Your safety abroad is most important to us, here at SafeAbroad. Follow these general safety tips to ensure you are out of harm’s way while abroad.
A great way to find reliable, country specific information is to check the State Department website. Get to know general information about your destination to make traveling easier.
This means you should know where your personal belongings are at any given moment and you should project situational awareness. By projecting confidence and situational awareness you do not stand out to attackers as much. To lower that risk further, make sure you try and blend in as much as possible. This includes wearing clothing that blends in culturally, discreetly reading maps, and not looking lost.
Be sure to make copies of all these documents. When abroad, store originals in a safe location — preferably stored in a locked container — and travel daily with the copies of your documents, as you never know when you may need them.
Give a trusted family member back home copies of your documents as well, so they can provide assistance if necessary.
This will provide them with a little peace of mind, as well as allow them to know your general whereabouts. Check in regularly with family and friends, as it will help you adjust to your host country and give you someone to talk to if needed.
When searching for Wi-Fi, don’t let the convenience of internet access cloud your judgement. Using public Wi-Fi can allow hackers to steal valuable information from your phone, as well as steal personal data, such as banking information and social security numbers.
It is advised that you download a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that will allow you to access the internet securely while traveling.
Some things to pack include:
– Small tube of sunscreen
– Antihistamine tablets
– Small pair of scissors
– Extra pain pills
– Band-Aids
– Disinfectant wipes
– Anti-bacterial cream or spray
– Any additional items you deem necessary.
If you do decide to experiment with alcohol or any other drugs, be hyper-aware of how much you consume. You should stay hydrated and fed. Do not lose control of the situation.
Most importantly, do not go out alone. If you do decide to go out by yourself, have a contact person who knows about the location and general plans of your outing.
Pack items that fit the environment of the destination. Bring items that are fine to lose or wear out by the end of the travel experience. It’s highly likely that merchandise will be bought when abroad, so try to leave a fair amount of room in the suitcase for such things before traveling.
