Staying safe while you travel.
Hello loves!
Hope you’re doing well and staying safe. As much as I love traveling, I’ve had those moments where I wish I could’ve done things differently. Here are my tips to travel safely and prevent problems while traveling.
1. TRAVEL ADVISORIES
Please check for travel advisories before traveling. If you live in the United States, you can do so by visiting travel.state.gov and search travel advisories on the country you’re visiting. My sister and I backpacked to Oaxaca, Mexico and we ended up being in the middle of some political riots. They blocked off the roads and closed the city. We were stuck for a couple days and had to completely change our travel plans. So, make sure you do your research. By the way, don’t let my experience stop you from visiting the beautiful Mexico. We can’t wait to go back and explore more of Oaxaca.
2. MAKE COPIES
Make copies of your important documents. I always carry a copy of my flights, passport, hotel reservations, etc., in case I lose my phone. Also, make sure you have all your documentation in check. Why do I say that? Well, I had an incident with my visa in Kenya. I stayed in Kenya for 4 amazing months and before boarding the plane on my way back home, the airport customs officer told me that my visa was for 2 months instead of 3 and wasn’t letting me through. I showed him my hardcopy proof of my 3 month visa and he wouldn’t accept it. I ended up crying because I tried my best to convince him that the customs officer when I arrived wrote 2 months instead of 3. He sympathized with me and let me through. So please, make sure everything is in order when you leave and arrive because people make mistakes all the time.
3. DON’T DRAW ATTENTION
Be culturally mindful of the place you’re visiting in case you need to dress modestly because you definitely don’t want to draw attention. They way I look at it is immersing myself in their culture and seeing how they dress to know what to pack.
4. KEEP YOUR VALUABLES SAFE
Keep your valuables on you while you transit. I almost got pickpocketed in a bus in Rome. The bus was so packed I felt a hand trying to open the zipper from my purse. I literally slapped the guy’s hand out of the way lol. Make sure you always keep an eye out.
5. TRAVEL INSURANCE
Get travel insurance. I’ve also had an accident where I had to be rushed to the hospital. After that, I buy travel insurance for every trip.
6. STAY CONNECTED
Keep your family and friends updated. I usually send my dad all my travel information, like my flight receipts and lodging. I like to stay connected, so I send my location to my family.
7. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
Lastly, one of the hardest things for me to do, don’t trust people too quickly. There are so many good people in the world, but sadly there are those few who who can do much harm. Trust your gut feeling and try to get to know a person in a safe and public place before going off on your own.
How do you stay safe while you travel?
Hope you