Hey Snobs,
Let’s be real. As much fun and excitement goes into planning a vacation abroad, you also have to be aware and take your safety into account. A big issue everyone faces when traveling abroad, and especially somewhere completely new where they’ve never been to before, are the ways to keep safe! With us being parents now, we have to take safety into consideration more than ever before, as the security of our family is our top priority!
Being in environments that are completely new, where you don’t know the language or your way around, can be prime times for things to go wrong and for people to take advantage of you. We’ve heard horror stories of people who have been victims of pickpocketing and robberies; locals can spot a tourist very easily, those who are fixated on sightseeing and often not as aware of their surroundings. This leaves vacationers as prime targets for robberies, or god forbid worse.
Now, we definitely don’t want to scare you into not traveling abroad, but we do believe it is our duty to inform you snobsters and make you more aware and prepared for your travels. This way, you can rest assured that you will have the BEST time imaginable, and in turn will want to travel even more!
So check out our 10 tips for staying safe while traveling.
1. Learn the Language
Now of course we don’t expect you to be pros, but it is smart to learn key terms in the language of the country you plan to visit. Also, thanks to modern technology it is now so much easier to communicate using a language translator app! Some good ones are: iTranslate, TripLingo, and Waygo.
2. Be Informed About the Area You’re Staying In
It’s super helpful to be aware of your designated main-stay location. Note the areas that are safest, the most family-friendly, and the areas you should stay away from. Before you choose your accommodations, make sure it is in an area with the lowest crime rates as possible. Once you check into your hotel or air bnb, something that we always do is talk to the reception or hostess, as they know the city well and can give their insightful recommendations of where to go and where to stay away from.
3. Get Travel Insurance
Especially if you are planning to stay abroad for a while, we highly recommend getting travel insurance to ensure your medical security with 24/7 assistance if you need it.
4. Don’t Flash Your Valuables
This is pretty obvious, but don’t flash all your goods! Obviously, as you snobs know, we love nice things, duh! However, this doesn’t mean that you have to walk around with ALL of your fancy jewelry and couture handbags excessively on-show. Just be smart about what you wish to show-off and how much of it, as you don’t want to make yourself a prime target for robbers. And honestly, when you travel, you shouldn’t be taking so many valuables with you anyway. You are there to impress yourself with the sights you see and new cultures you experience. Don’t worry about dripping in diamonds while you do so.
5. Only Carry Around Money You Need For the Day
Carry a cash amount that you think you’ll need as much of for the day. This is smart just in case you your bag or wallet is stolen, as then obviously you wouldn’t be losing all the money you brought with you for the trip. However, just in case you were robbed, it is also good to have with you some back-up cash that is hidden somewhere else on your body. Storing cash in your shoe, or a small jean pocket is an idea. Additionally, we highly recommend making copies of important documents like your passport, medical card, and driver’s license, etc., and leaving these papers in the hotel room safe.
6. Carry Money Close to You
The easiest way for pickpocketers to get you is if they notice your wallet is in an area that isn’t in your plain sight. For example, if you keep your wallet in your back pocket they could easily grab it when you’re in a big crowd and may not notice it being taken, or in an opening shoulderbag. Therefore, we ALWAYS keep our wallets and important documents in a bag resting on our front body; crossbody bags are fantastic and of course belt bags/fanny packs, which have made a huge fashionable comeback over the past couple of years now.
7. Travel Light
It’s simple; the less you carry around with you equals the less that could potentially get stolen.
8. Store Valuables in a Safe or Locker
As well as being weary of the belongings you bring with you throughout the day, you should also take into consideration what you’re leaving lying around in the hotel/air bnb room that you’re staying in. We suggest utilizing the room’s safe, and if one isn’t provided, asking for the hotel to store it in their main safe. It is adamant to keep important valuables locked away in case there was an intrusion.
9. Go Out at Night in a Group
Just as this is important back home, it is even more-so important when you’re in a new and unfamiliar place. Going out alone is generally never safe, and the risk only heightens when alcohol is involved. So, make sure everyone you’re going out with has each other’s best intentions and you have all clearly communicated about how you will be getting back to your room at the night’s end. Also, NEVER accept an open drink from someone. Again, this is common sense for anyone going out anywhere, but please, don’t let your guard down when you’re on vacation and having a great time; still be aware.
10. Always Pay Attention!
This last tip kinda brings together everything we’ve discussed. Your best bet for ultimate safety when abroad is to simply pay attention. Thieves go for victims that look like they aren’t aware of their belongings and their surroundings. Be sure to always keep your head up and your eyes looking everywhere, and hold on to your loved ones and personal items.
So there ya have it snobs! These are our top 10 tips to help keep you and your loved ones as safe and secure as can be when traveling. We’ve definitely learnt from past mistakes, so we make sure to implement all of these aspects every time we travel now.
~ Bon Voyage and Safe Travels, Snob World
