In this guide, we share safety tips for traveling abroad and thus avoiding mishaps. From experience, we can narrate the following article as we have been traveling to different places for the last 4 years on a tight budget. Our first fling was when Steven finished college and I quit my job in Boulder, Colorado.
It all started when we started driving to different national parks in the United States. We drive over 15,000 miles in less than 2 months. It was too fast, but we had already bought plane tickets to move “definitely” to Ecuador.
Since then, many things have gone wrong, but we have learned to manage and plan things better, so we would love to share with you some tips for traveling abroad safely.
8 safety tips for traveling abroad:
Keep Your Documents Always With You
I know this might sound too obvious and something we’re already wary of, but sometimes we can get distracted and things can go wrong. If you have a safe in your room, keep your documents there at all times unless you are using them.
Therefore, we recommend packing a pair of pajamas and pants that have zippered or Velcro pockets. Not only when you are sleeping but also while you are traveling unless you have a safe in your room, don’t leave your documents wandering around. Trust me, I’ve lost my credit cards from having my wallet in my jeans and my passport from leaving it in a bag in my backpack while I went to the bathroom. Don’t just travel with your passport, but also travel with other identification in case you lose it, and don’t forget to put them in different places.
Having Two Credit Cards In Different Places
One of the very important tips for traveling abroad is: Have an additional credit or debit card in case the main one is lost or stolen. Always keep them in separate places. When we were traveling to Vienna I lost my wallet with all our documents because they fell out of my pocket. I was so thankful that I had my other credit card in my backpack at the hotel. We had a few extra days before our return flight and having that extra card was a miracle for us.
Keep Extra Money Separate
Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time, so be prepared for them. Although there are ATMs or Western Unions locations, sometimes you need the money in places where there may not be much access to them.
Some sites only accept cash and you won’t know until you’re there, even if you’ve done a little research before you go. If the ATMs or your credit card are not working, it is best to always be prepared.
Therefore, you must use cash carefully. Use your credit card as much as possible (keeping your budget of course) and keep the cash for small things/emergencies. We have a Bank of America travel rewards card that does not charge for international transactions. You should consider getting one of these if you’re planning on traveling for longer periods of time or even if you’re planning on traveling constantly. We usually keep money and cards in different places. We “hide” the money, at the bottom of our backpack or in one of the inside pockets.
Buy a Lock
I don’t think I could stress how important it is to have a lock. When we started getting kitted out for our mini Eurotrip, Steven kept telling me to go buy a lock, but I never did. It was the worst mistake! We lost nearly $8,000 worth of belongings, including my engagement ring and wedding ring because it didn’t have a simple lock. The worst thing is that it only costs a couple of dollars and can save you a lot of time, worry, and money.
Now we can’t travel without a lock. If the lock won’t fit a specific locker it’s best to go and get a new one that will. I prefer to have a code instead of a key, so we don’t have keys to lose. Ultimately, do what works best for you and makes you feel most comfortable.
Get Up Early
If you like to take good photos, waking up early is key. Tourists don’t usually wake up too early in the morning as they are on vacation, so your photos will be free of tourists. We usually try to wake up around sunrise to get the best pictures, plus beautiful light.
Back Everything Up
We lost almost all our photos from the trip to Europe when they stole from us in Sweden because they didn’t back up our photos. Even though my intuition told me several times that I had to go to a cyber cafe to upload my photos, I never went. Now, I’m sorry.
I recommend that you get an external hard drive or buy space on Google Drive or any other online platform where you can upload your photos on the web. The only problem with online backups is that they can require a constant Internet connection for a long period of time, something that is not always available when traveling. You can not only backup your photos, but also keep a digital copy of your important documents like passport, ID, insurance, visas, phone numbers, etc.
Keep An Open Mind
Do not be afraid of new adventures. Be careful, but try to enjoy the ride. Sometimes there are things you want to dare to do, but we don’t do them.
For example, I went to Toledo, Spain with Steven and Mohsin, our best friends in Spain. Mohsin really wanted to zip-lane, but I’ve always been afraid of heights. So he normally wouldn’t want to do it. Our friend talked us into it and told us to keep an open mind. And it was honestly one of the best decisions I ever made. I loved it.
Try to learn about new cultures, religions, and lifestyles. The book of life is so big and you can only read it if you travel. Try to learn and interact with different people, including local people or other travelers like you. It is part of the charm of traveling.
Carry Only What is Necessary
Don’t take more things than you need. I used to have so many things with me until I had to carry everything during our 2-month trip to Europe. Then I realized that I only need underwear, shirts, and a pair of jeans and shorts (or a jacket, depending on where you’re traveling). Even if you want to bring some more formal clothes, one or two shirts will suffice.
You can always do laundry, so don’t take too much. If you are traveling for more than a month, pack enough clothes for a week and a half and then go to the laundromat or do the laundry at your hostel/hotel.
You may like to read Six Tips For Traveling To Iceland, 100% Essential!
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