Travel can be one of life’s most rewarding and fulfilling activities. It can help us to destress and give us a new perspective on our lives and can allow us to experience new cultures and meet new people.
However, travelling to anywhere new can be risky. You’ll be in a wholly unfamiliar environment where you are less attuned potential dangers and potentially more vulnerable. Immersing yourself in a new culture can be a life changing experiencing, but your personal safety should be your number one priority. Check out this guide to find out more.
Get Travel Insurance
Medical services abroad can often be very different to what we’re used to at home. If you were to require medical treatment or attention in some way, you could find yourself faced with a significant bill.
This will instantly derail your holiday and the financial implications can severe and long-lasting. The best way to protect yourself against something like this happening is to get insured. There are reputable providers out there, as an example, check out Staysure travel insurance, they offer a number of different coverage packages that will give you the protection you need.
Stay Aware Of Your Surroundings
When we are abroad in an unfamiliar country it can be more difficult to accurately identify potential dangers and risky situations. In our own countries, we have the experience and knowledge required to keep ourselves safe, but when abroad we lack this experience and can often put ourselves at risk without realising.
As a result, we must be constantly aware of our surroundings when on holiday and alert to absolutely anything that seems strange or untoward. Pay attention to the behaviour of the locals and always remember you can ask for advice if you are unsure about something.
Look After Your Belongings
Travelling abroad requires us to carry important and valuable documents such as our passport. Not only that, but tourists also often carry large amounts of cash on their person. This makes losing your possessions a real risk, in worst case scenarios you could be left stranded abroad. Keep your valuables in a hotel safe when you don’t need them, this will reduce the risk of them being lost or misplaced.
Criminals are also well aware that tourists are likely to be carrying valuables, which can make travellers an attractive target for thieves or pickpockets. Keeping your valuables secured in a money belt under your clothes is one of the most effective ways to protect them against would-be thieves.
Think About The Heat
Many of us will travel to warmer climes to get a bit of heat and sun. However, for those not used to it, the heat can often be dangerous. Spending too long out in the sun can cause our bodies to overheat, which can lead to a condition known as heatstroke.
Heatstroke is a potentially serious conditions that has symptoms including dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, and cramps. To prevent yourself from developing heatstroke, make sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, wear loose, cool clothing, and take regular breaks from the sun in shady areas.
Remember to always wear sunblock too. We all love a nice tan, but prolonged exposure to our skin can lead to serious health problems including things like skin cancer.
Conclusion
Jetting off to a new foreign land and immersing yourself in an unfamiliar culture can be an incredibly life-affirming experience. However, it is vital that you keep yourself safe at all times. Get yourself insured, stay alert and aware of your surroundings, protect your belongings, and be aware of the danger posed by excess heat.
If you enjoyed this head over to my 10 Must Visit Tourist Attractions In Edinburgh and How To Get Your Kids More Comfortable With Traveling
Graham Crosby says
Some really good advice here. Things like insurance often get overlooked, but it’s vital, along with an awareness of your surroundings. This also stresses the importance of doing your research before travel too.
Thanks for sharing.
Fadima Mooneira says
This is a good travel good. I shall bookmark this post as will be traveling to a foreign country this March. Thank you for sharing.
Hannah says
These are really good tips! An awareness of personal safety is so important abroad, especially when solo travelling or visiting abroad. Must admit I’ve been caught out by sunstroke more than once though!
Rose says
so scary going to another country by yourself. good tips, could be more tho!
Drew Alexander Ross says
This is a solid list of basics for travelers. I think the weather one is something most people don’t think about but can have terrible consequences. Loved the layout and easy flow of the post too!
Lisa's Notebook says
I would never travel anywhere abroad (or even in the UK) without travel insurance. It’s peace of mind because you never know what might happen, and why ruin your holiday for the sake of a few more pounds? Great post! x
Charlotte says
A great post is filled with useful tips. Definitely going to save this post for the next time I go traveling. Thank you for sharing.