Safe Travels in Foreign Lands

We all love a good trip and explore this beautiful and diverse world of ours. Many of us take trips to foreign countries in the hope to experience the diverse cultures and lifestyle of these foreignlands unfortunately some experience much more than they expect. Many unpleasant experiences can leave us weary of travelling and stop us from enjoying our trips. Sometimes in more serious circumstances, may not return home safely.

Hence, it is important as a traveller to know the risks of travelling in foreign countries and try to prevent the foreseeable. Some of the following tips may help:

1. Prepare and research before departure

Many over look the need to prepare and research about their destination before they leave for the trip, especially those joining guided tours thinking they should be cared for all along the way. However, whatever your travel style, it is always best to research before hand to avoid unnecessary harm or embarrassment when in a foreign country, especially one with distinctive cultures and traditions different to our own.

Make sure to read up on the cultures and customs of the destination country. The best way to avoid scams and harm is to try to blend in like a local and act less like a tourist. Of course, it is impossible for many of us to blend in if we look absolutely nothing like how the locals look but knowing more about the destination as well as how to behave in public to avoid unnecessary attention will minimise the chance of being targeted for crime. Note down the important information such as the emergency number for the country, where the police stations are, where there is an embassy or consulate for your country of origin and how to seek help in the local language if something does go wrong are things that will always be useful. Study the maps and know exactly how to get to certain places and ask around for areas to avoid will also help you plan your days for sightseeing without hassles. Remember, the more you prepare the less trouble you are likely to encounter.

2. Know how to take your money

It is always important to know how and where you keep your money when travelling. Cash is always handy but when bringing too much on yourself you will attract thieves and robbers to your side. Bring some loose change and small amount of cash on your visible wallets or bags and keep the rest somewhere hidden. Those hidden pouches that you can wear in your shirt or on your waist just inside your pants are always useful. Although they are ugly at least they are not easily ~{!.~}snatch-able~{!/~} when on the streets.

Traveller~{!/~}s cheques are always good as you can insure against them and they are useless without double signatures. Always make sure to keep a list of the serial numbers of your unused cheques somewhere safe (preferably not with where you keep the traveller~{!/~}s cheques) so in case of robbery or theft, you can have them re-issued to you by your provider.

Credit cards are great in countries where they are widely acceptable, and are good to pay the larger bills for such as for your accommodation or flight tickets. However make sure that you know who to call should anything go wrong.

3. Check on vaccination requirements as well as health information of the country

When travelling to more exotic locations such as South America and South East Asia, it is always important to check with your doctor all the vaccination requirements for the destination. This is to prevent any known illnesses as well as cover you for any entry requirements by many of the other countries you might be travelling to. For example, those travelling onwards from Peru or Brazil are usually required to show that they are vaccinated against Yellow Fever, regardless of whether you have been visiting the infested areas or not, to be allowed to continue their onward journey.

It will also help to know what diseases and illnesses exist in the country so you can prepare for them. If the country is known for food related illnesses, then care should be taken when eating out in local cafes and restaurants, and to drink bottled water where possible.

4. Take out travel insurance

Insurance is a way to cover you when something does happen. Travel insurance can cover loss of luggage, cancellation of flights, medical costs when abroad as well as loss or breakages to personal items. Of course, no one plan to get hurt or have their things stolen but it is a peace of mind to have travel insurance to know that you won~{!/~}t be out of pocket if something does happen.

Wishing every happy and safe travels.