One thing we’re all excited about in 2023 is the ability to get back on the road and enjoy new travel experiences. However, the global pandemic has changed the way we think about travelling.
Safety has become the number one priority whether you’re crossing borders for business or leisure purposes. This includes more than just physical safety – there’s also online security and the safety of your personal belongings that you have to worry about.
With that in mind, here are seven practical tips that will help you travel safely in 2021.
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7 Tips to Make Travel Safer
If you want ideas for how to travel safer in the future, here are our top tips!
1. Check the COVID status of your destination
It’s never been more important to thoroughly research your destination before you go. Everything has changed in travel and there may be new laws you don’t know about coming in as standard. Before I’d go anywhere I’d look up whether the COVID cases are rising, and what they’re doing to prevent this.
Rich, I know, coming from a Brit, but it’s just something we need to think about now.
2. And your own
Before you travel in 2021 you need to know that you don’t have the virus, and that there’s no risk of you passing it on to anyone else. You do not want to be the person that brings it in to a different country.
Check if you need a COVID test before you leave, and whether you need one on arrival too.
On top of keeping yourself physically safe and prepared for emergencies, you should also bring plenty of hand sanitiser and cleaning supplies to make sure you’re not exposed to the virus too.
There are many ways travel will be changed after the virus. The main one is to be very conscious when you get there of wearing a mask and staying clean and healthy.
3. Write down your emergency info
Imagine you find yourself in a sticky situation in another country, and you have no idea which emergency number to call. This can easily ruin the whole experience, let alone lead to serious trouble. If disaster strikes, it is good to have the emergency numbers memorised since you probably won’t have much time to look it up online.
You need your travel partners phone number, and your home number, in a place that’s not just your phone. As we know, phones can get lost very easily.
Before your next trip, find all the emergency information and save it to your phone’s note app. It is also a good idea to tape a piece of paper with the emergency info on the back of your phone, just in case the battery runs out.
4. Research common scams
The thing about getting scammed is that you never think it can happen to you. Everyone thinks they can’t be outsmarted by scammers when, in reality, a large number of tourists get scammed every day.
Besides the general travel scams that commonly occur regardless of the location, you should also familiarise yourself with popular scams in the area you’re visiting. Each country is known for a specific type of scams, such as the ‘broken taxi meters’ scam in Costa Rica or the ring scam in Paris.
5. Use a VPN
Staying safe during your trip goes beyond physical and health-related safety. Poor online security on the go can be another source of risk for travellers, especially if they fail to protect their data and login credentials.
As a traveller, you’ll likely use open and unprotected public networks in coffee shops, airports, restaurants, and other public areas.
To protect your data and devices, use a VPN next time you head out on the road. Your cybersecurity is extremely important, so don’t forget to turn on a VPN and keep your data secured. For example, if you’re a fan of Chrome and want to benefit from a high-quality VPN, you can head over to NordVPN Chrome store and start your cybersecurity journey now.
These days, protecting your data is easier than ever, so don’t forget to take advantage of various cybersecurity tools.
6. Pack lightly and keep it safe
Keeping an eye on your belongings should come naturally when you’re on the road. However, even the most experienced travellers sometimes forget to check whether their essentials are safe. It is easy to forget about these things when you’re out there exploring the world.
One way to make travelling safer is to start packing lightly, so you have fewer items to worry about during your vacation.
Only pack the essential items you are going to need. Anything valuable that won’t serve you should stay at home. Make sure to also utilize the safety locks in hotel rooms to keep your expensive belongings securely locked away rather than carrying them with you around the city.
7. Get travel insurance
Last but not least, you should always get travel insurance before starting your adventure. This might seem like a hassle at first but it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’d recommend HeyMondo for all your travel insurance needs.
As much as I encourage thinking positively about your future experiences, you should always have a plan B if things go wrong. A good travel insurance package can save you a lot of trouble and financial loss in case of an unfortunate event during your trip.
It’s better to have this safety net rather than just rely on luck.
Travel safely in 2023
Whether you’re traveling with friends, family members, or you’re going solo, safety should be at the top of your travel priorities. Staying safe on the road got a whole new meaning during the global pandemic and you need to be more prepared than ever.