling internationally, it’s best to check up on travel advisories from several different sources before going out at night, or if you are traveling with any other individuals (like children). A small investment of time can save your life.
2) Know Your Phones
If you’re leaving for an extended period of time, take a look at your travel insurance policy. Typically, it will be invalidated if you use a mobile phone to call or text outside of your plan’s allocated country. In addition, make sure you disable roaming; not only is it expensive but it can also be dangerous if you are traveling abroad with limited knowledge of local language or customs.
3) Don’t Give Out Personal Information Online
While you may be on vacation, you never know who’s looking at your personal information. Scammers know that one piece of private information is all they need to steal your identity and ruin your trip, so keep everything private (your name, phone number, etc.) when traveling. Even if you are careful about what you post online before leaving for vacation, don’t let down your guard once you arrive in a new city.
4) Use Facebook and Instagram Safely
It may seem intuitive, but it’s important to remember that social media isn’t always safe when you’re traveling. While your friends and family are probably happy to see you, for example, a robber might be happy to see what you post about where you are staying or when you might be away from home. If someone tries to scam or harm you over social media while you’re traveling, block them immediately and report it—you never know who they could try again with next time.
5) Research Before You Go
Before you go, take some time to research your destination. Find out whether there are areas where travelers are cautioned against going—and if so, pay attention to that advice. If you're traveling internationally, also find out whether your destination requires a visa—and how to apply for one.
6) Do a Security Check On Yourself Before You Leave
Security is a huge concern when traveling, even if you don’t know it. Before your trip, conduct a quick check on yourself to make sure you aren’t making any silly security mistakes. The best way to make sure you get where you’re going safe and sound is to know yourself inside out (and practice self-control!). Here are 8 tips for staying safe on your next trip.
7) Track your Bags
If you’re traveling with a carry-on bag, you don’t have to worry about your luggage when you arrive at your destination. If you have a checked bag, however, you should track it so that if it goes missing on its way to your destination, it can be located as quickly as possible. These days, most airlines provide a tracking number for each bag they check—just keep an eye out for it on your ticket receipt or baggage claim slip.
8) Keep an Eye Out While You're On The Road
There are all sorts of dangers out there when you’re on your way to a destination, but one of the biggest threats is distracted driving. With people reaching for their phones all around you, it’s easy to lose track of how far you’ve gone or how much longer you have to go before arriving at your destination.
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